Just diagnosed – have questions | Asthma Children

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Just diagnosed – have questions

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Question:

Prednisone, is a wonderful drug, it will help your asthma, it was first given to me in 8-88, I became ill, quickly, shortness of breath, wheezing, was told I had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(asthma is one of the copd diseases) my mom had died earlier that year from severe COPD. They gave me the Prednosine on Friday, saw the doctor again on Monday, and was much better, I have only had to take it occasionally, but it always does what it is supposed to. You will learn how to live with asthma, learning how to control your panic attacks, is a must, Prozac helped me also, was on it for 4 years, this past Sept, I had lung reduction surgery, and have not taken it since. You might ask your doctor is he tested you for Alpha1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, this is a genetic illness and causes lung, liver, and other problems, I learned I had this also in early 89, after beginning treatment for alpha1, my asthma is very much under control.Does anyone in your family have breathing or liver problems? A simple blood test, tells if you have this or not, testing is free, many doctors are not aware of alpha1, if you will look under the sci. med section Ihave posted some there also, there are other sites of www you can go to, check ours at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/claude there are many links also to asthma sites. drop me a note if you need – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause >symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac >for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in >this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the >drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and >have difficulty sleeping and now with the constant couging it seems like I will >never get to sleep again. >Your doctor told you that the prednisone *would* cause depression, >mood swings and insomnia, or that it *could*? This is not necessarily >the case with everyone, and depends on the dose you are on as well. I >am frequently on steriods and find that prozac is very helpful >controlling some of the side effects. It is also possible that the >anxiety you are feeling could be a result of the prednisone. During >the intial doses of prednisone, I usually have at least one anxiety >attack! (The prozac helps with this also…perhaps you should talk to >your doc about temporarily increasing the prozac while you are on the >prednisone.) Unfortunately, both prozac and prednisone can have >insomnia as a side effect. >2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing >throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that >has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to >relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what >else can I do? >Have you tried taking a magnesium supplement? Most people with asthma >need extra magnesium anyway, and it certainly helps with sleeping. You >will most often find magnesium combined with calcium in a supplement, >and most women need all the calcium they can get anyway! Check with >your doc on the magnesium before you try it. >3 Will I ever feel normal again? >Yes, give yourself time to adjust. Talk to other people who have >asthma as much as possible, it helps. >4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I >read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride >bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & >moving so damned slow and still catching my breath. >I wouldn’t try to do much aerobic exercise as long as I were trying to >recover from an acute attack, but stretching exercises and yoga are >especially helpful during this time. Once you have good control of >your asthma, then you and your doc can work out a safe exercise plan >for you. >Good luck, Christine! >Lisa

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > This must be the time of year for it (or something), I made a >emergency room stopover today. Spent about 4.5 hours there trying to breath >easily. I have been having problems for awhile breathing; today the Dr. told >me that I am asthmetic. Sure hated to hear those words. I am also on the >"5 days of PREDNISONE" and a . I will start tomorrow. > <snip> > I am not sure that anyone needs to know this, but 10 years ago, my >husband and I lost our daugher Deborah, at the age of 23, to asthma. So, >this is very hard to deal with emotionally, that I now have asthma. The word >itself brings pain and sometimes even tears. > Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblngs. I needed to get >it off my chest and tell someone that understood how scared you get when you >can’t breath easily. > Nancy Bowlin, Charleston, SC

Thank you for sharing Deborah’s loss with us. Whether anyone needed to know about it is beside the point; you need to talk about it. Please feel free to talk about your daughter’s loss and your feelings about asthma as much as you need to. That is why we’re here. I can barely begin to imagine the sadness and horror of losing your daughter. I have a daughter of my own, and I can’t even think what it would be like without her in my life. It makes sense that your own diagnoses of asthma would rekindle your feelings of loss, and that the loss of your own child to asthma would increase your fear of an attack. My heart goes out to you. May God renew your strength. Laura

