A failed experiment... possibly

[Queen]

Haven't said much about it other than the occasional complaint, but it looks as if our relocation to Florida is rapidly becoming a failed experiment.  We could live with the lack of culture and rude people, the beach was an excellent trade off... but a double whammy is hitting us now.  

The lack of expanded medicaid (ACA accessibility), is squashing our early retirement dreams. And completely unexpectedly, my asthma is out of control here.  I'm on five different asthma meds but it can't control the breathing issues.  Since February I've been spending part of every single day gasping for breath, it is so very tiring, both physically and mentally.

We're trying to decide what's next and first and foremost on the list is to return to our hometown in Illinois.  It would put us back into the best healthcare plan I've ever seen, slow the asthma issues (they are seasonal there), and my wife will just stop telecommuting and go back to her office to work.

We would still get a van to convert for travel (my beloved is now 100% on board with this and excited about it), maybe it wouldn't be so bad?  We could still get away from winter once we retire.

So, we plan.

 

[SoulRaven]

That really sucks. Hope you find somewhere that works out for you!

 

[phillipaaron]

I recently went back to Texas and Asthma that hadn't been an issue for years came back with a horrible vengeance and I mean bad. The doctors put me on some steroids for a few days and put started me on singular. Man, that singular did the trick. I went from using my inhaler 5+ times a day to nothing.

I hope you get it straightened out quickly. Not being able to breath makes for a miserable life. Stay positive!

 

[Queen]

Thanks, Phillip.  I'm on singulair, two steroid inhalers, allergy pills, and a rescue inhaler.  It's just ridiculous how bad it got so quickly!  I'm trying to stay upbeat about it and keep thinking once the pollen dies down (they keep saying "soon") it will pass.  Fingers crossed

 

[phillipaaron]

Dang, was hoping you weren't on the singulair and it would be an option. *Fingers and Toes Crossed*

 

[SoulRaven]

I'm on singulair, two steroid inhalers, allergy pills, and a rescue inhaler.  It's just ridiculous how bad it got so quickly!  I'm trying to stay upbeat about it and keep thinking once the pollen dies down (they keep saying "soon") it will pass.  Fingers crossed

If you haven't yet, you might want to consider something like this:



When fitted right it forms a complete seal and will filter out pretty much all the pollen so you don't inhale it.

Feels pretty stupid to wear, but compared to not breathing it can be preferable. I have to wear one of these with chemical cartridges when I go out and about and while it's not ideal, it makes life doable for me in environments where I can't breathe otherwise.


I've been on some of those and that's freakin' intense! Take care, we want you alive dammit!

 

[rvpopeye]

You might try another warm state to see how you do there.
Maybe even a little tour through most of them on the way back to your old home , you might not have to make the whole trip before you find a winner !

Try doing a web search for the map of states that have allowed medicaid expansion.

 

[Queen]

If you haven't yet, you might want to consider something like this:



When fitted right it forms a complete seal and will filter out pretty much all the pollen so you don't inhale it.

Feels pretty stupid to wear, but compared to not breathing it can be preferable. I have to wear one of these with chemical cartridges when I go out and about and while it's not ideal, it makes life doable for me in environments where I can't breathe otherwise.


I've been on some of those and that's freakin' intense! Take care, we want you alive dammit!

I actually have one of those, I use it for cleaning the bathroom.  Might haul it out and wear it a bit around the house just to give myself a break.

 

[Crabbyjerry]

Hi, just watched a house hunter international show that the woman lived in Florida and could not breathe. It was due to the high amount of pecan pollen in the air. Never heard of this till last night but they moved to Italy and she has been fine. Maybe that is what you are allergic too?

 

[Queen]

Could very well be, I've never been around pecan pollen before. Maybe I should move back to Italy! LOL

 

[poncho62]

Think about Arizona.....thats the place for asthma sufferers go to breathe

 

[WriterMs]

I don't have asthma (though as a kid, doctors told me I had "bronchial asthma" whatever that is). But I can empathize because all my life I've had severe respiratory allergies. Born and raised in the southern tip of IL myself, between the rivers (the armpit of America).

In the Seattle area, the last allergy specialist I saw said one of my big problems is that there are things I'm allergic to in each season... my immune system does not get a break.

The best places for me have been in very dry air that does not have a lot of "dust." Which means for me in higher elevations of NM, UT, MT, etc.

Have you spent time in high and dry air to gauge how it might affect you?

 

[Queen]

Yeah, we've lived in AZ and NM, so they are on the list of places to spend extended time when we're done working. Right now my honey's choices (per her telecommuting contract) are FL or IL. At least in IL we get a killing frost so that's a bit of a break.

 

[Ella1]

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time--not being able to breathe is no fun. I hope you find a safe place to be. You didn't mention O2.
When the EMTs were here, they ran the nebs through O2, and it made a huge difference. They hooked it up to my larger tank by my bed for emergency use.
You didn't say anything about prednisone, either, I don't think. Maybe consider it, even a low dose on bad days...
Since that flu several months ago, I've been worse than I've ever been, and on O2 almost constantly. Tomorrow I get a heart test--2DEcho, to find out if there is heart involvement in this. I hope this isn't the new normal.
I've started looking for at least occasional help in case...
I have one of those masks, too. but can't use it without running O2 through it. I stay home. Traveling is just too difficult.
Are you using a nebulizer? I've had to several times a day rather than the inhalers, and it makes a big difference. I've started carrying my portable one even into dr offices for just in case.
Best wishes.

 

[Queen]

Thanks, Ella. I've got three doc appointments next week, I'm expecting prednisone and a nebulizer to come home with me. I'm going to meet an allergist and subject myself to testing again... if they can get this figured out, I'd really rather not move. It's costs so much money to move and I'd rather have it to covert the van.

 

[Ella1]

Again, best wishes. Are you both fragrance free (FF)? Those chemicals could be causing respiratory and other problems. Though I am FF, my pulmonary system is so compromised... anyway, I avoid them as much as I can.
If you come back to AZ, I'm in Tucson.

 

[Queen]

Again, best wishes. Are you both fragrance free (FF)? Those chemicals could be causing respiratory and other problems. Though I am FF, my pulmonary system is so compromised... anyway, I avoid them as much as I can.
If you come back to AZ, I'm in Tucson.

We are FF, since my wife is also asthmatic we follow all the protocols.  Just this never ending pollen here in FL.

We lived in Tucson while my honey did some work at the Desert Museum and the university, so pretty there!

 

[Queen]

So, the experiment is done. We're in the process of reversing our move and heading back to Illinois. No idea what the future holds but once my lungs get a chance to heal all options are on the table.

 

[Hippiechk]

Good luck with the move!!

For me it's the humidity in Florida. I moved there from Illinois in the mid 90s & did okay. Went back a few years ago and after 2 months I was near dead & had to head back north & West.

 

[Queen]

Thanks HC. It's painful to have a dream die so completely, but this has wrecked my health, so it's time to regroup and go from there. I've asked my wife if, once our FL place sells, we can put "the road" back on the table, and she's amenable to that. YAY!!!