SHAMELESS BLOG FOOD THEFT

So Amy gave Kerri some Blog Food, and now I am stealing this Blog Food and writing about it. It’s a good topic, and hopefully it will be helping Amy out (and any others parenting little lungers). The topic in question is:

what you find hardest about taking care of your own lung health, what’s most challenging as a hs student? College? What your parents still help with/what you wish they’d help with more—can you sense my ulterior motive here

I’ll tackle these systematically.

Hardest about taking care of my lung health: deciding which step in my action plan to step to. It’s not that I don’t have a well-defined action plan, or that I haven’t discussed this endlessly with my doctors, it’s just that I have a hard time perceiving whether or not I’m “bad enough” to take a certain action.

In high school the hardest part was: seeming normal and cool. I kid you not. I went to an extremely small high school, where teachers knew everything about you and you knew everything about them. My class (14 kids) was extremely tight. I felt pretty self-conscious that every last person in the school could recognize me by my cough alone, although I dealt with this by laughing it off and letting a joke be made of it. I didn’t like slipping in late to class after my 10th appointment in a row, or explaining why I had been absent for a week. Although it’s not rational, these things WILL bother a teenager. I think it’s important to validate the feeling a little if your kid is struggling with their asthma image.

In university the hardest part is: Getting enough study time when I’m flaring is a big one. I deal with this by allowing for more study time than I need so that I can afford to flare (wow that sounds sad). Like I mentioned above, just learning to perceive how I’m breathing, what I need to do, and then convincing myself to actually do it.

What do my parents still help me with: Well, I don’t live with my parents 8 months out of the year, so they don’t do a whole lot at this point. I know I can always call my mom if I’m worried about my breathing and need to discuss what to do. Usually she’ll just tell me that it’s OK to start pred/go to the clinic/hospital etc and this is just the nudge I need to take action. When I’m at home during breaks, my mom helps me out just by doing supportive things if I’m flaring (from getting me a glass of water, to picking me up from work, to driving me to the ER, you get the idea). Although my dad is a supportive guy and interested in my health, my mom got stuck on asthma duty at some point in time and it’s never changed.

What I wish they’d help me with more: Umm, I wouldn’t mind if they took care of my medication co-pay. Even with my student insurance, asthma meds can add up. Oh, adulthood… Other than that I’m at a point where I’m perfectly happy managing my own health. Not that I like it, but it makes me feel like responsible and I’d probably despise it if I had someone looking over my shoulder.

Another note: I acquired the responsibility of scheduling doctor’s appointments and noticing when I needed refills in about 10th grade. When I learned to drive, I was allowed to go to my “minor” appointments alone. I think this is a perfect time to start doing these things as you’ve still got your parents around as a backup.

Soooo, as another young adult, I think Elisheva should tackle this one next!!

Classes = done!

Classes are done for the semester, my last lab report is handed in, now all I have to get through is finals. Piece of cake right? NOT, but I’m sure I’ll be fine with some mad studyness.

Despite my best efforts, I can feel a cold coming on. I can tell because my throat is fuzzy and my cough actually hurts. I’m still breathing pretty good, I bet there’s still time to salvage the situation! A little orange juice, a few pots of tea, a few power naps here and there and I should be golden.

I have a doctor’s appt later today and I’m actually nervous about it. It’s funny because when I am well controlled and have good news to report, I look forward to seeing my doctor(s). When I have to tell them that things aren’t working and that I haven’t been well, I get nervous and I find it really hard. To be honest, I would say that my asthma control has declined in the past 6 weeks or so and that’s what we’ll be discussing today. I promised myself I would be honest and not sugar-coat anything but I’m getting butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it! Bah, I should be over this type of thing by now, I’ve been communicating with doctors for years! Well, wish me luck. I hope my favourite nurse is in the clinic at least.