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > : >I was just diagnosed with asthma last night and I have a ton of questions the > : >booklet my Dr. gave me didn’t answer. I’d appreciate any help anyone can give me. > : >1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause > : >symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac > : >for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in > : >this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the > : >drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and > : >have difficulty sleeping and now with the constant couging it seems like I will > : >never get to sleep again. > : >2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing > : >throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that > : >has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to > : >relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what > : >else can I do? > : >3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels > : >like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! > : > I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me. > : > > : >4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I > : >read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride > : >bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & > : >moving so damned slow and still catching my breath. > : >I know this is long, but I’m pretty worried. If I know what I can do > : >and what helps me, I will be more than willing to do whatever’s > : >necessary. > : >Thanks, > : >Christine Moriarty > : It is easy to say don’t worry….so I won’t. > : Believe me PRED is a wonderful thing…..I take it by the bottle. > : You will get "used"to the side effects and do whatever you feel like. > I’m sorry but that is a horrible thing to say to someone who’s obviously > concerned. If anyone takes pred. by the bottle, he/she has probably also > gained an enormous amount of weight and has a chronic asthma problem. > Living with asthma is never easy and, Christine, you may not feel what "normal" > was for you before this. I’ve just gotten over 2 years of constant coughing > and other stuff. "Normal" for me is to cough occasionally, especially in cold > weather. > I’ve never heard of anyone having those kinds of side effects from a short > course of prednisone. I take it myself (and it should only be taken when you > really need it, as you do now. It’s not something to be taken on a whim.) and > have never had more than mild weight gain and only that was when I was on it > for a month. > I don’t know what kind of Dr. you’re seeing, but you need to see someone who > specializes in Asthma/Allergy. I recommend you read _Children with Asthma_ by > T. Plaut. Even though you are not a child, it’s a good book to explain the > basics and answers your questions plus some you haven’t thought of yet. > By the way, NO ONE should get "used" to side effects and live with them. If > you find you are having more side effects than you expect, get back to the Dr > and get a different medicine. Side effects over a long period of time can be > harmful. > Marcy Tanter

This must be the time of year for it (or something), I made a emergency room stopover today. Spent about 4.5 hours there trying to breath easily. I have been having problems for awhile breathing; today the Dr. told me that I am asthmetic. Sure hated to hear those words. I am also on the "5 days of PREDNISONE" and a . I will start tomorrow. I feel that this is a little late in life to be diagnosed with asthma; I am 54 years old (never smoked in my life). I have had pneumonia enough times to leave my lungs scarred. I have been on antibiotics three times since the first of the year with pneumonia and bronchitus. I am also on an inhaler. Provental (spelling these new words is something I will get better at at I go along, I hope). Well, I guess this is just another of those little things that try to trip us up in life, but, "never will I let it get me down". {Smile} I am not sure that anyone needs to know this, but 10 years ago, my husband and I lost our daugher Deborah, at the age of 23, to asthma. So, this is very hard to deal with emotionally, that I now have asthma. The word itself brings pain and sometimes even tears. Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblngs. I needed to get it off my chest and tell someone that understood how scared you get when you can’t breath easily. Nancy Bowlin, Charleston, SC

Response:

>I was just diagnosed with asthma last night and I have a ton of questions the >booklet my Dr. gave me didn’t answer. I’d appreciate any help anyone can give me. >1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause >symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac >for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in >this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the >drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and >have difficulty sleeping and now with the constant couging it seems like I will >never get to sleep again.

That depends on the person. I don’t suffer any sever side effects other than prednisone makes me increadibly thirsty. It will take a while for it to leave your system, but don’t get yourself worked up about it. You may not suffer from it as others do. What about inhalers? You should have been put on one after you were diagnosed. Who diagnosed you? >2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing >throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that >has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to >relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what >else can I do?

I take a small amount of a Dr. approved cough syrup to coat my throat. Don’t do this unless your Dr. approves of course, there are certain things out there that will just aggrivate your asthma more. Try drinking lots of water. It will rehydrate you. >3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels >like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! > I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me.

