http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/ Health related message boards offering discussions of numerous health topics including allergies, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, exercise, attention deficit disorder, diet, and nutrition. en Fri, 24 May 2013 02:14:23 GMT vBulletin 1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/ http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/1212-pollen-march-indecent.html Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:19:17 GMT Really indecent. I was thinking I'd have another couple weeks at least before I had to deal with this, but, nope, I am in full allergy mode. Eyes, nose, skin and lungs.

Stuff I want to try:

Intal/Tilade
Singulair

I made an appointment with the allergist for a couple weeks from now. Not sure why I even bothered, I mean, we've already tried almost everything and nothing works, except for the stuff with severe side effects. I don't know how I can deal with another eight months of this. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/1212-pollen-march-indecent.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/1005-five-mile-race-woot.html Thu, 25 Nov 2010 17:23:57 GMT Okay, I only ran maybe half a mile of it, but I finished in 68 minutes 30 seconds. (probably 67 minutes from the time I actually passed the start line.) So I basically did four 14-minute miles followed by one 11.5 minute mile. Biggest obstacle... Okay, I only ran maybe half a mile of it, but I finished in 68 minutes 30 seconds. (probably 67 minutes from the time I actually passed the start line.) So I basically did four 14-minute miles followed by one 11.5 minute mile.

Biggest obstacle was the asthma. The pretty rayon scarf is a total pain, I need something more practical to cover my face in cold weather.

Still, pretty darned pleased with myself, overall. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/1005-five-mile-race-woot.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/927-allegra.html Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:19:42 GMT So I told the doctor I want to try a bunch of antihistamines, to see if I can find one that works without bad side effects. He insisted that Allegra was the absolute best antihistamine in that area.

I think it's time to ask for the worst.

1) No obvious allergy benefit from the first dose

2) Significant stomach irritation from just one dose

3) Felt like I stayed up all night and drank a pot of coffee--awake, but not in a good way.

He said I could call to try Xyzal and Clarinex if I wanted to. I suppose I will.

At least I got the other script I wanted: Flovent. Even though he gave me the child's dose, and the entire point of getting an HFA steroid was so I could be on a dose high enough to control the asthma without the side effects of bronchiodilators. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/927-allegra.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/915-still-working-knot.html Thu, 21 Oct 2010 01:20:00 GMT I've decided that the nortriptyline seems to make my stomach BETTER, so no point to quitting. The Symbicort is definitely making it worse, so, back to Asmanex, which isn't as effective.

Seeing the doctor again Monday. I want:

A straight steroid in an HFA inhaler that can be used with a spacer (to minimize throat irritation). Flovent or Qvar are both possibilities.

A collection of SAMPLES or SHORT prescriptions for antihistamines. I want to try the maximum number of drugs for the least cost and waste. There HAS to be something out there which will work.

I have tried:

chlorpheniramine
Benadryl
Claritin
Zyrtec
hydroxyzine

The older drugs were more effective, I found. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/915-still-working-knot.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/878-tired.html Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:50:29 GMT So yesterday and today I only took half my Symbicort. Today the lungs were not so great.

The stomach discomfort was ok until dinner, went out with friends, ate a bit too much, felt crummy for the next 4 hours.

I think it'd help if I stop eating meals and just snack, like, every hour. My body can't handle more than a few ounces of food at one time, even if my greedy mouth wants it. Work schedule won't permit that, though. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/878-tired.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/828-latest-med-regimen.html Sat, 25 Sep 2010 19:33:40 GMT Morning: 1 Zantac 2 puffs Symbicort 80/4.5 Voltaren gel rubbed on knees Before dinner: 1 puff Asmanex 220 1 Zantac Voltaren Morning:
1 Zantac
2 puffs Symbicort 80/4.5
Voltaren gel rubbed on knees

Before dinner:
1 puff Asmanex 220
1 Zantac
Voltaren

Bedtime:
Flonase, 2 sprays each nostril
More Voltaren
A little IcyHot on the hips

The Reglan worked, but it seemed to be making my asthma worse. As a last-ditch plan, I've quit taking the nortriptyline. It might possibly help my stomach, and if my stomach gets better, it'll be easier to treat my allergies.

As for the fibro, ultimately I can live with back pain better than I can live with breathing problems. That's really all there is to it. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/828-latest-med-regimen.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/823-so-medicine-works-how-annoying.html Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:12:13 GMT Lately, the allergies have been getting pretty bad, and I couldn't sleep anyway, so I took a Benadryl. And when I woke up, my eyes weren't gummed shut, and my sinuses weren't congested, and my lungs felt so great I hardly wanted to bother taking my Symbicort. Then 4 hours later, it all came back.

