I think I'm finally over two months of bronchitis.

My God, when it first started, I could not breathe. I have asthma from time to time, but this was something beyond my wildest nightmares. I could not inhale even enough to take a hit from my rescue inhaler. Gasping for breath. Scary, scary place to be. I prayed to God to please let me breathe, as my sister was on her way to take me to the emergency room (no insurance) for help. I was crying. I don't cry. They had treatments that helped, a lot. I left better, but not great. But at least I was coughing up stuff, nasty stuff.

This was mid April. A few doctor visits later, and a long, crazy long recovery, I think I'm finally ok. It's now early June. I still hit my inhaler once in a while. Still hit the special Symbicort inhaler once or twice a day. One last free sample of Singlair left.

But dammit. I can breathe now. I can take a deep breath. I can take several in a row. Feels soo good.

In that mix described above, left out was my use of cigarettes. The emergency room visit came four days after a night of chain smoking. That ended, of course, and I can't believe I'd ever pick up a cigarette again.

It is a horrible feeling to be unable to breathe. Worst thing I've ever felt.

And now it seems to be over. Hallelujah.

I mowed, with a push mower, a big back yard today, and didn't pant heavily afterwards.

And the thing to this all is, after eight weeks of no smoking, I still crave a smoke. Just one.

So far, I've been able to resist, bringing to mind the horrors of my recent past. But man, they taste so good.

Good enough to die for? Good enough to struggle to breathe? These are the things I ask myself when confronted with this craving. After eight weeks, surprised it is so strong, and almost clever.

Most insidious drug I've ever ingested. And I've ingested a few.

but I urge you....URGE you if you can to continue it.
I wouldn't be breathing as well as I am without it.
I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know.
Glad you are feeling better. :)

You can probably afford the Singulair if you aren't buying cigaretts. :shrug:

I also take an antihistamine, a decongestant, and Musinex DM...every day. I take the Musinex every day weather I think I need it or not. I was surprised how much that helps.
Albuterol is a good drug, but I only use it when absolutely necessary. I don't need it hardly at all if I take the Singulair.

About three weeks ago, I still wasn't breathing well and went to my primary doc (at least he was my primary doc when I had insurance) and he told me I'd had enough antibiotics, and gave me a month-long inhaler, Symbicort, and two free weeks of Singluair.

I'm not sure what caused me to feel so great and breathe so freely in the last week or two. Did the bronchitis finally leave me? Is it the Symbicort that makes me breathe so good now? Is it the Singulair? Do they even matter now? I don't know.

What I do know is that I can't afford either of them without insurance. I don't buy ciggs, but I do find myself in places from time to time where they are available.

I have one Singulair left. I'll take it today or tomorrow. I'll call my doc for help with getting more. I sound like such a bum these days. I used to have insurance, used to be able to talk to my doctor without feeling as though I'm asking him for some special treatment.

But you know what? After having known how it feels to struggle to take a breath, I'm sure I can just ask the doc, or whoever else, to just give me the stuff. How could they sleep knowing they refused?

At any rate, I'm guessing you think it is the Singulair that made all the difference. If that's true, that's what I'll shoot for getting.

not a doctor, and I don't want them to lock us for talking treatment.

just talk to the doc and see what he says.

feel free to PM me if you want.