New here - Asthma Message Board

cupcake118 · 09-07-2004, 01:16 AM

Hi all, I'm new to healthboards.com, but I'm not new to asthma. I've had asthma for the past 5 years and until a year and a half ago it was pretty mild, but now it has gone to the severe side. None of my dr's know why it suddenly got severe, but I think it has a lot to do with the fact that my IgE keeps increasing. Just this year it's gone from 403 in Jan to 603 in April to 1456 in July. I don't know if any of you have the ever increasing IgE out there, I know some of the increase is due to the xolair, but my pulmononologist said that there's no way xolair would make it increase that much. As far as meds I'm on singulair, allegra 180 mg, benadryl 25 mg/day, xolair 375 mg every 2 weeks, spiriva, foradil, Qvar 80 mg 8 puffs twice a day, nexium 40 mg twice a day, elestat one drop in each eye twice a day, atrovent nebulizer treatments every 2-4 hrs, robetessin cough syrup every 4 hrs and a calcium supplement, i think there might be more meds i'm on i can never remeber all of them. I already have osteopenia from being on prednisone so much and I'm only 18. I'm happy I found this group because I do sometimes have a hard time cooping with not being able to do things like a normal college student would. I do see a pulmonologist at a great teaching hospital and I work very closely with her, but she can't seem to come up with any new treatment options for me right now.
Kristin

Blondee15 · 09-07-2004, 07:07 AM

Kristin i'm so sorry to hear things are not well for you! Your name made me hungry for a cupcake hehe! anyways, I feel ya, i'm starting college this year & super nervous about how my asthma will affect working, college & gymnastics. Last year I missed so much of all those, I fell so behind. It was horrible. i'm sorry I haven't got any help, but we are all here for you when you need to vent or let loose your frustrations.. we've all been there about stubborn asthma. hope things get better soon

Gal4Dale88USP · 09-07-2004, 08:27 AM

Cupcake
Welcome! I found this BB about 5 months ago and it's been a great sourse of support and information. Sure hope you start feeling better real soon
Welcome!
~~Lorrie

Kime · 09-07-2004, 09:00 AM

My husband has had asthma for most of his life, but not as bad as yours. He used to live in Californiia and when he moved up here to Washington State when he was about 21 his asthma went away I guess because his allergens are mainly botanical and the change of environment helped. Well, after we had been married for about 8 years one summer he had asthma for a couple weeks and it gradually got worse and longer until last summer he was sick all summer and couldn't jog and had trouble at work and sleeping at night, too, so that sounds a little like what is happening to you. This summer his asthma started early but then to cut the story short we have learned that taking a lot of vitamin C and niacin pretty much takes care of it most of the time and he can even jog. It might at least help somewhat for you but you have to take enough. It is cheap and easy to try and has other health benefits, too. If you click on my name you can find my other posts and read the ones that have to do with asthma if you want more information about this. If you decide to try it don't stop taking your meds, just add the vitamins and see if it helps.

cupcake118 · 09-07-2004, 10:42 PM

Thank you for the ideas about vit C and niacin, but I have tried that combo and it didn't do anything for me. And I would never ever stop taking my meds again last time I did that I got myself a nice little vent for a week, the only time I think about stopping my meds is when i get depressed.