...and had to leave work early today, because of it. See, it was Code Orange, today. Code orange means:
"Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" AQI (Air Quality Index) is 101 - 150. Although general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
Due to my severe case of asthma, and the fact that I have no health insurance yet (hurry up, Willy!!) and no emergency inhaler OR preventative medicine, I asked if I could leave early and trade with someone in the afternoon. See, I'm one of those people who's "at risk", which means I'm first in line for flu shots with all the senior citizens, and I face daily pain. It's great, really. Losing a ton of weight years back helped my asthma some, but, I've learned that my asthma isn't induced by exercise like many other overweight people. When I first got health insurance, with my first job, I was able to get myself tested by a doctor. She was shocked I hadn't done this before (amazing what you can live through!) because apparently I have the lung capacity of a 90 year old.
After getting Advair I was okay, but, since I've been without a full-time job for the past four months, I've been unable to have health insurance. Now that I'm married I'll get on Willy's plan, but these four months without preventative medicine have been hell. I got a severe allergic reaction at the nail salon when I got my nails done for the wedding, and not only did I break out in a bad case of hives from the wax job, but I also got an amazingly painful asthma attack. I honestly should have asked Willy to take me to the hospital, but damned if I was about to pay for an emergency room bill TWO DAYS before getting married. So I suffered through it, my lungs ached a bit throughout the weekend, but I lived.
Today, I didn't want to risk it. I was getting chest pain and lightheadedness in the greenhouse around 12, and by 1 I was downright loopy. Luckily I've switched places with another dude so I'll be working tomorrow morning to make up for today's lost hours, but seriously, it sucks so hard to be weak. And to not have the means to take care of it. This is another reason I'm so depressed about losing my job... it really did make life easier to live through. I need to find another full time position, and soon. Winter is coming, and my asthma is about ten times worse in the cold.
Anyone out there need a graphic artist? Damn it am I ever depressed.
2 comments:
Take care of that asthma dear. My wife has it, and when we were dating and first married she had two (I shit you not) 2 near death experiences with it. I was present for both and they scared me to death.
I take it lack of insurance is stopping you from getting advair? That's the drug that literally changed her life. Since she's been on it, she has not had a single hospital stay.
Prior to that - probably two stays per year.
I hope you are able to get back on it. When I was a dumbass kid we used to think asthma was a wimpy sort of bullshit excuse for kids that did not want to play sports. Turned out I was the one full of shit.
Good luck to you.
Yeah, I used to be on Advair. Since I was laid off I haven't had the means to get it... ugh.
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