What's wrong with my lungs?

Normal lung vs Asthmatic lung

Hello everybody.

As some of you may already know. I have been constantly battling ongoing uncontrolled asthma symptoms since November 2020 when I suffered heavy influenza which lead to a chest infection. Although I didn't need to go to the hospital, the effects of the influenza that I had at the time still partly remains present in my body and especially my lungs.

 As I write this blog, I am still suffering form a tight chest, nasal congestion and a lot of fatigue.                 There are many places that I used to go to that I simply do no go now because of  my limited breathing.  My physical and mental co-ordination has been reduced. My day-to-day energy has dropped to an all time low. Although I am still able to live independently, what I can do on a daily basis has been reduced. 

The symptoms that I have suffered in the last two and a half years have been tight chest, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, shortness of breath, sweating and fatigue. So what has been going on with me all this time? 

On Thursday 4th May 2023, I had an appointment at my local hospital to learn about the results of the lung function test that I did on Wednesday 22nd March 2023. Did they find anything? Sort of. What they found was that there is a 'fixed swelling' in my airways which is limiting what comes in and out of the lungs. Therefore, I now know where in the lungs that I am having the problem, the very top of them. I have made a return to the gym recently and I realised when doing one of my workouts how sensitive the top of my chest, just below my neck was starting to become. Therefore, I can confirm that these findings are true. 

My medication has seen many changes within the last year, however, so far, none of them have significantly improved my condition. However, I am expecting to receive a new inhaler that is especially designed to open my airways so that more air can get in my lungs. I have guarded hope that this inhaler will be the begining of the end of this long and difficult time in my life and allow me to do more in life.

I have been told many remedies for cold and flu symptoms over the years. For me, only two have really had an immediate effect on my cold and flu symptoms; Vapor-rub and Olbus oil. I've realised that the only other thing that I can do when I am struck by cold or flu is to be patient with it. Unfortunately I seem to catch colds more than the average person and they also last longer. Many have lasted at least a month. Why is all this important? Quite simply, it's the biggest single cause of my asthma.

I cannot wait to go out to the places that I normally visited before this asthma crisis started and go out to eat, socialize and explore. However, at the moment, I cannot go to far outside my home without losing my breath.

Finally, I want to thank my family, especially for their support and understanding during this difficult time, the doctors and nurses who have been understanding and professional with me at all times and the language partners via social media that I have had who have kept me going not just in my language learning journey but also given me some people to talk too during this difficult time. I am hoping that it is not too long before I can be well enough to go outside and enjoy the places that I used to go (and many more too!) 

Richard Davis