I'm a nineteen year old university student on the Canadian Prairies studying human development and kinesiology and applied health. I plan to enter the fields of occupational therapy and asthma education in the future.
I was diagnosed with asthma when I was seventeen, and have had my share of ups and downs living with crazy lungs.
KerriOnThePrairies submitted a way to: Live with asthma
way to be well created 12.24.10
balancing your lungs and the 'real world'
Asthma never has to stop you, but it may take a little time and organization to get to that place where your asthma interferes with your life as little as possible [you know, putting ALL medication and asthma control issues aside!]
I'm a second year university student, I have a job a few hours a week, I work inclusion at my church's youth group with two girls in our junior high program who have varying developmental differences, I play with the Sunday School three year olds on Sunday mornings and, you know still need to blog, YouTube, sleep, eat, see my friends and maybe study and work out.
Asthma in the real world is nothing as easy as 'take your blue inhaler, you'll be fine' as a doctor once told me.
WORK/VOLUNTEERING
-tell your employer about your asthma, as well as any coworkers on a need-to-know basis as long as you're comfortable. If you have to call in sick, your asthma won't be a big shock to them!
-if you ARE sick and work part-time like I do, call in a day in advance and get them to line somebody up if at all possible. Less stress for all.
-keep your rescue inhaler in your pocket in case you need it. If like me you're not comfortable using it in front of people, it'll always be in your pocket so you can slip out to the bathroom and take it.
SCHOOL
-if your asthma is severe, you have frequent hospitalizations, or miss frequently due to doctor's appointments, tell your profs ahead of time
-find out what documentation is needed if you miss a due date, test, exam or marks for participation. Some profs reqire legit Doctors Notes, where as my kinesiology prof only needed to see my appointment slip to exempt me from requiring participation marks
-find a class buddy early in the semester. It's not as hard as it looks. Share e-mail addresses or cell numbers, and it's easy to catch on to what you've missed if you can get the notes!
-prepare for exams more than a few days ahead of time in case you get sick -- then you don't have to freak out
ASTHMA ORGANIZATION
-find out how much medicine your pharmaceutical coverage will allow you at once. [I can get three months of medicine at a time, which saves me pharmacy trips several times a month]
-scatter rescue inhalers in the areas you are most so you can find them easily when you need them
-keep track of your doctors appointment times/dates, appointments in general, and what goes on at them -- I find having quick paraphrased summaries on my specialist appointments helps a ton when I go see my primary care doctor so I can get her up to speed . . . with speed.
So, what are your tips for balancing your lungs and the real world?
I'm a second year university student, I have a job a few hours a week, I work inclusion at my church's youth group with two girls in our junior high program who have varying developmental differences, I play with the Sunday School three year olds on Sunday mornings and, you know still need to blog, YouTube, sleep, eat, see my friends and maybe study and work out.
Asthma in the real world is nothing as easy as 'take your blue inhaler, you'll be fine' as a doctor once told me.
WORK/VOLUNTEERING
-tell your employer about your asthma, as well as any coworkers on a need-to-know basis as long as you're comfortable. If you have to call in sick, your asthma won't be a big shock to them!
-if you ARE sick and work part-time like I do, call in a day in advance and get them to line somebody up if at all possible. Less stress for all.
-keep your rescue inhaler in your pocket in case you need it. If like me you're not comfortable using it in front of people, it'll always be in your pocket so you can slip out to the bathroom and take it.
SCHOOL
-if your asthma is severe, you have frequent hospitalizations, or miss frequently due to doctor's appointments, tell your profs ahead of time
-find out what documentation is needed if you miss a due date, test, exam or marks for participation. Some profs reqire legit Doctors Notes, where as my kinesiology prof only needed to see my appointment slip to exempt me from requiring participation marks
-find a class buddy early in the semester. It's not as hard as it looks. Share e-mail addresses or cell numbers, and it's easy to catch on to what you've missed if you can get the notes!
-prepare for exams more than a few days ahead of time in case you get sick -- then you don't have to freak out
ASTHMA ORGANIZATION
-find out how much medicine your pharmaceutical coverage will allow you at once. [I can get three months of medicine at a time, which saves me pharmacy trips several times a month]
-scatter rescue inhalers in the areas you are most so you can find them easily when you need them
-keep track of your doctors appointment times/dates, appointments in general, and what goes on at them -- I find having quick paraphrased summaries on my specialist appointments helps a ton when I go see my primary care doctor so I can get her up to speed . . . with speed.
So, what are your tips for balancing your lungs and the real world?
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