Does anyone know if there is some connection between Addison's and asthma?? I was diagnosed with severe asthma back in October, and now that this whole Addison's thing has come up my doctor thinks there is a connection. We can't seem to get my asthma totally under control. I'll be fine for a while, then I'll have a really bad spell. She said something about needing Prednisone replacement...that being the connection...not sure exactly. Anyone else found this to be true??

Kara

Don't know about asthsma, but I think I read somewhere that TB could be involved, and that the elderly may not react to the skin test, but that it doesn't mean they can't have TB. If they've been carriers, for years, their TB can become active when they're elderly. You probably have allergies to dust and/or mold and pollens in the air, reason it happens only part-time?

About prednizone, I don't know if you've read all the posts here. Consensus seems to be that prednizone is a synthetic and that naturals are better. My father had been taking prednizone for emphysema, had a heart attack on a trip, and they took him off the prednizone suddenly, which I later learned just isn't done and that hospital should have known. I'm just making sure you know it. One person I talked to said her doctor told her from the start, if you ever need to stop taking it, that's got to be gradual withdrawal.

Right now I only take Prednisone if I ABSOLUTELY need it for a severe asthma attack, and my doctor will only give it to me if nothing else is working. Even then I only take it for 1-2 weeks, and she always has me gradually reduce the amount...like 4 pills for 3 days, 3 pills for 3 days, 2 pills for 3 days, 1 pill for 3 days, etc... I've only had to be on it twice. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Kara_Leigh (edited 06-05-2003).]

btw...I don't think I have to worry about TB b/c I'm no where NEAR elderly. I'm only 25 years old! LOL

There is a connection between low DHEA and asthma. If you are taking hydrocortisone or prednisone then your body doesn't make any DHEA. I found my breathing significantly improved when I started taking DHEA. You can get it from most large drug stores.