Re: non steroid method

[Guest guest]

Oh, don't feel bad, . This is totally okay. I'm just kind of

at screaming point with it, as I am prone to be. I dunno, I need a

vacation or something, but can't take time off until Christmas. This

whole thing just kind of grates sometimes. I wish you could just

schedule a day off from asthma occasionally.

I do hope you find that surgery provides some help for you. It's

interesting that your peak flow is 500 at the moment. I have this

whole theory about the disease creating actual expanded lung

capacity that just doesn't get to be used very often. The shape of

my chest has gradually changed during the years since I got sick -

I'm almost... barrel-chested? Weird.

To be more specific about what I'm on currently: I like the Foradil,

other than the sore throat. I don't care for the Atrovent much at

all. Sometimes I take it and my chest closes up completely. Which

seems rather against the point, really. Also, I'm having some eye

problems from it, despite making every attempt to keep my eyes

closed and out of contact with the spray. I think it's the Xolair

causing the musculoskeletal issues and I haven't noticed any benefit

from it so far. They say it can take months, though, so... maybe I

just need to hang in there.

Personally, if I could take the inhaled steroids without all kinds

of side effects, I would opt for them. It's not so much that I

object to steroids as that I object to what steroids, oral or

inhaled, do to me specifically.

[Guest guest]

About the barrel-chestedness -- in COPD (which I think you mentioned you have before in addition to asthma, Jessa, but maybe that was someone else) you do get a barrel-chested appearance because in COPD you can't ever move all of the air out so the lungs are hyperinflated all the time. Pretty simplified explanation, mostly because my understanding of it is simplified, but that's the gist of it. My mom has COPD and she has a barrel chest now. She's totally in denial and doesn't even see a specialist, but that's another story. The appearance is what really confirmed it for me with her actually.

My peak flow is never above 400 as far as I can tell. 500 seems skyhigh to me.

Lori

[Guest guest]

Yeah, I've never seen above 400 either. Isn't it all related to height

or weight or something? I can't remember. I saw a chart somewhere once.

That's interesting about the COPD. It wasn't me with it, but it's

possible I have it. I'm not sure what the diagnostic criteria is and my

pulmonologist seems to prescribe a lot of COPD drugs off-label for me.

They do help, sometimes more than the others. I could do without the

barrel-chested thing. Unattractive, that. Also, kind of

uncomfortable when lying on one's stomach.

Your poor mom... I'm anything but a firm believer in the worth of the

medical sciences, but the idea of enduring breathing problems when you

don't have to? Yuck.

>

> About the barrel-chestedness -- in COPD (which I think you mentioned

you have before in addition to asthma, Jessa, but maybe that was

someone else) you do get a barrel-chested appearance because in COPD

you can't ever move all of the air out so the lungs are hyperinflated

all the time. Pretty simplified explanation, mostly because my

understanding of it is simplified, but that's the gist of it. My mom

has COPD and she has a barrel chest now. She's totally in denial and

doesn't even see a specialist, but that's another story. The

appearance is what really confirmed it for me with her actually.

>

> My peak flow is never above 400 as far as I can tell. 500 seems

skyhigh to me.

>

> Lori

>

[Guest guest]

yes... i can imagine you are at screaming point. I have my own business, and work from home, but it's been tough keeping it going. I just have had no motivation or organizational skills while this has been going on. I don't care for the steriods either. Besides all the other wonderful side effects... I can't sleep. I've been up at 2am every day and stay up until 10pm! I'm not hungry either. The thing I have is racoon eyes. I mean, it looks like someone punched my left eye... right eye is not as bad. I guess it is because my sinuses are so backed up. I have to wear oodles of make-up and it helps some. My friends are use to it, but when I go out I really wonder what people must think! Hope you feel better .... Michele jessafeiler3

<jessafeiler@...> wrote: Oh, don't feel bad, . This is totally okay. I'm just kind of at screaming point with it, as I am prone to be. I dunno, I need a vacation or something, but can't take time off until Christmas. This whole thing just kind of grates sometimes. I wish you could just schedule a day off from asthma occasionally.I do hope you find that surgery provides some help for you. It's interesting that your peak flow is 500 at the moment. I have this whole theory about the

disease creating actual expanded lung capacity that just doesn't get to be used very often. The shape of my chest has gradually changed during the years since I got sick - I'm almost... barrel-chested? Weird.To be more specific about what I'm on currently: I like the Foradil, other than the sore throat. I don't care for the Atrovent much at all. Sometimes I take it and my chest closes up completely. Which seems rather against the point, really. Also, I'm having some eye problems from it, despite making every attempt to keep my eyes closed and out of contact with the spray. I think it's the Xolair causing the musculoskeletal issues and I haven't noticed any benefit from it so far. They say it can take months, though, so... maybe I just need to hang in there.Personally, if I could take the inhaled steroids without all kinds of side effects, I would opt for them. It's not so much that I object to steroids as

that I object to what steroids, oral or inhaled, do to me specifically. __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

" Barrel chest " is a typical side effect of prolonged severe asthma and COPD

- all the same really, your body's reaction to the underlying breathing

abnormality. I've got some myself, can't say that I am real pleased about

it either.

On the health front nothing to report until tomorrow - which should be a big

day - had a full set of allergy tests (90 shots in one arm, 70 in the other

and I am not sure how many scratch tests on my back - but it seemed like a

whole bunch).

They had me use a lidacane cream on my arms beforehand, so the shots were

not bad but by yesterday evening I was feeling pretty sore. No idea what

they found except cats - because that one was HUGE and itchy.

On the way out tried 100 mg of Celebrex with no reaction - YEA! - finally an

alternative to narcotic based pain killers. Oxycodone can be " fun " but

sometimes I don't want to be a basket case all day, just because I woke up

with a headache.

Getting the results of a bone density and CT scan as well as the allergy

tests tomorrow. Expect that, given my positive experience with Zyflo, I

expect that we will be scheduling the ASA Desensitization sometime soon.

ie