Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 Hi, Your symptoms sound pretty familiar. Asthma is pretty frightening, unfortunately a lot of MD's don't really think much about it. I had symptoms for probably 3 or 4 years, but my GP thought I had bronchitis. Finally I had a major attack (last February) and he realized it wasn't (just) bronchitis. Environmental factors (ozone, particulate pollution, strong odors including perfume, etc.) can be triggers for an asthma attack. Living near a Waste Disposal Facility (garbage dump) can expose you to a number of possible triggers. Don't put inhalers down. Most (Combivent, Maxair, Albuterol, etc.) are just for temporary, immediate relief of asthma symptoms. Getting the right one for you is important. These fast-acting inhalers don't do anything to prevent the inflammation of our bronchial tubes. Prednisone does a lot to relieve inflammation, but it has some pretty serious side effects. There are several other medications that can help. Singulair, Flovent, Seravent, etc. These help prevent the symptoms of asthma, but generally don't have as many bad side effects as Prednisone. Flovent is an inhaled steroid (there are others, but Flovent has been the best for me). You will have to be a little patient, they can take some time to give us relief. More importantly, depending on the dosage of Prednisone, you need to taper off, rather than quitting cold. You need to talk with your doctor about treatment options. Keep your fast-acting inhaler close, and let us know how things are progressing. Will Sawtelle c);-}> wsawtell@... newbie Hallo: I am new to this group. I was diagnosed with asthma in April of this year and given a whole load of Prednisone which still seems to be the best and most effective treatment when the wheezing is at its worst. The trouble is as you know the side effects - weight gain - i have gained over 30 lbs and more. I don't find the inhalers to be that helpful - just a short term aid to the wheezing and then it comes back. I had asthma for probably 6 months or more before I was diagnosed. I couldn't find a doctor who took my symptoms seriously. Since the symptoms came and went they just kept saying I had a bad cold when I actually had full blown asthma. I have been vaccinated against pneumonia and am a little confused by the vast fluctuations in my symptoms -one day I am okay the next I may take 2 hours to get out of the house because I am so short of breath. This makes me reluctant to go out - I am loathe for anyone to see me in an attack. Unfortunately I live near a waste dump and think that may have something to do with it. When the wind blows in a certain direction it can be pretty bad. I have been off work now for a while (2 months) because I was laid off and that has helped. I didn't sleep at all for months because I could not lay down flat. Right now I am symptom free but I would like to prepare myself for the winter. My asthma often gets much worse after a cold or bronchitis. The last two years I have had terrible bronchitis and really all my time has been taken up in ministering to it - taking suppressants during the day and expectorants. Look forward to hearing from anyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 Will:The attack that put me in the hospital really scared me. I have never had lung problems before the last two years. The inhaler use that I have now is workable but I dread the winter. > >Reply-To: asthma >To: <asthma > >Subject: RE: newbie >Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 18:00:28 -0500 > >Hi, > >Your symptoms sound pretty familiar. Asthma is pretty frightening, >unfortunately a lot of MD's don't really think much about it. I had >symptoms >for probably 3 or 4 years, but my GP thought I had bronchitis. Finally I >had >a major attack (last February) and he realized it wasn't (just) bronchitis. > >Environmental factors (ozone, particulate pollution, strong odors including >perfume, etc.) can be triggers for an asthma attack. Living near a Waste >Disposal Facility (garbage dump) can expose you to a number of possible >triggers. > >Don't put inhalers down. Most (Combivent, Maxair, Albuterol, etc.) are just >for temporary, immediate relief of asthma symptoms. Getting the right one >for you is important. These fast-acting inhalers don't do anything to >prevent the inflammation of our bronchial tubes. > >Prednisone does a lot to relieve inflammation, but it has some pretty >serious side effects. There are several other medications that can help. >Singulair, Flovent, Seravent, etc. These help prevent the symptoms of >asthma, but generally don't have as many bad side effects as Prednisone. >Flovent is an inhaled steroid (there are others, but Flovent has been the >best for me). You will have to be a little patient, they can take some time >to give us relief. More importantly, depending on the dosage of Prednisone, >you need to taper off, rather than quitting cold. > >You need to talk with your doctor about treatment options. Keep your >fast-acting inhaler close, and let us know how things are progressing. > >Will Sawtelle c);-}> >wsawtell@... > > newbie > >Hallo: I am new to this group. I was diagnosed with asthma in April >of this year and given a whole load of Prednisone which still seems >to be the best and most effective treatment when the wheezing is at >its worst. The trouble is as you know the side effects - weight >gain - i have gained over 30 lbs and more. I don't find the inhalers >to be that helpful - just a short term aid to the wheezing and then >it comes back. > >I had asthma for probably 6 months or more before I was diagnosed. >I couldn't find a doctor who took my symptoms seriously. Since the >symptoms came and went they just kept saying I had a bad cold when I >actually had full blown asthma. I have been vaccinated against >pneumonia and am a little confused by the vast fluctuations in my >symptoms -one day I am okay the next I may take 2 hours to get out of >the house because I am so short of breath. This makes me reluctant >to go out - I am loathe for anyone to see me in an attack. > >Unfortunately I live near a waste dump and think that may have >something to do with it. When the wind blows in a certain direction >it can be pretty bad. I have been off work now for a while (2 >months) because I was laid off and that has helped. I didn't