Question about chest heaviness & coughing

[LadyBadger]

I was also on Pulmicort 200 mcg turbuhaler (2 puffs twice a day) until the beginning of August (I hadn't yet switched to the Flexhaler version.) I noticed a decline in my asthma control over the previous several months - very gradual but noticeable. I'm also on Spiriva inhaler and Theophylline time release tablets (400 mg every 12 hours.)

My insurance has an asthma education program and the asthma specialist - after over an hour of questions - recommended that I ask my Dr. about Symbicort (Advair was disastrous for me because of the Flovent component) and Xopenex. I did this on August 1st. He switched me to Symbicort 160/4.5 (2 puffs twice a day), stopped the Pulmicort since it's a component of Symbicort, and kept my other meds the same but added Xopenex in lieu of albuterol. It took a while - almost 2 weeks - but what a difference! He also pointed out that while I had been on 200 mcg of Pulmicort, the 160 in the Symbicort was exactly the same amount due to its configuration and better delivery system.

My best peak flow previously was rarely 300 (low, I know, but I am 61 and have had asthma since age 6 months) but mostly in the upper 200's. After almost 1 1/2 months on Symbicort, my best peak flow is now 350 with typical being 330.

I wish you luck - I am VERY happy with the Symbicort!

Linda

Originally Posted by pinky3

I think I understand better now. My dr. put me on oral steroids to get over this hump. I just hope that once I get over it, the Symbicort will keep it under control. I wonder how likely adding the Foradil will help since the Budenoside is now only 160mcg per puff.

[pinky3]

Originally Posted by LadyBadger

I was also on Pulmicort 200 mcg turbuhaler (2 puffs twice a day) until the beginning of August (I hadn't yet switched to the Flexhaler version.) I noticed a decline in my asthma control over the previous several months - very gradual but noticeable. I'm also on Spiriva inhaler and Theophylline time release tablets (400 mg every 12 hours.)

My insurance has an asthma education program and the asthma specialist - after over an hour of questions - recommended that I ask my Dr. about Symbicort (Advair was disastrous for me because of the Flovent component) and Xopenex. I did this on August 1st. He switched me to Symbicort 160/4.5 (2 puffs twice a day), stopped the Pulmicort since it's a component of Symbicort, and kept my other meds the same but added Xopenex in lieu of albuterol. It took a while - almost 2 weeks - but what a difference! He also pointed out that while I had been on 200 mcg of Pulmicort, the 160 in the Symbicort was exactly the same amount due to its configuration and better delivery system.

My best peak flow previously was rarely 300 (low, I know, but I am 61 and have had asthma since age 6 months) but mostly in the upper 200's. After almost 1 1/2 months on Symbicort, my best peak flow is now 350 with typical being 330.

I wish you luck - I am VERY happy with the Symbicort!

Linda

Thank you, Linda, for sharing your experience. I am so glad to hear that you are happy with the Symbicort. Since it's relatively new, it's hard to find information about it that isn't from the manufacturer. I had no idea the 160 was the same as the 200. I hope that is correct, because my asthma was really under control with the Turbohaler, and it was the switch to Flexhaler that affected me despite the manufacturer's claims that it is the same.

What did the Flovent do to you?

I think this is the worst I've felt in my chest since I had bronchitis last November. My dr. told me to do every 20 min. of Xopenex for an hour to try and get some relief along with the steroids. Asthma sucks.

[pinky3]

Originally Posted by Titchou

You are obviously in another country as I am not familiar with all the drugs you are on....

And as for the jogging, I'm a stubborn old broad...jogged two miles one week after having my gallbladder out...mostly to prove I could....at age 59.....

I am actually quite close to you. I'm in Texas.

The Symbicort is relatively new and is a combination of Pulmicort and Foradil. I only take the Symbicort and Xopenex (I was on just Pulmicort and Xopenex).

You are stubborn but very admirable!

[LadyBadger]

Originally Posted by pinky3

Thank you, Linda, for sharing your experience.

What did the Flovent do to you?

When I was on Flovent and Serevent (as separate inhalers before Advair came out), the Flovent gave me repeated bronchial infections and I finally ended up with pneumonia. Since my Dr. suspected it was the Flovent and not the Serevent, he kept me on Serevent and added Aerobid (a different steroid inhaler.) I did well on this combo but, because I had to use 4 puffs twice a day of the Aerobid (not nice tasting stuff either), he finally changed me to Pulmicort 200mcg. I did fairly well on the Serevent/Pulmicort treatment until they changed the Serevent to powdered (diskus) form from MDI. The Dr. then changed me to Spiriva inhaler with the Pulmicort and I did pretty good on this combo til around the first of this year (I was on this combo for over 3 years.) Then the switch to Symbicort on August 1st - it was out less than a month when I got it.

Despite what my Dr. told me about the 200mcg in Pulmicort being the exact same amount as the 160mcg in Symbicort, I did some research because I thought (like you), wait, I was on Pulmicort 200mcg 2 puffs twice a day and now the Symbicort was 160mcg - 2 puffs twice a day. How can this be the same? What I found out reinforces what my Dr. told me. It seems that what we actually get into our lungs via inhalation with the Pulmicort Turbuhaler 200 mcg, Pulmicort Flexhaler 180 mcg and the Symbicort 160mcg - is the same amount. What I actually found out is "Turbuhaler 200mcg and the Flexhaler 180mcg deliver the same identical 160mcg to the lungs."

Linda

[Levi212]

It's possible that you're having a problem with your air quality. I haven't had the time to look at all the other posts. But if you think you're breathing in viruses or any type of particle that could inflame your asthma you can take care of that with a good Polarized Media Filter.

Just look up "air quality" online and you'll see some good sites to check. I've seen these things work first hand and can testify to people that have lung problems live significantly better indoors.

Hope this helps.