RE: CF asthma and pulmicort

[Guest guest]

Hi Dottie,

My has asthma as well. She has been treated for asthma since

almost day one. She has always done real well over the years with both her

cf and the asthma. The medication she was on for years was Theodur. In

January they took her off of it due to the fact that she was on such a low

dose and the side effects are not worth it. They didn't put her on any

other type of daily asthma treatment and in May, she started going down hill

as far as breathing was concerned and her daily coughing. She went in the

hospital in June for her first tune up. They did ct scans and extra

breathing treatments and such and her fev1 went from 69% before we went in

to 85% when we left the hospital. Our cf doctor is also an allergist and

says that she definitly has asthma and that was the cause of the decrease in

the pft's. He put her on a new daily inhaled asthma medication and she is

doing a whole lot better. He believes that if the pft's go up and down like

this that it is not the cf. Usually with cf, he says that there is a slow

decrease in pft's and they usually don't go back up that quickly. Steph

does have a daily cough. Usually hers is worse in the morning when she

first gets up. I can usually tell when she is coming down with something,

because her cough will increase in the type of cough and how often.

Best wishes to you and at least with asthma it is treated on a daily basis

instead of waiting to get an infection or something.

I hope is is feeling better soon.

Tina W., mother of , 18yo wcf

CF asthma and pulmicort

Hi,

is six and a half with CF has been recently diagnosed with Asthma on top

of the CF. The asthma seems to be our main problem at this time or so I

think it is. She has been on pulmicort for two months now and is always

hoarse which I know is a side effect from the pulmicort. Since having a bad

asthma attack in September which put her in the hospital she has never

gotten back to her baseline of completely no cough. How can you tell if it

is an asthma cough or an infection? She is very energetic, no problems with

breathing and her appetite is excellent. It is just this darn cough that

doesn't seem to want to go away. No major coughing spells. Do any of your

kids have a daily cough with their CF or with asthma? She has been so

healthy up to being diagnosed with asthma. She also started on Zithromax

three times a week. I have noticed since being on the zithromax that her

breathing is so much quieter and peaceful when sleeping so I do know it is

doing something good for her. Any help or advice is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Dottie

[Guest guest]

Hi Dottie

When Kristy is well she doesn't have any cough. I used to feel

confident in distinqishing between asthma cough and the other, but

after the last few weeks I'm not so sure.

If she has what I call a classic asthma cough it is dry and she

almost sounds like a seal. The other cough has always been very

moist and juicy sounding...(remembers telling so many doctors before

cf diagnosis it was not a normal cough!) lately she has had both

sorts if that makes sense, our GP felt it was a combination of

infection and asthma.

She has been treated for thrush in the throat twice this year which

they blame on the antibiotics and Qvar. As we found out hoarseness

was a symptom of thrush. I have never heard of Zithromax.

Barbara

Mum to Nicky 15 wocf and Kristy 13 wcf (Australia)

> Hi,

> is six and a half with CF has been recently diagnosed with

Asthma on top of the CF. The asthma seems to be our main problem at

this time or so I think it is. She has been on pulmicort for two

months now and is always hoarse which I know is a side effect from

the pulmicort. Since having a bad asthma attack in September which

put her in the hospital she has never gotten back to her baseline of

completely no cough. How can you tell if it is an asthma cough or

an infection? She is very energetic, no problems with breathing and

her appetite is excellent. It is just this darn cough that doesn't

seem to want to go away. No major coughing spells. Do any of your

kids have a daily cough with their CF or with asthma? She has been

so healthy up to being diagnosed with asthma. She also started on

Zithromax three times a week. I have noticed since being on the

zithromax that her breathing is so much quieter and peaceful when

sleeping so I do know it is doing something good for her. Any help

or advice is much appreciated.

> Thanks in advance,

> Dottie

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

HI Tina,

Thanks for the information about asthma and CF. Has your daughter ever had oral

thrush due to inhaled steroids? I have noticed that is has white spots in

her mouth and is sounding more hoarse than usual. I will be making a call to

her CF Center tomorrow morning. Also do you know if thrush can irritate the

throat and make one cough more? She seems in perfect health except for a

throaty cough. CF was so much easier for me before asthma was thrown into the

picture. I just want to do what is right for is and keep her in good

health. Thanks again and hope you are having a very Happy Thanksgiving,

Dottie

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for the info. I was thinking the pulmicort was causing the hoarseness

but I have now noticed some white patches on the roof of her mouth. Did thrush

cause your daughters throat to be sore and cough more? We have rinsed every

time after using the inhaled steroid. Is there anything else we can do to help

prevent thrush? Zithromax is an antibiotic that they have researched and found

it helps patients who have cultured pseudomonas. is takes one pill Monday,

Wednesdays and Fridays. Thanks again,

Dottie

<I have never heard of Zithromax.>

Barbara

Mum to Nicky 15 wocf and Kristy 13 wcf (Australia)

[Guest guest]

Hi Val,

I'm not sure if others use pulmicort that don't have CF or not. It helps with

inflammation in the airways. Which is a major problem for those who have

asthma. I do know that with CF there can also be inflammation.

