Anyone Else with Asthma??

[Eloo]

Hi Ladies!
Anyone else out there that suffers from asthma? I was diagnosed with asthma when I was in middle school. My symptoms weren't prohibitive, they mainly showed up when I played sports. As the years have gone by I had pretty much forgotten that I have asthma because it never really bothered me. About two years ago I started to become really active and noticed that I was having troubles breathing. I just chalked it up to being out of shape, so set out to "train" my lungs. That didn't work and it got to the point where I almost passed out at the gym while I was running (I know.. stupid of me to push it.. but I'm stubborn). I went to my Dr. who kindly pointed out that he had diagnosed me with asthma many years ago and he gave me Albuterol to help. After about two weeks of trying Albuterol and seeing only a slight improvement I called him back and he put me on Advair and Allegra. This combo helped, but not permanently. I noticed that my breathing troubles were coming back into play. So I went back to my Dr. who put me on Singulair. Three asthma meds and one allergy med later I seem to be holding my own.

I find it difficult sometimes for me to keep up with my FH because my breathing still isn't perfect. We both are quite active and he is really good about making sure that I'm breathing ok, etc. I feel badly more often than not for slowing us down because I can't run or ride a bike as fast or as long as I'd like to because breathing becomes difficult.

Today we went home and rode our bikes during lunch and I had an asthma attack in the middle of our ride. It was my worst one yet, and was to the point where he seriously thought he was going to have to call for help. We made it home and I'm ok now, but it was actually really scary. I'm super tired now and still a little dizzy.

Anyone else out there going through or have gone through something similar? Is there anyway other than meds to treat asthma? I'm really not a huge fan of taking meds.

[smellycatsgirl]

I have asthma, too. I was diagnosed with enviromental and exercise induced asthma when I was in fourth grade after passing out on the blacktop after doing a run in gym class. I am actually on a preventive inhaler that I take on the days my allergies are bad or if I will be spending a lot of time outside and Albuterol inhaler when needed. I also have to take Zyrtec to control my allergies. I would love to find a way to not have to take so many drugs, but haven't found one, yet. Hopefully, someone else will come along and help both of us out!

[tlew12778]

I have asthma. I actually missed my senior class trip in HS bc I had an attack that was so bad, they actually thought it was pneumonia. In NY I had two nebulizers for when it got super bad (one was backup).

Now I walk around with my inhalers (pulmicort, ventolin) all the time. I have a set in every bag. I don't take them regularly except for the pulmicort in allergy season and when I am sick. The cortosteroid takes 10 days to be effective so you have to take it regularly.

Mostly it's allergy related but it can also be induced by exercise and bad air quality.

[sublime311]

I was diagnosed during grade school, also. Up to that point I had a lot of "colds" and often had to sleep sitting up - finally, during one trip to the emergency room, I was diagnosed. At that time I was put on theodor (sp?). Eventually, I was given a rescue inhaler. I've been on a variety of preventative inhalers, most without effective prevention. Advair was the first that REALLY helped (without the god awful taste), the problem was that after a month, I started experiencing crazy high blood pressure (without ever having a history of it). This is now on my list of drug "allergies". Anyway, my saving drug has been QVAR. It has compeltely changed my life and dependency on albuterol. I take it twice a day and I'm virtually symptom free now. I also take loradatine for the allergies that are the main trigger for my asthma.

Q: My mom smoked while she was pregnant with me and around me for pretty much my entire childhood (she finally quit when I was in HS). Back in '68 when I was born, they just didn't know the damage smoke caused. Anyway, my question is - did anyone else have a parent who smoked before (and after) a formal asthma diagnosis was made?

[smellycatsgirl]

Anyway, my question is - did anyone else have a parent who smoked before (and after) a formal asthma diagnosis was made?

Not a parent, but my grandparents were smokers and they smoked around me when I was a child. They even continued to smoke after my diagnosis because they had heard smoke was good for lung infections. :rolleyes: :mad:

[Myra]

My mother smoked until I was around 6 and my father through college--though he took it outside starting around my high school. We also had a dog. I am one of 4 kids, though, and I am the only one with asthma.

I was diagnosed around age 10 and had allergies for at least a year prior. It was never terrible--I didn't have to keep a nebulizer at home, etc. I made at least one trip to the ER or equivalent each year until I was in my early 20s, when the asthma stopped getting worse and I had good meds to control it--Azmacort and Serevent, later Serevent and Flovent, eventually adding Singulair and Allegra.

