So today I seen the actual pulmonary verses nurse practitioner there.
So Pulmonary specialist comes in. Says I have spongy windpipes in my lungs (bronular tubes)...and sticky mucus. (Usually you see one or the other.) That I must have a high tolerance for pain. Because most are miserable and I don't appear to be. Wait for it. He wants me to change my cough. (Mind you I'm coughing like he told me to when I came here a few years back.) He learned a better technique. So I'm to cough.. when I don't feel like I need to cough. Because I'm dry down there as well.
Cough and swallow. I feel silly doing it. But...I've actually coughed up stuff from my lungs. So...maybe not so silly after all.
Suggested I get a flu shot. I'm more susceptible to have worse case scenario to anything respiratory.
It shouldn't come as a shock that my respiratory is impared/weak. This is something I will have to deal with. But learning this new technique will help clear my lungs. Making them stronger.
No steroids...just cough.
Keep avoiding triggers and get your lungs clear.
Those are his orders.
He was surprised I didn't need pain meds. I told him my lungs felt fine. And it was hard to believe they were coated in a sticky mucus. He said...that is the trigger to the cough. Trying to clear the lungs. And my windpipes flatten during a cough. Making it practically impossible with sticky mucus. So...during a cough that I feel I need to cough. I'm to fight it but let it come. This will possibly force my windpipes to not close so tightly by not having such a hard cough. Controlling airflow. But it seems foolish. But...is working so. Guess not so foolish.
He said this is the new norm. And I said I went a year and a half without steroids. He said let's try for two next time. But this is the new you.
And to get a flu shot. My respiratory is compromised. I don't need set backs of illnesses that can cause complications. People with asthma and compromised respiratory can die from the flu. That pulled the rug out from under me. He lost his bedside manners today. And was brutally honest.
That was my day. Oh ..and almost two hours from home...and my breaks locked up getting there. Three traffic lights from the doctor. I heard a noise. Jeep starred pulling to the left. Get to the parking lot and it smelled hot. But temp gauge was normal. Step out to investigate and my tire is smoking. So a tow truck ride home. Mechanic said pins fell out of the break.
Long day.
Just blessed I wasn't stranded along a road. But at the parking lot of the Pulmonary. Still made my appointment and didn't have to reschedule. I'm clearing my lungs finally. Because nothing ever came up before. So that's a move in the right direction.