Anyone have asthma? Please share your experiences

[prolesunited]

I just got diagnosed this week and could use a little reassurance. My triggers appear to be exercise and cold. I also have allergies, which probably led to this in the first place. He has me on Singulair, Flovent and albuterol.

I've talked to my doctor and read the literature, but nothing beats hearing about people's personal experiences.

What do you take?
Any side effects?
How long have you had it?
Have you found that your asthma worsened or improved over time?
Ever have a really bad episode? What happens? Did you end up in the hospital?

[Bertha Venation]

1. oh, man, proles....

I wish I could give you a hug. I don't have asthma. One of our cats does but that's hardly relevant.

:hug: Sorry I can't share experiences but you certainly have my warmest regard.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. Excercise is your friend

Some famous athletes have it, including Nancy Hogshead- Medal winning Olympic swimmer- who wrote an excellent book on EIA. There are many endurance athletes with it too. I have run several marathons myself since I was diagnosed 16 years ago.

[redqueen]

3. My sister & hubby do.

All their lives.

Husband is on some new medication, in addition to the albuterol... don't remember the name just now but he really likes it. It tastes very bad, though.

Neither seems to have ever had any improvement over time.

Don't think my husband ever went to the hospital for his, but it did slow him down as a child. My sister went to the ER many times... it was very scary ... her lips would turn blue... :(

[flamingyouth]

4. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago, in my mid-20s

But I really think I've had it most of my life. I always had sinus infections that would inevitably degenerate into bronchitis or pneumonia each winter, and I'd end up sick for about a month.

At first I was on Serevent and Flovent, but then my doctor gave me a sample of Advair, which helped me much more. Then my insurance company told me they wouldn't cover it (fuckers) so I went back to the Serevent/Flovent, and proceeded to get pneumonia that very winter. :eyes:

So, now they pay 50% of the cost of my Advair inhaler, which runs about $55 (for me) each month.

I'm very active -walk or run every day; I do yoga every day and Pilates three times a week. Like you, I have exercise-induced asthma, so if I decide to go out for a run and I'm feeling somewhat congested, I will use my Albuterol inhaler ahead of time.

It freaked me out to get diagnosed, but I think it has improved over time. Either that, or I'm just used to having it. I did wake up the other night with an asthma attack, and that was the first time in a long time. I have to sleep with my windows open because I don't have a/c and the trees are pollenating right now.

Good luck to you!:hug:

[terrya]

5. I was diaganosed with it last week.

I'm currently taking Albuterol every 4 to 6 hours as needed.

I told my doctor I had a persistent cough for a while. After a test (the one where you blow into the tube), it was discovered I have asthma.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. The triplets' mother has it.

I don't know what she takes but does have a couple of inhalers to use when she needs them. But she is in great condition, works out, runs and chases after three 3 1/2 year olds.

The doctor tends to treat her colds aggressively -- antibiotics if it seems to be going into bronchitis, a malady with which our family is plagued.

Other than that, it is good that you stopped smoking.

[prolesunited]

8. I know

That's the sad part about it, that some of this may be self-inflicted. I wonder how much I already screwed up my lungs. I quit smoking about 2 1/2 years ago, but I'm sure it didn't make up for all the damage I already had done.

[FunBobbyMucha]

7. Asthmatic, diagnosed nine years ago

What do you take?
Flonase, Albuterol PRN, Claritin at seasonal changes.

Any side effects?
None.

How long have you had it?
Diagnosed in 1995, might've had it without it being severe enough for me to seek treatment for about two years earlier.

Have you found that your asthma worsened or improved over time?
My history is that I moved to Charleston SC from Ohio back in 1991. I never had a problem in Ohio. EVER. Marathon runner, mountain biker, hardly ever sick. Chas. is built, essentially, on swampland. Lots of funky flora/fauna, and major climate change. By 92, 93, was having lots of sinus infections, URI's, etc. Started putting on weight. Hard to say which is chicken, which is egg here. Events finally got bad--wheezing, sick all the time, with ear infections, sinus infections, etc popping up every few weeks. Miserable time for me. Was diagnosed, started taking the meds above, but also required roto-rooting sinus surgery. This helped but I was still prone to sickness and bad attacks. THIS MAY BE KEY FOR YOU AS WELL: Finally saw an allergist as well, who did patch testing and put me on regimental allergy shots. These have saved my life, quite frankly. See how you do on the meds and ask your doc if he/she thinks you should see an allergist as well.

Ever have a really bad episode? What happens? Did you end up in the hospital? It's hard with my history to delineate completely between the asthma attacks and the respiratory infections I would acquire as a result of same. Worst episodes of asthma attacks themselves included me over the railing of a stair well gasping without my inhaler. Never hospitalized.

If you've gained weight, that will affect asthma. Moved? New house? Enviromental allergens? All these can affect your progress. Pets, sadly, can wreck you.

Good luck. Feel free to message me if you want.

[onebigbadwulf]

9. We've just learned about asthma in med school

actually got a test on it in 2 days!


If cold air and exercise are your triggers, you are in LUCK!

Exercise induced asthma is the best kind to have! You won't be awaken in the middle of the night gasping for breath and turning blue!

The great thing about this asthma is that it can be trained. Meaning, the more you exercise the less drastic and often it will occur. Always keep breathing through your nose, that's where the air is humidified and warmed! I'll be expecting follow ups every few months ;)

[terrya]

14. And this is yet another reason to change my life.

Thanks for the reply to my email. That was very much appreciated (and I might pester you with some questions later on. :-))

Terry

[truthspeaker]

21. "always keep breathing through your nose"

That's what they told me, but because I also have nasal allergy symptoms that just wasn't possible much of the time! Actually until I had my septum straightened and turbinates removed this spring I could only breathe through one nostril at the best of times.