About 3 years ago, I started having problems again, and i'll admit that I ignored it awhile (dealing with a totally unrelated health issue). I've been to 3 internists and two pulmonologists in the last two years and still trying to find relief. I'm on Prednisone and Bioxin this week. b/c the latest theory is that I have a chronic, extremely inflamed sinuses. If this one doesn't work, I think I'll move onto an ENT--I have a ton of phlegm so I'm thinking sinus surgery might be a decent option.

Is anyone doing Xolair allergy shots? I may start on them, but I know they're controversial.

[tlew12778]

My dad smoked when I was little but quit at some point while I was in elementary school.

QVAR is not approved in Europe so I guess I won't be trying that anytime soon. It sounds interesting though.

[jki]

I have allergy and exercise induced asthma. I take Pulmicort daily, albuterol as needed and a plethora of allergy related drugs as needed as well! I used to be on Flovent but it is not proven to be safe for pregnant women so I switched to Pulmicort - which is not covered by my insurance! :rolleyes:

I was diagnosed at age 8 and had to be hospitalized but things have been under control (for the most part). Neither of my parents have ever smoked.

Now that I have kids, I've read that getting Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) can lead to asthma later in life.

[suzubeane]

I have reactive airway disease, which comes under the umbrella of asthma, and is treated like asthma, but the triggers are non-allergic. Changes in temperature, exertion, fragrances, moldy or strong scents, loud music and vibration and even emotional distress (i.e. "getting choked up") can set me off.

I was diagnosed about a year ago, but I resisted the diagnosis (part of me still does) and looked for other answers. My lung issues are the result of my having had pulmonary emboli last summer (blood clots in the lungs) and since reactive airways and asthma are not likely outcomes of PE, I was dubious. I also don't have many of the traditional asthma symptoms - I don't wheeze, I don't cough. I have fatigue, exercise intolerance, chest constriction, pleuritic pain, and the feeling of breathing through a straw. Some days my symptoms are just *there* - no triggers.

Last night I had what I consider my first full on attack - coughing, wheezing, gasping, panicking - the whole nine yards. All this from eating a frozen fruit pop! Now I know why they call it an emergency inhaler. Suffice to say, I won't be cavalier about having it with me from now on. Since it didn't do anything for the pain and other symptoms, I had a sort of take it or leave it feeling about the inhaler.

Question: is anyone here on Advair? I take it daily, and I think it - and not the reactive airways - is what's causing me to lose my voice almost every day.

[Eloo]

Question: is anyone here on Advair? I take it daily, and I think it - and not the reactive airways - is what's causing me to lose my voice almost every day.

I'm on Advair. I was on the 100/50 dose before my attack that I wrote about and afterwards my Dr. put me on the 250/50. It makes a huge difference for me as far as the "ease" of breathing goes. When I switched to the 250/50 I could feel an almost immediate difference in my ability to breath normally. My voice can get very scratchy and fairly often, but its not every day. For what its worth, I haven't noticed a difference in the scratchy voice with the dosage changes. I am considering going back to 100/50 for the times that I'm "fine" and only using the 250/50 after I've had a bad attack. Lord only knows what my Dr. would say...

[sublime311]

Question: is anyone here on Advair? I take it daily, and I think it - and not the reactive airways - is what's causing me to lose my voice almost every day.
I was on Advair for a few months. I don't remember the voice issues - my side-effect was high blood pressure. I've been on QVAR now for over 6 months without negative side-effects.

[suzubeane]

How do you take QVAR? Is it inhaled? Or ingested?

I was on Singulair to start, but one of the side effects was "vivid dreams" and I just couldn't take it. My pulmonologist told me it would be like an acid trip, so I was really resentful when I had nightmares instead of happy dreams!

[sublime311]

QVAR is inhaled (like Albuterol). It's still a steriod - but different. To be honest, I'm not sure how it's different than Advair - I believe it's missing a component found in Advair. I love it. I feel it has changed my life! I am no longer reliant on my rescue inhaler.

Do you rinse your mouth after using Advair? I know the steroids can reek havoc in your mouth. Maybe that's causing your voice loss..?

Bummer about the nightmares!

