Asthma Support Group
Asthma is a disease of the human respiratory system where the airways narrow, often in response to a "trigger" such as exposure to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which respond to bronchodilators.
Hello,
I have been diagnosed moderate asthma without a wheeze. My doctors have tried spriva with success but it dried my lungs out after a few weeks becoming unbearable and made my breathing horribly hard.
They have also tried several inhaled steroids. The first few days are great and within a week I notice a difference. However after a week or so It seems everytime I use them it causes my breathing to worsen. After 24 hours or so the lung tightness and ridigity goes away and my normal asthma symptoms return.
I've had normal ct and xray.
Exercising is a killer! Well afterwards the attack last for hours I should say. And it's affecting my daily activities.
My body also did this with albuterol for a while but I found switching between xopenex and ventolin helps. I am on Atrovent and use it as needed. I'm also tapering down from months on prednisone.
Any thoughts on other medicines or what may be going on? I'm desperate and will try anything.. Minus singulair(messed with my moods)
Thanks in advance!
I have been diagnosed moderate asthma without a wheeze. My doctors have tried spriva with success but it dried my lungs out after a few weeks becoming unbearable and made my breathing horribly hard.
They have also tried several inhaled steroids. The first few days are great and within a week I notice a difference. However after a week or so It seems everytime I use them it causes my breathing to worsen. After 24 hours or so the lung tightness and ridigity goes away and my normal asthma symptoms return.
I've had normal ct and xray.
Exercising is a killer! Well afterwards the attack last for hours I should say. And it's affecting my daily activities.
My body also did this with albuterol for a while but I found switching between xopenex and ventolin helps. I am on Atrovent and use it as needed. I'm also tapering down from months on prednisone.
Any thoughts on other medicines or what may be going on? I'm desperate and will try anything.. Minus singulair(messed with my moods)
Thanks in advance!
-
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Have either of you tried cromolyn sodium In. Nebulizer? I have read on some copd forums of people being unable to take the steroids as it leaves them feeling congested and heavy chested also. I don't have copd but I do have that feeling!
1) cromolyn sodium via nebulizer is shortacting but may help (works about 4 hrs). always need a neb for that. not available via inhaler.
2) avoiding triggers like the plague :)
3) Duoneb via neb. Ipratropium with albuterol can open and relax airways.
4) Pulmo maintenence , if you are seeing your primary care. This is complicated enough for them.
5) daily inhaled steroids (may need 2-3) to maintain a "good" airway so you can breathe.
6) maybe a 2nd or 3rd opinion from Other pulmo docs. This must be something someone has dealt with in the past.
7) 2-3 times daily peakflows to watch for any airway changes.
I hope this helps. I have used some of these in the past and they were helpful.
I have severe persistent asthma and agree it can be VERY frustrating when you are trying to find help/ answers.
Good luck and hugs,
Carol
Do you have the same problem with oral steroids or just inhaled steroids?
I have a friend who is allergic to the additives used in inhaled steroids and she can not use inhalers at all. It's not the steroid itself, but the other ingredients in the solution that cause symptoms very similar to the ones you describe. It took almost a year for her Dr's to figure out why she couldn't tolerate inhalers.
If you can tolerate oral steroids like Prednisone well without problems, it may very well be you are reacting to something in the inhaler solution.
Perhaps it's worth checking out?
Best of luck,
Sonny
And Sonny,
Exactly! I take daily prednisone with no problem at all! So it's the steroid itself. It's so frustrating because it makes no sense at all. I will talk to my dr about their being something that's bothering me additive wise. They've mentioned lactose or a filler but they don't even really sound sure of their own words.
Thank you both so much!
If you don't mind me asking, what does she do treatment wise then do you happen to know?:)
Thank you!!
She can only use a nebulizer since a nebulizer is just straight medicine with no additives or fillers that are used for taste and to enable a mist in a regular inhaler.
She has a regular nebulizer for at home and a portable one that can be worn like a vest, and plugged into the cigarette lighter to charge up.
Hope that helps!
Sonny,
If you don't mind another question, do you happen to know if your friends symptoms were immediate after using the inhaler? Mine seem to be okay at first and then after a few days of use build up to a problem, rather than an immediate hypersensitivity. I'm just at a loss of why that would be!
Thanks in advance so so much!
Her symptoms were immediate if I remember correctly. I might suggest making an appointment with an Allergist to get tested for sensitivities. An allergist might be able to tell you with absolute accuracy if you are having an allergic reaction or not.
I also don't think that it's that unusual that your reaction builds up over time. Many people with allergies have a mild reaction to something the first time, but the reactions get worse with more exposure, which is what seems to be happening to you.
But again, I would think your next step would be an appt with an Allergist.
Wishing you the best!
Thanks!