Well, I don’t know about normal, what it that? I’ve had asthma so long I don’t remember what normal is. Just most days are better than some now that I’ve learned to manage my asthma. The polution is going to be a problem always and keep your mouth covered with a scarf or something when you go out in the cold. The cold can shock the lungs into an attack. The cover will give the air a chance to warm a bit before it enters the lungs. >4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I >read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride >bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & >moving so damned slow and still catching my breath.

For now, I would take it easy. Ask your Dr. what exercises would be good for you. So far I can do anything I want, only I take my Proventil 30 min before I exercise (my asthma is triggered by allergies, stress, exercise) I don’t overdo anything either. I was also taught to exercise my lungs by blowing up balloons. This actually helped to develop my lungs better, plus I took up a woodwind instrument for a few years. Now my lung capacity is well above normal. >I know this is long, but I’m pretty worried. If I know what I can do >and what helps me, I will be more than willing to do whatever’s >necessary.

It’s perfectly normal to be worried and this news group is to help those that need it. Only your Dr. can tell you what is best for you, nothing anyone here can tell you will substitute for good medical care. If you are seeing an Asthma specialist, then they should have given you a peakflow. DO IT DAILY!!!!! It will tell you how you are doing and can warn you of pending attacks well in advance to prevent them. I didn’t see mention of any inhalers i.e., Asthmacort, Proventil, MaxAir or such. Are you on one of these too? They are like American Express, never leave home without them. If not, ask your doctor about that as well. Hope this is of some help. Best of Luck to you. Michele Hudak – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Thanks, >Christine Moriarty

Response:

: >I was just diagnosed with asthma last night and I have a ton of questions the : >booklet my Dr. gave me didn’t answer. I’d appreciate any help anyone can give me. : >1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause : >symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac : >for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in : >this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the : >drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and : >have difficulty sleeping and now with the constant couging it seems like I will : >never get to sleep again. : >2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing : >throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that : >has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to : >relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what : >else can I do? : >3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels : >like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! : > I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me. : > : >4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I : >read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride : >bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & : >moving so damned slow and still catching my breath. : >I know this is long, but I’m pretty worried. If I know what I can do : >and what helps me, I will be more than willing to do whatever’s : >necessary. : >Thanks, : >Christine Moriarty : It is easy to say don’t worry….so I won’t. : Believe me PRED is a wonderful thing…..I take it by the bottle. : You will get "used"to the side effects and do whatever you feel like. I’m sorry but that is a horrible thing to say to someone who’s obviously concerned. If anyone takes pred. by the bottle, he/she has probably also gained an enormous amount of weight and has a chronic asthma problem. Living with asthma is never easy and, Christine, you may not feel what "normal" was for you before this. I’ve just gotten over 2 years of constant coughing and other stuff. "Normal" for me is to cough occasionally, especially in cold weather. I’ve never heard of anyone having those kinds of side effects from a short course of prednisone. I take it myself (and it should only be taken when you really need it, as you do now. It’s not something to be taken on a whim.) and have never had more than mild weight gain and only that was when I was on it for a month. I don’t know what kind of Dr. you’re seeing, but you need to see someone who specializes in Asthma/Allergy. I recommend you read _Children with Asthma_ by T. Plaut. Even though you are not a child, it’s a good book to explain the basics and answers your questions plus some you haven’t thought of yet. By the way, NO ONE should get "used" to side effects and live with them. If you find you are having more side effects than you expect, get back to the Dr and get a different medicine. Side effects over a long period of time can be harmful. Marcy Tanter

Response:

>>I was just diagnosed with asthma last night and I have a ton of questions the >booklet my Dr. gave me didn’t answer. I’d appreciate any help anyone can give me. >1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause >symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac >for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in >this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the >drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and >have difficulty sleeping and now with the constant couging it seems like I will >never get to sleep again.

