So I'm not dying, I'm just tired.
Since everyone egged me on so much I decided to go to the doctor even at the risk of looking like a doof, and my respirologist was nice enough to see me this afternoon for a few minutes. I went in and ran down the facts: been feeling short of breath for days now, Symbicort not helping other than the very first time I took it, pneumonia last month. He sent me for a spirometry, listened to my heart and lungs, and then the following discussion ensued.
Doc: You're at 93% peak airflow, which is fine. The reason the inhaler isn't working is because your pathways are already maximally dilated.
Me: Okay, that's awesome news.
Doc: So I don't know what's wrong with you.
Me: That's not-so-good news.
Doc: I don't know. Your heart and lungs are fine but you're still short of breath. It isn't physical. I can't diagnose you, I'm not a psychiatrist. [Ooh, snap!] What are you stressed about?
Me: I don't think it's anxiety because even when I'm anxious that always goes away for a few minutes after having an orgasm, but without getting into TMI territory, let's just say that hasn't been working for the past few days. I'm still struggling to breathe during and after.
Doc: Hm. What about sleep? Are you sleeping?
Me: *laughs* I have a sixteen-month-old toddler and an autistic almost-five-year-old. What is this 'sleep' you speak of?
Doc: You need sleep. The worst possible thing you can do for your body is not sleep. Even Napolean Bonaparte said, 'I don't care if my troops are hungry, I don't care if my troops are cold, as long as they've had sleep.' I can prescribe you something to help you get to sleep at night.
Me: I can't take anything, I cosleep with the toddler. Taking sleep meds is a risk factor for overlying.
Doc: *sighs*
Me: Okay, so the important thing here is, I'm okay. I don't have a new or continuing pneumonia, my heart is fine, and I'm getting enough oxygen. So even though I feel like this, it's okay.
Doc: *sighs again* Continue to take the Symbicort and come back before your prescription runs out.
ETA: Oh yes, and yesterday I made naan from scratch to go along with the potato and chickpea curry, and it was all yummy.
Doc: You're at 93% peak airflow, which is fine. The reason the inhaler isn't working is because your pathways are already maximally dilated.
Me: Okay, that's awesome news.
Doc: So I don't know what's wrong with you.
Me: That's not-so-good news.
Doc: I don't know. Your heart and lungs are fine but you're still short of breath. It isn't physical. I can't diagnose you, I'm not a psychiatrist. [Ooh, snap!] What are you stressed about?
Me: I don't think it's anxiety because even when I'm anxious that always goes away for a few minutes after having an orgasm, but without getting into TMI territory, let's just say that hasn't been working for the past few days. I'm still struggling to breathe during and after.
Doc: Hm. What about sleep? Are you sleeping?
Me: *laughs* I have a sixteen-month-old toddler and an autistic almost-five-year-old. What is this 'sleep' you speak of?
Doc: You need sleep. The worst possible thing you can do for your body is not sleep. Even Napolean Bonaparte said, 'I don't care if my troops are hungry, I don't care if my troops are cold, as long as they've had sleep.' I can prescribe you something to help you get to sleep at night.
Me: I can't take anything, I cosleep with the toddler. Taking sleep meds is a risk factor for overlying.
Doc: *sighs*
Me: Okay, so the important thing here is, I'm okay. I don't have a new or continuing pneumonia, my heart is fine, and I'm getting enough oxygen. So even though I feel like this, it's okay.
Doc: *sighs again* Continue to take the Symbicort and come back before your prescription runs out.
ETA: Oh yes, and yesterday I made naan from scratch to go along with the potato and chickpea curry, and it was all yummy.