And probably the last.  The lung lady was quite upset that I had not taken the medication. I explained why: There had been no measurable effect of the drug they tested last time, and it seemed likely that my lungs simply were only 80% effective because I had spent my whole life breathing only 80%. After my childhood asthma, I had automatically checked myself every day and night of my life, slowing down before getting seriously winded. So there was no reason for my lungs to develop fully.

She still thinks I have asthma, which is probably true in a certain sense – you may call it potential asthma – but I still think there must be better ways to go about this than giving pharmacy companies a drinking straw in the health insurance for the remainder of my lifetime.

The throat specialist agreed that it was quite likely that part of the reduction was irreversible, and what they had wanted was to find out just how much. If I ever want to try that, I can call them after about a month of using the drugs, he said.

From what I have dredged up, the long-term inhaler is a local-effect anti-inflammatory drug. It basically dampens the immune system in the lungs. That seems like a pretty bad idea unless my body gets upset over nothing and attacks itself. Of course, a lot of people experience just that.  But meditation and self-reflection is known to prevent it, as the main source in most people is chronic stress.  I intend to continue down that road and see what happens.