Questions I would ask my doctor, but he laughs at me - Asthma Message Board

looksee1 · 08-22-2004, 01:34 PM

I have a couple of burning questions to ask you guys. I would ask my doctor, but he always makes me feel stupid and has even laughed at my questions, so I turn to you.

Here's my background. I am 35 and was diagnosed with adult onset asthma two years ago, when I was riding horses. I was exposed to hay, mold and dust in the indoor arena where I rode, which I inhaled ferociously through my mouth because riding is hard work! I had to give my dog away, can't go anywhere near a barn and whenever I get a cold, it goes straight to my chest. I never even had a cough before I got asthma. I always got the sore throat variety of viruses. After my first epsiode, I was on Advair for 6 months until my condition improved, and then went off of it and everything was fine for a year and a half. Then I got sick this spring and, stupidly, tried to go riding only a few weeks later, and now I am back on Advair.

Questions:

1. Is this a degenerative disease, or can I improve if I behave myself?

2. How serious is it when you feel tightness in your chest? Should I rush back to the house for my rescue inhaler, or can I finish grocery shopping?

3. How serious is wheezing? Sometimes, I have no other symptoms. Should I still be taking the medecine?

4. Will I be on Advair forever with such a mild history? I hate it.

5. The last time I felt tighteness in my chest, my doctor told me I was hyperventilating and it wasn't an asthma problem. I admit that I can get worried about my symptoms because I am so new to them and they are frightening, but I sincerely doubt that I was hyperventilating.

6. They tell you not to swallow the meds. I always end up swallowing some of the meds. Does it cause cancer or something?

7. We have a mold/dust problem in our house. It's relatively small, but persistent. Should we move? It's awfully expensive and time-consuming and there might be mold somewhere else too. If i do, will my lungs heal or have I caused permanent injury to them staying here.

8. When I take Advair, I feel a distinct pain in my left arm. It doesn't radiate all the way down my arm, but it starts 10-30 minutes after I take it, every time. Has anyone had this before? Heart disease runs in my family.

9. I scored a 4+ on certain allergies to oak and maple pollen, but I hardly have any seasonal allergies. I was thinking about getting shots to help my asthma, but my doctor says that they only do the shots if the meds don't work. Also, he says there is a risk of going into shock. Is that related to how high your reactivity is, or is it just a freak thing.

Thank you all so very very much.

Kime · 08-22-2004, 03:16 PM

Hi there. Try reading my post about how vitamin C cures my husband's asthma. We also have a friend who is allergic to mold and the vitamin C works for him, too. Plus we are pretty sure our son is allergic to mold, but he gets different symptoms from it, and it helps him, too. Vitamin C is cheap and easy to try and all you have to do is take it for about 3 days to know if it can help you or not, but you have to take it to bowel tolerance which is explained in my other post. I also read about a woman who had the same problem as you with getting asthma from working with horses and now with the vitamin C she is back working with them again so I really think it is worth a try. You don't need to stop taking your meds to find out, if the C works you will just find that you don't need them as much or at all.

proudmom47 · 08-22-2004, 07:59 PM

I can certainly sympathize with you. I was diagosed with asthma at 44 years old after years of sinus, hayfever, and drainage. Finally after a severe case of bronchitis, I started getting the terrible cough once or twice a year. It was never pneumonia, just a chest cold that would linger for a couple of months. I never really took it serious until my family doctor told me that a normal cough should never last more than a couple of weeks at the most. I started getting a little more winded than usual especially when I would exercise vigorously. Well, I just summed that up to being overweight, which I am. However, I was finally tested for my allergies and found I was allergic to a variety of things. I started allergy shots and took them for four years and it did desensitize me to some things but not to others, like my precious dogs. I was given a lung function test and found out that I didn't do very well. Even after some medicine, my lung function didn't improve much. I guess over the years, I did some damage. Well, I am on Advair 250 twice a day and my cough really doesn't bother me any more. When I get sick, my cough will last about 1 month instead of 2 and I'm not sick very much, maybe once a year. I refuse to get rid of my dogs, besides I don't seem to have symptoms when they are around. I'm hoping my body is adjusting ??? I know what you mean about feeling stupid when you ask questions. I was really stressed about my lung function. Do I have emphysema??? My father had it??!!! Is this going to get worse??? Will I die? I know all the anxiety that goes along with this disease. However, my doctor did say, 1. No, you do not have emphysema 2. You will not get worse if you take care of yourself 3. You can live a normal life with my degree of damage to my lungs. I may not be able to run a marathon, but I can walk 2 or 3 miles. 4. I will not die. The funny thing about all of this, I have never had an asthma attack. I get vague symptoms of shortness of breath, but have never had a problem being really breathless except for once when I tried to climb about 50 steps at a slow trot. I thought I was going to die but I was fine after 3 minutes or so. I don't really consider that an asthma attack. So I am okay with it all. I don't like having asthma, and don't like taking the Advair, but I will as long as I need to. I am going to take Kime's advice and start the vitamin C. What can it hurt? I am all for the natural things. Who knows, this might help me , too. I hope I have answered some of your questions. I don't know if your asthma is like mine or not. Everyone's seems to be different. I know I sometimes feel like an idiot because I am so paranoid about the spirometer (breathing test). I get cold and clammy whenever I have to do it. But I just go in for it twice year to see how I"m doing. My appointment in June was a good one. My lung function was up a little. So I am optimistic. She did tell me to lose weight and exercise and it would help a bunch. Take Care.

Cindy

Blondee15 · 08-22-2004, 10:12 PM

1. Asthma is defined as being REVERSIBLE obstructed airways. That means the damage can always be reversed.
2. Carry your inhaler in your purse. It was the best advice my mother has given me lol. But you are your best doctor- my guideline is if i'm really exerting myself just to take a breath.
3. It can be very serious. ALWAYS keep taking your prescribed medication! If in doubt, call your doctor! Wheezing signifies airway obstruction. If you are still wheezing on your medication, you need an increase in medication!
4. Could be. I've been on it for almost 2 years now & i've been on nothing short of a roller coaster ride with asthma. Sometimes I cough so much for so long, my skin takes on a bluish hue & my chest gets sore. Other days I almost forget I have asthma. But I know a normal life would NOT be possible w/out daily Advair, w/out it, i'm a vegetable in the hospital=(.
5. Nah, but the meds have a higher risk of side effects when they are swallowed, like shakiness & infection. Just try to rinse your mouth everytime &* don't swallow
6. Nope. Just replace all carpeting with wall 2 wall hardwood floors & clean them EVERYDAY with a mask on. Or else have someone else do it. Get a high quality airfilter & cover all vents with those filters you can get from 3M, their only a few bucks. Cover all your bedding with allergen proof encasings. Wipe down everything everyday if possible with stuff aimed to kill mold. Check online for allergy products, there is soo much out there that can help, I have a few catalogs here & there is some pretty neat stuff that really helps=)
7. Check w/ your doctor, I don't know about that sorry!
8. Are you seeing an allergist? See an allergist to discuss your options better.
hope you feel better soon..

jp3892 · 08-23-2004, 03:09 AM

8. Are u sure u are not taking copious amount of reliever medication during these times too? These will definitely cause you heart problems.