For my 57th birthday I got a diagnosis of Bronchiectasis, a chronic incurable lung condition often associated with Crohn’s disease.
In addition to coughing for the rest of my life and being extremely susceptible to infections, there’s the problem of pronouncing it. The syllabic emphases are like “bronchi-ecstasy,” although it is in fact bronchi-agony.
Or, as my friend Caroline called it, Brontosaurus Ecstasy:
A week ago, the day after my birthday, I went to “Convenient Care Plus” because my pinkeye and nosebleeds had returned and my cough never left. They gave me a CT scan which revealed calcification of my airways. I was put on new drugs, and although I am still miserable the pinkeye has gone away and the codeine helps me sleep.
Appointment with pulmonary specialist is in about 2 weeks. I wish it were sooner but that’s what they got.
As I wrote on Xitter:
My job is now being sick, and I’m being sick like it’s my job. I ROCK at this. So many symptoms, so many serious disorders. And I just don’t recover! Shows real commitment. I excel.
‘‘Twas alway so
An artist must suffer
I just unexpectedly saw you in “Who Is Vermin Supreme” (2014), but I did think you’d like him too.
I’m not always sick anymore, but when I am, I bronchitis. A breathing exerciser stainless-marble flutter thing is a handy puzzle toy. Mastry of the huff-cough is better. The nebulizer is genius. A SideStream nozzle claims 140% more moisture, maybe it’s 40%. I’ve found hot distilled water works way faster until it cools, and extra salt is fun (and kosher). It’s like a slow soothing tropical ocean drowning.
Consider the 1995 music video of Ventolin by Aphex Twin. That’s a drug, salbutemol, bronchiodialator, which can cause a high-pitch tinnitus. The song itself, is intentionally horrid. I can’t recommend it. As a work of art, it imposes the same anxiety and symptoms and side-effects on listeners. The video has the trapped feeling, the synthetic, the chemical, and industrial, waiting for air, the necessity of calmness while out of control. When I can’t breathe, and people don’t understand, I find listening to it satisfying.
I’m sorry about your bronchocactus. I’m upset about that. It does a tremendous number on the lungs. Despite the difficulty, I’m afraid all your fans still require that you continue breathing. It’s an imposition, and a serious responsibility, but as a hero to several cultural movements now I’m sure you’ll understand when we insist you must find a way.