The Bean Blog

Foggy Albuterol brain

Jul 18, 2008 A day in our life

I’ve been having some not so smart moments lately. I blame my asthma. All that Ventolin has gone straight to my brain and killed off some brain cells.

First, my bluetooth headset died a sad, watery death. The kids and I were at the pool (as we are at least three times a week). I took off my headset in preparation for heading in to the pool to hang out with the kids. I lathered each of the kids up with sunscreen and they all ran off. Then I lathered myself up and I realized I had nobody to get my back. So I grabbed my headset (because it was easier than searching through my bag for my phone) and called Lee. He was supposed to be meeting us at the pool and I wanted to know how close he was; if I should wait for him to come slick up my back with sunscreen or if I should just go ahead and perform some contortionist routine to try to reach every inch. I was hoping for the former because there were a lot of people at the pool and god forbid I look like some weirdo trying to save myself from all things hot and crispy.

But Lee didn’t answer. So instead I began my circus routine. And I think I did a very good job, thank you very much.

Then I made my way to the pool. I like to start at the shallow end. Our city pools were all redone in the last few years and they have these zero-entry, um, entrances (like a beach). So I started there, getting my toes wet. Then I moved further in letting my ankles feel the cold water. Eventually my knees were covered. Followed by my hips. I tend to be a total wimp about getting in to the pool. The water is cold and I’m not to thrilled with cold water. The kids just dive right in and they are good for the rest of the afternoon. Not me. I like to ease my way in.

Eventually I made my way over to the kids. By that point I was about armpit deep in the water. We were splashing around. They kept getting out and then diving back in. I was just floating around watching them.

Then I realized…I still had my headset in. Oops. I ripped it off my ear. I hadn’t put my head underwater yet so I was hoping it would be ok. I gave it to Skyler and asked her to run it back to our bag. We’ll just let it dry out and see how it goes. I’m sure it will be fine.

Well it’s been almost a week and the thing is still dead as a doornail. I think I need to come to grips with the fact that my old bluetooth is no more. I’ve been wearing dark clothes in mourning.

If that wasn’t bad enough, I went and lost (one of) my Ventolin inhalers. I’ve been have an asthma “episode” for a couple of weeks now. I had been so good with my asthma. No inflammations in quite some time. I was only using my inhaler when I worked out. I was doing so well my doctor reduced my medication.

And now I can’t breath.

I don’t think it’s due to the reduction in medication though. I think it’s due to the flooding and the fact that Lee and I went “in the zone” and took some pictures. With the windows down. Which totally gave me a headache. It smells that bad. Imagine everything you own covered in sludgy, poopy, oily water…for five days. Yeah, that’s exactly what it smells like.

I’ve been trying to put off going to the doctor because I’m really cheap. I’d have to pay my $15 co-pay not to mention having to take the time to actually call the doctor. And then drive to the doctor. And then sit in the office. (Granted I live about five minutes from my doctor and they always get me right in, but still.)

But my breathing has been getting worse and worse. I’ve been using my peak flow monitor (which measures how much air I can get out) and it’s been, well, not good to put it mildly. It’s gotten to the point where I’m using my inhaler several times a day and I wake up in the middle of the night with coughing fits. (I can’t tell you how much Lee enjoys that.)

Two nights ago I woke up in the middle of the night, reached for my inhaler, took a puff and then placed it on my stomach while I waited the minute you are supposed to take before you take your next puff. Only I’m a really heavy sleeper and I was only half awake to even get that one puff in. So within that minute I fell asleep.

When I woke up the next morning and reached for my inhaler for a little albuterol breakfast, it wasn’t there. I strained my brain trying to figure out when I used it last. I remembered using it the night before but I was already in bed. I’m sure I put it back on the nightstand. Where else would I have put it.

Then I remember the middle of the night hacking. I searched the sheet and blanket for my inhaler. Nothing.

I searched the floor by my bed. Nothing.

What the heck?

I was tired of looking so I headed downstairs to use my “desk inhaler.” (I have inhalers stashed all over the house. I have a purse inhaler, a desk inhaler, a couch inhaler and a nightstand inhaler. I’ve been thinking about adding a kitchen inhaler just to be safe.) Last night I tried to look again because I knew I’d need it in the middle of the night and if I didn’t have one close I’d end up breaking a leg trying to make my way down the stairs in the midst of labored breathing and sleep-depravity. But I still couldn’t find it. Then I got on the floor on all fours, nose running (because it does that when I bend over…still) and looked under the bed. And there it was. Nestled in the carpet halfway under the bed. I’m thinking I must have turned on my side, flung the inhaler against the wall and it flew under the bed.

Hopefully I won’t have to worry about the effects of albuterol brain soon because I finally went to the doctor yesterday. I’m now on the highest doses of Prednisone I’ve ever been on (but don’t worry, I’m taking in my calcium to counteract the bone issues) and I’ve been instructed to stay as far as I can from the flood clean-up (which I have been ever since the picture taking event anyway). So hopefully I’ll be back to my normal intelligent (?!?) self soon.

And I bought a new bluetooth headset to go with my new Blackberry Curve and I’m pretty darn thrilled about them both.

Related posts:

1. The flu shot tried to kill me Every year my doctor tries to convince me to get...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Tags: albuterol, asthma, Blackberry Curve, bluetooth headset, brain drain, pool, swimming, ventolin