Asthma Community

Have you tried different types of corti-steroid inhalers? a lot of them work similarly but have different effects on different people. I would say that if you have tried numerous ones, that quality of life is most important. the surgery is a minor one and if its going to cure you, Id personally go for it! Good luck!

hi, u are definitly not alone, i am 44 but started to have asthma when i was 40, it started out slowly, but now it is severe, i have been in the hospital 14 times in the last year and a half, i have also been on so many different types of meds that i forgot most of what they where. i am now on pulmicort ,with a mixture or xopenex and lidocaine for my nebulizer. my asthma is a cough varient, i start coughing and can't stop, which than kicks the asthma in. I am also on prednisone, i now have cataracts, from all the steroids. I have been on asthmanex as well as others but nothing seems to help. I am also allergic to dust mites, dust, trees, pollen etc. I was on a allergy drug for asthmatice called xolair, but after 2 treatments i had a reaction , so no more xolair, i haven't tried the bronchial thermoplasty yet, that might be next, i hope if you do it , it works for u, asthma really does suck, there is no other way to put it. i am also in the process of getting ready to retire, at least i hope its approved, i am a mailman , when i am working that is. Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone , and that the message boards are a nice thing to have, at least u can get info or just plain ol vent your frustrations.

well good luck
cwille

I was ready down your list of meds. You have my condolences because prednisone and theophylline are hard, especially going off and on prednisone. I had to take theophylline and it felt like I had nine cups of coffee. I woke up once with seizures, then I went off of it.

In terms of the bronchothermoplasty, all I know is my allergist does not like it, but they don't say why. My pulmonary support group says that it's a good idea to get a thorough diagnostic workup to be sure it's only asthma before getting it done.

You are not alone. I had mild asthma for 2 years, then 12 years ago it got to moderate-severe persistent. For that year, it was on and off prednisone, then theophylline, along with other drugs. I had to move to less pollution. I started to wear a mask 3 years ago with good results. The only problem is potential discrimination with work which is hard to prove and people not wanting to get to know me and laughing at me. I was told today, "you are so beautiful, you shouldn't hide your pretty face. It's hard for anyone to get to know you when you wear it. You should just use hand sanitizer." Of course, the hand sanitizer won't work due to ezcema. Also, not wearing a mask for employment interviews won't work because when I start to work I should wear a mask since its with patients. The employer could just find a reason to get rid of me after I start to work. It makes no sense to just skip it for an interview. This was from a church member. Another told me that maybe I should just work at home and gave me information. I told her it's a matter of injustice, in that it is discrimination, but she laughed it off.

Point is, a lot of people without asthma don't know what they are talking about. I stopped wearing a mask, and was congratulated. Then I said, "why? I'm making the decision to just get sick so no one else will have to feel uneasy with me looking like a freak." I've tried to explain to people the long term effects of prednisone when taken over the years. It is scary. The problem in my case is the total amount of prednisone taken annually is too high unless I wear a mask, but it's hard to find work with a mask. I have to choose between my health and being acceptable to others. The church member said, "well, at least you can take it off. You aren't like someone who has a burn." I said, "what do you mean? Yes, I can take it off....if I don't mind having trouble breathing for 3 months at a time. What kind of choice is that?"

So,now I'm venting some. Just trust me, you are not alone. If you lost the job due to asthma, you are not alone with that either.

I will be getting an evaluation from pulmonologist to make sure allergist didn't miss anything. Maybe that would help you?