[Myra]

Question: is anyone here on Advair? I take it daily, and I think it - and not the reactive airways - is what's causing me to lose my voice almost every day.
I took Advair for three years and never did well on it. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but after I started taking Advair I had daily or almost daily symptoms--wheezing and a productive cough. I wonder if it had to do with the discus not being as efficient as an inhaler.

[rileyandfredsmom]

I was finally diagnosed with asthma about 1 year ago. Before that I thought my breathing difficulties were due to my weight (morbidly obese) but when I lost all the weight and still couldn't breath, I thought I needed to see a Dr.

I have had problems breathing throughout my life, I can remember laying in bed some nights just trying to get a breath...it was awful. My father smoked inside until I was in HS.

Also, I can't tell you how many performance reviews I have had where I was told that my 'sighing' was a problem and needed to learn to express myself differently....I was just trying to breath! There have been many times when I literally have to lean over and hold my sides to get a breath....living in TX some days are better than others but during the summer, when they say it is a 'Red' or 'Orange' day, I stay inside!

What is so frustrating about this stupid problem is the inability to do the things I want to do, like run outside, or even increase my cardio capacity to have better workouts. I get up around 4 or 5:00 in the morning to workout because I breathe better then and even then, sometimes I can't even go 20 minutes on the elliptical without feeling as though my lungs will explode.

Medications, I've tried Advair and Albuterol (which I take before I workout) and neither really helps. I hate, hate, hate taking medication daily and have started just trying to go it without medication this summer....it hasn't been easy but fortunately we have had a very rainy, mild summer thus far.

I do have a question though, sometimes, when I go through a particularly bad spell where I am laboring to breath for several days or push to hard on a workout, my lungs actually hurt. Just sitting down trying to breath will hurt, is that normal for you guys as well?

[sublime311]

I get that pain, too. I always assumed it was just a "spasm" or like a muscle cramp.

I think you should talk to your doc about changing what you're doing. You really shouldn't have to take the albuterol everyday - only as a rescue. It may be that the daily Advair isn't working for you. I've had GREAT success on QVAR. Really, which ever inhaled steriod you do take, you should do it consistantly to get the best results. I've had a poor history of sticking with my steroids, but I finally decided that my stubbornness wasn't worth not being able to breath. Another thing I like about QVAR is there is very little taste, if any, associated with it.

Are you also on an allergy medication - or is that not a problem for you?

[rileyandfredsmom]

Sublime - no, I'm not on allergy medication and quite frankly had never heard of it in conjunction with asthma medication but I am going to talk to my Dr. about it....it sounds as though it has been successful for many of you.

Regarding taking the albuterol daily, that is what my Dr. wanted me to do because of how I work out....she felt that with the intensity that I work out at I would need additional help, esp. being in Dallas (one of the top 5 worst cities for asthma in the US). I haven't heard anything bad about taking it daily, have you....did I miss some research?

I know I need to stop being stubborn and just take the medication....maybe I'll go get it filled today and start feeling better. I need to work out today but dread getting up, I'm already breathing hard.

[sublime311]

Allergies are a trigger for many (but obviously, not all) asthma sufferers. It's just a way to help prevent an allergy-related attack.

An inhaled cortiocosteroid, like Advair or QVAR, acts to prevent an attack by reducing inflammation in the lungs before an attack starts. My docs have always told me to use albuterol as a rescue only. When my asthma was at its worst (I wasn't taking a steroid), I did use my albuterol daily. It made me shaky and nervous - it also caused a stain between my teeth.

If your doc told you to use albuterol daily, you should use it. My docs have warned me that daily use means that my asthma was NOT controlled. Taking a cortiocosteroid and allergy meds has controlled my asthma. I use my albuterol maybe twice a month now.

[Myra]

Sublime - no, I'm not on allergy medication and quite frankly had never heard of it in conjunction with asthma medication but I am going to talk to my Dr. about it....it sounds as though it has been successful for many of you.

Regarding taking the albuterol daily, that is what my Dr. wanted me to do because of how I work out....she felt that with the intensity that I work out at I would need additional help, esp. being in Dallas (one of the top 5 worst cities for asthma in the US). I haven't heard anything bad about taking it daily, have you....did I miss some research?
Wow, I don't think I ever heard of someone having asthma without allergies! But maybe yours is only exercise induced and not allergy induced. Mine is both, but regarding the exercise issue, once your asthma is under control, no activities should be off limits.

