Just Breathe

Breathing is pretty important, you need to be able to do it for just about everything. The only times it seems to be a bad idea it underwater with out a scuba tank, or when you are in a room with poisonous gases. And even then you need air you just cannot get it at the moment.
Personally I envy each and every one of you who can breathe normally. Who can talk and sing without any impediment at all. That for me just is not possible because of my asthma. Now I don't go about wheezing and for the most part I can play sports, sing when I want, etc and get by with a normal dry cough. Except that at times it can get so bad that I cannot even speak two words with out going into a coughing fit or I cant breathe deep enough to string a few notes, than it is readily apparent that I have asthma. Often times I wonder if people think I am sick and just need to get some meds or if I could shut up and go get some water to get rid of my cough. I am extremely self conscious of my cough. And it is pretty embarrassing when you are dancing with someone, having a good time, and you just cough full in their face....I tell ya nothing kills a dance faster than that.

But to keep with my Chaplain chain of thought. I have really noticed that in the hospital I cough more. It is due to stress/anxiety and it really bothers me as I do not want patients to think I will get them sick. I could wear a mask I suppose but it really inhibits the rapport between two people when you have one of those on your face. At least I can wear a normal one and not have to wear the Darth Vader mask. But if I think about it so far no one has grimaced or pulled away when I cough to the side and so maybe it is all superficial or I am just being too sensitive. I don't know but I have often wondered what my friends have thought. So what have you thought of my coughing? Did you know I had asthma?