Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 My asthma is still not stable so the pulmo put me on a 5 day prednisone burst and wants me to start Uniphyl for a bit to see if we can stabilize me until the Xolair has a chance to kick in. He thinks it will take 3 shots (3 months). I am on Singulair, Advair 500/50, Maxair or Xopenex along with my Zyrtec, Flonase and allergy shots and still having asthma flares. I am scheduled to test for my Black Belt in Taekwondo on December 9, but currently I get out of breath with exertion. They will make exceptions for me as they have seen through the years what I can do, but I don't like my asthma limiting me. I have never been on Uniphyll (time released theophylline) and in some ways I feel like I am going backwards. But I am so frustrated with my asthma right now I am willing to try this. B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 I can understand your frustration with the limits, I negatively fought everything until I realized breathing was not an option, LOL. Now I try to do what I'm told and do what I need to do, what a concept. It took a year for me to get the maximum results from Xolair, each of our systems is different. Hang in there and keep doing what you are doing! I did the martial arts for years (Shotokan) and when I was training regularly like you, I would have been devastated to have to " slow Down " , but the training taught me to surpass my best, not only physically but mentally. It sounds like you are on track and doing what you need to do for December 9th and beyond and good luck, brings back memories. Ron On Nov 2, 2006, at 10:34 PM, Belsky wrote: > My asthma is still not stable so the pulmo put me on a 5 day > prednisone > burst and wants me to start Uniphyl for a bit to see if we can > stabilize me > until the Xolair has a chance to kick in. He thinks it will take 3 > shots (3 > months). I am on Singulair, Advair 500/50, Maxair or Xopenex along > with my > Zyrtec, Flonase and allergy shots and still having asthma flares. I am > scheduled to test for my Black Belt in Taekwondo on December 9, but > currently I get out of breath with exertion. They will make > exceptions for > me as they have seen through the years what I can do, but I don't > like my > asthma limiting me. > > I have never been on Uniphyll (time released theophylline) and in > some ways > I feel like I am going backwards. But I am so frustrated with my > asthma > right now I am willing to try this. > > B. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 hi cindy, i can completely relate to your frustration! you are exactly where i was almost 3 years ago. for me, unipyl has been a HUGE help. it seems that the theo was really the missing puzzle piece to my asthma control (and i was already on a lot of stuff, including xolair). i would go on and off uniphyl often, with each flare, as one of those last ditch efforts. finally, my dr and i talked and said " just stay on it " . since we decided that, i have very few flares. i've been pred free for over a year now! (and xolair for almost 3 years). currently, i take 400 mg uniphyl in the morning, and 200 mg at night. just be sure to keep up on any bloodwork your dr requests. they'll probably ask for a few rounds of bloodwork to establish your " theraputic level " and such. good luck! I hope theo proves to be helpful! heather Belsky <crdb@...> wrote: My asthma is still not stable so the pulmo put me on a 5 day prednisone burst and wants me to start Uniphyl for a bit to see if we can stabilize me until the Xolair has a chance to kick in. He thinks it will take 3 shots (3 months). I am on Singulair, Advair 500/50, Maxair or Xopenex along with my Zyrtec, Flonase and allergy shots and still having asthma flares. I am scheduled to test for my Black Belt in Taekwondo on December 9, but currently I get out of breath with exertion. They will make exceptions for me as they have seen through the years what I can do, but I don't like my asthma limiting me. I have never been on Uniphyll (time released theophylline) and in some ways I feel like I am going backwards. But I am so frustrated with my asthma right now I am willing to try this. B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 , Off topic questions.....I have my kids in Karate and they love it. What is the difference between Taekwondo and Karate. Does it make much difference which discipline they study? Belsky <crdb@...