I went on methylprednisone to clear up an inflammation in my shoulder (prescribed by the company doc) and also changed antidepressants all within a week. I ended up having suicidal thoughts (no attempts!!!) and saw my family doctor, who thought I’d be better off in a mental ward for a few days. I was there for only three days (parts of four, actually) and recovered OK after some time off from work. It might and might not give you problems, but it’s better than not breathing!!! Yes, the side effects appear to last longer than the actual course of treatment. If you feel extremely depressed, you’ll probably want to get help. Once under control, you might be put on a steroid inhaler, which does not pass much of the drug past the lungs. THere seems to be some debate on how much effect a sterois inhaler has on the body as a whole, but all agree that it does much for the lungs while having a mush lesser effect on the rest of the body. I would assume you also have a bronchodilator inhaler like Ventolin, Proventil, or another (there are several popular ones that work well, including some tablet forms that might make you a bit "jittery" but open things up a bit) ??? This will clear the lungs, opening them up to make breathing easier for you. If your doctor did not prescribe one, you might seek the advice of another doctor, perhaps an allergist. It will minimize the coughing spells you are experiencing. >2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing >throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that >has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to >relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what >else can I do?

If you have an "itchy" throat, you might also have other allergies. The coughing, if from asthma, can be controlled in most cases by treating the root cause, inflammation, by using inhaled steriods (a much lower dose than tablet forms) and by bronchodilators like I mentioned previously. >3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels >like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! > I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me.

Once under control, you will likely feel normal again. What works for you might not work for another, and your doctor might have to adjust your medicine dose up or down as needed to control your asthma. Mine allows me to adjust mine myself based on symptoms, but I have some medical background in research. Be careful here, as too much of bronchodilators can be fatal!!! You might ask about getting a nebulizer unit, which delivers a dose of bronchodilator over a 10 to 15 minute period of time and seems to clear my lungs out much better than an inhaler (some doctors will disagree based on controlled studies) when I’m having a really tough time of it (only a few weeks each year.) Many prescription/medical programs cover this, so you might want to explore this option. The units sell for over $125. To get OJ Simpson off your chest, you might have to file some kind of lawsuit. >4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I >read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride >bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & >moving so damned slow and still catching my breath.

If exercise induces asthma for you, you’ll likely need to take a dose of your bronchodilator about 10 min. before exercising. This will open the airways before you exercise. Some people do not have a problem with exercise, only exposure to allergens. You might want to pinpoint your triggers (allergens). I personally have some problems with allergy testing. A person can test positive for an allergen on one part of the body while negative on another, I have had both the Rast test (blood test for Ige antibody formation with likely allergens based on an extensive questionairre) and the scratch test, and both point to the same likely suspects. According to a report I read, not only does the testing have variable results, but the often suggested injections to build up immunity to the allergens do not always work, either. This is not to say that this whole thing might be beneficial in your case…it works well for some…others it does not. There is research underway to desensitize people who suffer from pet allergies. It is probably about 2 years away from FDA approval, but it works in about 4 weeks!!! Cats are the first to be worked with, followed by dogs, then horses. If you have any personal questions, feel free to email me. >I know this is long, but I’m pretty worried. If I know what I can do >and what helps me, I will be more than willing to do whatever’s >necessary. >Thanks, >Christine Moriarty

Don Hellen Made of the finest electrons and the purest ASCII text to furnish you with the utmost email pleasure.

Response:

> I was just diagnosed with asthma last night and I have a ton of questions the > booklet my Dr. gave me didn’t answer. I’d appreciate any help anyone can give me.

Relax. You will learn as you go. > 1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause > symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac > for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in > this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the > drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and

I’ve had asthma since I was 3.5 and have been on and off prednisone since I was little. I don’t get moody and I don’t have trouble sleeping when on prednisone. It does make me have to go to the bathroom all the time and gives me leg cramps. Side effects are going to vary by person, frequency on the drug, and dosage of the drug. For just five days, you are on a relatively "short course." If you’ve just been diagnosed, you may go through a couple of treatment methods before one is found that keeps you under control. > 2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing > throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that > has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to > relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what > else can I do?

Boy, I’d love to take hot bathes – but they give me asthma……. When your current episode is under control, the itchy, coughing throat won’t keep you up. My personal theory is that asthmatics need to pay attention to good sleeping habits. Set a regular schedule, get good light in the morning, don’t eat too late at night (okay, sometimes exceptions are fine), etc. > 3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels > like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! > I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me.

