waking up every night with breathing problems

[singer1]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]

Hello! I am new here and have a question. I have asthma. Every night I wake up between 2 and 4AM with breathing problems. There just doesn't seem to be a Dr. who can control it. I am on Maxair inhaler, solution for a breathing machine and I have now started to take Zyrtec for my allergies. This is so tiring the next day! Anyone have suggestions? Thanks so much!

[sflady]

Originally Posted by singer1

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]

Hello! I am new here and have a question. I have asthma. Every night I wake up between 2 and 4AM with breathing problems. There just doesn't seem to be a Dr. who can control it. I am on Maxair inhaler, solution for a breathing machine and I have now started to take Zyrtec for my allergies. This is so tiring the next day! Anyone have suggestions? Thanks so much!

Singer1: it's not unusual to wake up at night if one has asthma. In fact, most asthma is nocturnal. You should medicate with albuterol right away. My doc prescribes four puffs at a time. Your fatigue is probably from lack of sleep rather than the Zyrtec; however, even though I take Zyrtec and have no side effects doesn't mean you don't. You should definitely tell your doctor about this.

In the meantime, I don't know where you live but if you live in the U.S. and you work, ADA can help you. There is also a ton of information on the net about accommodation. I asked my work site for just such an accommodation. My doctor had to certify that I have it, and I asked to come to work as late as 10:00 a.m. (staying until 6:00 p.m.) so that I could get some rest on those nights that I'm having symptoms. I also take allergy shots and see a pulmonologist, who as yet hasn't helped much, but he's trying since I am ill one to three or four days per week.

Good luck to you.

[hotchic85]

You may also consider things that are driving your asthma at night. For example, GERD can occur more often when you are laying down. Have you been checked for GERD? This is when contents from your stomach spill into your esophogus and irritate your breathing. It can cause heartburn and spasming of your larynx, though sometimes it is "silent" (symptomless). Along with GERD, I would look into the possibility of sleep apnea. This is a sleep disorder where your airway does not open all the way when you sleep. This can cause snoring and lapses in breath that can occur hundreds of times a night.

With that being said, between 2 and 4 is also when most asthmatics wake up. They find that this is when your body's natural anti-inflammation curve is the lowest.

In any case, if you are waking up at night, no matter how common this is, it is not a good thing. You are not controlled and you need to be. Are you on any type of inhaled steroids or long-acting bronchodilator? You do need to talk to your doctor about this!

[Machaon]

Originally Posted by singer1

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]

Hello! I am new here and have a question. I have asthma. Every night I wake up between 2 and 4AM with breathing problems. There just doesn't seem to be a Dr. who can control it. I am on Maxair inhaler, solution for a breathing machine and I have now started to take Zyrtec for my allergies. This is so tiring the next day! Anyone have suggestions? Thanks so much!

During the nighttime, certain glands increase their activity, such as the pineal gland, which produces the hormone melatonin. The gland activity can make one's asthma more sensitive to certain irritants. (ref: circadian rhythm)

Allergies are complex, and allergic reactions could either be activated by one allergen, or a combination of allergens, over several days.

Regards, and best of health.......

[singer1]

Thanks to all who replied. I am on an inhaler, but I have gone through many different ones. The one that I am on is a very temp. fix. Does anyone know if swelling is an adverse reaction in taking the Zyrtec?