Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Much better

So I laced up my running shoes again, this time at the gym since it was raining and I don't need to aggrivate my asthma anymore than it already is. Took my albuerol right before I left and hoped for the best. And I'm happy to report I had a much better run than Sunday's, five miles in just under an hour. I kept my pace slow between 5 and 5.2, and worked up a nice sweat. A few times during the run I could feel rails in my chest when breathing, but I couldn't cough anything up. This weekend is calling for 14 miles which I think I will be able to complete as long I keep improving.

I've been on the Bactrim for 5 days now, I'm also on my "on" month of TOBI. And I'm starting to see a slow improvement. I'm not coughing as much junk up in the morning and noticibly coughing during the day. I still don't have my voice back and my throat feels swolen but I can live with that as long as I can breathe and run.

Only 32 days left until Nov 7th!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Why NOW lungs? why NOW?

I wish I was writing a post on how I feel incredible and just finished an 18 mile run. But instead asthma is kicking my ass and taking me down. I'm trying not to feel disappointed in myself but right now I am. I feel like I'm not in control of the situation anymore and I'm angry about it.

I thought I had gotten rid of that nagging cough I had for a few weeks. When we left for vacation I was feeling pretty well. But one week ago my asthma started getting really bad. I wasn't getting short of breath, I just couldn't take a deep breath in. If felt as if someone was pushing back on my chest. Then my voice went. I sound like a boy going through puberty. A few days later the coughing began and it's been getting progressively worse. I was on a round of prednisone with helped a bit and am currently on Bactrim but I know the inevitable outcome of this situation. Another holiday season with IV's.

I'm always somewhat annoyed when I have to go on them but this time I am really angry. I have been so compliant and have been running my ass off and still. Not only that, but why NOW? Why with just a month until Marathon time does this have to happen? If I go on them now there is no way I'll be able to get back into running shape by Nov 7th. So I'm leaning to start them after the race. I just hope I can hang in there that long. Goal now is to get this asthma under control so I can start running again and hopefully the Bactrim can hold off the exacerbation from getting too bad.

Which brings me to this morning. My 18 mile run was cut in half. I ran 3 miles to start but my chest started getting tight even after albuterol. I didn't want to stop so I power walked until I hit 9 miles. The tightness never went away and I didn't want to push it so I stoped.

I don't have a car tomorrow so I'm stuck at home. I'll probably do an hour of the elliptical while the boys nap. And a call into clinic tomorrow is due. Hopefully I'll have a good report to write by Wednesday.