sleep >at all for months because I could not lay down flat. Right now I am >symptom free but I would like to prepare myself for the winter. > >My asthma often gets much worse after a cold or bronchitis. The last >two years I have had terrible bronchitis and really all my time has >been taken up in ministering to it - taking suppressants during the >day and expectorants. Look forward to hearing from anyone > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 All the more reason to check-out all the treatment options, and get started on a long-term plan. For most asthmatics these days, Prednisone is only a short-term treatment because of its side effects. Will Sawtelle c);-}> wsawtell@... RE: newbie Will:The attack that put me in the hospital really scared me. I have never had lung problems before the last two years. The inhaler use that I have now is workable but I dread the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 Yes I am going to look into what I can so that I don't end up back in the hosptial again. Thanks for the support. > >Reply-To: asthma >To: <asthma > >Subject: RE: newbie >Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 19:35:31 -0500 > >All the more reason to check-out all the treatment options, and get started >on a long-term plan. For most asthmatics these days, Prednisone is only a >short-term treatment because of its side effects. > >Will Sawtelle c);-}> >wsawtell@... > > RE: newbie > >Will:The attack that put me in the hospital really scared me. I have never >had lung problems before the last two years. The inhaler use that I have >now is workable but I dread the winter. > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 I am finding out that most MD's are nothing but drug pushers that treat the symptoms but never get to the cause and treat the problem, We are all different. Every human being reacts differently to medications and side effects and we all have asthma for our own unique reasons. Medical science takes all of us like cattle and think we all act talk, feel and look alike. I am finding that the hollistic approach is much better. If anybody cares to chat about this with me off forum, feel free to e-mail me. Carlo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 That's what we're here for. Will Sawtelle c);-}> wsawtell@... RE: newbie > >Will:The attack that put me in the hospital really scared me. I have never >had lung problems before the last two years. The inhaler use that I have >now is workable but I dread the winter. > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 Will, that is so true....it took nearly 3 weeks of using flovent before I saw any significant sign of improvement. I was getting so impatient, and was ready to give up, but all of a sudden I started to feel much better. The Doctor told me that it takes awhile for it to become effective. Also it's very important to wean yourself off rather than quit cold turkey or you could end up sicker than you first started out.....Dot <<<<<<You will have to be a little patient, they can take some timeto give us relief. More importantly, depending on the dosage of Prednisone,you need to taper off, rather than quitting cold.You need to talk with your doctor about treatment options. Keep yourfast-acting inhaler close, and let us know how things are progressing.Will Sawtelle c);-}>wsawtell@... _________________________________________________IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2001 Report Share Posted July 3, 2001 I used to get lots of colds and seemed to have the flu every month until I started getting flu shots. Now, I rarely get a cold or the flu and if I do, it's not near as severe.....Dot <<<<My asthma often gets much worse after a cold or bronchitis. The last two years I have had terrible bronchitis and really all my time has been taken up in ministering to it - taking suppressants during the day and expectorants. Look forward to hearing from anyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2003 Report Share Posted August 17, 2003 Hi, everyone! Nonstickpam sent me here because I need advice and direction from people who know what they're doing! I just got my thyroid tests back and Pam told me I need to get some more testing, especially from a doctor who prescribes T3. I live near Austin (actually closer to Burnet on Lake Buchanan), but frequently go to Austin anyway. If anyone here knows of a good doctor who will listen and is not dismissive, I really would appreciate suggestions. I've been in menopause for a year and have many of the hypothyroidism symptoms. My TSH is 3.938, FT3 is 2.9 and FT4 is 1.2. I got a ferritin test as I read it would be good to know that as well and it is 173 and appears okay as the range is 10-291. Anyone have anything else to suggest I would welcome hearing what they have to say. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2003 Report Share Posted August 17, 2003 Hello----Sounds like you're on the right diet with that name : ) Could you give us the normal ranges on your lab tests with your results? Newbie > Hi, everyone! > > Nonstickpam sent me here because I need advice and direction from > people who know what they're doing! > > I just got my thyroid tests back and Pam told me I need to get some > more testing, especially from a doctor who prescribes T3. I live > near Austin (actually closer to Burnet on Lake Buchanan), but > frequently go to Austin anyway. > > If anyone here knows of a good doctor who will listen and is not > dismissive, I really would appreciate suggestions. > > I've been in menopause for a year and have many of the > hypothyroidism symptoms. My TSH is 3.938, FT3 is 2.9 and FT4 is > 1.2. I got a ferritin test as I read it would be good to know that > as well and it is 173 and appears okay as the range is 10-291. > > Anyone have anything else to suggest I would welcome hearing what > they have to say. > > Thanks! > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2003 Report Share Posted August 25, 2003 I have had asthma for about 14 yrs. now. I am on Albuterol and Prednisone. I have had allergies and sinusitis since my early twentys. Have had pneumonia 3 times in my life. Also bouts of bronchitis. So what is this about an antibiotic that maybe can end this misery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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