how to get asthma under control

[jillybelly]

Here's the deal...

I'm currently taking advair 250 once in morning and once in night. I'm also taking tilade b4 exercise and combivent as a rescue inhaler (i'm unsure about this one, should i take ventolin??) Anyways my asthma is not under control. I can't leave the house (cold air triggers me), I can't play any sports without a severe asthma attack, and can't light the firsplace, or hang around the dog....

I'm feeling awful. I've made an appointment for this coming friday with my doctor. I was wondering if anyone knew any step-up options I could ask about???

I was treated for a viral infection in my lungs about a month ago. That seemed to have gotten much better, but my overall health seems to have deteriorated. I'm all confused. I used to be the star of the track team, with provincial medals and everything, now I can't even make it through a basketball practice. This really sucks.

Oh, and another question. They say you tend to grow out of asthma. I started showing symptoms of asthma at age 10 or so when I ran my frist physically exausting race. I felt choked, scared, breathless, etc. The signs were continuous although I didn't get treated until I was 12. After getting treated, I led a normal life, was a great athlete. The only sport I ahd to give up was competitve x-country skiing. I won athletic competitions and school athlete awards etc. Slowly I started to get worse at about age 15. I had to give up x-country and track this year, and now I'm thinking I'll have to give up basketball because I haven't been able to play in a month and the season starts in a couple of weeks.

I'm very sad, because I can't go out with my friends hardly anymore, or do anythign I used to enjoy doing. I can't even get tickled...

I'm sure there are others who've experienced this. My asthma isn't even severe... I can't image having severe asthma. My heart goes out to you.

Can anyone give me any advice???

thanks,
Jillybelly

[hc85]

There are different combinations of medications that work for different people. You could possibly ask for a step up in your inhaled steroid therapy (go up to Advair 500/50). Combivent...that's debatable. Some consider it NOT rescue because it has both the atrovent and albuterol. To me, and most of my docs, it can be because it does have the albuterol. And, sometimes I use my atrovent as a rescue. Unfortunately, I don't know what would work for you. Also, consider asking your doctor about Qvar or Beclovent. I do believe they're the same drug. I think the Qvar works SO much better for me than the Flovent portion of the Advair. I know some people who are on Qvar and Foradil. Basically the same classification of medication in the Advair (inhaled steroid and long-acting bronchodilator) but some people get different results with different types.

I can understand your frustration. I'm on 10+ medications, and it's no fun. I can't laugh or work without sucking on my inhaler. My neb is always out sitting by my bed so if I wake up at night I can put the medication in and turn it on without having to get out of bed. I don't do sports anymore, in fact, I have a handicapped placard so when I'm out and about I can park in the handicapped spots because my lung function is so low and because there has been question about whether I desaturate while walking. Some people think asthma is a simple thing, requiring medication once or twice a day and occasionally requiring a rescue inhaler. Not when it's out of control!! It sucks!

[jillybelly]

Thanks HC,

I'll talk to my doc about the qvar and foradil or upping the advair.

I was reading a post where you'd said all of these tests you'd gone through (hope you don't mind!). I'd didn't even know that many tests existed. I only took one where I was in this clear egg/car shaped thing where they gave me stuff to trigger my asthma and did what I assumed was a peak flow measure??? Anyways it was enough for them to be sure I had asthma...

I'm sorry to hear the amount of trouble you must go through. I hope so much they find a cure. It's horrible that people have to suffer as much as you. Good luck with everything.

[PinkBanana]

personally I prefer Xopenex as a premedication 4 exercise..in my last week of gymnastics I used that before and while I did not have any problems breathing, my only problem was it made me 2 nervous 2 do anything(and gymnastics is all about taking risks!)& 2 shaky to stay tight enough during my skills 2 do them..
but that's gymnastics, i'm sure it'd be different for a sport that isn't as demanding.
Advair 500/50 really does give you an extra push I think.

[dolphins]

Oh, and another question. They say you tend to grow out of asthma. I started showing symptoms of asthma at age 10 or so when I ran my frist physically exausting race. I felt choked, scared, breathless, etc. The signs were continuous although I didn't get treated until I was 12. After getting treated, I led a normal life, was a great athlete. The only sport I ahd to give up was competitve x-country skiing. I won athletic competitions and school athlete awards etc. Slowly I started to get worse at about age 15. I had to give up x-country and track this year, and now I'm thinking I'll have to give up basketball because I haven't been able to play in a month and the season starts in a couple of weeks.

About your asthma worsening at 15 - sometimes teenagers may find their asthma is more persistent - especially in females d/t hormones. I started having asthma symptoms + plus put on meds about a week after I turned 14 and at 16 my asthma became much worse. Although at the time I'd had infected alveoli - but no one ever said it was the cause of my asthma worsening.

Also for MDI's - should use a spacer rather than the inhaler alone since more of the med reaches the lungs. I started using Atrovent/Ventolin prior to exercise with a spacer and noticed a big difference. But since everyone needs different treatment it might not be the answer - should give it a go though.

Good luck, dolphins.