So, I'm on a steroid inhaler.

[fvfanmc]

Originally Posted by Briandg

It's been going on for over 30 years, mike. It's got nothing to do with smoking. I've only been smoking cigars regularly for about 12-14 years, and don't smoke heavily. It's probably been caused by continuous bronchitis infections. I'm going to get a chest xray later this summer.

Last week, I was sitting in a chair, heaving and struggling just to get a breath, my lungs were crackling and bubbling like a garbage disposal. My parents always told me that twice when I was a baby, I got bronchitis/pneumonia, and nearly died. Since that time, I've had nightmarish allergies and intermittent asthma. At this point, I'm sure I'd be diagnosed with copd.

I'm sure that if I can get it under control for now, I'll be fine. It's just going to be a matter of being able to breathe again. Just a few years ago, I could run.

When I was 6 months old, I had bronchitis/whooping caugh at the same time. I was sent to an isolation hospital and placed in an oxygen tent. In 1950, finding a cure was difficult. I got lucky and survived. I wound up later in life with some allergies and some breathing problems but nothing very serious. Again, got lucky. That is why I get a pneumonia vaccine every 5 years.