Oh yes, and it is finally snowing and this makes me happy. I know that snow is a hassle but it warms my heart. <3

Danielle’s tried and true tips for working around asthma during exam period

Yikes! I’m headed into my fifth exam period of my university career! I’ve dealt with asthma exacerbations in one form or another at pretty much every exam period so far.  If you are fanatic student like I am, you’re going to want to maximize your time studying, minimize your time spent dealing with your asthma, and NOT miss any exams. Here are some things that have helped me:

1. Study away, but don’t compromise your sleep. The less you sleep, the more susceptible you are to colds and infections, which can create big asthma problems. Sleep is a priority, I mean it.

2. Become a germophobe, especially during this H1N1 outbreak. Avoid your sick friends, wash your hands and use your head. It’s worth it if you can avoid getting sick.

3. Make a study schedule, and arrange it so that you are pretty much prepared for your exam the day before you actually need to be. This way, if you are suddenly flaring the day before your exam, you won’t be in trouble. Less stress for you. I bet it’ll improve your mark too.

4. Know your school’s policy on absenteeism from final examinations. Know what kind of documentation you need if you are to miss an exam.

5. If, 24 hours before your exam you are flaring and are unsure whether or not you’ll be able to write the exam, contact your professor to let them know what the situation is. They appreciate this.

6. Don’t be afraid to step up your meds as per your care plan if you think it’s what you need to get you through.

7. Be aware of potential triggers in the exam hall. For example, every year I seem to have at least one exam scheduled on the rink of the hockey arena. Arenas really set me off due to a mix of cold temperature and fumes from the zamboni. Therefore, I pre-medicate for these exams. Another thing to look out for might be a really old or dusty building.

8. If you think you’ll need it, and even if you don’t, have your ventolin out on your desk. In most cases, you’re not allowed to do so much as reach into your pocket during an exam so have it in plain sight. If a proctor gives you a hard time, be firm and tell him/her that it’s absolutely necessary (I’ve only ever gotten one comment about this).

Does this make me sound neurotic?? If it does, it’s only because I really care about school and because I’ve run into a lot of problems in the past. I know a lot of you are students so tell me: how do you deal with the asthma beast during exam period?

EDIT: I just checked my exam schedule and I have no exams scheduled in the hockey arena. Score!!

Gearing up for exams

Exams start in two weeks minus one day, anyone else feel like these past four months just flew by? From now on in, I am committed to studying and staying healthy. Of course I will run as much as possible because this is what keeps me studying well! Time to hunker down

Cooking right along…

DONE my last midterm and DONE my last 6-hour lab!! Now I am FRREEEEeeee…. to study for final exams lol. Such a glamourous life I lead (you know I love it though). My lab section went out to celebrate this evening, yay for beer on a Monday! I love when scientists get together to do social stuff… we’re a special bunch who can’t help thinking DNA jokes are funny.

I took the rest of the evening off from studying and baked banana cookies. YUM they were so good!!

As for the lungs, they held up nicely on this long day. I’m thinking that I will kick the prednisone tomorrow. And hopefully go running!!

Rough day

Oh my, having a peek-a-boo around the blogosphere, I see that a few of my fellow asthmatics are also having a rough day. Breathe easier everyone.

The day started out ok but tight-ish. THEN. During my lab today we had  a bit of downtime so I was sitting in the hallway studying. Some girl walks out of the lab, opens her locker, sprays herself with perfume, touches up her makeup and walks back into the lab. Oh man don’t get me started, you’re in a *lab* the E. COLI DON’T CARE IF YOUR MAKEUP IS PERFECT!!! So that was unnecessary. I started to tighten up, fast and quite badly. I was all alone in the hallway and I just kind of sat there with my head on my knees. I wanted to stay there forever and not move. Buuut my cells were going to be ready soon and I still had one last thing to do with them. I asked my lab partner if she would be ok doing the last 2 steps and my TA said it was ok so I sat in the common area for a bit then walked the 3 blocks home. I contemplated going to the clinic (right next door to the lab) and asking for a neb but the clinic is a freaking CESSPOOL right now and the thought of sitting among 40 H1N1-ers didn’t really appeal to me.

Ever since then I’ve been getting better, then worse again, then better then worse. I’ve been studying for my molecular biology midterm which is actually going OK. It’s tomorrow and I think I’m ready. My roommate is a little concerned because she keeps hearing me use my puffer but hey. By the  way, about the asthma thing she is totally cool and I’m really comfortable being open about it. She looks out for me but not in the smothering way so it’s all good.

