u/Historical_Fold_9946

I have a weird request. I have complex pulmonary health that is causing recurrent issues. As a swimmer, swimming is incredibly helpful, but swimming and a recurrence of issues don't mix well. I stopped swimming bc I was tired of being on a constant recovery and reconditioning arc due to multiple issues a year. It was incredibly frustrating so I stopped, which is bad because if i am swimming thrice a week I am off all meds.

The problem is that so much of medicine is treating acute issues, but I have a QOL issue here that is affecting my overall health which might benefit from a conversation.

I have an asthma management plan and was thinking that it would be helpful to have a similar recovery plan around recurrences of LRIs. This is partly because I do better with objective hallmarks and markers.
I would like to work with a sports pulmonologist on coming up with a protocol for me to maximize my recovery from recurrences. Something like an asthma mgt plan but step down, if that makes sense?

Is this a thing that I could get help with? Ideally someone who is either a swimmer or specializes in swimmers.

I don't want the person that thinks swimming or exercise is bad because lung issues. My GP recently asked me about my swimming, because "it makes you glow".

If there is something else that might be helpful, I am all ears.

I have a complicated medical history that affect my respiratory system that includes recurrent pneumonia, idio PE, late onset asthma and COPD overlap.

I have had walking pneumonia every May for the last 4 years, on top of the 4 instances before it became annual. It's 6 weeks of my life, minimum, which is a lot of time to decondition on top of the illness.

I have always been a swimmer, if I am swimming 3x/week, I can be off inhalers entirely.

But lately, no sooner do I get to a level that feels like progress, I get sick again so I stopped swimming altogether because it felt like a never ending recovery arc.

I got the idea that I could find a sports med or sports Pulmonologist to help me make a plan to help me manage with hallmarks and steps.

Does anyone know someone that does this kind of thing or have experiences along these lines that might help me have a working plan?