update on my experience with Xolair after a year

[Guest guest]

Hello and sorry for not posting in many months.

I am intrigued reading about other peoples' experiences with Xolair

and hope to see more success stories.

I have been on Xolair for a little more than 12 months and I am

very pleased with the results. The first 9 months of taking

the Xolair did not yield any great changes, but of late, I

noticed this whole winter season I did not need a single course

of antibiotics and steroid burst. That is a minor miracle for me.

During the years of 2000 to 2004 I would get so many respiratory

infections that I needed heavy duty antibiotics and steroids -

usually lasting the whole winter. Then spring, summer and fall molds

and pollens would assault my immune system even further. Before the

xolair finally kicked in, I could not take my daughter swimming, for

walks, or even long drives - things " normal " people do.

Forget about exercising because getting the mail from the mailbox

was a chore in itself. Long ago, my husband took over the vacuuming

duties - he is a saint. (In addition to working 12+ hours a day...)

I am also finding less of a need for the tons of antihistamines i

used to use. Now I am just using 10 mg zyrtec and 25 mg atarax

usually twice daily. Before xolair started working for me, I usually

required double the antihistamines. I still need my good old Advair

and Rhinocort, unfortunately. I hope I can get off all medicines but

that is just a dream, probably.

Now, I am starting to feel half way normal. I hope the Xolair will

continue to work some more miracles for myself and others! Still not

sure if this is the best the Xolair will work for me. I guess I will

find out as time goes by.

When I read about the college student experiencing difficulties, it

made me tearful. Although my asthma wasn't exactly mild, I didn't

have such severe problems during my college years. It is horrible

to deal with a load of courses and then deal with the painful aspects

of a chronic illness. I should mention, though, I did take a 18

months off from college because of a " mysterious " fever and fatigue.

For one year I had a sinus infection which none of the numerous

doctors (that I consulted) could diagnose. My generous and kind

parents still had me on their insurance and took me to an allergist

who promptly figured out that I had a pretty bad sinus condition.

The student's posting just brought me back some tough memories. Hope

the college student is on the road to recovery and everyone here does

well, too.

Now, if this Xolair continues to work well, I will get the

overwhelming urge to skateboard outside this spring! (That and ice

skating, gardening, tennis and badminton were my most favorite

childhood/teen activities.) This desire to go outside and get some

activity is great side effect of being on Xolair!

Also, my daughter who is now 7, doesn't believe that I used to be a

pretty good skateboarder so I need to prove to her I can do it

again! Then again, the last time I tried to show off to her, I

tried my " acrobatic " Indian dance moves (I used to take classical

Indian dance lessons in my childhood) and tore a weak knee ligament

as a result. (The surgery and recovery I went through for that is a

topic for another group!) My age (39 years) and steroid weight are

catching up to me. Sorry for the digression, I just needed to vent.

(Please excuse my grammar!)

Wish all good health and luck.

G. Melkote