127_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RXy8Li3ZaE_asthma management
gpt
So, where you said you'd like to start, Sal, is talking about your asthma and specifically about your dog and how one is affecting the other.
human
Mm-hmm. Um, yeah, my asthma has just been out of control lately and my doctor says that might be connected to Oscar.
gpt
Hmm. So, what- can you let me know or-or what do you know about your asthma and the things that affected or might make it worse?
human
Um, I've got allergy testing. It's just, uh, the dust makes it bad. I thought the smoking was the main thing-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-that's cut down. Um, and then they said the drinking might contribute to it, too. So, I got a lot of different things I'm working on. So that's what I know.
gpt
Hmm.
human
The drinking, the smoking and the dust that I got, the, um, the scratch test for.
gpt
Right.
human
And-and-and that's what I know, and that I take the medicine for it.
gpt
Okay. And that your pet has never been mentioned as a concern?
human
No, I've had it for-for 12 years and now it's a concern. I don't understand.
gpt
Hmm. Yeah. And I-I can see that you've already worked hard to make some changes. You've almost quit smoking.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
You're just down to your last couple of cigarettes-
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
-and you're not even smoking those in the house.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
So, your house is totally smoke-free.
human
Yes, just that work with the [unintelligible 00:01:24].
gpt
Yeah, okay. And you have also thought about cutting back on alcohol.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
-and-and I think you mentioned done-done a little bit towards that.
human
Mm-hmm. I'm a little I'm a couple of down. I used to drink four at night, now I'm down to three at least.
gpt
Okay, okay.
human
Uh-huh.
gpt
So now almost like that's not good enough, like now you have to, now it's the dog and now-
human
Mm-hmm, what's next, yeah, yeah.
gpt
-what's next. Right. Okay. So, I mean, there is certainly a lot of evidence that pets in the home and the dander from their fur can make asthma worse.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
-but I wonder what are your experiences with Oscar, you know, when he's in the house or-or maybe sleeping near you or you're around him, what happens with your asthma symptoms?
human
Well, we keep them clean, like he's cleaned. So, all the dander doesn't really make sense, but I have been noticing that sometimes when he comes on the bed or just beside, I wheeze a little bit, but I think it has to do with, um, the hair, the, in my lungs cleaning itself up from the smoking.
gpt
Okay.
human
So, I don't know if it's that-that's where I'm confused. I don't know how this could be happening.
gpt
Hmm. So, it doesn't make total sense to you that-that it's all Oscar's fault and that-
human
Mm-hmm, Mm-hmm.
gpt
That's that the only solution.
human
But-but the wheezing is something that I've definitely noticed a little bit.
gpt
I guess I also wonder whether, regardless of-of if your asthma symptoms are connected to Oscar, that may be part of you feels like it's worth it because he's been-
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
-such a big part of your life for so long.
human
Mm-hmm, Mm-hmm. I just want some medicine and I want to keep Oscar and I wanna feel better about myself because I'm making all these changes in my life and it honestly feels like my-my nose is just above the water.
gpt
Hmm. Yeah. And-and in the end, you know, whatever you- whatever you do, about Oscar, about your asthma, about all the other things that we talked about on that agenda-setting worksheet, I mean, you are in the driver's seat solid. It really is your choice.
human
Mm-hmm. Yeah, no, that feels good. That I, you know, at least it is my choice. I just feel like just about, I'm not feeling happy about just all these different things that are coming up. Um, and I'm kind of sad about things.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
And I don't know, I don't know what to do.
gpt
There's a lot of decisions and a lot of change with your wife, with the new baby.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
And now thinking about, looking after your health and wanting to be healthy for your wife and your baby.
human
Mm-hmm. I want- I want John Carlos to grow up with Oscar. So he has his friend when he's young, too. And, um, I just, it's a lot of stress and a lot of things you-you gotta think about then, um, I'm not feeling good about it.
gpt
Mm-hmm, so what-what would need to happen or how would you know, when you- when or if you ever did have to make a decision about whether to keep Oscar with you or not?
human
Man, uh, how would I know? I don't know. I think if my asthma got really bad and the medicine- she gave me the strongest medicine and it wasn't working.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
That would be the way right now 'cause I can't see, I don't know how I'm going to give this dog up.
gpt
Yeah and I get the feeling that it's something that you wanna think about that this is a really big decision-
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
-and it's not one that you're gonna make in a hurry.
human
No, no. It's something I got to just sit there and-and kind of, um, put the pros and the cons on the table about, but-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-something's going on.