A little while ago, I went to get a new prescription for my asthma medication. While I was talking to the doctor about my prescription, I asked her about how to make sure to take my medication regularly, something I've had doctors get mad at me for not doing even though it's executive dysfunction that makes me go off my medication and I really can't help it (I thought I'd blogged about that before, but all I could find was this).
She didn't give me any advice on that (which is too bad because I have the same problem with antibiotics) but instead she told me that I actually don't need to stay on my asthma medication if I have no symptoms. I thought the daily puffer (Flovent) was a preventative and the one I take during an actual asthma attack (Salbutamol) was a fast-acting symptom relief one. Which is technically true, but it turns out they actually do different things, whereas I thought they did the same thing over different time ranges. Flovent apparently reduces swelling, while Salbutamol stops spasms. Anyway, it turns out if I'm off both medications and breathing just fine, I don't need to take them - even the Flovent - but if I'm having to take the Salbutamol (and therefore, clearly having symptoms) I also need daily Flovent. So my instinct that I kept fighting against to only take my medications when I feel sick is actually right in this case.
What I really like about this doctor is that, unlike every other doctor I've seen for pretty much any physical problem, she treated me like a knowledgable person, who not only needs to know what to do but also needs to know why. Exactly how I'd treat a patient if I became a doctor. I love being treated like I'm capable of understanding things.
She didn't give me any advice on that (which is too bad because I have the same problem with antibiotics) but instead she told me that I actually don't need to stay on my asthma medication if I have no symptoms. I thought the daily puffer (Flovent) was a preventative and the one I take during an actual asthma attack (Salbutamol) was a fast-acting symptom relief one. Which is technically true, but it turns out they actually do different things, whereas I thought they did the same thing over different time ranges. Flovent apparently reduces swelling, while Salbutamol stops spasms. Anyway, it turns out if I'm off both medications and breathing just fine, I don't need to take them - even the Flovent - but if I'm having to take the Salbutamol (and therefore, clearly having symptoms) I also need daily Flovent. So my instinct that I kept fighting against to only take my medications when I feel sick is actually right in this case.
What I really like about this doctor is that, unlike every other doctor I've seen for pretty much any physical problem, she treated me like a knowledgable person, who not only needs to know what to do but also needs to know why. Exactly how I'd treat a patient if I became a doctor. I love being treated like I'm capable of understanding things.
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