Then I started having awful acid reflux in the afternoon. Somehow, not being able to take the Benadryl is worse now that I know how much it can help.

Weirdly, my allergist is totally cool with me never taking antihistamines. Obviously, I should be on a daily antihistamine throughout the growing season, but that's out of the question. Maybe the doctor thinks I'll do it if allergies get bad enough, and I'm not taking them because I don't really need them. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/823-so-medicine-works-how-annoying.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/786-just-latest.html Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:02:27 GMT Had a good weekend. Spent the whole time running around outside, literally, which meant a lot of inhaler puffs! Still, it's so nice to be able to do things like this again.

Unfortunately, the acid reflux is acting up again. Not too bad so far, but I do have the constant-acid-taste going on. I'm really thinking the albuterol and symbicort have a lot to do with it.

If it doesn't get any worse than this, acid taste and occasional abdominal pain, it's not a problem. But I've only been on this stuff for a few weeks. If the problem continues, I'm going to be cranky.

I'm tempted to go back on the Prilosec full-time, but I really don't think it would help. I'm tempted to take the GI doctor up on his offer of Reglan, but that has dangerous side effects of its own.

Still, maybe occasional use of Reglan is an option. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/786-just-latest.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/772-still-tweaking-still-okay.html Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:14:28 GMT So tomorrow is the first day of school, and I'm just about read for a new crop of students. I can't ever remember starting school so tired, though!

Symbicort + Asmanex seems to mess up my throat whether I take them separately or together. Maybe the high-dose Symbicort won't be so bad. Or maybe in a few more weeks, when pollen counts drop, I'll be okay on the lower dose steroid, which my throat tolerates.

Got more allergy shots tomorrow afternoon. Have to explain that I slightly over-reacted last time. Not dreadful, but the swellings were bigger than they're supposed to be. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/772-still-tweaking-still-okay.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/769-still-working-solution.html Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:32:39 GMT So it's clear that two puffs of Symbicort 80/4.5 once a day is not enough steroid. Which I told the doctor when he prescribed it. The nearest I've come to satisfactory control was Advair 250/50 twice a day, and that's a MUCH higher steroid dose. I cut back due to side effects, and my asthma symptoms increased when I cut back on the Advair. (But it was making my stomach so sick I really had no choice.)

I tried taking a second dose of Symbicort, and that made me very over-stimulated. So I refilled my prescription for Asmanex, which is a steroid alone, and tried 2 puffs of Symbicort in the morning and one Asmanex in the evening. My throat was crazy sore. Now, today, I'm trying two Symbicort and one Asmanex all at once. It would probably be better to spread out the steroid doses, but maybe it'll irritate my throat less this way.

I might be seeing the doctor again Wednesday, or I might not. Depends whether my work schedule changes for a fourth time or stays with version 3. Maybe he'll prescribe the Symbicort 160/4.5, which he probably should have done in the first place.

I think my doctor and I are having a small communication problem. He believes if he can get my FEV to 100% of predicted, then I'm healthy. 100% of predicted does not mean your lungs are functioning as well as possible, that's just the average of healthy people my age and size. Thing about averages is, quite a few people are above average. I've been at 100%, my best is 111%. I was symptomatic even then, although obviously 111% felt a lot better than 74%.

But he sees peak flows of 74%, 80% and he thinks my asthma is very mild and I'm just over-reacting, and he prescribes these tiny little doses of steroids. I know that I've never had a really dangerous attack, I know that I can function at 80% of predicted, but I'm way off my normal game. And I don't do "attacks" that come and go. When my lungs tighten up, unless I medicate them properly, they'll stay that way for days.

When I first started taking the Symbicort, there were several days where my lungs felt normal for a significant part of the day. That hadn't happened in four months. I'm going to get back there one way or another. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/769-still-working-solution.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/762-good-know.html Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:02:59 GMT Two doses of Symbicort + work stress = total freak out melt down at 7 am.

Something to add to the list of allergy meds that can make me crazy.

I think maybe I'll stick to one Symbicort in the morning and one straight steroid at night. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/762-good-know.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/755-few-more-pieces-puzzle.html Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:15:47 GMT 1) After a few days of working absurdly well, the asthma is acting up again. I think the steroid dosage in my Symbicort is just way too low, which I told the doctor in the first place. Still, I took a second dose today and it cleaned the baby... 1) After a few days of working absurdly well, the asthma is acting up again. I think the steroid dosage in my Symbicort is just way too low, which I told the doctor in the first place. Still, I took a second dose today and it cleaned the baby squirrel out of my chest. He kinda said I could do that. Or maybe I'd do better with Symbicort once a day and just a steroid once a day, because bronchiodilators tend to have side effects where I'm concerned.

