Well, I have asthma. I've had it for years but up until about this last two weeks or so it's been pretty much under control. I had to go to urgent care earlier this week to start a round of steroids and add daily singulair to help control, unfortunately it's not working very well. Called again today, to have them refer me to a pulmonologist. I'll go, whenever I can get an appointment. Right now, they're saying May 1 or thereabouts.
Until then, I guess I'm glad that my albuterol is still pretty full. Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
How many times a day do you take the steroids? If it is once a day (and that would be my guess) take it early in the day so that it won't interfere with your sleep. And take it with food, so it won't wreck your tummy.
The steroids, I assume, are pills. Besides albuterol, what other inhalers are you inhaling? It is probably a good idea to see an allergist, too, to see if there is some environmental thing you ought to be avoiding.
Feel better.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
actually Tante alot of asthma steroids are inhaled these days. I have been on advair, and recommend it. There is also flovent, which is less powerful, but also good.
I used to have to do heavy dose prednazone back when the only steroids for asthma were general anabolics that made your cheeks puff up and your emotions go totally out of control. Thankfully that isn't the way its done anymore.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
"Start a round of steroids", as andi described it, usually means a burst therapy of prednisone, but I wanted to clarify.
Posted by Mig (Member # 9284) on :
Tante Shvester is right. Go see an allergist if you're not already. Spring is in the air in my neck of the wood, and this time of year is always rough on my asthma. Adding a good antiallergen to your daily regimen may help alot, at least it worked for me.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Allergist. My asthma went in and out of control for ten years -- it would start to go downhill and I'd be using the inhaler a lot, I'd go to the doctor and be on steriods for a week, it would get better and then the whole thing would start again in 6 months or so.
I went to the allergist, he got it all worked out and I haven't had to use my albuterol inhaler more than a few times a year since then.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
Halitosis stinks. Asthma wheezes.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Or coughs.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Sometimes whistles.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
You know what really stinks? Fecal incontinence.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
Asthma does stink. I've had it since I was 2 or 3 (or at least been diagnosed with it since then). I had a period in my childhood (around 10 or 11) where I was on steroids (I don't recall what kind, I just remember them saying that they were to make my lungs bigger and stronger). Since then, I've been able to get by on just albuterol inhalers (or an albuterol breathing machine). I hope your asthma gets better/more under control, because I know how bad it can be when it's out of control.
Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :
Tante, it was a burst of prednisone, and I'm on a decreasing dose. I don't take any inhaled steroids because, up until the last two weeks, my asthma has been well controled almost from the time I was diagnosed. If I had to take the rescue inhalor more than once every 3-4 months it was unusual.
The urgent care center called back today. I've got an appointment with a pulmonologist on May 1. Three more weeks. If things don't get at least a little better soon, I may call and see if they can take me earlier. My asthma was originally diagnosed as being caused by GERD, so there was no reason for me to see an allergist, once the Acid Reflux was under control I had almost no problem. As far as I can tell, the GERD is still under control (I haven't had any problems recently) so what's causing this issue is beyond me. Guess we'll find out in May.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)