I don’t usually get too personal on this blog. In fact, when I first started, I told myself I would not bring politics, religion or world affairs to the blog, as it would create too much controversy. Well, I need some help, so unfortunately I’m going to have to bring up an issue. There’s only one side to it, my side. I am right. Let me preface this by saying this: the following has nothing to do what so ever with the health care debate that is going on in this country.
For as long as I can remember, I have had asthma. My entire life, I have been able to control it through the use of an inhaler (albuterol, ventolin). A few years back, the FDA in line with pharmaceutical companies decided to ban the propellant in the inhalers, which is CFC based. The reasoning given was that cfc’s are bad for the enviroment, therefore inhalers are harming the planet. Of course that is not the truth. The amount of CFC’s used by inhalers each year is about the same as one space shuttle launch. You don’t see anyone banning that now do you? Of course the new inhalers would cost way more money as there are no generics available.
If this were simply a matter of paying more I wouldn’t be blogging about it.
The problem is that the propellant used does not work nearly as well as the old inhalers. It’s a laughable comparison at best. I was an avid runner, and outdoorsman. I can no longer do these things. Running is a struggle. The doctors don’t seem to really care about this. I’ve gotten lung tests, which prove I’m not getting enough oxygen. They just keep putting me on different stuff. The new inhalers actually fill my lung with the alcohol based propellant, making me cough more and more. Of course this constricts my airways even worse. My stupid fucking doctors only solution is to keep trying other things. He claims it’s the same medicine. That may be true, but the propellant A. does not push it down far enough into my lungs, and B. makes my athsma worse. It has already cost me hundreds.
Find a CFC inhaler
UPDATE: They sell them in MEXICO, but I can’t endorse a website.
What I’m looking for is anyone who may have gotten an inhaler LAST YEAR (2008 or before) that is not using it, or a website that sells CFC inhalers. It can not be a HFA inhaler. They totally suck. If you can help me out, please email me at unclepoggy@yahoo.com
Thank you.
As a side note, I would also like to add, the website savecfcinhalers.org is insanely unorganized. Don’t expect any help from them. Get your ass to Mexico… for a taco!