I run ~ 20 miles a week but I started running back when my asthma was well controlled. It's not anymore, and my docs are okay with me taking albuterol (in addition to the preventive inhalers) 30-120 minutes before running, which I do 4-5 times a week. I try not to use the albuterol days that I don't run. When I wasn't having daily flare-ups, I wouldn't take it in advance and would just carry the inhaler with me when running.

It's also all about timing for me--in the mornings, my breathing is strained, the intense wheezing and coughing hits in the early afternoon, and then late afternoon/early evening, I feel better, so that's when I exercise.

My primary care doc was telling me that Singulair was recently approved for a new exercise asthma indication--you take it two hours before exercising. You might want to look into that.

Question: Does anyone have household pets? Are you allergic to them, and if so, how do you cope? I don't have any but we talk about getting a Bichon once my asthma is stable again.

[rileyandfredsmom]

Myra - I have 6 pets (4 cats, 2 dogs) and they don't affect me in the least. Of course, I have had animals my entire life so I'm probably immune to them (there are pics of me in my crib with 2-3 cats around me).

You should be fine with a bichon because, I believe, they are hypo-allergenic, meaning they don't have the dander that most dogs do that cause allergy problems. Most poeple with allergy problems get Bichons or Poodles specifically because of that.

[sublime311]

Re: pet question

I have 2 dogs and 3 cats. I am allergic (I was allergy tested), but I already had my pets and I had made a committment to them for life, so... I just suffer. To be honest, I do not do the many things that were recommended like:

~ keep them out of the bedrooms
~ vaccum daily
~ bathe them frequently

I know my allergies and asthma would be less severe, if I didn't have them, but like I said, I made a committment...

[suzubeane]

Wow, I don't think I ever heard of someone having asthma without allergies! See post no.9 above. I have Reactive Airway Disease or Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome - depending on who you ask. Some doctors just call it "asthma" and leave it at that. Both RADS and Asthma come under the heading of Reactive Airway Disease, so typically that's the term I use.

The incidence of asthma has gone way up in recent years, but some things I've read indicate that the number is skewed because SO MANY pleuritic issues are being labeled asthma and treated as asthma when in fact, they're more accurately caused by something else. And I'm a good example. Some of my symptoms respond to asthma meds, so some docs I've seen have just said "Asthma" without looking at what caused it. (The injury to my lungs by pulmonary emboli.)

[Elphaba]

It's nice to finally "meet" someone else with Reactive Airway Disease. I was beginning to think my doctor had just made it up to appease me or something. We have a lot of the same triggers, you and I. I am often amazed at how simple little things can set me off.

[suzubeane]

Wow, Elphaba - I've never come across anyone who who has the same (non allergic) triggers I do! Some of them are so weird and unexpected. (Vibration? Who would have thought? But I can't tolerate loud music anymore, and I had to move off the bleachers at my daughter's baseball game because a kid was kicking his fit nearby and it caused constriction. Weird.)

I, too, was just really doubtful about this diagnosis, especially since the treatment is to take asthma meds. And then all the information you read about asthma meds assumes allergic triggers. It's very frustrating!

Do you know how you ended up with Reactive Airway Disease? Did you have an injury to your lungs? I've read that it's often associated with occupational exposure to chemical irritants.

[amorey]

You should be fine with a bichon because, I believe, they are hypo-allergenic, meaning they don't have the dander that most dogs do that cause allergy problems. Most poeple with allergy problems get Bichons or Poodles specifically because of that.

Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a hypo-allergenic dog. Some people do better with some breeds, but there are no guarantees. Many times animal allergies aren't related to the hair or dander, but the saliva. Animals clean themselves with their mouths and spread the allergens that way. When I get licked by an animal, I get hives. I've never met a dog I wasn't allergic to, which is such a bummer because I'd love to own one! The best thing to do is spend a lot of type with the animal and find out your personal reactions.

