MountainReader
07-04-2008, 03:11 AM
So I have been diagnosed with Asthma for 6 1/2 years. Up to now, I thought I knew what my asthma symptoms were. I have done a lot of reading up on asthma over the years and thought I knew what I was watching for. For me, a chronic cough some shortness of breath have been my main symptoms that I am having asthma problems. I am not a wheezer and my peak flow is usually OK until my asthma gets really bad. I do also have problems when I get sinus infectons as well. I never have asthma problems in the summer unless there are fires or the ozone is in the red zone.
Anyway, on Monday, I started having a stuffy runny nose, runny eyes, sneezing and just feeling bad. I assumed I might be having some allergies that were kicking up. On Tuesday, these symptoms persisted and later in the day I developed a low grade fever and a facial and head ache. I assumed I had developed a sudden sinus infection. On Wednesday morning these symptoms persisted and I started with a minor sore throat and some minor coughing. I was heading out of town for vacation and was worried about suffering with a sinus infection while I was gone. I went to the doctor at that point fully expecting to be put on antibiotics for a sinus infection. Instead, the doctor listened to my symptoms and said it sounded like I was having an asthma flare-up. He then listened to my lungs and confirmed it. I have now added Prednisone for the next week to my regimine of Advair, Singulair and Albuterol for the asthma. These symptoms were just my warning signs that my asthma was getting worse, by Wednesday evening and Thursday, my cough had really set in so I was 'lucky' to start treatment before it got horrible.
The doctor said I was the 3rd person he had seen so far that day for asthma. Evidently we haven't had rain in over a month and that combined with the heat and really low humidity has set the conditions for alot of heavy particulates to be sitting low in the air. There are no current air warnings though so I had no idea how bad the air was.
So I did an internet search when I got home on asthma symptoms and found alot of sites with the same basic stuff: shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, low peak flow, etc... I did another search on Asthma early warning signs and that really opened my eyes. I thought I would share a summary of some of the information I came across during my research. I hope it might help others.
Asthma Early Warning Signs:
itchy chin
itchy or sore throat
dark under eye circles
stuffy, runny or congested nose
tiredness
mood change--grouchy or extra quiet
itchy, glassy or watery eyes
thirst
sneezing
stomach ache
headache
fever
restlessness
eczema flare-up
sweating
heartburn
change in face color- pale or flushed
throat clearing
restlessness
heart beating faster
trouble sleeping
yawning
Anyway, on Monday, I started having a stuffy runny nose, runny eyes, sneezing and just feeling bad. I assumed I might be having some allergies that were kicking up. On Tuesday, these symptoms persisted and later in the day I developed a low grade fever and a facial and head ache. I assumed I had developed a sudden sinus infection. On Wednesday morning these symptoms persisted and I started with a minor sore throat and some minor coughing. I was heading out of town for vacation and was worried about suffering with a sinus infection while I was gone. I went to the doctor at that point fully expecting to be put on antibiotics for a sinus infection. Instead, the doctor listened to my symptoms and said it sounded like I was having an asthma flare-up. He then listened to my lungs and confirmed it. I have now added Prednisone for the next week to my regimine of Advair, Singulair and Albuterol for the asthma. These symptoms were just my warning signs that my asthma was getting worse, by Wednesday evening and Thursday, my cough had really set in so I was 'lucky' to start treatment before it got horrible.
The doctor said I was the 3rd person he had seen so far that day for asthma. Evidently we haven't had rain in over a month and that combined with the heat and really low humidity has set the conditions for alot of heavy particulates to be sitting low in the air. There are no current air warnings though so I had no idea how bad the air was.
So I did an internet search when I got home on asthma symptoms and found alot of sites with the same basic stuff: shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, low peak flow, etc... I did another search on Asthma early warning signs and that really opened my eyes. I thought I would share a summary of some of the information I came across during my research. I hope it might help others.
Asthma Early Warning Signs:
itchy chin
itchy or sore throat
dark under eye circles
stuffy, runny or congested nose
tiredness
mood change--grouchy or extra quiet
itchy, glassy or watery eyes
thirst
sneezing
stomach ache
headache
fever
restlessness
eczema flare-up
sweating
heartburn
change in face color- pale or flushed
throat clearing
restlessness
heart beating faster
trouble sleeping
yawning
Sponsor
Capttom48
07-04-2008, 07:04 AM
Thanks for the info. It seems to include everything but a stubbed toe doesn't it? Asthma is certainly a whole body experience.