Yes. Give the prednisone a couple of days. I bet you’ll be amazed…. > 4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I > read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride > bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking &

If you have done those activites before, you will do them again. Aerobic activities are great – just don’t push yourself so hard that you give yourself exercise-induced asthma. Give yourself a few days to recoup from this attack, then get back to your old activities when you feel capable. I personally have trouble making it through an aerobics class. But, I have been a swimmer and biker. I do enjoy walking and depending on how well my asthma is under control depends on how fast I walk. Running is out for me, but then, Jackie Joiner Kersey is an asthmatic. Lots of asthmatics lead totally normal lives with few problems. You’ll learn what is right for you. > I know this is long, but I’m pretty worried. If I know what I can do > and what helps me, I will be more than willing to do whatever’s > necessary.

Chill out. Get over this attack and see how you do. You might want to keep a log of your days vs. your asthma. Try to learn what triggers your asthma attacks. Maybe you will find they are triggered by stress, exercise, having a cold, dust, molds, perfume, furry animals, etc. Ask your doctor if he/she thinks allergy testing is appropriate for you and don’t anyone "assume" you are allergic to something just because "most" asthmatics are. For example, I am allergic to cats, but not dogs. I’m allergic to cockroaches, but not dust mites. BUT – give me a little mold – and you can visit me in the ER! Sometimes I know stress triggers my asthma, but other times I think it helps keep it away. Good Luck! — Kathie Sindt

Response:

>1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause >symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac >for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in >this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the >drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and >have difficulty sleeping and now with the constant couging it seems like I will >never get to sleep again.

Your doctor told you that the prednisone *would* cause depression, mood swings and insomnia, or that it *could*? This is not necessarily the case with everyone, and depends on the dose you are on as well. I am frequently on steriods and find that prozac is very helpful controlling some of the side effects. It is also possible that the anxiety you are feeling could be a result of the prednisone. During the intial doses of prednisone, I usually have at least one anxiety attack! (The prozac helps with this also…perhaps you should talk to your doc about temporarily increasing the prozac while you are on the prednisone.) Unfortunately, both prozac and prednisone can have insomnia as a side effect. >2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing >throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that >has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to >relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what >else can I do?

Have you tried taking a magnesium supplement? Most people with asthma need extra magnesium anyway, and it certainly helps with sleeping. You will most often find magnesium combined with calcium in a supplement, and most women need all the calcium they can get anyway! Check with your doc on the magnesium before you try it. >3 Will I ever feel normal again?

Yes, give yourself time to adjust. Talk to other people who have asthma as much as possible, it helps. >4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I >read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride >bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & >moving so damned slow and still catching my breath.

I wouldn’t try to do much aerobic exercise as long as I were trying to recover from an acute attack, but stretching exercises and yoga are especially helpful during this time. Once you have good control of your asthma, then you and your doc can work out a safe exercise plan for you. Good luck, Christine! Lisa

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I was just diagnosed with asthma last night and I have a ton of questions the >booklet my Dr. gave me didn’t answer. I’d appreciate any help anyone can give me. >1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause >symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac >for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in >this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the >drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and >have difficulty sleeping and now with the constant couging it seems like I will >never get to sleep again. >2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing >throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that >has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to >relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what >else can I do? >3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels >like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! > I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me. >4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I >read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride >bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & >moving so damned slow and still catching my breath. >I know this is long, but I’m pretty worried. If I know what I can do >and what helps me, I will be more than willing to do whatever’s >necessary. >Thanks, >Christine Moriarty

It is easy to say don’t worry….so I won’t. Believe me PRED is a wonderful thing…..I take it by the bottle. You will get "used"to the side effects and do whatever you feel like.

