Vent about your health

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Edit: Okay, this got LONG. I'm not even going into the other health issues I deal with, but as long as this is the VENT thread about health, here's mine.

TL;DR: I have asthma. It is bad. It is made worse by the habits of others. It really sucks.

Asthma since childhood. Most of the time it's under control. It's pretty bad, but having dealt with it since childhood, I've done pretty dang well. I use nutrition as my first line of defense, herbs as my second (I studied herbs extensively, learned what reduces inflammation, thins mucus, fights infections), and medications last because I have pretty bad reactions to most of them- rescue inhalers at least only cause me mild problems. I use them if I have to breathe, of course. I've approached it from every angle, done so much research, and my doctors have been really helpful. Unfortunately, steroids, often given for asthma because it reduces inflammation in the airways, cause serious problems with my depression- steroids have been seen to cause mood disorders, and in fact my docs believe it's why my depression is what it is and untreatable- but you have a choice... breathe or not? And I can't take steroids unless I have no choice, because of the physical problems they cause me- pain, a lot of pain, like sunburn under my skin, sore joints, and a stomach like clay... it's like having a really bad flu. So I have to do what I can and be ever vigilant about keeping away from things that make my asthma react. Cats, chemicals, mold/mildew, perfume, and tobacco smoke.

And people wonder why I won't take public transportation.

Growing up, I was in and out of hospitals often, and I could not partake in most physical activities, or walk up a flight of stairs without stopping to catch my breath. Now, I can walk a mile (not easily, but I can), and I can work out for 40 minutes if I take my inhaler first. Swimming is also a wonderful activity, of course, but I've no pool and the water downstairs at the beach is very crowded, and mostly surfing-only.

Unfortunately, my asthma is extremely tobbaco-smoke reactive, and smokers are everywhere. Everywhere. And since it's legal and an addiction, it's really difficult to approach what might be an otherwise considerate person and ask them, for instance, not to smoke outside my window. Most are just so defensive- just like with any addiction, and just like anyone who does something a lot of people probably give them shit for. I love when I run into a considerate smoker. But usually it's not that way. I walk everywhere because I don't have a car, and it does keep my lungs stronger- physical exercise is a must, even though I have breathing problems through it- it's worse without it. So I walk, someone lights up in front of me, and I can't help that it gives me a coughing fit, and it can land me in the ER. But I've yet to see a smoker see this happen and say, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see someone there." Generally, they give me shit for it, assuming I'm faking, and are assholes about it. I don't fancy having a coughing fit while I'm walking my child around, but it happens. My daughter is only 3 and she knows so well, that she alerts me- "Mama, smokers!" and "Mama, smoke's coming in the window!"

I avoid it as much as possible. If I see someone smoking, we stop and wait til the wind blows, or change direction, or whatever I can, but I can't avoid it all the time. You just can't. It doesn't even have to be THE smoke. Residue does it- if it's on someone's cloeths. The air in someone's lungs who just smoked does it. Someone smokes and then talks to me, I have run the other way. If someone just smoked, and comes into a store, and walks down my aisle, again, I either can't breathe or have a coughing fit. And sometimes, my lungs simply seize up, and stop working. No coughing, just no breathing.

GAH!! I'm so sick of it!! Stupid lungs. And stupid toxic smoke.

But this isn't an anti-smoking post, it's just what I have to deal with. But I'm so damn sick of someone else's habits making me sick. I think anyone would be. No matter how it was happening.

I have a respiratory infection right now because someone downstairs keeps smoking and I run and close my windows, but it's gotten in already, and my lungs can't take it. And what can I do? They're outside their own apartment, or in it, and have every right. I would like the right to breathing cleaner air, but I can't do a damn thing about it. Thank gods for the ocean breeze, I can't imagine how much worse it would be.

The salt air helps, too.

Basically, I need to live where there are no people around. People mean cigarette smoke at some point. And it's summer- windows need to be open, I have a child in here, dammit.

So depressing. I know if I had a car (which I can't possibly afford), I'd never walk anywhere, I'd drive around with windows up and A/C on. When I am in a car, and someone lights up or is smoking in their car near me, I do have to do that, anyway. And on the freeway and in parking garages because of car exhaust.

I cannot imagine what it must be like to have lungs that are unaffected by cigarette smoke. Must be amazing to walk around wherever you want and your friends can smoke, and you don't have to run for clean air. (ETA- in case this comes across wrong, I don't WANT to be around smoke, but I'm tired of it making me run the other way, since it is almost everywhere people are.)

Must be fecking amazing to wake up breathing all the time.