I don't usually do this. And this post may make no sense at all, I am sorry.
I will attempt to give a bit of a back story.
Last March (2010) I was hospitalized for 10 days. 8 in ICU, almost 3 of those on a respirator and tube fed. I had double pneumonia despite getting all the preventative shots. Upon admission my O2 was 71 (supposed to be 95+).
When I was discharged, on full oxygen, I obviously had follow-up appointments. Out of those appointments, I was discovered I have a variation of COPD and a compromised immune system. (Just so you know, I have never smoked.)
It is so hard for me to be outside in public these days. Everyone smokes it seems. Yesterday, I was on campus and had to walk by so many smokers I had to have my girlfriend come pick me up from school (instead of riding the light rail home) and had an asthma attack shortly later. I do everything I can to avoid walking by them, but sometimes it is unavoidable like when smokers are smoking on train platforms (despite it not being allowed).
I speak up and I am considered mean or rude when I politely ask them to move back a bit (I need to sit a lot because of my immune system). I never asked for my lungs to be so sick, or even me. I just want to be healthy. I guess I never really was but all this has taken such a toll on me lately. I cannot even walk up stairs--even one flight.
I hate wearing a medic alert bracelet.
I feel so discouraged lately.
I'll shut up now. I'm supposed to be stronger than this.
I will attempt to give a bit of a back story.
Last March (2010) I was hospitalized for 10 days. 8 in ICU, almost 3 of those on a respirator and tube fed. I had double pneumonia despite getting all the preventative shots. Upon admission my O2 was 71 (supposed to be 95+).
When I was discharged, on full oxygen, I obviously had follow-up appointments. Out of those appointments, I was discovered I have a variation of COPD and a compromised immune system. (Just so you know, I have never smoked.)
It is so hard for me to be outside in public these days. Everyone smokes it seems. Yesterday, I was on campus and had to walk by so many smokers I had to have my girlfriend come pick me up from school (instead of riding the light rail home) and had an asthma attack shortly later. I do everything I can to avoid walking by them, but sometimes it is unavoidable like when smokers are smoking on train platforms (despite it not being allowed).
I speak up and I am considered mean or rude when I politely ask them to move back a bit (I need to sit a lot because of my immune system). I never asked for my lungs to be so sick, or even me. I just want to be healthy. I guess I never really was but all this has taken such a toll on me lately. I cannot even walk up stairs--even one flight.
I hate wearing a medic alert bracelet.
I feel so discouraged lately.
I'll shut up now. I'm supposed to be stronger than this.