Response:

Christine: Dr. Kevin Cantwell may be able to answer a lot of your questions and find the resources to answer the rest. You can find him at http://www.getbetter.com/wellness It is a new site under construction. There are links to have the Dr. personally answer questions. Check it out! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I was just diagnosed with asthma last night and I have a ton of questions the >booklet my Dr. gave me didn’t answer. I’d appreciate any help anyone can give me. >1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause >symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac >for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in >this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the >drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and >have difficulty sleeping and now with the constant couging it seems like I will >never get to sleep again. >2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing >throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that >has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to >relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what >else can I do? >3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels >like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! > I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me. >4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I >read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride >bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & >moving so damned slow and still catching my breath. >I know this is long, but I’m pretty worried. If I know what I can do >and what helps me, I will be more than willing to do whatever’s >necessary. >Thanks, >Christine Moriarty

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I was just diagnosed with asthma last night and I have a ton of questions the > booklet my Dr. gave me didn’t answer. I’d appreciate any help anyone can give me. > 1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause > symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac > for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in > this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the > drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and > have difficulty sleeping and now with the constant couging it seems like I will > never get to sleep again. > 2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing > throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that > has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to > relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what > else can I do? > 3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels > like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! > I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me. > 4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I > read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride > bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & > moving so damned slow and still catching my breath. > I know this is long, but I’m pretty worried. If I know what I can do > and what helps me, I will be more than willing to do whatever’s > necessary. > Thanks, > Christine Moriarty

Dear Christi, Try sleeping up on more pillows, nasal wash to rid yourself of mucous that is probably dripping down your throat causing cough. Call the National Jewish Hospital’s Lung Line for recorded messages 1-800-222-LUNG. They also have nurses who can answer questions and send you further materials free of charge. I found them very helpful when I was first diagnosed and felt the same way you do. I learned the nasal irrigation from them. I insisted to be taken off prednison after 8 months off and on and now control cough with Atrovent and Intal inhalers, and Aerobid steroid inhaler when needed. That might be a good alternative to the systemic steroid, it is more local. Keep on researching on your own, because the docs have set routines, and you are an individual. Sue

Response:

Prednisone is likely to cause the kind of symptoms your doctr described but it won’t necessarily do so. In fact, some people only feel on top of the world while they’re on it and others don’t have any sort of psychological effect at all. The important thing to remember is that, if you do start having increased depression or mood swings that it is the prednisone, not you, and that after you’ve been off the pred for a few days your mood will start to return to its normal level. You may also find that some of your previous depression was in fact caused by asthma and that it lifts a bit as the asthma comes under control. Don’t be scared. Asthma is controllable. Having this diagnosis gives you some power to shape your days. What other meds has your doctor given you? Prednisone alone is good for a crisis but you need to have daily maintenance drugs too. You sure don’t want to be on pred forever. >2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing >throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that >has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to >relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what >else can I do?

Have you tried sleeping in a semi-reclined position? When I have problems sleeping due to asthma, I prop myself up on several pillows or even sleep in an easy chair. Are you using a bronchodilator like Ventolin (4-6 hours) or Serevent (12 hours)? I can’t sleep through the night without Serevent. >3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels >like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! > I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me.

Try wearing a filter mask. If nothing else, it will warm up the air before it hits your lungs. You can buy masks that filter pollution too, if you don’t mind looking like a space invader. But I’ve never been to Chicago–maybe that look is common there. :) You will feel normal again. Then you’ll feel like hell again. Then normal. Then hell. You’ll wonder why OJ just won’t leave you alone and go stand on someone else for a change. Then he’ll leave for so long that you think that you are finally free, only to return wearing golfing cleats. So take your medication everyday, even when you think you are well. >4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I >read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride >bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & >moving so damned slow and still catching my breath.

You can do any exercise your heart desires once you are over this bout. Until then, just keep walking in warm comfortable places where you can sit or get help in a hurry. If you feel too tired to even walk, then go ahead and rest. Bodies need lots of rest when they are dealing with illness. Don’t let anyone, including yourself, guilt you into doing more than you are capable of at the moment. >I know this is long, but I’m pretty worried. If I know what I can do >and what helps me, I will be more than willing to do whatever’s >necessary.

