Re: How do you handle chest tightness?

[Guest guest]

Just curious, why not albuterol with a spacer from the get-go? I thought that a spacer delivers more medicine to the source right away.

I go for albuterol first...I don't have a spacer yet..insurance co recommended one and is sending one in the mail. If I feel nervous (I get anxious too!), I use a pressure point (I'm studying shiatsu/acupressure) in the center of my palm and that tends to help. There is also a really really good pressure point for anxiety that is located on the breast bone ...in the center maybe three fingers up from the bottom.

Stretching a bit to relieve some of the hunched over posture that we tend to get helps too.

And I also tell myself that I am healthy and that things will work out just fine. :-)

How do you handle chest tightness?

I have moderate-persistent asthma. Since it has gotten chronic over the past couple of months (probably due alot to my job's building, sick building syndrome--I am out of there thank God). The two main symptoms, chest tightness and labored breathing, have seemed like they're jockeying to be the #1 symtpom. Well I can now say that chest tightness is #1.How do you handle chest tightness? Do you immediately go for the Albuterol?I also suffer from anxiety due to the asthma. Both illnesses have chest tightness as a symptom. Sometimes I can tell the chest tightness I have is from asthma and then there are tightnesses where I am not so sure. Lately if I feel the littless chest tightness I go for the Albuterol, if no relief Albuterol with a spacer, if no relief nebulizer, and if no relief some Prednisone.NOTE: Please no scary ER

stories.Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

That's actually a very good question. I don't know why I don't use the

spacer from the get-go. Maybe it's just the order I've placed the meds

in relation to the severity of the attack (Albuterol, Albuterol w/

spacer, nebulizer, Prednisone).

Wow, your insurance covers a spacer? Good deal. Mine didn't.

Good deal too on the acupressure. My wife is into reflexology which

sounds very similar. I should check out her book if chest tightness.

Thanks.

[Guest guest]

My insurance company has an asthma program where you have a nurse assigned to you who follows your progress and answers questions. I just happened to sign up on the website a week or two before this latest flare-up I had. So, they called to talk to me when I was home sick. The nurse asked about my history with asthma (mild intermittent), family history (mom and brother), what meds (mostly just albuterol as needed), do I have a peak flow meter (yes), do I use it regularly (no...but I'm committed to changing that now), do I have any trouble getting my meds (no). She even explained that it was important to make sure that I didn't use the Pulmicort inhaler when I was having an attack because it could make things worse in the short

term. She even offered to have a dietician call me about learning to eat better. I was really impressed with the whole thing. I guess it makes sense. They save money if we can work together to prevent flare-ups and ER visits.I love learning acupressure. I have learned to help myself deal with lots of life's little ailments. It's nice not to always have to resort to meds or to have something to supplement the meds when I need them. Re: How do you handle chest tightness?

Hey ,

That's actually a very good question. I don't know why I don't use the

spacer from the get-go. Maybe it's just the order I've placed the meds

in relation to the severity of the attack (Albuterol, Albuterol w/

spacer, nebulizer, Prednisone).

Wow, your insurance covers a spacer? Good deal. Mine didn't.

Good deal too on the acupressure. My wife is into reflexology which

sounds very similar. I should check out her book if chest tightness.

Thanks.

[Guest guest]

I'm impressed: I've been turned down for insurance before, entirely

because of a history of asthma.

>

> My insurance company has an asthma program where you have a nurse

assigned to you who follows your progress and answers questions. I

just happened to sign up on the website a week or two before this

latest flare-up I had. So, they called to talk to me when I was home

sick.

>

> The nurse asked about my history with asthma (mild intermittent),

family history (mom and brother), what meds (mostly just albuterol

as needed), do I have a peak flow meter (yes), do I use it regularly

(no...but I'm committed to changing that now), do I have any trouble

getting my meds (no). She even explained that it was important to

make sure that I didn't use the Pulmicort inhaler when I was having

an attack because it could make things worse in the short term. She

even offered to have a dietician call me about learning to eat

better. I was really impressed with the whole thing.

>

> I guess it makes sense. They save money if we can work together to

prevent flare-ups and ER visits.

>

> I love learning acupressure. I have learned to help myself deal

with lots of life's little ailments. It's nice not to always have to

resort to meds or to have something to supplement the meds when I

need them.

>

>

> Re: How do you handle chest tightness?

>

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> Hey ,

>

>

>

> That's actually a very good question. I don't know why I don't use

the

>

> spacer from the get-go. Maybe it's just the order I've placed the

meds

>

> in relation to the severity of the attack (Albuterol, Albuterol w/

>

> spacer, nebulizer, Prednisone).

>

>

>

> Wow, your insurance covers a spacer? Good deal. Mine didn't.

>

>

>

> Good deal too on the acupressure. My wife is into reflexology

which

>

> sounds very similar. I should check out her book if chest

tightness.

>

>

>

> Thanks.

>

>

>

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>

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[Guest guest]

Cool beans, . Great deal. May I ask what insurance company is

this? If you feel uncomfortable saying, that's cool.

[Guest guest]

queezles,

That SUCKS!! How are you managing treatment and dr visits?

[Guest guest]

That was some time back: right now I do have insurance.

>

> queezles,

>

> That SUCKS!! How are you managing treatment and dr visits?

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, I am not but my insurance, optimum choice has a program like

the one she has. Sharon

In asthma , " john319nyc " wrote:

>

> Cool beans, . Great deal. May I ask what insurance company is

> this? If you feel uncomfortable saying, that's cool.

>

[Guest guest]

I have Aetna HMO. I would have mentioned it, but I didn't want to sound like a commercial ;-)

Re: How do you handle chest tightness?

Cool beans, . Great deal. May I ask what insurance company is this? If you feel uncomfortable saying, that's cool.

[Guest guest]

,

My prayers are with you. I am sorry you have both asthma and diabetes.

At least you won't have to be on Pred for a long while. Don't feel bad

about going to the dr so often. I was doing that last month with my

pulmonary dr and this month with my allergist. (eyesrolling)

" I know I'll be ok. " --Great attitude, . It actually helps me.

Best regards,