Mr. Asthma

Question:

Lynn, Have you tried Accolate instead of Singular.  Some people believe the 2 times a day makes a difference.  I don’t have answers for the extreme problems that you are having now…I know it is a horrible time.  You have been dealing with this alot longer than I have you feel better you will have the energy to research more and find an easier answer.  Anything that helps even temporarily will give you the strength to continue to find the answers and not accept what you are going thru now. If your insurance covers it, get it for NOW.  I also was clear if you are going to a specialist.  Most doctors are ok if you ask for a referral to a specialist (asthma not just allergy, if you have one in your area).  If he gets "funny" about you asking to see a specialist, you KNOW you have the wrong doctor because if he doesn’t have the answers he should be happy to refer you.  Again, alot of this depends on your insurance and resources.  Please let us know any new info you receive, Take care and believe it can and will be better, Linda – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have adult onset asthma which I got when I was pregnant 23 years ago.  The > last couple of years it has been getting worse and worse and I am in the > middle of an episode that has been going on for 8 days now.  The doc has > tried to wean me off prednisone 2x in the last 8 days, each time I have > problems again and am back where I started the next day when I reduce down > and then quit.  Today I had a horrible attack and my doc’s partner has now > put me on the highest doses of prednisone I’ve ever been on,  60mg a day > (3 – 20mg tabs taken at the same time once a day) until next Monday when my > doc is back in the office and we see how I am doing (I also take singulair, > allegra 180 and flovent 220mcg. 2x a day which they just increased me up to > from 110 mcg. early this week.  I also use xopanex, 1-2 63 mg. vials > depending on the severity of the attack in a nebulizer just before I use the > flovent and I use it as needed other times in the day)  My husband had very > bad asthma as a child (quite a few years ago, he’s 48 now) and he said he > had oxygen in his home to help him out through attacks.  He’s also concerned > that my doctor hasn’t taken chest x-rays since this last episode started. > Since this is the worst spell I’ve been through, I really don’t know what a > doc should be doing for this.  Can anyone tell me if the care I am now > receiving seems like what most allergists would be doing for a patient with > my problems?  I’m getting worn out from trying to keep my head on straight > and not panic when I have the attacks and not being able to sleep from the > prednisone for the last 8 days and could use some additional feedback. > Thanks! > Lynn

Response:

I live in the Dallas, Texas metroplex and when the ozone alerts start coming out, I start having problems.  Also, when we get in to the 98 – 100+ degree temperatures, I have problems.  Last February the mold counts got very high here and I had problems.  (I do take allergy shots weekly for numerous allergies, most of them airborne.  I am allergic to wheat, which also started this past February, and I don’t eat it now.)  We bought 2 Amaircaire air cleaners for the house (they have a prefilter, a HEPA filter and a V.O.C. filter in them) and we use the Allergy Air and More 99% effective furnace filters that I change out approx. every 6 weeks. (They are supposed to last for 3 months but I notice they need it sooner.)  I’m not sure if any of these filters get the ozone out of my home.  And, we have been scratching our heads trying to figure out if there’s anything else in the house that I don’t already know about (dust, mold, etc.) that I need to get rid of that is effecting me. Another big problem I have is an elderly, disabled mother who I have chosen to spend more and more time helping over the last year and a half who will not stop smoking around me in her home.  Her position is that it is her home and she will do what she wants in her own home.  (nice, huh?…she will not even stop for 30 minutes for me to get stuff done for her..it’s gotten to be, in her mind, a control issue on my part:   I’m trying to control her…) I put an Amaircaire filter in her family room which has helped alot but she still chain smokes when I am there.  My asthma has gotten steadily worse over this past year and a half and I am realizing that she is going to have to get alternate means of help or quit smoking around me.  Period. Fortunately, she has plenty of money so she can hire in more help which she started doing this past weekend because I have been unable to go over there these past 2 weeks.  That is definitely an environmental factor that I am removing as much as I can from my life from this point on.  Enough is enough.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Is there something in your environment that is exacerbating your symptoms? > You may be medicating yourself silly, while sitting exposed to something > that triggers the attacks. Don’t worry about your husband’s childhood > asthma, 45 years and more ago there was literally no treatment available for > asthma. > Boyd > — > "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." > (Ellen Parr- author) > I have adult onset asthma which I got when I was pregnant 23 years ago. > The > last couple of years it has been getting worse and worse and I am in the > middle of an episode that has been going on for 8 days now.  The doc has > tried to wean me off prednisone 2x in the last 8 days, each time I have > problems again and am back where I started the next day when I reduce down > and then quit.  Today I had a horrible attack and my doc’s partner has now > put me on the highest doses of prednisone I’ve ever been on,  60mg a day > (3 – 20mg tabs taken at the same time once a day) until next Monday when > my > doc is back in the office and we see how I am doing (I also take > singulair, > allegra 180 and flovent 220mcg. 2x a day which they just increased me up > to > from 110 mcg. early this week.  I also use xopanex, 1-2 63 mg. vials > depending on the severity of the attack in a nebulizer just before I use > the > flovent and I use it as needed other times in the day)  My husband had > very > bad asthma as a child (quite a few years ago, he’s 48 now) and he said he > had oxygen in his home to help him out through attacks.  He’s also > concerned > that my doctor hasn’t taken chest x-rays since this last episode started. > Since this is the worst spell I’ve been through, I really don’t know what > a > doc should be doing for this.  Can anyone tell me if the care I am now > receiving seems like what most allergists would be doing for a patient > with > my problems?  I’m getting worn out from trying to keep my head on straight > and not panic when I have the attacks and not being able to sleep from the > prednisone for the last 8 days and could use some additional feedback. > Thanks! > Lynn

