I have had to do what I hoped I would never need to do - I have had a doc's home visit and will be taking prescription meds.
The birch pollen allergy caused a COPD exacerbation which immobilised me.
Acute Exacerbations of COPD | Doctor | Patient.co.uk
"Common pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, particulates, sulphur dioxide and ozone may also trigger exacerbations."
I have decided that prescription meds may well shorten my life but at least they are likely to improve the quality of the life I have left.
So I am back on that daily blue pill inhaler I had 5 years ago (Spiriva) and a short course of steroids to clear residual inflammation.
Steroids are the worst sort of poison - I watched my mother die slowly with diabetes and osteoporosis due to long term steroid use - but two weeks is less likely to cause me much harm.
I have already reduced my smoking to 4 a day and will have to give up if I get that flat in Clayton ('no pets, no smokers') but I haven't found it hard to do - when you struggle to breathe the desire to inhale smoke seems so very unimportant.
So I have joined the ranks of the medicated elderly
- I can't say I am glad that I need to resort to medical intervention - but needs must.
I may well start a campaign to have silver birch trees removed from residential areas.
