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The original was posted on /r/tifu by /u/Mountain-Ad3810 on 2026-01-09 13:07:34+00:00.
TIFU by not realizing ive had asthma for my entire life, lmao.
Ever since i was a kid I would have these fits where I wouldn't be able to breathe, my chest would tighten and my lungs would feel like they couldn't get any air. I would start wheezing and coughing so hard 50% of the time I would give myself bronchitis the next day. my dad never really worried about it, and my brother had asthma so I just assumed what I was experiencing was normal. its not like I was having these attacks everytime I ran, it just happened sometimes.
As an adult, I continued to have these weird fits but again, its not like my life was at risk at any point--even though I would cough up blood from the strain on my lungs. Thought nothing of it. I had one last night so bad I was like, man, I literally cannot breathe right now. like, ๐ค to just dying from choking(?). My partner and roommates were like dude, are you okay? When it started. I told them my "fake weird asthma" was acting up, again, thought NOTHING of the ordeal. ended up coughing and wheezing so hard i hurt my lungs again. I thought I was going to die.
Fast forward this morning where im trying to work out, (thought I can obviously see that im sick and my lungs feel super weird) and it fucking happens again. Man, I cant breathe what the fuck?? This tends to happen after I exercise (but not all the time). I book an urgent care appointment thinking I have a respiratory infection. "Why are you booking?", "It feels like I cant breathe sometimes, my chest hurts, and i feel uber sick" ๐ง I go in for my appointment, the lady at the desk looks at the note and goes, "hey, do you have asthma?" while shes taking my information. I got, "no lol, but I think i had it as a kid." (due to seeing a doctors report from my mom). she raises a brow. I wait diligently for my appointment.
I get checked in by the assistant, yada yada. My doctor walks in, shuffles around we pop a few jokes. And she goes, "it really sounds like you need an inhaler." after talking about family history, my symptoms, and generally what happens when I get weird. She listened to me breathe, checked everything. Apparently, I gave my dumbass bronchitis from the asthma attack I had yesterday? what the fuck!
I get prescribed an inhaler, and some other junk for other illnesses terrorizing me.
My partner and I go to the car, and he asks whats going on. I told him that I had to get an inhaler bc I have bronchitis and some other meds for a different infection. "Inhaler? Like, asthma?" he asks. And I said it was for bronchitis because I was so fucking confused by the end of my talk with the woman because I was SO sure my dad was right, and there's no way I've just been living with asthma my entire life unmedicated. Which, seems like child medical neglect. (thank you dad!)
I shit you not it took me all day to realize that the episodes I was having weren't normal. My roomates and partner THOUGHT I WAS KIDDING when I said I was having, "weird fake asthma attacks" because THEY KNEW I HAD ASTHMA. I thought asthma was life or death??
So here I am, having worsening asthma attacks throughout the years not knowing I could of accidentally died? Like, I could of died at any point?? suffocating?? what the fuck!!
WISH I HAD KNOWN THIS BEFORE I STARTED A BETABLOCKER? Which WORSENS asthma!!
I dont think my dad even believes me, still.
TL;DR Ive had issues with asthma my whole life, but only just now learned I have asthma after having several asthma attacks that couldve killed me.