[Elphaba]

Hey Suzu... I have NO idea how I ended up with it. I just know that I don't have a history of asthma or asthma-related problems in my family, and one day at age 27 I was at the mall and I passed by a Bath & Body Works and all of a sudden I couldn't breathe and got very dizzy. I thought I had just done too much walking, so I went to the food court to sit down, and after the dizziness went away I started on my way again. When I passed that way again, the same thing happened. After repeated (but minor) episodes like this I finally figured I had better mention it to my doctor. I was having a hard time explaining what was going on to her, but fortunately as I was walking out to the receptionists area, I had another one of these attacks, and she got to see it firsthand. They conducted allergy tests, but I wasn't "allergic" to anything. You mentioned loud music and vibrations... these set me off too, but it might be for a different reason. I prefer the quiet, and loud music or odd vibrations stress me out. Stress is one of my triggers, and if I get into an argument with one of the kids, I have been known to end up on the floor in a wheezing heap. So for me it's the stress of having to try to deal with the loud music or the kid kicking the bleachers or whatnot. I hope this helps, and it's nice to know I am not the only one.

[BumbleB]

I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma in High School when I started running Cross-Country. By the time I was a Senior I did not need my inhaler anymore- my lungs became a lot stronger.

I had allergies growing up, but they are not as bad now. I was never around any smokers, although my grandparents house smelled like smoke. I did grow up in an area where fields were burned at the end of every summer and that was pure torture!

Cats bother me, but dogs don't seem to.

Lately I have started running again and I'm pretty out of shape, I've been ok so far. But DH and I did go on a long bike ride the other night, and I can see myself needing to be really careful doing that - it acted up a lot more (growing up I lived at less than half the elevation I'm at now - so I have to remember that). I have a harder time in the summer because I do still have some allergy issues with grasses. If my lung capacity doesn't improve soon I may have to see a doctor and get a new prescription (it's been years).

I do feel fortunate that I do not have severe asthma problems and only run into these issues while exercising (usually only outdoors).

[suzubeane]

What do you guys do when the heat, humidity and dew point are all high? I feel like I'm underwater and can't breath. I almost can't even open my eyes all the way - this is bizarre. Took my meds, took my emergency inhaler, and everything is still in this hazy slow motion. And I had so much to do today! I almost want to close all my windows and turn on the dehumidifier, but it would get really hot in here. Ugh!

[amorey]

The heat and humidity really affect me too, but I probably don't have any helpful tips because I just stay inside where there's central A/C. When it's really hot I probably don't spend more than 10 minutes at a time outside.

[Myra]

Does anyone use a HEPA filter at home? Does it help? I never got one b/c my pulmonologist in DC said they were a waste, but then, he also failed to fix my persistent cough, so what does he know? :p Anyone have recs?

[kristin]

I have had asthma since I was a toddler. I am highly allergic to dogs and had multiple exposures when I was young which caused scar tissue to form on my lungs, according to my allergist. I've been taking advair for the last 6 years or so, and rarely needed my albuterol MDI unless I went near known allergens.

Two months ago i went to refill my prescription and discovered that my new insurance company does not cover advair. The cost would be $200 out of pocket each month. Additionally, my husband also takes it, so we would be talking $400 per month! We just can't do it.

Wow, it makes such a difference. I had no idea how much the advair was helping me. I wake up at least 2X each night wheezing. I can no longer run outside because the cold air sets my asthma off. Even running inside is a challenge. I've had to stick to the elliptical trainer, which isn't a great workout for me. I've gained 7lbs due to these restricitions (and admittedly the holidays). I just don't understand how an insurance company can not cover this medication for me, given my success with it in the past. I'm on my second round of oral steroids in the past two months. Pulmicort (which my insurance co will cover) is just not working for me. I feel like I am on a constant albuterol high, feeling light-headed with my heart pounding out of my chest.

Ironically, this insurance is great otherwise. It covers almost every doctor we want to see.

Anyone else have trouble with their insurance companies like this?

[diam124]

My DH has asthma and started taking Advair when he was in grad school (we had just found our cat and his breathing was dramatically affected). Prior to that he had been taking Singulair. At the time it was not covered by his health insurance, so he paid out of pocket for it. Yes, it is extremely expensive. He tried to make it last longer by taking half doses rather than the full dose. Fortunately his Dad also takes Advair and was able to get some extras to tide DH over until he graduated and started working and Advair was covered again. Anyway, I don't really have any advice, but I can definitely sympathize about the insurance issues. We were stunned at the cost and simply couldn't cover it with only my income. You might want to contact the manufacturer and see if they have some sort of discount program.