Mr. Asthma

Question:

>Last night I was in a lot of turmoil,

Maybe your sense of turmoil was a precursor of you current symptoms.  I have noticed a feeling of restlessness previous to an exacerbation.  Anyone else? Angela Remember:  That which doesn’t break us makes us stronger.

Response:

> Remember:  That which doesn’t break us makes us stronger.

Nah, that which does not *kill* us makes us stronger.  I’ve sure as heck broken before but now I know where that point is and I can get past it now. Life is learning. Loki

Response:

Everyone, I found out that I again have low cholesterol, despite a diet to the contrary. One possibility I was considering is that my aasthma meds. are bringing it down. Does anyone have any evidence on this?  I’m not crazy enough to recommend a treatment on a sample of one coincidence, but it might be a place to start the research. Scott T.

Response:

> I found out that I again have low cholesterol, despite a diet to the contrary. > One possibility I was considering is that my aasthma meds. are bringing it down. > Does anyone have any evidence on this?  I’m not crazy enough to recommend a > treatment on a sample of one coincidence, but it might be a place to start the > research. > Scott T.

Did your decrease in cholesterol coincide with starting or changing asthma meds–if so, which meds. My cholesterol went up, after going on Vanceril DS, TheoDur. (Was on plain Vanceril, no TheoDur) Serevent and Intal the same. I also take niacin (500 mg/day for raising HDL) In theory the bronchodilator drugs can raise the metabolism and cause weight loss (albuterol/salbutamol has been used for this purpose). This may also tend to lower cholesterol. TheoDur is a bronchodilator. My weight has gone up a few pounds in last year; this seems to correlate with cholesterol increase for me. Maybe too much time in front of computer. So I’m going on moderately low fat diet (plus some olive oil), more exercise, and retest in 4-6 mo. Latest hot ’statin’ cholesterol lowering drug is Lipitor, and the HMOs love it because its very effective at lowering LDL and is cheap compared to other statins. Just what I need, another pill–but this would replace niacin–but what happens to my HDL which was 31 a year ago, is now 43 (before niacin)? Ellis

Response:

Last night I was in a lot of turmoil, so I took one mellaril tablet, from a prescription I got in May of 97 but had never used. I don’t think I ever mentioned this medication to my pulmonologist, I realized this morning when I woke up having difficulty breathing. Peak flows have been hovering at 20 + % below where they ought be all day, using nebulizer every 4 hours as instructed. Have a call in to doctor. Wondering if anyone knows if tranquilizers in general and major tranquilizers such as this one are known to be a problem with asthma?   In one book it says tranquilizers tend to suppress the respiratory drive and this is a strong one, altho at a low dose. Also this med has anticholinergic effects, so might this be the problem or a problem? Doc didn’t call back yet.  Is this unusal?  A friend called for me this morning when I was too groggy to call. Thanks, K — To reply via email remove the "ugh" in the address!!

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