Dottie

Re: CF asthma and pulmicort

...is pulmicort for asthma only??

val

[Guest guest]

One of the biggest problems of CF is airways inflamation which can be

aggravated by allergens. A lot of times, as it was with our case, CF

can be misdiagnosed as asthma.

mom of a 10 wcf, Venanzio 7 nocf, Pepe 3 nocf

> Hi Val,

> I'm not sure if others use pulmicort that don't have CF or not. It

helps with inflammation in the airways. Which is a major problem for

those who have asthma. I do know that with CF there can also be

inflammation.

> Dottie

> Re: CF asthma and pulmicort

>

>

> ...is pulmicort for asthma only??

>

> val

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dottie,

My daughter was diagnosed 19 yrs ago at the age of 8 months. She had

gotten a cough at about 6 months and it never went away. There have been times

where she just has a slight dryish cough but I can say I don't believe she has

ever had a day with absolutely no coughing. It doesn't mean she is sick all the

time. Right now she has a slightly wet sounding cough but we were just at

clinic Tuesday and they pronounced her all clear and healthy. So I guess it's

just her baseline. whatever. I am so used to her cough I would notice if she

didn't.

Well the turkey's in the oven and is making pies: pumpkin, and cherry

yummy. Soon we will cook yams with marshmallows and a broccoli rice casserole,

mashed potatoes and rolls, I am probably forgetting something but its gonna be

good! I wish for everyone on cfparents a very Happy Thanksgiving and to our

overseas friends, happy Thursday.

love,

M

mom of age 19 wcf and asthma and Nick age 21 nocf

[Guest guest]

Hi Dottie,

Yes Kristy did have a sore throat too. Her doctor prescribed

Fungilin lozenges which she had to suck four times daily after food,

they cleared up the thrush fairly quickly.

I guess sometimes thrush can't be prevented because Kristy is always

careful about rinsing too - her doctor just said it was because of

the combination of antibiotics and high dosage of the steroid based

asthma puffer she needed at the time.

Barbara

> Hi Barbara,

> Thanks for the info. I was thinking the pulmicort was causing the

hoarseness but I have now noticed some white patches on the roof of

her mouth. Did thrush cause your daughters throat to be sore and

cough more? We have rinsed every time after using the inhaled

steroid. Is there anything else we can do to help prevent thrush?

Zithromax is an antibiotic that they have researched and found it

helps patients who have cultured pseudomonas. is takes one pill

Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. Thanks again,

> Dottie

> <I have never heard of Zithromax.>

>

> Barbara

> Mum to Nicky 15 wocf and Kristy 13 wcf (Australia)

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

HI ,

Thanks for the info. How do you tell when your daughter needs antibiotics?

is was always cough free until she had an asthma attack in September and now

she hasn't had a day without coughing. She has been on antibiotics for the

cough but they haven't done much good for her. She doesn't seem sick at all.

It was so much easier when she was coughfree because then I knew when she

needed an antibiotic. If she needs an antibiotic I want her on one but if she

doesn't and she is just now going to be cougher I don't want to give her

unneeded antibiotics. CF is becoming so confusing to me. Just when I thought I

had it figured out somewhat. She does seem to have thrush from the inhaled

steroids. I am going to call and get something for that. I thought maybe that

was causing some of her problems. Hope you enjoyed your turkey dinner and

s pies turned out good. I am not much of a baker. Hopefully is will

be when she gets older.

Thanks again,

Dottie

[Guest guest]

Hi Dottie,

I am happy to help. I can tell when is sick mostly because she tells me

. Other than that, if she gets sinusy, like sneezing alot and stuffed up

nose, usually a sinus infection will follow, also if she gets an increased cough

and the cough is productive (she does not normally cough stuff up). She almost

always gets a sore throat and sometimes headaches. Occasionally she will run a

fever, but this doesn't always happen. I can't tell if it is bacterial or viral

but the docs have always put her on antibiotics when she has symptoms like this,

as they know she cultures bacteria (it has been mostly staph lately, along with

stenotrophomonas maltophilia, another bug which is similar to pseudomonas) and

the viral infection with increased mucus production will cause her bacteria to

multiply. I can usually tell by the sound of her cough, if she is coughing a

lot more than usual, also she gets crabby and tired.

I hope this helps you.

We did have a great Thanksgiving, 's pies were a success and she even made

her own pie crusts (sometimes we get the already made kind but homemade are

better!)

love,

M

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am so far behind that I am 1st reading this message. You are probably set with

answers, but, just in case, I wanted to share what my pulmonary doctor told me.

I am aunt to a 10 yr old with cf and am a carrier, myself. I have asthma which

has gotten quite bad, of late. I am currently on a course of prednisone but will

be back on my regular asthma meds in a few weeks -I use advair 500/50 and

singulair. The doc said to keep it by my toothbrush because I need to rinse,

brush my teeth and then take a drink of water.

Hope this helps.

Jill

Re: Re: CF asthma and pulmicort

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for the info. I was thinking the pulmicort was causing the hoarseness

but I have now noticed some white patches on the roof of her mouth. Did thrush

cause your daughters throat to be sore and cough more? We have rinsed every

time after using the inhaled steroid. Is there anything else we can do to help

prevent thrush? Zithromax is an antibiotic that they have researched and found

it helps patients who have cultured pseudomonas. is takes one pill Monday,

Wednesdays and Fridays. Thanks again,

Dottie

<I have never heard of Zithromax.>

Barbara

Mum to Nicky 15 wocf and Kristy 13 wcf (Australia)