if you've got asthma and you know it--

[aamcnamara]

Over the years, with my food allergies, I discovered a pattern--I'd find some awesome new pre-prepared food, I would love it, I'd eat it every day, and then one day it wouldn't be in the stores any more. The company would have stopped making it.

But today? Today was worse. I went to my allergist for a checkup, and he told me that they've stopped making my asthma inhaler.

Not because it has bad side effects (because it has practically no side effects). Not because it doesn't work (because it does). Because the company would have to reformulate the inhaler to meet legal requirements about CFCs, and basically not very many people use cromolyn sodium inhalers to treat their asthma anymore so it just isn't profitable enough for them to reformulate it.

(As a side note: I have no idea why anyone would ever want to get rid of this stuff. I mean, just look at this origin story.)

Which means that, because my asthma isn't bad enough to require a steroid-based treatment, I get to go back to using a nebulizer machine. Morning and evening. I used to use a nebulizer machine in the evenings, and when I was told that I could just use my inhaler all the time, it was so freeing.

Using a nebulizer machine takes five or six minutes. It's quite loud. It's very large and heavy. (I am informed that newer versions are quieter, smaller, and less heavy, but all three do still apply.) Using an inhaler takes less than a minute. It's almost silent. It fits in a pocket and barely weighs anything.

When I used a nebulizer machine, I couldn't stay up later than anyone else in my family without worrying about waking them up with the noise, even though I had my own room.

This news about the inhalers, of course, comes right as I am leaving for college. Where I will be, you know, living in the same room with someone else.

I think I just took three steps backward from being comfortable with myself as an asthmatic.

I know this is a capitalist country, but really?


Writing news, however, is better.

150 words on a story that now has a main character, who even has a name. I false-started this one a couple of times, but this beginning feels way more solid than anything else I've come up with.

Also, I printed out what I now fondly call the "dead people in lakes story" to go through.

Comments

[amberdine.livejournal.com]

Argh! I never liked the cromolyn sodium inhalers myself, but it never occurred to me that they were going to be discontinued! I was already really irked about the modification to albuterol inhalers. Do you use those at all?

This level of regulation is insane. People are dying because of it. Grrr.

[aamcnamara.livejournal.com]

Yep, albuterol is my rescue medicine in case of asthma attacks. I didn't notice any difference when they changed propellants, probably wouldn't even have noticed if no one had told me, so I've been fine with that. (Then again, I don't use the albuterol much because my asthma's been controlled so well with the cromolyn sodium, so I might have missed some downsides.)

It's a weird issue--because CFCs are so bad for the environment, and so obviously it's a good idea to stop producing more of them. Yet regulating them makes these sorts of things come up, where there really is no good option.

[kayjayoh.livejournal.com]

I totally noticed when the albuterol ones were reformulated, but that was because they were no longer generic and now cost an arm and a leg to get. I thank the heavens that my asthma is managable right now.

[aamcnamara.livejournal.com]

Ouch. Being on my dad's health insurance, I was able to skate on blissfully unaware of that facet.

One would think that, what with more people having asthma now than ever, there would be more cheaper alternatives available.

[kayjayoh.livejournal.com]

Well, that would require healthcare in the US to not be royally screwed up.

[browniecakemix.livejournal.com]

They stopped making all asthma inhalers? Period?

Oh girl you know the American disagnosis-happy public is not going to be putting up with that bullshit.

I give the period of time until its return to the market six months. A year tops.

[aamcnamara.livejournal.com]

No, just the Intal inhaler, which is the one I use for prevention.

They still make the steroid-based preventative inhalers, which is what most people with asthma use these days.

[shweta-narayan.livejournal.com]

GAH. This. Is what's wrong. With big-pharma medicine.
Right there.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you :(

You doubtless already thought about this but just in case -- do antihistamine pills do the preventative thing for you? I find that zyrtec, which is over the counter, does minor wonders on top of the steroid I use.

[aamcnamara.livejournal.com]

I had never thought of using antihistamine pills as a preventative. Huh. Do you take them regularly, or just when you'll be in a challenging situation?

[shweta-narayan.livejournal.com]

I used to only take them when I'd be in a challenging situation, but had an ear infection that was apparently exacerbated by sinus issues and now take 'em daily (I take the generic-brand equivalent of zyrtec, which is non-drowsy and stronger than claritin). I *think* this has generally helped my breathing.

[shweta-narayan.livejournal.com]

I should add, I now take them daily on doctor recommendation.

[aliseadae]

Argh! I'm sorry.

However I have nothing useful and advice-like to say.