I have had asthma all my life. It was diagnosed when I was little more than an infant. I am now in my early 40s. Looking back to the bad old days, I really appreciate the advances made in asthma medication. I used to have to swallow some foul tasting, white powder called Rensop, which made me feel ill for hours, and take pills called Tedral, which made me shake. The aspaxadrine pump, which I used daily, will bring back memories for most asthmatics over 40. This device was a rather complicated affair made of glass and rubber; you poured a solution into it and squeezed the rubber handle to make a vapour. Again, this solution was a real shake-maker.When 1 was really bad, I was put on to quite long courses of steroids. I was on and off steroids for about eight years, and fortunately I did not suffer many side effects. I do have thin skin and bruise very easily now, which my doctor told me is a legacy of the amount of steroids I had to take.I was one of those weedy, sickly children who are usually portrayed in fiction as the teacher’s pet. In fact I barely knew any teachers, because I was bedridden for months at a time, propped up on pillows and wheezing more or less constantly. I missed a lot of school and while I had a good general knowledge, it was always a battle to try and keep up with my class. I was a determined child and I sat for and obtained my HSC with the same group I started out with 12 years previously. My school friends remember me as the classmate who was never there and recall they had to pray for my recovery during the times I was particularly unwell. I gather my parents were told by doctors I would be lucky to survive to adulthood.Most of my early memories are coloured by my chronic asthma. Looking back, I realize how awful it must have been for my parents and the rest of the family. My illness certainly curtailed family activities. Unless my grandparents could look after me, one of my parents always had to stay home, while the other one went out with my brothers and sister. If I was well enough to go out, we could not visit people who had cats ot lived in dusty, old houses. On one memorable occasion, when I was taken to afternoon tea in Canberra at the home of the Leader of the Federal Opposition, Dr Evatt, I disrupted the whole afternoon by having a massive asthma attack after sitting on a couch that was usually occupied by the family cat.I had scratch tests on my arm and was allergic to nearly everything. From about the age of five until I was 13, I had constant respiratory infections, contracted pneumonia a number of times and coughed incessantly. I remember finding life very tiring. I would often sit up half the night wheezing and coughing and then doze on and off during the day. I had no appetite and was very underweight. My father would try and help me put on weight by giving me glasses of Guinness Stout. I was quite partial to the stout until one day it arrived with a raw egg beaten into it, to try to get some nourishment into me. It was the most disgusting brew I have ever tasted and I still get goose pimples when I think of it.I kept waiting to grow out of asthma. People kept telling me I would. The years passed and the wheezing lessened, but did not go away. The aspaxadrine was replaced by a medihaler, which was replaced by Ventolin. By now I was an expert on asthma medication. At least Ventolin did not make me shake or tremble. I tried swimming at the baths, but I continually picked up ear and throat infections. I tried walking in the early morning, but the cold air would make me cough. So I swam in private pools and walked later in the day. I also bought a bike. I took up yoga, and tried meditation. All these activities helped make me stronger, but the asthma stayed with me. When I turned 20 and was still a chronic asthmatic, I decided I might have to learn to live with it for life. This was not a negative reaction, but rather a positive realization. I decided to beat asthma at its own game.And I have. I am still classified as a chronic asthmatic, but I describe myself as a controlled asthmatic. I do have the occasional lapse, but overall I stick to a fairly strict program and have done so for many years. I look after myself by eating a balanced diet, staying slim, exercising regularly, getting enough rest and avoiding as many asthma triggers as possible. I think I have increased my resistance to infection, which is one of my major triggers. In the past I would be hospitalized two or three times a year with asthma. I have not been to hospital for some years now except for a period last year when I had pneumonia.Until a few months ago I used Ventolin at least four to ten times a day. I have reduced this substantially since I have started on Becotide regularly. I will probably have to stay on Becotide for the rest of my life, but I have not had to use Ventolin for weeks, not even when I had a bad cold. I use my peak flow meter twice a day. I never miss testing my lung function by this simple and easy method. So far my peak flow reading has not gone down since I reduced the Ventolin dosage.I would like my experiences with asthma to serve as sources of encouragement for other asthmatics. I have been able to lead a full and active life, which has included two children and a career as a journalist. My emotional attitude toward my asthma is good; when I do become ill, I no longer see it as the end of the world. I don’t force myself to go on as I used to in the past. I increase my medication if necessary, rest, drink lots of liquid and avoid stressful situations whenever possible. (Obviously this is not always possible, and I have to admit that stress exacerbates my asthma.)It may have taken a long time, but I now apply common sense to coping with asthma. I see my asthma as a constantly lurking enemy, but an enemy who will never win the battle.*55\148\2*