Hi... I will be going in for my first pulmo appt next week, what should I expect. My primary care doc has been unable to help me with EIA. I have been prescribed Advair, Albuterol with spacer and singlular. My EIA has gotten worse over the past month or so and it's very frustrating as I am in pretty intense training right now. Another question... when you have an attack does it feel like you need to get more air into your lungs but your lungs won't expand anymore? Did that make any sense? Does anyone else have problems with feeling like they can't get air past their throat area?

Any help, advice... anything would be appreciated. THANKS!

Good luck with your appointment. Most likely the doc will document everything you have tried, your symptoms, maybe schedule some more Pulmonary Function tests etc. Maybe everyone else here knows more than me but I'm not sure what you mean by EIA? You might get more replies if someone knows what that is. As far as what the attacks feel like, YES, normally I feel like I need to get more air in but my lungs will not expand enough to do it. I usually feel like someone has wrapped my lungs in suran wrap or something. It's such a scary feeling and sends me into a panic when it doesn't seem to be helped from the Albuterol.

Exercise Induced Asthma. Do you use the albuterol 15 minutes before exercise? Especially cardio? if not, then you should. If oyu don't have a spacer, hold it out about 2 inches from your mouth. It'll work better. Two puffs, one minute apart, then wait 15 minutes and you are off to work out. Should last you about an hour....I jog and this works great for me.

Thank you for the replies.

I do use the albuterol with spacer about 25 minutes before we do PT. It's hard sometimes getting the timing thing right so I can use the albuterol before we do PT or other intense training. Schedule is pretty tight so it's hard sometimes to just up and run over to the lockers. I'm just so frustrated because I never had to use the albuterol before during PT and now the things I use to do with somewhat ease, have me huffing, puffing, wheezing and freaking out. I started crying last week when I had an episode. I really do hope the pulmonologist can help me. I wasn't allowed to do regular PT with everyone else this week. Blah... :-( Thanks again for your advice.

Try to cut that down to 15 minutes. The effects only last about an hour so you're shortening the time frame that you'll get benefits by 10 minutes. I know it sometimes is hard to time it timed right but I think the 25 minutes is way too long. Good luck....

sounds like you may need a prevenative inhaler. I do know some people with EIA that use advair etc.