[prolesunited]

23. The doctor mentioned that

During vigorous exercise, you often start breathing through your mouth and that helps trigger the irritation.

You sure you don't want me to take two aspirins and call you in the morning? ;-)

[GiovanniC]

10. I've Had Asthma Since Age 4

Cigarette smoke, or smoke of any kind, pollen, dust, and mildew can all set me off, as well as strenuous exercise.

I used to take a pill twice daily, as well as an inhaler "as needed", which used to be at least once or twice a day. There were no side effects to these medications that I was aware of.

Over time, I have gotten better. My doctor has said that sometimes people who have asthma during childhood eventually grow out of it somewhat. Now, I no longer take daily medication. I still have a Proventil inhaler (actually, more recently, it's something else -- blue and white inhaler instead of the old orange and yellow but I forget the name of the new one) and I only use it when necessary -- probably about 6 times a year or so.

When I was younger I had three attacks that sent me to the hospital. I was treated with what the staff called a "peace pipe" although I'm sure that they called it that because I was young. It was a mouthpiece attached to a green canister which had a plastic hose connected to a machine, and I breathed through it. It helped a lot.

Asthma never really interfered with my life or my day-to-day activities except for in, say, gym class (I couldn't do sprints, but I could jog the track, for example).

[pmbryant]

11. Hoping for the best for you

That's certainly a distressing diagnosis. But from reading the other responses, it looks like this thing is quite manageable, which is what really matters, I think. At least it's reassuring.

Has this affected your cycling routine?

I hope it all works out well for you.

Peter

[curse10]

12. I strictly use my albuterol inhalor

I had pretty serious childhood asthma- but it's better now. All sorts of things set it off- exercise, cold, allergies, stress, etc...

I'm over medicated enough so I don't take anything else for it. I just try to control it with the inhalor and mild exercise to build up my endurance

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. I get the same thing....

asthma with exercise and cold/wind.

Luckily it's not so troublesome that I have to take medications for it, I just am alert to situations that could trigger and manage them.

My Mom has had killer asthma for decades and finally got it under control with Advair and a couple of other inhalers. The primary side effect she had was a hoarse throat.

[prolesunited]

16. The doctor first prescribed Advair

but the insurance company wouldn't pay for it ($133 per 28 treatments). They said I had to use myself as a guinea pig and try other things first.

What I'm confused about is that he told me to use the Advair only before activities that would bring on attacks. Reading over the Flovent lit, it seems I have to take it twice a day regardless. I need to call him and clarify this point. Meanwhile, I did walk out of the office with one of the Advair inhalers that we did use for practice. :-)

If that's the case, I think I'll try working with the Singulair and rescue inhaler first. That seems stupid to treat for something every day when it is so situational. And then all the possible side effects. Why subject yourself to that needlessly?

[Shakespeare]

15. If you have asthma AND allergies (like I do), cut wheat out of your diet..

...as much as possible. It's a known irritant, and pediatric asthma patients are often advised to do this. Adults should be, too.

I haven't completely given up wheat, but when my allergies are bad (usually spring and fall), I cut WAY back on my wheat intake, which significantly minimizes my asthma symptoms.

edited to add: Cutting down on wheat (especially the nasty, over-processed crap) should reduce the wheeziness you get with asthma. Give it a try--it should help you breathe better!

[Susang]

17. Welcome to my world

I have environmental asthma, probably brought on by a combination of pollution and allergies. I use the Advair diskus and have had very good results on it, I've never needed an inhaler since I started using it. I also have to take Allegra-D for my allergies, since its the only allergy medication that seems to work. Rounding out my little respitory regimine is Nasocort AQ for my nasal polyps that were brought on by extreme sinus congestion. Yippee, what fun! :party:

[truthspeaker]

18. mine's been under control for years

What do you take?
Singulair (pill) and Flovent (inhaler) every day. Albuterol if I start wheezing.

Any side effects?
None from the daily meds. Albuterol makes my heart race.

How long have you had it?
Since age 2.

Have you found that your asthma worsened or improved over time?
Improved.

Ever have a really bad episode? What happens? Did you end up in the hospital?

I've only had to go to an ER once, and there were several emergency visits to my pediatrician. I would wheeze so much it felt like I couldn't breathe at all. They gave me a shot of adrenalin (aka epinephren), which made my heart race and my stomach feel upset. My last major attack was when I was 11 or 12 years old.

[Mizmoon]

19. I had it as a kid, but grew out of it

Once I even had to be hospitalized and put in an oxygen tent for a week.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. Sorry to hear that Proles..whatever you do, don't go biking without a

nebulizer

[Kadie]

22. Mine is allergy related

Flovent is great when my allergies act up.

As far as the albuterol, the only side affect I had was that it made my heart pound and made me very jittery. I have had to try several different things to get one that works good for me. I currently have Alupent, but I haven't had to use it in a long time, I just always make sure to carry it with me just in case.

Once I got my allergies under control by going through a couple of years of allergy shots, I hardly use the inhalers anymore. I just make sure I use the Flovent when allergies kick up, or when I come down with a bad cold. Colds that settle in the chest are miserable.

Have you been through allergy treatment? I am allergic to pollen, trees etc, but the major thing for me is house dust. Keeping the house as dust free as possible and using air cleaners can really help. Are you taking an antihistamine?

I have never had a really bad episode (knock on wood) so I can't help you there.

Good luck and I hope the meds work well for you.

[Endangered Specie]

24. I had a nasty attack at a young age, allergies, dust, MOLD, & seasonal

changes trigger a mild-moderate asthma (wheezing, short breath) sometimes...

Always carry your asthma medicine (usually an inhalor) with you.