2) Saw the GI doctor again today. The polyps he biopsied were benign of course (thank God). He saw some gastritis, nothing severe. No evidence of H Pylori infection (sometimes the body wipes out the infection on its own) and, weirdly, no evidence of hiatal hernia. That one doesn't usually go away on its own, except in babies.

Unfortunately, he doesn't believe in PPI dependency, which made it tough for us to have a reasonable conversation about alternatives. I told him about the article, he asked me to send it to him. Which I will, I think I'll print and mail it.

So, the final answer is we do nothing. Which... Well, it's good to hear that there's nothing seriously wrong. But it's unfortunate that there's nothing more which can be done, because both asthma attacks and asthma medicines are causing me considerable discomfort. Like acid-in-the-mouth-all-day discomfort. Still, ultimately it's natural remedies, Zantac, PPI's or else some relative of Reglan. Which he offered, and which I probably should have accepted the script for even if I wasn't sure I wanted it. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/755-few-more-pieces-puzzle.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/752-still-okay.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:07:28 GMT Well, I posted a whole bunch of depressing entries about how my asthma was still awful, may as well post happy ones for balance.

Once again, I had a period of time in which my lungs felt like they did before I had asthma. That's 3 times in 4 days, as opposed to zero times in 4 months. Obviously, this combination of medicines is working!

Okay, I did use my inhaler once today. I was in a meeting and surrounded by people wearing too much perfume. Honestly, why do people even wear perfume, hairspray, etc? I wish they'd just stop.

Still, as always, the new inhaler worked great. When I went for my allergy shots, the nurse measured my peak flow, and despite pollen, heat, perfume and probably ozone, it was the highest yet. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/752-still-okay.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/748-so-far-so-good.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:02:52 GMT Since I've been on the Symbicort (5 days now), I've had 2 outrageously good days, and none that were particularly bad. Today was somewhat worse than yesterday, might be related to heat and ozone, but it's not nearly bad enough to be a real problem. Yesterday I was practically bouncing off the walls with eagerness to DO THINGS!!! (In fact, I got a basketball and bounced it off a wall for a while, but that's another story.)

Over the past few months, I've doubted myself. I've wondered if I was being a hypochondriac, if I should just learn to live with my asthma and go on. I mean, my base lung capacity is pretty darned high, and I've never had it drop to the point that I felt my life was in danger. I was on supposedly the best medicines, but I still didn't feel right. So I kept tweaking. Kept harassing the doctor.

I still don't know how the GI side effects will work out in the long run, it took over a month for the side effects of Advair to become intolerable. I don't know what will happen when winter comes, or if I get respiratory infections. I don't know what will happen next spring.

But things are going better than they have in a long time. I'm making travel plans that I put off because my health was too uncertain.

My friends with asthma are able to live normal lives, including participating in outdoor sports in all seasons and keeping up with demanding jobs. When I first got asthma, I took for granted that I would, too. For a while, I couldn't quite see how, but now, finally I'm starting to believe it. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/748-so-far-so-good.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/746-reasons-optimism.html Sat, 28 Aug 2010 03:47:29 GMT I went out hiking today, up to the top of a nearby hill, 4 mile round-trip with a substantial slope. It was a walk I've been wanting to take for a long time, but haven't dared because of allergies. And my lungs were fine. They acted up a little bit, hours later, but it was okay, BECAUSE... I have a rescue inhaler that I can tolerate! I just take a hit when I first find myself breathing hard, and it goes away. And there's no pain in my chest after. Sure, there are side effects, but not to the point that I regret taking it!

Having that literally in my pocket means I can be a lot braver about doing things. Sure, I'm still going to avoid triggers as much as is practical. I'm not going to voluntarily run around outside on a "red" pollen day. But if I do exacerbate my asthma, the day isn't ruined.

I'm trying not to count my chickens too much yet, but I'm feeling very optimistic right now.

Last week I had a bad asthma flare and learned I have fall allergies, which I never did before. Which upset me a lot, because I thought allergy season was almost over for me!

I felt dreadful Sunday and Tuesday, but today and yesterday were not bad at all. I think the other new medicine I started Wednesday, Symbicort, is a big part of it.

Thus far, having taken 3 doses, I've had no intolerable side effects. My voice isn't great, but it's okay. Stomach isn't great, but that started during the 36-hour asthma attack last weekend.

Even if I can't tolerate Symbicort every day of the year, maybe I take it in pollen season and Asmanex or something else the rest of the year.

