The hospital where I'm doing clinicals has been offering a lecture series that usually runs while I'm at work on Thursdays. Since I was off last night (worked 3rd shift Wed-Thurs instead), I decided to go catch the final one about asthma.

Most of it, I already knew either from experience or from nursing school. But there was new stuff too, and I'm very glad I went. #1 on the list is that my asthma is under nowhere near as good of control as I'd been thinking, and if I don't get a handle on it, then I'll really know how out of control it is. Grabbed a card and am going to ask for a referral to the pulmonologist who gave the lecture. I already knew she was the #1 in the area, but after hearing her talk, I can tell she'd also be a good fit. She's very into using the minimum meds possible, focusing on environmental modification whenever possible, and individualizing treatment even if it means arguing with the insurance company about what really fits the patient. These are awesome qualities in my book. First I need to track my rescue inhaler use, though, so my PCP has data on which to base a referral, and I've been bad about that.

#2 is a very close second, which is that if you use the ProAir rescue inhaler, which I do, you need to soak the plastic housing once a week, whether you use it or not, as it will get all kinds of gunked up. Lo and behold, no wonder I've felt I wasn't getting as good of relief from it! Nobody, including the pharmacist, told me this, and stupid me didn't read the package insert, assuming I know how to use a bloody inhaler.

#3 was a reminder of something I already knew: nothing is going to get better until I saturate the entire bathroom with bleach fix the ongoing mildew problem. And reacquaint myself with the vacuum cleaner. Can I write off maid service as a medical expense? Oh, wait. First I'd need to cough up the cash for it. Never mind.