Asthma

[MrGrumpy]

Well hardly been on been on bike since Xmas, due to shifts and not feeling great. To go along with this I took an allergic reaction to our Guinea pigs which has brought on Asthma, never knew I had it!! Looking back to last year however there were similar circumstances but never got diagnosed Small blessing is not on steroids permanently. My peak flow at one point was down in the low 300`s gone up a bit now. Always wondered why I could hardly get a breath in at football!!!

 

[ianrauk]

Work colleague has just been diagnosed with asthma at the age of 50.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

IMHO, and IANAD (I am not a doctor...) in my opinion the asthma will get much better if you start cutting out the things that bring it on. (in your case, the guinea pigs, and probably lots of other stuff you haven't twigged about yet). I am allergic to a vast array of things, dust, pollen, birds, cats, dogs - but my main trigger, I reckon (barring cats!) are household chemicals (bleach, harsh cleaners, airfreshners!).

Try 'detoxing' the house (and your toiletries - artificial scents) for a month or so and see if it's any better... Of course if you're triggered by (say) cold air it's a bit harder- then it's a buff over the mouth!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Adult onset asthma can be a bummer. As SavageHoutkop suggests avoiding the triggers can be key. I used to think one of mine was cold air but actually it turned out to be sudden changes in air temp. So I have coping strategies and breathing techniques that help control it without drugs. Losing a couple of stone made a huge difference to mine as well. Now an attack usually signals that I'm coming down with some sort of RT infection or have piled on too many pounds.

 

[De Sisti]

Work colleague has just been diagnosed with asthma at the age of 50.

At the age of 47 (last year) I was diagnosed with asthma. My lowest peak
flow reading was less than 250. With treatment it rose to above 500. Riding
in the recent cold weather has brought the worst of it on again, especially
when entering a warm environment from the cold.

Don't, under any circumstances do what I did last year, that is, take (perscribed)
pain killing tablets (Diclofenac, for my back), use your inhaler (as perscribed) and
tackle a tough event (like the Marmotte). Trust me, as soon as your heart rate
rises (in my case to about 130 bpm) it will feel like your chest is being squeezed
in a vice.

The contents of the painkilling tablets and those of the inhaler in your body at the
same time will cause breathing difficulties when heart rate increases. This was the
conclusion of my GP and brother-in-law (who's a surgeon).

 

[Bandini]

I wonder if having it all your life makes you used to it? Mine is 'brought on' by exercise and cold weather, but if I take a couple of puffs before I start and take a couple if I feel out of breath and stop for a minute, I have no trouble ( I call this method 'a Botham', after the cricketer/footballer who said that he had no problem if he did same!). Taking a good preventative is also key.

I suppose it might also help that I am interested in scenery/enjoyment of a leisurely ride, and not at all interested in speed.

 

[Crackle]

Mine is caused by my allergic rhinitis which came on in adulthood and recently caused the asthma. It's a constant thing because of this and I need a preventer everyday. I've forgotten today and right now I've a slight cough. Fortunately cold makes no difference and neither does excercise. I do get breathless until I've warmed up properly and as my nose always blocks as soon as I start excercising outside I always breath through my mouth which makes me sound breathless, so all that advice about running so you can hold a conversation doesn't apply to me.

 

[yoyo]

I've had asthma all my life. It is mainly triggered by exercise, change in temperature and pollution. I used to permanently cough, wheeze my chest was always congested except in high summer. However, due to hypothyroidism, I was advised to cut out dairy products and, if I must, use goat's cheese and milk. I did this and after six months realised that the chronic nature of my asthma was gone.

 

[ASC1951]

Losing a couple of stone made a huge difference to mine as well.

Buggrit. It's distressing how many things that applies to.

I've just been diagnosed with late onset asthma at 60, although with hindsight it has been with me for three or four year. This winter has been a constant procession of throat and chest infections and I'm now on a pink preventer, which I very much hope I can ditch when it gets warmer, as the trigger for me seems to be cold weather.

OTOH, as my GP said, "You would be very unlucky to have any adverse effect now from smoking in your 20s. But some people are unlucky". So it could be the early stages of COPD.

 

[Crackle]

Buggrit. It's distressing how many things that applies to.

I've just been diagnosed with late onset asthma at 60, although with hindsight it has been with me for three or four year. This winter has been a constant procession of throat and chest infections and I'm now on a pink preventer, which I very much hope I can ditch when it gets warmer, as the trigger for me seems to be cold weather.

OTOH, as my GP said, "You would be very unlucky to have any adverse effect now from smoking in your 20s. But some people are unlucky". So it could be the early stages of COPD.

Did you do a spirometry test? As I understand this is able to distinguish between COPD and asthma which are quite different.

Also, unless your Asthma is very mild or your doctor has told you not to use it, a preventer should be used all the time, though the advice does vary about how often and dosage.

If you've not done a spirometry or recieved specific advice about managing your asthma I'd get that sorted, ignorance of asthma and it's treatment is likely to cause you more problems.

Of course you may have done all this but it's worth checking.

 

[ASC1951]

Did you do a spirometry test? As I understand this is able to distinguish between COPD and asthma which are quite different.

If that's the tube to blow into with a printout, yes. I'm normal. Well, normal for my age and height - in fact that's part of the problem, because the GP seems unconcerned at the absolute figures whereas I am concerned about the deterioration over the last two or three years.

Also, unless your Asthma is very mild or your doctor has told you not to use it, a preventer should be used all the time, though the advice does vary about how often and dosage.

He did suggest dropping to one puff a day once it got warmer, if I wanted; I'm on the lowest dosage inhaler.

 

[Chris James]

Mine is caused by my allergic rhinitis which came on in adulthood and recently caused the asthma. It's a constant thing because of this and I need a preventer everyday. ..... I always breath through my mouth which makes me sound breathless, so all that advice about running so you can hold a conversation doesn't apply to me.

You could be talking about me!

Cold air was also a trigger for me, but the preventer seems to be working really well and I only now feel wheezy if I pick up a cold. And even then not too bad. I hardly use my blue inhaler.

 

[arallsopp]

Cold air is my trigger, as is intensive exercise and pollution. I like to get all three out of the way on the morning commute, just so as I'm done for the day.

 

[Kirstie]

I'm another cold air trigger person. At the moment I'm doubling my preventer dose as I've had really bad asthma lately following a chest infection. I've also recently had a course of oral steroids as it got really out of control. I am busting to go cycling again this week but cannot risk it in the cold air.

Exercise in warm air (like the gym) I find really helps.

I was diagnosed aged 37 which is comparatively rare, but then so were my mum and gran so mine is hereditary.

 

[jethro10]

I was advised to cut out dairy products and, if I must, use goat's cheese and milk. I did this and after six months realised that the chronic nature of my asthma was gone.

I have asthma being allergic to many things. Dairy products being one of them, but only minor.
However Dairy is also known to over produce mucus even in non asthmatics, an old wives tale tells you to avoid these products when you have a cold and are producing mucus anyhow.

I limit milk, have no cheese now etc. and use soya and goats alternatives.
Even though dairy was only supposed to be a small trigger, this has changed my life more than any other anti-asthma related things I do.

xxx
Jeff