Either way, I may finally be getting somewhere. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/746-reasons-optimism.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/732-things-i-should-never-say.html Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:49:44 GMT "I'm not allergic to." I wasn't allergic to weeds last year, I wasn't allergic in May when I had my skin tests, I don't think I was allergic two weeks ago, but now I'm VERY allergic to to something that just started blooming, and I've been either in low-level respiratory distress or near it since the asthma attack Saturday night.

I'm in a place right now that I recognize is a little dangerous: I'm beginning not to care. I'm taking steroid nasal spray and inhaled steroids, and I still feel terrible, almost as bad as I did back in the spring when I had no medicine. I'm running out of options drug-wise. I don't WANT to stay inside, be a good girl, take care of myself and all of that. I mean, I'm getting allergy attacks just going out for a quick errand. In the car, with the AC running. So, if I'm going to feel awful anyway, why not just do what I want?

Still, I know I don't want to go to the hospital, so I'm trying to keep a lid on that sort of thinking, and take care of myself. Whatever good that does.

I really thought my allergy season was almost over, that I was going to really start feeling better. But if it's ragweed allergy, I've got eight or ten weeks yet until the season's over. I don't know if I can last that long. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/732-things-i-should-never-say.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/715-where-im.html Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:31:38 GMT Just got back from a week's vacation. Camping, believe it or not! My pollen allergy season is winding down, according to the doctor I'm not allergic to weeds and I've never had hay fever symptoms after Labor Day.

Now, the other things up there were not so kind to me. It was a very crowded campground, and I was exposed to a lot of tobacco and wood smoke, which proved to be harmful. I also learned that heat and humidity are secondary asthma triggers for me: They make things worse if I'm already keyed up. So, yeah, wasn't feeling that great. But, even when I wasn't feeling well, I still had fun most of the time.

Still, I was really hoping I wouldn't have environmental triggers, just allergic ones. Unfortunately, I must add smoking, dirty air, perfume, and very humid heat to the list of things I need to watch out for. Cold air and respiratory infections I haven't tested yet (PLEASE don't let me have winter asthma, I LOVE winter sports so much). On the positive side, I'm now quite sure exercise isn't a trigger. If asthma is acting up, obviously my ability to exercise is impaired, but if my lungs feel good at the start of the workout, they'll probably feel just as good at the end. Which is a huge help, because people with EIA use a lot of albuterol, and I can't tolerate it.

The drug situation is an ongoing annoyance. Albuterol and salmeterol both cause me to suffer acid reflux, which can make the asthma worse. Same for Benadryl. As for other antihistamines, Zyrtec and hydroxyzine cause burning pains in my stomach, like Advil does, and Claritin simply doesn't work no matter how much I take. Inhaled steroids: 200 mcg per day is enough to help somewhat, but 400 per day is much better. Unfortunately, 400 makes me terribly hoarse all the time.

I want to try Singulair, though it might upset my stomach like all the other meds. I want to try a bronchiodilator that isn't a beta-agonist, because it'd be really nice to have a rescue inhaler that'll make me feel better instead of worse. Maybe I should try an HFA steroid rather than a dry-powder one, because I've heard those are easier on the vocal cords. I want the allergy shots to work, though I won't know whether or not they did until next spring.

Most of all, I want to stop thinking about all of this. I just want something to work, so I can take my medicine and go about my day. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/715-where-im.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/684-endoscopy-frustration.html Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:35:54 GMT Yesterday I had my endoscopy. They found some polyps in my stomach and removed them, I'll know more about that situation when I see the GI doctor again the first of next month.

Today the asthma is acting up a little, AND my voice is all weak and crackly from the steroids. I'm tempted to go back on the Advair, then I remember how awful my stomach was while I was on it.

I'm just so tired of this. I've been sick for more than three months now, with the occasional afternoon off for good behavior. I just want not to deal with this. I want not to have to take all my medicines on time, and keep track of my doctor's appointments and keep the pollen out of my house and watch every damned thing that enters my mouth so it doesn't kick up the stomach and get enough exercise to keep the fibro under control, but not do anything that will hurt my knee or my stomach or my lungs. I've got a vacation coming up, unfortunately all my issues will have to come with me.

And I have to admit I'm worried about the stomach situation. I've always been comforted by the fact that the long-term risks of H. Pylori infection are fairly small. Having polyps before I'm thirty, though, after a mere 4 years of infection, kind of indicates my risk of stomach cancer might be a little higher than average. Which means I need eradication therapy after all. Which will be interesting.