The only thing is that I want to sleep tonight! Oh please oh please let me sleep tonight! And I wish I had yelled at that girl but didn’t have the guts nor the breath.

On a less catastrophic note….

I went running this morning, my first time in the dark (very Halloweenish). I did a 3 km loop, but it had a few hills as the kicker. The lungs feel really good, but I will be picking up an ice pack on my way home from school because I’m starting to need it!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have more evidence that I’m positively hooked on running. After Sunday’s 10 km I took 3 whole days off because well, I was hurting a bit and wanted to give my body a chance. And by Wednesday, I could not study. My efforts were futile, I had too much nervous energy in me and I couldn’t sit still. It’s obvious that I need to keep doing something active every day, preferably before I settle in to study. That’s why I need to be really careful not to get injured. Steve already shared some injury prevention tips with me, anyone have any more???

Last night I went to dance class and I daresay that my running is helping! It helps me get through the ridiculously aerobic highland dances and I think I’ve gained a little leg power too because my elevation felt really good last night. Yay for dancing!

It’s the weekend, hurrah! I will be holed up studying for my molecular bio midterm that is on Tuesday. However, I will make sure to go running and (possibly) make a little appearance for Halloween.

A non-running update

Y’all know I do things other than run and suck on ventolin, right? Good. Well, mostly the other things include having my nose stuck in a textbook, inhabiting the biochemistry lab, and avoiding my laundry.

Yesterday’s lab was epically long. We were in there for 7 hours but thankfully we got our result by the end. I like the lab but it’s also… stressful. Ah well we do what we can!

Yesterday evening I ignored my computer to study for my microbiology midterm, which was this morning. I daresay that I overstudied, which is fine because it’s much better than understudying. I think I did really well but I forgot my calculator for the exam which is a major doh! moment. Thankfully, my hard-ass biochemistry prof from last year insisted we learn to calculate/estimate logarithms in our heads, so I didn’t panic and was able to figure out the microbial growth problems, phew!

Now, only 4 midterms and 2 major lab reports until the semester is done!! That kind of seems like  a lot but if I think about them one at a time I don’t feel like freaking out so much.

I landed an interview to do a research project with a really awesome doctor/professor next year, as part of my honours thesis. I’m super pumped!!

Also, I’m attending 2 lectures this week by Nobel prize laureates, which I totally don’t have time for but am super excited about anyway!! Wooooot.

OK, so I have to spend the rest of today catching up on laundry, groceries, room cleaning and just general straightening out of my life. Then, it’s on to studying for molecular biology midterm, which is in precisely 7 days.

Holeeeeeeee crap.

400 molecular biology students in some Canadian university are micturating a brick right now about the most brutal exam that ever was. The questions themselves were fine, but how can they expect us to answer 15 multiple choice, 6 medium-long answer questions and 4 essay questions in 80 minutes? I’m scared that I was nowhere near coherent enough….

People around my were either crying or ranting, or hyperventilating. Not good.

I, for one, am going running. Then I am locking myself in my study cave as I have another exam in less than 48 hours. Chin up, breathe, phew. See you Thursday afternoon.

Delayed effects of the run

Last night I was much tighter that I really should be while on prednisone. I fully expected to be feeling the effects of the run a few hours later and lo and behold -I did. I was a little bit worried but feel much better this morning. I’ve got my eye on another charity race that takes place on October 25th.

I’ve got a laboratory practical exam in about an hour then two more midterms this week. It’s a bit of a crunch, but I’m thankful to have most of my midterms before Thanksgiving weekend (this weekend) so that I can just relax and enjoy it. Some of my friends have a huge block of midterms after the long weekend, booo. So far the studying is going pretty well, and it’s all coming together so I’m feeling good about it.

Gonna TRY and go for an easy run tomorrow morning before class if all is well. Happy start of the week all!

Oh yeah and a little shout out to my peeps back home: HAHAHAHA you got snow this weekend!