Asthma Increased

[fluff371]

I have had asthma since I was young but it didn't used to affect my life severely and I never had asthma attacks. In the last 2 years I have developed a continuous cough, sometimes the cough is dry but most of the time it is not. I have also suffered from a few asthma attacks recently. I am now 16 and before always believed my asthma would decrease as I got older but it is increasing slowly but surely. My last peak flow measured at 350 and I am now on a Seretide 250, I was wondering if any of you know if an allergy test is a good idea and if this has worked for anyone? I am aware that this is very hard to get on the NHS and am prepared to have it done privately, even though I shouldn't have to. I am also aware that this may not be the best thing to do and am wondering what else, other than increasing my inhaler (which dooesn't seem to have worked) could be a good idea? Thankyou for your help!

[lilybelle96]

I had 3 years of allergy shots and it helped my asthma very much. I was able to decrease my daily maintenance inhalers a lot.

[curmudgeon]

You don't say what meds you are on and that might be the best place to start. You probably should be on some type of daily steroid in addition to your rescue inhaler.

Also, if you are allergic, or even sensitive, to somethings then allergy tests might help you identify it. But sometimes you can figure out your triggers yourself just by what happens to your body when you do or eat are or near certain things.

But part of your problem might be your age. Right now your body is doing lots of growing and changing and your hormones are all over the place. In some people, this time of your life can worsen your asthma symptoms. So they might get better as you get older. Remember that not everyone outgrows childhood asthma. Some people have it for life but you can still have a happy, healthy, full life with asthma.

Still, your first effort should be with your doc. Check your meds. Make sure you are on something that controls that cough because if your inhaler isn't working and you have a serious attack - well I don't even want to think about what could happen.

Start there. Ask about changing your meds if necessary. If that doesn't work then have allergy tests.

And keep in touch here. There are some great people here that can help with your questions and concerns as you go through all of this.

Good luck!

[B143C]

My son has asthma - we wash his pillow once a week and change his pillow case everyday. This is helpful. He is on flovent and singulaur. The two preventives together are amazing. I'm sorry you are having so much trouble - medicine is so advanced now days I'm certain there is something that can get you back on track and have you feeling better in no time. God bless you!

Phillipians 4:6

[Eagle]

Originally Posted by curmudgeon

You don't say what meds you are on and that might be the best place to start. You probably should be on some type of daily steroid in addition to your rescue inhaler.

Also, if you are allergic, or even sensitive, to somethings then allergy tests might help you identify it. But sometimes you can figure out your triggers yourself just by what happens to your body when you do or eat are or near certain things.

But part of your problem might be your age. Right now your body is doing lots of growing and changing and your hormones are all over the place. In some people, this time of your life can worsen your asthma symptoms. So they might get better as you get older. Remember that not everyone outgrows childhood asthma. Some people have it for life but you can still have a happy, healthy, full life with asthma.

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Good luck!

Everyone does a web search re their new meds to find out side effects, right?
I found that steroids can cause osteoporosis, and the meds for that have some unpleasant side effects also. Seems like everything does.

Plus, I can't get my Asmanex inhaler dose-counter to work. The pharmacist did something, said you have to do it before you put the cap back on, so it's back to "1". It's a sample one to try before buying. (I would sure buy mine somewhere else.) Meanwhile, anyone familiar with this?

About osteoporosis, a therapeutic dose of calcium for women with acid reflux so that they shouldn't take the well-known Fosamax, Boniva, and like that, is 2 cups of cottage cheese per day, with Vitamin C, which canned pineapple I think has, just as good as fresh, and up to 400 m_ of magnesium, before 5 pm for some reason, every day.

A couple of Questions since I've shared some information: When you have a bone density scan every 3 yrs, is that xrays, and therefore rather dangerous?

Do many of the asthsma patients also have extremely low thyroid ("hypo") and/or diabetes?