Feel better,
Tom
Feel better,
Tom
Fleurlur
07-04-2008, 03:31 PM
I have been suffering from a lot of those symptoms with a cough and tight chest for a few weeks! It's only just got better today actually.
The itchy chin is a weird one, I wondered why mine kept itching.
The itchy chin is a weird one, I wondered why mine kept itching.
engineer1961
07-07-2008, 09:28 PM
Add yay pluwning to the list too :) I always start yawning before a flare up and my plumol. says it's common ....last time it happend I was having my year end review from my boss....ugh timing is everthing!!
snowdrift
07-13-2008, 02:21 AM
Well now.
Another thanks for this list. I felt a little funky this morning, and then went to the library to get some work done. Was really irked in the library because my chin was so darned itchy. Thought it must have been a bug bite or something. Then I remembered this thread.
Today I've had:
itchy chin
sore throat
dark under eye circles
tiredness
mood change--extra quiet
thirst
headache
throat clearing
Accordingly, I did a less intense workout this evening. Still managed to trigger some wheezing and shortness of breathe, but I was careful to stay near home. Still feeling kind of funky, so I'll use the nebulizer before going to bed.
Anyway, thanks again for the list. Maybe it will help me prevent an attack.
Another thanks for this list. I felt a little funky this morning, and then went to the library to get some work done. Was really irked in the library because my chin was so darned itchy. Thought it must have been a bug bite or something. Then I remembered this thread.
Today I've had:
itchy chin
sore throat
dark under eye circles
tiredness
mood change--extra quiet
thirst
headache
throat clearing
Accordingly, I did a less intense workout this evening. Still managed to trigger some wheezing and shortness of breathe, but I was careful to stay near home. Still feeling kind of funky, so I'll use the nebulizer before going to bed.
Anyway, thanks again for the list. Maybe it will help me prevent an attack.
MountainReader
08-02-2008, 07:12 PM
In addition to the list above, here are some more early signs of asthma that I have come across:
constant sighing
fatigue
anxiety
rapid breathing
chronic cough without wheezing
difficulty sleeping
constant sighing
fatigue
anxiety
rapid breathing
chronic cough without wheezing
difficulty sleeping
Capttom48
08-07-2008, 08:31 AM
These signs have come in handy lately. I have cough variant asthma and had come to rely on the wracking cough as a sign that my asthma was worsening. This year my cough has been much better except in severe attacks. However I have experienced many of your listed early warning signs.
It turns out my PF's corresponded with these symptoms. I felt much better after using my nebulizer on those occasions and my PF's improved. Thanks for the list.
Tom
It turns out my PF's corresponded with these symptoms. I felt much better after using my nebulizer on those occasions and my PF's improved. Thanks for the list.
Tom
MountainReader
08-08-2008, 12:46 AM
Tom,
You're welcome. I am glad the list is helping you. I'm all for anything that may head off a bad episode.
This board is such a great way to share those tidbits of information we learn from experience. I've had asthma for years and was amazed how little I knew when I came across this information. Like you, I always thought the cough was my first warning sign too.
Interesting thing for me. My peak flow gets worse with my winter asthma. This summer, I get the cough and wheeze (according to my doc, I can't hear it) even though my peak flow has stayed high. I still haven't figured it out. Bad air and uncontrolled acid both triggering a constant cough but peak flow good. Finishing another round of Prednisone tomorrow so we will see how things go.
You're welcome. I am glad the list is helping you. I'm all for anything that may head off a bad episode.
This board is such a great way to share those tidbits of information we learn from experience. I've had asthma for years and was amazed how little I knew when I came across this information. Like you, I always thought the cough was my first warning sign too.
Interesting thing for me. My peak flow gets worse with my winter asthma. This summer, I get the cough and wheeze (according to my doc, I can't hear it) even though my peak flow has stayed high. I still haven't figured it out. Bad air and uncontrolled acid both triggering a constant cough but peak flow good. Finishing another round of Prednisone tomorrow so we will see how things go.