I was one of those kids who never walked when they could run. I took up downhill skiing and loved it. I jogged. I threw footballs with my Dad. I would walk for miles. I never stopped to think about breathing because it was just something that you did automatically. It was only when I was living in Colorado in 1995 that I first got an idea that something might be wrong.
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I was born early. As a child I had problems with bronchitis. When I was in second grade a strain of flu almost killed me. Still I was always athletic and my lungs were constantly being given a workout. I didn’t have too much problem when I went to college in Denver in the 70s. It was only when I was living there with my ex-husband in 1995 that I noticed that I was getting winded even on the short walk to the mailboxes. Still I ignored it because I was living with the world’s biggest hypochondriac and was spending more time taking care of him then myself.
When I moved back to California in 1998 I was having more and more problems breathing. A good Doctor at Kaiser checked things out and realized that I now had C.O.P.D. and severe asthma. One evening I started coughing and couldn’t stop. My ex let me cough for 15 minutes before he finally called 911. The ambulance people and the Emergency Room staff were furious. It was the first time that I realized that this could kill me. I got out of the marriage and tried to take care of myself but the damage had already been done.
I am now waiting for my next birthday so I can get Medicare. Right now I have no insurance so I can’t afford to get sick. I am learning what to do to take care of myself so I don’t get sick.
I never smoked but always had bad allergies. I know I am allergic to mold and house dust. I keep my apartment as clean as I can. I use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to vacuum. I use Lysol to kill the mold and because I can tolerate the smell without choking up. I dust with wet wipes that gather the dust and not spread it into the air. I have decorative fountains that I use distilled water in to add some moisture to the air so it is easier to breathe. I found a waterless “vaporizer” by Vicks that puts menthol and eucalyptus into the air that I use in the bedroom at night. It makes it easier to breathe.
I have given up on running and skiing but I do walk as often as I can. I love photography so I’ll grab my camera and walk and take photographs. I can go as slow as I want and take the time to get all the angles I want in photographing nature. I love digital cameras.
One thing I can’t do is give up my cats. I’m sure it would be better if I didn’t have litter dust and cat fur around but my mental health would suffer too much if I didn’t have them. Merlin is 14 years old and I’ve had him since he was 5 weeks old. Pixie helped as a caregiver for my late Mom. I promised Mom I would keep Pixie. Sometimes you just have to vacuum more and live with the cat fur in order to have something that makes your heart sing.
One thing I will not do is give up. Yes I know that C.O.P.D. can kill me but you know something? I plan to have a hell of a good time before that happens.
2:10 PM PT: Forgot to mention that I have air filters in three rooms that covers most of the apartment.