Is this how awful everyday life is going to be with asthma? - Asthma Message Board

kellysmum · 12-20-2007, 09:40 AM

I am new to having severe asthma, after years of having very mild asthma. My life has completely changed, and I'm wondering if this is how it's going to be from now on.

I wake up in the morning with a tight chest. I have phlegm in my chest and wheeze on and off all day. If I cough, I can clear the wheezing for a minute or two. I use my nebulizer every four hours. Deep breaths are a thing of the past. By late in the afternoon, I'm exhausted from trying to get through the day. Physical activity exhausts me and makes my symptoms worse. Our house is now full of air cleaners. I'm on a short course of prednisone, Advair 500/50, and a rescue inhaler, in addition to the nebulizer. My family doctor has told me there is nothing else he can do for me. I am supposed to see a pulmonologist on January 7th.

Is this how life as a severe asthmatic is going to be from now on? Will every day be a struggle to get through, with me being so reliant on a nebulizer and my rescue inhaler and with frequent ER visits? Is anyone else this physically tired?

Someone please advise. I'm sorry if I sound as if I'm whining. I guess I'm just venting. I feel as if my family doctor has shrugged his shoulders and washed his hands of me, and my husband has no understanding of what it's like to not be able to breathe. I feel very alone right now, and could use some support. I promise to return the kindness.

Thank you.

Buffalo Gal · 12-20-2007, 10:29 AM

You're physically tired because your body is not getting enough oxygen. Seeing a pulmonologist is the best thing you could do. There are severe types of Asthma, such as Brittle Asthma, but there is also COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. You may have one of these, or just a case of Asthma that is not under control, and needs a change in medication. Your pulmonologist will determine what's causing your symptoms, and hopefully, a course of treatment that will help you. Hang in there!

Titchou · 12-20-2007, 10:35 AM

You might also need to see an allergist if you are not already. The tightness upon waking suggests either a change in meds is needed or you are allergic to dust mites. You could try a benedryl at bedtime and see if it helps. If it does then you know there's an allergy component to your problems.

gcsjr · 12-20-2007, 11:32 AM

Hang in there until you see the pulmonologist. If you've gone from having mild asthma to something more severe in a short period of time there's likely something environmental that has caused the change.

As I recall you mentioned in an earlier thread that you're just getting over a chest cold - that can certainly cause your asthma to flare up temporarily - hopefully things will calm down after a while.

The pulmonologist will have lots of other options (including allergy tests as mentioned earlier) to help get this under control.

One other thing that often triggers asthma flare ups, particularly if you wake up with a tight chest, is heartburn/acid reflux. Do you by chance have heartburn on a regular basis?

Dday110 · 12-22-2007, 12:47 PM

Well you mentioned you had a cold before all this started right? My asthma is pretty much mild or moderate year around but if i get a cold it jumps straight to severe. Like you i have to take my rescue inhalers and albuterol treatments often and I am usually wheezing and tight for the whole duration of the cold. Even somtimes after the cold the asthma will continue to be severe for some weeks, I think the best you could do is keep your hopes up that your asthma will return to normal. Mine always has although i do sometimes get concerned. If you want to look into it a little more you could also search on the internet asthma story (one word) and read up on that article, sometimes colds will make asthma worse from further increasing the amount of chlamydia in the lungs (or so this article argues). The article also argues that if one would take a high regimen of antibiotics for a long duration of time they would be able to reduce if not do away with their asthma. Unfortunatly you will need an open minded doctor which is the reason i can't do it (i'm only 17 with a pretty closed minded doctor who said she wouldn't allow me to do it). Once i get a bit older and i can stop relying on my parents i'm definitly going to try it though. Good Luck and i hope you feel better :]