I'm distinctly allergic to the best 2 antibiotics for H. Pylori. Metronizole (sp) I might or might have a cross-reaction to, tetracycline I had once years ago and it was okay. Metronizole + Tetracycline + PPI for two weeks is pretty effective at eradicating the infection, but I doubt I can go 2 weeks without becoming allergic to one antibiotic or the other. At which point I will still have the infection and another valuable class of antibiotics will be closed to me forever. And then of course, I will probably get a yeast infection. And you can't have diflucan on PPI's, and I can't use the creams, which probably means intravenous diflucan.

I really don't want to go through any of that.

I did read about a way of treating the infection through TOPICAL antibiotic therapy, though that would require another endoscopy so the doctor can smear it on. It would require just one treatment, and I could pre-treat with lots of antihistamines, so I could actually complete the eradication with minimal risk of a dangerous reaction.

There should be a way to pull this off. But Lord I am so tired. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/684-endoscopy-frustration.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/658-saw-gi-doc.html Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:23:01 GMT He had lots of questions, and he listened to the answers, which is good.

He didn't actually say much, other than that 24-hour-a-day reflux is not a normal side effect of allergy and asthma meds, my symptoms aren't fitting together neatly for him, and he wants to do a new endoscopy to figure out what exactly is going on there. (The last one was 4 years ago in another state, when I had somewhat different symptoms, so yeah, repeating the test is reasonable.)

While we were talking, I once again realized how adjusting to and living with FM has skewed my perceptions of normal. He was asking me how often I had good days, and I was like, "Hmm, Monday was pretty good."

"And last week?"

"I don't remember exactly. Wait a sec, define good day."

"You don't have these digestive symptoms."

"Oh. Then I haven't had a good day in two and a half months."

It occurred to me then that I have a skewed idea of "good" and "normal." It's not that I don't care if I feel awful, it's that I've learned not to make it more than it is. Ultimately I only really mind being sick when it interferes with what I have to do or want to do.

Which isn't a bad attitude to have.

Oh, I was a bad little girl today, and took a hit off my inhaler. It felt sooo good to have my chest loosen up, even just for an hour. I'm NOT going to do it again, though. ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/658-saw-gi-doc.html http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/651-some-days.html Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:38:23 GMT Some days, this is harder than others. I had to stop using the Advair due to severe GI side effects, so now my lungs are acting up again. Called the allergist for a script for a steroid with no bronchiodilator, but he never called me back. ... Some days, this is harder than others.

I had to stop using the Advair due to severe GI side effects, so now my lungs are acting up again. Called the allergist for a script for a steroid with no bronchiodilator, but he never called me back. Fortunately, I will see him Friday, so maybe I can get it then, but unfortunately, I had fun planned for this weekend, and this will interfere big time.

When I first realized I had asthma, I was fairly ok with it. Not happy, but I expected that I would get medicine and get on with my life. I have several offline friends with asthma, and they're all very active.

Then I discovered just how much my body hates albuterol, the #1 short acting asthma med. It relieves the tightness, but at the cost of bringing on a nasty bout of acid reflux which can trigger another round of asthma symptoms. At this point, I carry my inhaler, but I won't use it unless I think my life might be in danger. And of course I hate the jittery feelings the inhaler gives me.

Then I realized the Advair was messing with me also. At first it wasn't so bad, but the longer I took it the worse it got, until finally I had to quit.

Finally, I found that cigarette smoke, strong perfumes and extreme heat also tend to irritate my lungs, I was REALLY hoping it would be entirely or almost entirely a pollen thing.

I also discovered my stomach won't tolerate Benadryl. Or Claritin. Or Zyrtec, or hydroxyzine. I've given up on antihistamines, though I still carry Benadryl for emergencies.

On the plus side, I've now had allergy shots 4 times and the reactions are smaller each time. Maybe by next year they will be working properly.

Come September, I'm going to be very busy with work. I don't know how I'll find the time for allergy shots every week and all the other treatments I need, but I do know I have no choice.

Still, I think about the weeks and months ahead, all the grand plans I had and how much this will complicate everything from vacations to work (Still untenured, can't get time off in-season) to my hopes for parenthood.

I still have fibromyalgia, as I have for 11 years, I still struggle to minimize the pain and to live with what pain I can't avoid. (or can't avoid without sacrificing too much life.) I'm still not quite 30 years old.

Some days I just want to stand up and scream, "I never wanted to be this person! This isn't me!"

Well, all is not lost. There are asthma treatments I haven't tried yet, including leukotriene modifiers and straight anticholinergic inhalers. Tomorrow is the GI doctor, to see if he has any ideas about my stomach other than simply avoiding all medications. (My stomach was fine for months before this happened, and it's never been this bad before.) ]]> janewhite1 http://www.healthboards.com/boards/blogs/janewhite1/651-some-days.html