> wrote: My asthma is still not stable so the pulmo put me on a 5 day prednisone burst and wants me to start Uniphyl for a bit to see if we can stabilize me until the Xolair has a chance to kick in. He thinks it will take 3 shots (3 months). I am on Singulair, Advair 500/50, Maxair or Xopenex along with my Zyrtec, Flonase and allergy shots and still having asthma flares. I am scheduled to test for my Black Belt in Taekwondo on December 9, but currently I get out of breath with exertion. They will make exceptions for me as they have seen through the years what I can do, but I don't like my asthma limiting me. I have never been on Uniphyll (time released theophylline) and in some ways I feel like I am going backwards. But I am so frustrated with my asthma right now I am willing to try this. B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 Uniphyl was my first big breakthrough in asthma control, after Advair, Zyrtec and Spiriva which collectively helped only a little. I started with 400 mg daily and was soon able to walk uphill without stopping often to catch my breath. Then was moved up to 600 mg and that worked just as well but I was losing my appetite (shucks, lost 10 lbs taking me off the obese list) and also I could no longer fall asleep at work meetings (shucks, no unemployment for me). That went on for about six months then I started getting really sick with bad stomach cramps and vomiting. So the Doctor took me off Uniphyl but I asked to stay on at 400 mg because I really do like staying awake driving and 400 mg has done the trick nicely. It's been over a year at 400 mg with no side effects and I didn't put the weight back on either. I consider that 400 mg of Uniphyl second only to Xolair in giving me back a normal life. > > My asthma is still not stable so the pulmo put me on a 5 day prednisone > burst and wants me to start Uniphyl for a bit to see if we can stabilize me > until the Xolair has a chance to kick in. He thinks it will take 3 shots (3 > months). I am on Singulair, Advair 500/50, Maxair or Xopenex along with my > Zyrtec, Flonase and allergy shots and still having asthma flares. I am > scheduled to test for my Black Belt in Taekwondo on December 9, but > currently I get out of breath with exertion. They will make exceptions for > me as they have seen through the years what I can do, but I don't like my > asthma limiting me. > > I have never been on Uniphyll (time released theophylline) and in some ways > I feel like I am going backwards. But I am so frustrated with my asthma > right now I am willing to try this. > > B. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 its a real comfort to know that so many of us have success with uniphyl. i know theo is an older drug, and i honestly didn't think that many of us were on it. WOW!! heather mister_manganese <barryb@...> wrote: Uniphyl was my first big breakthrough in asthma control, after Advair, Zyrtec and Spiriva which collectively helped only a little. I started with 400 mg daily and was soon able to walk uphill without stopping often to catch my breath. Then was moved up to 600 mg and that worked just as well but I was losing my appetite (shucks, lost 10 lbs taking me off the obese list) and also I could no longer fall asleep at work meetings (shucks, no unemployment for me). That went on for about six months then I started getting really sick with bad stomach cramps and vomiting. So the Doctor took me off Uniphyl but I asked to stay on at 400 mg because I really do like staying awake driving and 400 mg has done the trick nicely. It's been over a year at 400 mg with no side effects and I didn't put the weight back on either. I consider that 400 mg of Uniphyl second only to Xolair in giving me back a normal life. > > My asthma is still not stable so the pulmo put me on a 5 day prednisone > burst and wants me to start Uniphyl for a bit to see if we can stabilize me > until the Xolair has a chance to kick in. He thinks it will take 3 shots (3 > months). I am on Singulair, Advair 500/50, Maxair or Xopenex along with my > Zyrtec, Flonase and allergy shots and still having asthma flares. I am > scheduled to test for my Black Belt in Taekwondo on December 9, but > currently I get out of breath with exertion. They will make exceptions for > me as they have seen through the years what I can do, but I don't like my > asthma limiting me. > > I have never been on Uniphyll (time released theophylline) and in some ways > I feel like I am going backwards. But I am so frustrated with my asthma > right now I am willing to try this. > > B. