Kid asthmatics love their respiratory therapists

The final asthma comic I did was not supposed to be my last.  However, after I wrote this one the comic budget was cut and no further comics were made.  Sad!  It was such fun doing these.  Plus I had not even gotten into the Goofus and Gallant Asthmatic posts that I had initially planned to do.  I eventually did write some posts with these characters, although these weren't as fun as the comics would have been.

This last post was based on a true story.  I was sitting here in the RT Cave when one of my senior coworkers (her name was Joella), said to me, "You know what!  I remember one night...," What she told triggered my memory and the idea for my last comic.  You can read the accompanying post, "Kid Asthmatics love Their Respiratory Therapists."

While hospitalized with asthma symptoms as a child, I encountered many different respiratory therapists -- some more warm and compassionate than others. Years later, he discovers that one of his co-workers
had left a special impression on him. Illustrated by Dash Shaw. Originally published at healthcentral.com/asthma.

The Doubting Thomas Asthmatic

Some adults just contribute the gradually increasing shortness of breath to aging.  So when they present to the emergency room, and you offer an asthma remedy, they doubt they have a need for it.  They probably would not even have sought help if not for the insistence of their wives.  They are, no doubt, your prototypical Doubting Thomas Asthmatics.  While I came up with the idea, it was my publisher who came up with this name.  You gotta love it!  You can probably throw COPDers into this category as well.

You can read the accompanying article: "Doubting Thomas Asthmatic: The Modest Asthmatic."

The Doubting Thomas is an adult with asthma symptoms or who has recently been diagnosed with asthma who just doesn't believe that asthma is their problem, and they may avoid treatment because of their doubt. But Rick Frea knows what to do with them. Illustrated by Dash Shaw.  Originally published at healthcentral.com/asthma. 

Some asthmatics are good actors

Carrie would come into the hospital and every doctor, nurse and respiratory therapist knew she was exaggerating it for attention. What was it this time? Was she fighting with her husband? Was she getting our of some work she didn't want to do? Was she stressed? Regardless, we all knew she was exaggerating.

And, lo and behold, she was admitted with exaggeration of asthma.  My publisher preferred the name actor, and so it became actor asthmatics. Thus was the theme for cartoon #7.  You can read the accompanying article: "Exaggeration of Asthma."

Carrie would cough, wheeze and frown to get out of unpleasant tasks and make other people feel guilty. It worked, but her poor asthma care also hurt her lungs, permanently. Illustrated by Dash Shaw. Originally published at healthcentral.com/asthma.

The phlegmatic asthmatic

There was an asthma kit I received when I was 14 with a game a comic book and an asthma game that taught you how to deal with an asthma attack.  One of the things it mentioned was the wet noodle technique to help you relax. You just basically pretend you are a wet noodle and go limp. It was actually a nice way of teaching kids to work on relaxation techniques, or to be more like a peaceful phlegmatic asthmatic.  Thus was the topic of comic strip #6. You may also read the accompanying post: "The Phlegmatic Asthmatic."

John Bottrell has had asthma so long that it has become a normal part of his life. As a child, he used the "wet noodle" technique to keep calm during an asthma attack. It works, but he's learned that asthma management is even better. Illustrated by Dash Shaw. (Originally published at healthcentral.com/asthma)

How to spot a bronchodilatoraholic

Bronchodilatoraholics often hide when puffing, as they do not want to seek attention or sympathy. While hardluck asthmatics may rely on their inhalers regardless that they are gallant asthmatics, it's still a good idea to know how to spot a bronchodilatoraholic, especially if the bronchodilatoraholic is a goofus asthmatic and is abusing the inhaler. You can read the accompanying article how to spot a bronchodilatoraholic.  Otherwise, here is comic strip #5.

Do you sleep with your inhaler under your pillow? Do people call you "puffer head?" Do you have inhalers hidden all over your home? If you do, you just might be a bronchodilatoraholic. Here are 31 signs that you might be overusing your quick-relief asthma inhaler.

The Bronchodilatoraholic

I first heard the term bronchodilatoraholic from fellow asthmatic and friend, Stephen Gaudet.  He mentioned it in one of his blog posts at breathinstephen.com. I think the general definition was initially intended to refer to asthmatics who rely heavily on bronchodilators.  My publisher, on the other hand, defined it as asthmatics who abuse their inhalers.

So this was my first disagreement I had with my publisher.  I insisted that being dependent on, and abusing, are two different things.  In the end, especially considering I was new to the business at the time, she won. The term bronchodilator became synonymous with depended on and abuser of inhalers. 

Regardless, the term was one of 11 types of asthmatics.  You can also read about my confession: Confessions of a recovering bronchodilatoraholic.  You can also learn how to spot a bronchodilator, although you'll have to be vigilant, because often they surreptitiously puff.  And if you do find yourself puffing frequently, you are not alone. 

John Bottrell had long overused (and sometimes abused) his quick-relief asthma inhalers, joining the ranks of asthmatics known as bronchodilatoraholics. Find out how he broke the habit. Illustrated by Dash Shaw. (Originally published at healthcentral.com/asthma.)

Meet Joe Goofus, the bad asthmatic

I really enjoyed writing about Joe Goofus, the asthmatic who does everything wrong.  I really wanted to write more posts about him.  He was the topic of comic strip #3. You can read the accompanying article about the bumbling asthmatic: "Meet Joe Goofus: The Asthmatic You Don't Want To Be (But Probably Are).

Asthmatics like our friend Joe don't like anything to interfere with their fun. They have an asthma attack, go to the ER, half-listen to the nurses, doctors and respiratory therapists, and then take their preventative medicine until they start to feel better. Then they go back to having fun, until the next asthma attack. Illustrated by Dash Shaw. (originally published at healthcentral.com/ asthma)

Meet Jake Gallant, the perfect asthmatic

My second comic I wrote for healthcentral.com was about gallant asthmatics.  I got the idea for Jake Gallant and his friend Joe Goofus from the "Goofus and Gallant" comic strip in the old "Highlights" children's magazine.  I was going to feature a regular comic featuring the two prior to the budget being stripped after only seven comics were produced.  Here is comic #2.  You can read the accompanying article "The Gallant Asthmatic."  You may notice, as I publish these comics, that it was from here that I designed my header.

Jake, and gallant asthmatics like him, are a doctor's best patients because they do everything exactly as they are directed. They have an asthma action plan. They have their bronchodilator with them at all times, but only use it when necessary. They religiously take their controller, anti-inflammatory medicines. Illustrated by Dash Shaw.  (originally published at healthcentral.com/ asthma)

I am your respiratory therapist

When I first started out as a writer for healthcentral.com I wrote asthma comics that were illustrated by the infamous Dash Shaw.  It was quite the honor, and definitely the neatest project I ever participated in as a writer.  The initial comic was just me introducing myself and my profession to the asthma community.  You can view the original article: "I Am Your Respiratory Therapist."

John Bottrell is an asthma sufferer and respiratory therapist. He explains how he helps asthmatics breathe and how he learned to breath better too. Illustrations by Dash Shaw.  (originally published at healthcentral.com/ asthma)