I
was diagnosed with asthma when I was about 5 or 6 years
old. In the early stages, I was always being told that
I would 'grow out of it', but I'm still waiting!! The
real problem for me as a kid was the fact that I got a
lot of chest infections and missed at least a week or two
every term. Some might think that was brilliant but my
mother was very protective of the ailment and usually I
was confined to the fireside. That turned into a good thing
though since it was those mother-imposed curfews that led
to my love of daytime TV, and indeed, a fascination for
all things TV-related.
Later in life, say around my early 20s, I changed doctor
and have not looked back since. My new doctor has
been brilliant at monitoring and assessing my condition
and changing my inhalers accordingly. Aside from
the normal winter chest infections, asthma is just something
I accept and manage on a daily basis. Bringing inhalers
on holiday etc is just par for the course! Luckily
too, I have only ever been hospitalised once due to asthma
on the one occasion when I was away for a night and my
inhaler ran out.
In terms of my job, a chest infection can be difficult
to work through when you're presenting. It's not
really the actual chest infection but more so how you can
feel drained fighting off the infection, and being tired
or drained is not an option when I present the Afternoon
Show on Fridays because live TV can be very unforgiving
if you don't keep your eye on the ball at all times.
Also, over the last year, my asthma has been more aggravated
than usual - since March of last year I've had to fight off
5 chest infections which, even given the bad winter months,
is excessive for me. Thankfully, again my doctor has
stepped in and I am now taking a daily tablet, to help
keep my airways open during the colder winter months. I
guess it's just something I have to accept given the cold,
damp climate that is Ireland. Or else I'll just have to move
to Spain - now there's a good reason to have asthma!!!! |
