New member ---

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, I'm a 52 year old from the San Francisco area with severe

persistent asthma since birth. In my lifetime, I've been hospitalized

more than 80 times and have been intubated 12 times, the most recent

last year. For nearly 28 years I worked as a Respiratory Therapist ,but

at the age of 49 ,after a lifetime of deteriorating lung function, I was

forced to retire.

I'm pretty much symptomatic 24/7 , and like many of you , I have taken

every asthma drug imaginable. From the ages of 16 to 39 , I was

severely steroid dependant with daily doses sometimes exceeding 100mgs.

With the help of steroid sparing drugs ( methotrexate), high dose

inhaled steroids, and a caring Pulmonologist, I was able to wean

completely off. Currently I'm only on prn bursts with rapid taper. In

addition, I take nebulized Albuterol/Atrovent 4-6 times a day, Advair

500/50 bid with additional flovent as needed, and Singulair.

In addition to the meds, I try to maintain a daily exercise program to

thwart off the effects of prenisone.

I receive my medical care at UCSF in San Francisco and have a team of

top-notch Pulmonogists who are fascinated by the fact that I can

function as well as I do despite the severity of my disease. I've been

tested for everything under the sun including the beta receptor

geneotyping ( which was normal) , Nitric Oxide ( also normal) Alpha1 (

normal) , monthly PFTs (severe obstruction) and IGE levels which have

been consistently low (40's and one time as high as 150.)

For the last 2 years it was thought that because my IGE was low and that

I had such extensive airway re-modeling, that I wouldn't benefit form

Zolair. However, a couple of months ago I underwent skin testing and

it was found that I was extremely allergic to certain grass and dust

allergens, so much in fact, that I went into full bronchospasm during

the test and had to be given epi and taken to the ER for treatment.

Despite my low IGE's , my skin tests results were so dramatic that it

was enough to convince my Physicians and the insurance company to

authorize at least a 6 month trial of Xolair. I'm scheduled for my

first shot in late November.

I'm not expecting miracles, but even if I can just a little relief, it

will be greatly appreciated.

You can read more about me on my blog at www.baycitywalker.blogspot.com

Thanks !