It got to the point where I was hospitalized every month, sometimes for 13 days in the ICU. It was then that I decided I needed to find a way to get better for my kids.
My turning point
Someone close to me suggested I go to the Temple Lung Center. She kind of kicked me in the pants and told me, “You’ve got to beat this.” With her encouragement and research, I learned about Dr. Stewart at the Temple Lung Center at Oaks.
After the first few visits, we tried some biologic medications. Instead of treating symptoms, biologics work to target different molecules in the body that cause asthma. And Dr. Stewart studied my lungs. He saw I had a really severe form of asthma, which I had no knowledge of before. I just thought it was asthma, but apparently there are different categories. Dr. Stewart and his team helped me learn a lot more about my disease.
It was at that point that Dr. Stewart referred me to Dr. Shenoy, and that’s when I learned about bronchial thermoplasty. It’s a procedure that opens up your lungs so you can breathe again. When they said I would be a candidate for that, it was exciting and scary. Ultimately, that is what gave me my life back.
A life-changing procedure
Dr. Shenoy did the bronchial thermoplasty in three parts. The way I understand it is they use a little device and they actually reduce the bronchial muscles that shrink the airway. And it gets rid of all that phlegm and mucus to keep your air flowing better.
My last procedure was over a year ago, and I haven’t been hospitalized overnight since. Now, when I’m experiencing wheezing or the typical asthma symptoms, I can still breathe through it.
Even with an asthma attack, I’m not as scared. I don’t have to call the paramedics. And it allowed me to plan. I can plan my life; go to family events and activities. I can attend my kids’ soccer games. I can support my daughter who cheers. And that alone gives me hope that I’ll be able to fully get back to work.
