What I Have Difficulty Coping With
I have difficulty not being able to do all of the outdoor activities and other things I would like to do. While I see my pulmonologist regularly and take all of my medication to the best of my ability, I still am limited. It is better than when I was in high school, but I would like to do more. This sometimes leads me to feel depressed and sorry for myself when I know many of my friends are doing things I cannot.
What I Did
I got involved in an asthma support group. While my friends and family are supportive, sometimes they just don't understand. My asthma support group has been a great help and I have made great friends. While they cannot make my lungs better, it is nice to be around other people who experience similar things as me. When I am feeling really down, they generally help bring me back up. They also have helped me find an asthma doctor that fits my personality better and help me understand all sorts of things about my asthma.
Lessons Learned
- Make your doctor your partner and learn everything you can about asthma.
- Make sure you understand and ask as many questions as you need to.
- Other people with asthma can really help you get over the bad times.
- An asthma support group can help you understand things you thought you understood in your doctor's office.
