I've never been hospitalized for my asthma. I was diagnosed with asthma back in 1995 when I went to the emergency room in a bronchial spasm during a really hot and humid day that summer. I had been having trouble for a couple weeks prior to that (all hot and humid days). My oxygen saturation on their monitor showed 78% which wasn't at all good from what they told me. They gave me a respiratory treatment, a prescription for Ventolin and sent me home.

I saw my own doctor a week later and he started me on a steriod inhaler which I used for a few years and then weened myself off it. I was virtually symptom free of asthma for the most part....when I did get an "attack" (which was very rare), 2 puffs of Combivent did the job. This past few weeks for me this year has been horrible; possibly high allergens this year. Anyway I found myself in the ER one day last week in a very bad asthma attack that I couldn't get control of. It had been on going for 4 days, and peaked to the point I had to go and get some medical help.

They gave me a respiratory treatment, and sent me home with a steriod inhaler (Flovent). I've been using it twice a day for a week now, and my breathing has improved and I'm virtually symptom free again. I think this time I might need this steriod inhaler for life though.