Response:

> I have adult onset asthma which I got when I was pregnant 23 years ago.  The > last couple of years it has been getting worse and worse and I am in the > middle of an episode that has been going on for 8 days now.  The doc has > tried to wean me off prednisone 2x in the last 8 days, each time I have > problems again and am back where I started the next day when I reduce down > and then quit.  Today I had a horrible attack

What were your symptoms? Wheezing? Coughing? Difficulty in breathing?  Other? It sounds like you are on maximal therapy for an asthma exacerbation [assuming 2 puffs twice a day of Flovent 220 and 60 mg pred and nebulized albuterol] Are you using a peak flow meter to monitor your lung condition and if so where are you in the zones [green is 80% or high, yellow is 50-80%, red is below 50%, of personal best] [curremt asthma treatment guidelines are you should be using a peak flow meter at home] Does your doctor use a spirometer to check your lung condition. A pulmonologist can use lung function tests to help diagnose various lung conditions. It is possible you have breathing difficulty related to panic attacks [peak flow meter could help differentiate this] Maybe you have Acute Bronchitis, which can take a few weeks to get over. You mentioned Allegra; this could thicken secretions and make asthma worse. If you have rhinitis or sinusitis there are more effective ways of treating it, including nasal sprays [Nasalcrom, steroid]; postnasal drip can exacerbate asthma. Saline nasal washes can help these conditions. Ellis  and my doc’s partner has now – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> put me on the highest doses of prednisone I’ve ever been on,  60mg a day > (3 – 20mg tabs taken at the same time once a day) until next Monday when my > doc is back in the office and we see how I am doing (I also take singulair, > allegra 180 and flovent 220mcg. 2x a day which they just increased me up to > from 110 mcg. early this week.  I also use xopanex, 1-2 63 mg. vials > depending on the severity of the attack in a nebulizer just before I use the > flovent and I use it as needed other times in the day)  My husband had very > bad asthma as a child (quite a few years ago, he’s 48 now) and he said he > had oxygen in his home to help him out through attacks.  He’s also concerned > that my doctor hasn’t taken chest x-rays since this last episode started. > Since this is the worst spell I’ve been through, I really don’t know what a > doc should be doing for this.  Can anyone tell me if the care I am now > receiving seems like what most allergists would be doing for a patient with > my problems?  I’m getting worn out from trying to keep my head on straight > and not panic when I have the attacks and not being able to sleep from the > prednisone for the last 8 days and could use some additional feedback. > Thanks! > Lynn

Response:

Hi Denise, thanks for your reply.  No, I haven’t tried a pumonologist.  What does this type of doctor do that an allergist doesn’t typically do? Lynn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My response to this kind of thing is always, if you don’t feel it is right > get a new doc. That is not saying he/she is wrong but if you feel things are > not being done that should be then change. Or, go in and ask the doctor lots > of questions about why things aren’t being done. I have only had a chest > x-ray one time…..to check for pneumonia. Typically, he just listens to my > breathing then if he hears something that might be fluid he will order a > chest x-ray. If you aren’t sure things are right go to someone else or ask > questions. There are a million doctors out there. Have you tried a > pumonologist? > Denise > Indianapolis > I have adult onset asthma which I got when I was pregnant 23 years ago. > The > last couple of years it has been getting worse and worse and I am in the > middle of an episode that has been going on for 8 days now.  The doc has > tried to wean me off prednisone 2x in the last 8 days, each time I have > problems again and am back where I started the next day when I reduce down > and then quit.  Today I had a horrible attack and my doc’s partner has now > put me on the highest doses of prednisone I’ve ever been on,  60mg a day > (3 – 20mg tabs taken at the same time once a day) until next Monday when > my > doc is back in the office and we see how I am doing (I also take > singulair, > allegra 180 and flovent 220mcg. 2x a day which they just increased me up > to > from 110 mcg. early this week.  I also use xopanex, 1-2 63 mg. vials > depending on the severity of the attack in a nebulizer just before I use > the > flovent and I use it as needed other times in the day)  My husband had > very > bad asthma as a child (quite a few years ago, he’s 48 now) and he said he > had oxygen in his home to help him out through attacks.  He’s also > concerned > that my doctor hasn’t taken chest x-rays since this last episode started. > Since this is the worst spell I’ve been through, I really don’t know what > a > doc should be doing for this.  Can anyone tell me if the care I am now > receiving seems like what most allergists would be doing for a patient > with > my problems?  I’m getting worn out from trying to keep my head on straight > and not panic when I have the attacks and not being able to sleep from the > prednisone for the last 8 days and could use some additional feedback. > Thanks! > Lynn

