She Thought Her Symptoms Were Normal. Talking to Her Doctor Changed the Conversation

6 min readWhen Ellis Fox, a 21-year-old college student and competitive swimmer from West Texas, went to her doctor’s office for what she thought was chronic sinusitis, she wasn’t expecting to embark on an asthma diagnosis journey. But after noticing signs that something more than sinus issues might be at play, her doctor recommended further evaluation.At the time, Fox didn’t think much of the symptoms she experienced day to day. “I thought, nobody can walk up a flight of stairs and talk to their friends at the same time,” she says. “I assumed it was normal that I couldn’t do that.” Fox learned that she had reduced lung function and her breathing issues were impacting her more than she realized. “My mind was just blown,” she says. “I asked, ‘How do we go about addressing this?’” Over time, Fox was diagnosed with severe uncontrolled asthma (SUA). She worked closely with her healthcare team to better understand her condition and develop a treatment plan to help reduce exacerbations and improve asthma control.What SUA Can Feel LikeSevere uncontrolled asthma (SUA) affects five to 10 percent of asthma patients and is defined as asthma that requires treatment with high doses of maintenance inhaler therapy with or without other controller medications to keep symptoms controlled, or asthma that remains uncontrolled despite these therapies. People living with SUA may frequently experience shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing. These symptoms often flare-up when people encounter an asthma trigger. Because triggers and symptoms can vary widely, the condition often looks different from one patient to the next.“I thought, nobody can walk up a flight of stairs and talk to their friends at the same time.”“Many people adapt to living with severe asthma without realizing its impact. But achieving better control of your asthma is possible, though,” says Nadeem Yousaf Ali, MD, a board-certified pulmonologist and critical care physician based in New Jersey. Recognizing the signs and speaking up can be an important first step. “In this day and age, with all of the treatment options available, people living with asthma may be able to experience better asthma control,” he says.If you’ve gotten used to shortness of breath, symptoms that wake you up at night, or relying on a rescue inhaler, it may be worth taking a closer look at how well your asthma is controlled. These three proactive steps can help you prepare for a more informed conversation with your doctor.Start Tracking Your Symptoms And TriggersThe most productive conversations between a doctor and patient often start before anyone enters the exam room. And the more information you can bring about symptom flare-ups, the better.“It's important for you to know what can trigger an asthma attack, whether that’s an allergen, dust, or a virus,” Dr. Ali says. “Go to the notes section on your phone and put in every time you use a rescue inhaler. Ask yourself, ‘What environment was I in? What was I doing?’ Put the date that it happened, and then you and your doctor have information to help you plan for that trigger.”Fox is meticulous about tracking symptoms this way. “I know when something isn't right,” she says. “It could be that I felt a little bit of constricted breathing when I was outside and noticed smoke from a barbecue nearby. I jot that down and bring it up with my doctor.” Other asthma triggers may include weather changes, exercise, stress, fumes, and more.Come Prepared To Your AppointmentDr. Ali says there are three questions patients should be ready to answer at every appointment: Are you using your rescue inhaler more than twice a week? Are you waking up at night with symptoms more than twice a month? Are you refilling your rescue inhaler more than twice a year? “Having that information is key, because it’s one step to letting your doctor know whether your asthma is controlled or uncontrolled,” he says. “If you’re uncontrolled, then we need to step up your care.”Bringing a family member or friend to your appointment can also help, Dr. Ali says. “I'll ask patients whether they’re limited when engaging in a certain activity. But having someone else there to remind them, ‘Hey, you were wheezing last week on the way to class,’ can be important.”Fox attends appointments with her mom, who has also dealt with severe asthma. “She acts as my support system,” she says.Speaking with a specialist can feel intimidating, but being honest with your provider about what you’re experiencing is crucial. “I’m a very big advocate for this,” Fox says. “Ask questions, because it’s important—this is your life.”Tips For Managing Severe AsthmaManaging SUA requires both short-term and long-term planning. First things first: It’s important to approach severe asthma with a broader view, Dr. Ali says. “We go over different scenarios, such as when to use a rescue inhaler or when to call or come into the office.”For Fox, managing asthma wasn’t only about symptoms in the moment. It was also about being able to return to school with a plan in place. “There was a sense of urgency about my treatment plan and seeing progress,” she recalls.After working closely with her doctor, Fox experienced fewer asthma attacks, better breathing, and asthma symptom relief after adding TEZSPIRE® (tezepelumab-ekko) in 2024. TEZSPIRE is an add-on maintenance treatment for people aged 12 and up with severe asthma. It is not for sudden breathing problems. TEZSPIRE may cause allergic reactions. Get help right away if you have swelling of mouth, face, tongue, trouble breathing, rash, itchy or swollen eyes. Additional Important Safety Information is provided below.Now that she has an asthma management plan in place, Fox remains focused on having better asthma control!IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATIONDo not use TEZSPIRE if you are allergic to tezepelumab-ekko or any of its ingredients.Do not use to treat sudden breathing problems.TEZSPIRE may cause serious side effects, including:allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis. Serious allergic reactions can happen after your TEZSPIRE injection. Allergic reactions can sometimes happen hours or days after you get a dose of TEZSPIRE. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:rashbreathing problemshivesred, itchy, swollen, or inflamed eyesswelling of your face, mouth, and tonguefainting, dizziness, feeling lightheadedBefore using TEZSPIRE, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:have ever had a severe allergic reaction.have a parasitic (helminth) infection.have recently received or are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a “live vaccine” if you are treated with TEZSPIRE.are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if TEZSPIRE passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you use TEZSPIRE.are taking prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.Do not change or stop taking your other asthma medicines unless instructed to do so by your healthcare provider.The most common side effects of TEZSPIRE include: Sore throat, joint and back pain. These are not all the possible side effects.Approved UseTEZSPIRE is a prescription medicine used with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of severe asthma in people 12 years of age and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicine.TEZSPIRE helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and can improve your breathing.TEZSPIRE is not used to treat sudden breathing problems. Tell your healthcare provider if your asthma does not get better or if it gets worse after you start treatment with TEZSPIRE.It is not known if TEZSPIRE is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age.Full Prescribing Information including Patient Information and Instructions for Use.You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products (Opens new window).TEZSPIRE is a registered trademark of Amgen Inc. and AstraZeneca.©2026 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-110533 Last Updated 6/266f4dc22d