I have had asthma my whole life… from what my mum tells me, I was born with it, so I don't know any different.
I remember that when I was little I couldn't run around too much without wheezing and needing to have a rest, but apart from that I don't feel like it has affected my life all that much.
Luckily for me I have never had a serious asthma attack, although I have had to get along to the emergency department on more than one occasion to get my breathing under control.
I remember sitting in the emergency department as a teen during the early hours of the morning, having a nebuliser and seeing this little girl who was having one too… she was so small they had to get her a special oxygen mask as the standard kid's ones were too big. I remember feeling so sorry for her as it is pretty scary when you are struggling to breathe.
As I have gotten older my asthma symptoms have definitely got better and I would say that I now have my asthma under control. The Asthma Foundation has a quiz on their website that can help you figure out if you are managing your symptoms or not.
The two main drawbacks of having asthma for me would be that I always need to take my inhaler with me everywhere I go, and the cost involved of going to my doctor and the chemist a couple of times a year to get prescriptions.
This week is Asthma Awareness Week and runs from the 20 - 26 May. Today is Balloon Day. This is the Asthma Foundation's opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges associated with having asthma in New Zealand and also to raise much needed funds so they can help 'keep our kids out of hospital'.
To help:
Text PUFF to 469 to donate $3
Call 0900 4 ASTHMA (0900 4 278 462) to donate $20
Donate online here