Response:

Is there something in your environment that is exacerbating your symptoms? You may be medicating yourself silly, while sitting exposed to something that triggers the attacks. Don’t worry about your husband’s childhood asthma, 45 years and more ago there was literally no treatment available for asthma. Boyd — "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." (Ellen Parr- author)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have adult onset asthma which I got when I was pregnant 23 years ago. The > last couple of years it has been getting worse and worse and I am in the > middle of an episode that has been going on for 8 days now.  The doc has > tried to wean me off prednisone 2x in the last 8 days, each time I have > problems again and am back where I started the next day when I reduce down > and then quit.  Today I had a horrible attack and my doc’s partner has now > put me on the highest doses of prednisone I’ve ever been on,  60mg a day > (3 – 20mg tabs taken at the same time once a day) until next Monday when my > doc is back in the office and we see how I am doing (I also take singulair, > allegra 180 and flovent 220mcg. 2x a day which they just increased me up to > from 110 mcg. early this week.  I also use xopanex, 1-2 63 mg. vials > depending on the severity of the attack in a nebulizer just before I use the > flovent and I use it as needed other times in the day)  My husband had very > bad asthma as a child (quite a few years ago, he’s 48 now) and he said he > had oxygen in his home to help him out through attacks.  He’s also concerned > that my doctor hasn’t taken chest x-rays since this last episode started. > Since this is the worst spell I’ve been through, I really don’t know what a > doc should be doing for this.  Can anyone tell me if the care I am now > receiving seems like what most allergists would be doing for a patient with > my problems?  I’m getting worn out from trying to keep my head on straight > and not panic when I have the attacks and not being able to sleep from the > prednisone for the last 8 days and could use some additional feedback. > Thanks! > Lynn

Response:

My response to this kind of thing is always, if you don’t feel it is right get a new doc. That is not saying he/she is wrong but if you feel things are not being done that should be then change. Or, go in and ask the doctor lots of questions about why things aren’t being done. I have only had a chest x-ray one time…..to check for pneumonia. Typically, he just listens to my breathing then if he hears something that might be fluid he will order a chest x-ray. If you aren’t sure things are right go to someone else or ask questions. There are a million doctors out there. Have you tried a pumonologist? Denise Indianapolis

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have adult onset asthma which I got when I was pregnant 23 years ago. The > last couple of years it has been getting worse and worse and I am in the > middle of an episode that has been going on for 8 days now.  The doc has > tried to wean me off prednisone 2x in the last 8 days, each time I have > problems again and am back where I started the next day when I reduce down > and then quit.  Today I had a horrible attack and my doc’s partner has now > put me on the highest doses of prednisone I’ve ever been on,  60mg a day > (3 – 20mg tabs taken at the same time once a day) until next Monday when my > doc is back in the office and we see how I am doing (I also take singulair, > allegra 180 and flovent 220mcg. 2x a day which they just increased me up to > from 110 mcg. early this week.  I also use xopanex, 1-2 63 mg. vials > depending on the severity of the attack in a nebulizer just before I use the > flovent and I use it as needed other times in the day)  My husband had very > bad asthma as a child (quite a few years ago, he’s 48 now) and he said he > had oxygen in his home to help him out through attacks.  He’s also concerned > that my doctor hasn’t taken chest x-rays since this last episode started. > Since this is the worst spell I’ve been through, I really don’t know what a > doc should be doing for this.  Can anyone tell me if the care I am now > receiving seems like what most allergists would be doing for a patient with > my problems?  I’m getting worn out from trying to keep my head on straight > and not panic when I have the attacks and not being able to sleep from the > prednisone for the last 8 days and could use some additional feedback. > Thanks! > Lynn

Response:

I have adult onset asthma which I got when I was pregnant 23 years ago.  The last couple of years it has been getting worse and worse and I am in the middle of an episode that has been going on for 8 days now.  The doc has tried to wean me off prednisone 2x in the last 8 days, each time I have problems again and am back where I started the next day when I reduce down and then quit.  Today I had a horrible attack and my doc’s partner has now put me on the highest doses of prednisone I’ve ever been on,  60mg a day (3 – 20mg tabs taken at the same time once a day) until next Monday when my doc is back in the office and we see how I am doing (I also take singulair, allegra 180 and flovent 220mcg. 2x a day which they just increased me up to from 110 mcg. early this week.  I also use xopanex, 1-2 63 mg. vials depending on the severity of the attack in a nebulizer just before I use the flovent and I use it as needed other times in the day)  My husband had very bad asthma as a child (quite a few years ago, he’s 48 now) and he said he had oxygen in his home to help him out through attacks.  He’s also concerned that my doctor hasn’t taken chest x-rays since this last episode started. Since this is the worst spell I’ve been through, I really don’t know what a doc should be doing for this.  Can anyone tell me if the care I am now receiving seems like what most allergists would be doing for a patient with my problems?  I’m getting worn out from trying to keep my head on straight and not panic when I have the attacks and not being able to sleep from the prednisone for the last 8 days and could use some additional feedback. Thanks! Lynn

Response: