Never take for granted!!!

Never take for granted being able to breathe easily and without thought. Or taking an evening walk with your family.

For about the last week I have felt pretty good. Monday and Tuesday I actually got up the energy to take Ellie walking. Of course this required neb treatments before and after and some puffs of proventil during. It was just a short walk.....walked on the dock, sat and rest and enjoyed the view and came back.

So simple but such a big deal to me. Some days getting to the bathroom causes me to gasp for breath and even taking Ellie outside to potty is something my dad has to do. Some days I spend more time hooked to machines than free.

I see so many things people take for granted that don't come easy to me. I haven't been able to run since I was like 15. Due to my heart and lungs my exercise tolerance is very bad. And thanks to worsening lung diease it seems like I spend more time short of breath and gasping for air.

So you see that simple thing of taking the dog for a walk is HUGE for me!

Consider this....I take enzymes to digest my food, metformin to regulate my insulin levels, breathing treatments to open my airways, vest treatments to clear my lungs, anti-depressants to regulate those chemicals, medicine to keep from puking. Meds for pain (tylenol and motrin usually everyday) because something always hurts. And I really should be taking meds to regulate my heartrate but can't tolerate them.

In the fall and winter due to my immune system and lungs if you see me out you will notice I am wearing a mask. Its a choice between never leaving home and wearing a mask and even then my trips out are rather limited during cold and flu season (about 8 years ago I caught the flu despite having a flu shot and ended up with double pneumonia and 104 temp)

All the things your body does on its own. Try making sure you have your pills everytime before you eat. Or making sure you always have an inhaler and epipen with you in case your lungs chose to shut down on you....I'm very sensitive to chemicals...cleaning stuff, perfume, smoke and it takes very little to shut my lungs down. My body has a hard time fighting infections off...a cold could land me in the hospital because of my lungs and immune system

Thats my reality

Trust me don't take simple things for granted. Please. When you count your blessings count being able to take a deep breath and being able to take a walk.