Prednisone again?

[Guest guest]

I am on Prednisone .5mg every other day. I have been on pulse doses

as high as 60mg then tapering off. I hate the stuff. I am also getting

2 vials of Xolair in each arm twice a month. I have been getting the

shots for about 2.5 months so far. I am waiting for it to take

effect..

I was really doing good until yesterday. I had what I felt was a bad

asthma attack. It was very difficult to breathe. My inhaler worked

for about 5 minutes. I tried my nebuolizer and it worked for a

while. When I sat still I could breathe a little but each time I

found breathing very difficult. I got really scared. I actually

contemplated going to the hospital.

I thought the Xolair would be taking affect by now. I have an

appointment with my allergist on Friday but I am not sure if I want to

tell her about this episode because it was only once and I am afraid I

will be put back on the Prednisone. I am on a very little dose now

and do not want to go back on it again. I want to get off now!!. I am

also taking Byetta which levels out blood sugar quite will. However

in my case the Prednisone is causing higher averages. It really

messes up the levels.

Questions:

1. How long does it take for Xolair to work?

2. When it does start can I feel confident I will not have any more of

these breathing episodes?

3. I also have a lot of sinus drainage which the doctor tells me is

the cause of my shortness of breathe and most of my asthma problems.

Does anyone know what I can take to STOP the drainage? My lungs fill

up at night and I spend the first hour of the day coughing until my

chest hurts. During the day it gets a little better but I still have

the drainage and cough at work. It is really annoying to those around

me. I tried Guaifenesin. It clears up the chest congestion but the

drainage is still there and bringing it up is very difficult.

Any help anyone can provide would be wonderful.