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.
I'm fairly new, although well read, to asthma.
These last four days, I have woken up in the red zone each morning.....first morning I was right at 50% of target peak, next morning 56% of peak......and the last two mornings as well.....
I take three inhalers, albuterol (SABA)to open, atrovent to keep open, and dulera (LABA +ICS) for control. First day, after that peak flow goes up 30l/min and goes up slowly from there. I am hitting the green for a very short time in the afternoon and wind up back in the low yellow just in time for bed. I've not slept well for 4 days, it seemed like not at all, although DH says that I am sleeping some because he hears me dreaming.
Went to ER first day, two breathing treatments (one with Atrovent/albuterol, the next just albuterol) which helped, they put me on prednisone taper. Dr yesterday increased the pred and the length of taper.
my dr has not told me, but I think I have moderate to severe persistent asthma (adult onset) following lung infection. I am at this point looking at a flare every two weeks for two weeks due to viral exposure, it's January with at least 4 months left to the cold/flu season, which means I could just be running one flare after another for the next four months.
I need some advice, support, whatever, other people's experiences/patterns would be helpful to set my expectations.
These last four days, I have woken up in the red zone each morning.....first morning I was right at 50% of target peak, next morning 56% of peak......and the last two mornings as well.....
I take three inhalers, albuterol (SABA)to open, atrovent to keep open, and dulera (LABA +ICS) for control. First day, after that peak flow goes up 30l/min and goes up slowly from there. I am hitting the green for a very short time in the afternoon and wind up back in the low yellow just in time for bed. I've not slept well for 4 days, it seemed like not at all, although DH says that I am sleeping some because he hears me dreaming.
Went to ER first day, two breathing treatments (one with Atrovent/albuterol, the next just albuterol) which helped, they put me on prednisone taper. Dr yesterday increased the pred and the length of taper.
my dr has not told me, but I think I have moderate to severe persistent asthma (adult onset) following lung infection. I am at this point looking at a flare every two weeks for two weeks due to viral exposure, it's January with at least 4 months left to the cold/flu season, which means I could just be running one flare after another for the next four months.
I need some advice, support, whatever, other people's experiences/patterns would be helpful to set my expectations.
My allergist said that Dulera is for more moderate asthma and Advair 500/50 is stronger, so you could always ask about switching. I've also been on and off prednisone for the last two months, have a sore throat from thrush, etc. For some reason, the lungs are still hypersensitive, though I don't know why.
In these situations, I just take away the triggers I know of and medicate and just wait. It's like a switch turns off and on and I just have to wait for the switch to turn the other way again. When I'm good, I'm really good, and when it's bad, it's really bad.
May not be of much help, but that's what my experience has been.
I am now in the green by the hairs on my arse.
But yeah, this sucks. And I can't take time off because I have used up 600 hours in the last two years. I have nothing left.
so waiting it out, not the way I wanted to start the new year....