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 Thanks everyone. I had my first dose of Uniphyl today as well as my second day of pred and I was only moderately out of breath with the aerobic portion of Taekwondo today. Ok, I am going to date myself here but I do feel like I am a 78 in a 33 rpm world (think vinyl records folks.) I am ADHD so I normally move at a faster pace than most, but I feel like I am on fast forward. I have been drinking lots of chamomile tea and taken meditation breaks but my family notices how much I am buzzing. I am hoping it is the prednisone and uniphyl combo and it will diminish as my body adjusts to it all. The Xopenex doesn't help either with the buzzing and shaking, but I am breathing without pain or strain so I take it! LOL!! I did have a scare last night as I was using my neb, a Pari Pro Neb Ultra. It started running erratically and made me real nervous. It is only 3 years old and we rarely use it. I think it just overheated as my son had it up on the bed. But I think I am going to get a portable neb so we can have a back-up. My inhaler isn't working as well now, so I need a functioning neb. Any brands people really like? I am in Northern Virginia and we had our first freeze last night so I am hoping my outdoor allergy triggers will decrease. I could feel my lungs tighten every time my kids came in after rolling in the leaves this last week. Or when I ran errands and was in and out of the car. Easy breathing to all, B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2006 Report Share Posted November 5, 2006 Yeah, the Pred is good for a buzz. So is the Uniphyl after it saturates your system in a couple days. I always thought a good part of the buzz was getting oxygen to your starved body, though. After a while I started taking having energy as normal living so quit thinking of the Uniphyl lift-off as a drug buzz. Still get the shakes a little but have got used to it ... no problem. > > > > Thanks everyone. I had my first dose of Uniphyl today as well as my second > day of pred and I was only moderately out of breath with the aerobic portion > of Taekwondo today. Ok, I am going to date myself here but I do feel like I > am a 78 in a 33 rpm world (think vinyl records folks.) I am ADHD so I > normally move at a faster pace than most, but I feel like I am on fast > forward. I have been drinking lots of chamomile tea and taken meditation > breaks but my family notices how much I am buzzing. I am hoping it is the > prednisone and uniphyl combo and it will diminish as my body adjusts to it > all. The Xopenex doesn't help either with the buzzing and shaking, but I am > breathing without pain or strain so I take it! LOL!! > > > > I did have a scare last night as I was using my neb, a Pari Pro Neb Ultra. > It started running erratically and made me real nervous. It is only 3 years > old and we rarely use it. I think it just overheated as my son had it up on > the bed. But I think I am going to get a portable neb so we can have a > back-up. My inhaler isn't working as well now, so I need a functioning neb. > Any brands people really like? > > > > I am in Northern Virginia and we had our first freeze last night so I am > hoping my outdoor allergy triggers will decrease. I could feel my lungs > tighten every time my kids came in after rolling in the leaves this last > week. Or when I ran errands and was in and out of the car. > > > > Easy breathing to all, > > > > B. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2006 Report Share Posted November 5, 2006 Hi, I am now on Theophylline ER 200mg once per day and it is working. Due to liver and heart disease this is where I feel safe. Xolair didn't work for me. So what is the difference between Uniphyl and Theophylline ER? I tried to look it up but not much help. In Hope, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2006 Report Share Posted November 5, 2006 How long did you try xolair? It is my understanding that it could take as long a a year before there were any noticeable improvements. Just curious. Caldwell-Bissell <nightsky@...> wrote: Hi, I am now on Theophylline ER 200mg once per day and it is working. Due to liver and heart disease this is where I feel safe. Xolair didn't work for me. So what is the difference between Uniphyl and Theophylline ER? I tried to look it up but not much help. In Hope, --------------------------------- Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Messenger's cheap PC-to-Phone call rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 , Uniphyl is a trade name for a brand of slow release Theopylline to the best of my understanding. Maybe someone else can tell what Theopylline ER is all about, but I'm sure you can google it and find out. > > Hi, > > I am now on Theophylline ER 200mg once per day and it is working. Due to > liver and heart disease this is where I feel safe. Xolair didn't work for > me. > > So what is the difference between Uniphyl and Theophylline ER? I tried to > look it up but not much help. > > In Hope, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Thanks for the help everyone. The ER is extended release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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