Remember to talk to your doctor about long-term maintenance drugs. You may need to get a second opinion; a lot of doctors don’t know much about asthma. Laura

Response:

> I was just diagnosed with asthma last night and I have a ton of questions the > booklet my Dr. gave me didn’t answer. I’d appreciate any help anyone can give me.

As a fellow asthmatic diagnosed as an adult, I can suggest the following: 0. If you think you’re having an emergency attack, call 911. This is the sort of thing we have 911 for. A peak flow meter can help you monitor how well you’re doing (as a tip: if you’re too sick to work the meter, call 911.) 1. You will sleep again…maybe by the time this post shows up on your newsreader…and restful activity can also help. I can’t state with certainty to your specific case, but my doctor recommended getting more exercise PROVIDED I was careful not to overdo it. Talk to your physician. Remember that Jackie Joyner-Kierse (sp?) is one of us, too. 2. You will feel "normal" again, at least as normal as you felt before. Again, in my case it was amazing how discovering I was asthmatic explained a lot about me…which led to greater feelings of normality. It may take some time, but it gets better. 3. You have the right and the obligation to talk to your doctor (and your pharmasist) about any medication concerns you have. Don’t take over-the counter medications without checking with a professional first, though. 4. There is a FAQ (frequently asked questions) file for this group that might help you further (is there a mini-FAQ for the quick questions?) 5. You had the courage to post about your concerns, that’s a very healthy sign. You have good reason to have hope. Scott T."ake your medication anyway."

Response:

I have had several patients on both prednisone and Prozac and there were no real problems. True, some people can get depressed on prednisone, but it’s only some people. Occasionally, when I’ve had a patient who was depressed and got more so on prednisone, I have prescibed Prozac to counter that effect of the prednisone, and it’s worked just fine. I wouldn’t think there would be a problem with a short course, however. If people are going to get depressed on prednisone, it generally takes at least 2-3 weeks. > 2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing > throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that > has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to > relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what > else can I do?

Try Benedryl. It makes you more sleepy than any other antihistamine, and helps the itch throat as well. Getting the asthma under control is, however, the main thing, which it seems is what your doctor is trying to do. > 3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels > like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! > I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me.

Yes, you will feel normal. Incidentally, if you live in Chicago, you might consider obtaining a consultation at the Northwestern University Medical Center. It’s one of the top Allergy/asthma training programs in the country. > 4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out?

About 11% of Olympic athletes have exercise induced asthma, including Jackie Joyner, the elite runner. You just have to get to the point where your asthma is well controlled. Right now, swimming would be easiest for you , since the air around the water is warm and humid and less likely to provoke bronchospasm than the outside air in Chicago this time of year. All the best, Elaine Elaine Turner, MD, FACP Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Response:

I was just diagnosed with asthma last night and I have a ton of questions the booklet my Dr. gave me didn’t answer. I’d appreciate any help anyone can give me. 1 I am on PREDNISONE for the next 5 days. My Dr. told me that it would cause symptoms of depression & mood swings as well as insomnia. I am already on Prozac for severe depression and am quite worried about this. I think that I read in this newsgroup that the side effects last longer than your actually taking the drug? Is this true? Any experiences with this. I feel extreemly anxious now and have difficulty sleeping and now with the constant couging it seems like I will never get to sleep again. 2 SLEEPING. How does one get to sleep with the itchy, coughing throat? I have a air cleaner with and Ionizer in my bedroom and that has helped… I also gave away my down comforter. I listen to relaxation tapes, take hot baths before bed, take Tylenol PM… what else can I do? 3 Will I ever feel normal again? I cough constantly and it feels like OJ Simpson is standing with his Bruno Magligoni shoes on my chest! I live in Chicago & work downtown, the cold & polution are killing me. 4 What kind of exercises can I do? Are aerobic activities out? I read where swimming is good, but I also like to roller-blade, ride bikes, use the stairmaster, and love race-walking. Now I am walking & moving so damned slow and still catching my breath. I know this is long, but I’m pretty worried. If I know what I can do and what helps me, I will be more than willing to do whatever’s necessary. Thanks, Christine Moriarty

Mr. Asthma