[MotownJohnny]

Had a test today. AT moved up from 138 to 150, since about March-ish. My hear rate recover from Zone 5 @ 165-170 bpm to base Zone 1 @ 110-115 bpm was about 120 seconds.

My VO2 max has hardly budged, went from 26.2 L/Min to 28.6 L/Min. This is after 7 months of asthma treatment with inhaled and oral meds. 30.0 L/min is the threshold for poor at my age group, under is "very poor".

This is why I have such an endurance problems and am and so up and down on running and swimming.

I am not happy but know of nothing really I can do medically. My coach gave me zone-specific workouts to get me in to 4 and even 5 on a sustainable basis, although most time will be in 3.

It kinda sucks.

[growlycat]

I have terrible asthma and I ended up trying a COPD medication (btw I have never smoked and do not have COPD). It is called Spiriva and it has helped more than anything. My inhalers are ok and I was frustrated that advair was so expensive and didn't work.

Sorry to sound like a Pharma ad!!

[MotownJohnny]

I'm on Symbicort plus Albuteral inhalers as needed, and Singulair. I do think they have helped a lot, I don't get the tightness in my chest I did, but I still "run out of air" too soon.

I hope conditioning will help.

Me too, never smoked, no COPD or anything like that, but my father was a HORRIBLE smoker when I was young, and it was truly awful. I can remember not being able to breathe when I was really little. Just walking by someone at the entrance to a building and getting a face full of cigarette smoke makes my chest instantly tighten.

[growlycat]

I'm on the two inhalers that you mention plus Spiriva. It made the difference between being able to get back to walking, and continuing to avoid exercise due to wheezing. It really made a difference!

I still can't stand even a whiff of cigarette smoke--my lungs close right up!!!

[MotownJohnny]

Thanks, I'll check it out and talk to the pulmonologist, I have to see him in November. I appreciate the input.

[H3rmit]

I sympathize with both of you. Your situation resembles what I went through after having pneumonia. I was raised (and gestated, boo!) by smokers, so I feel your pain there as well.

[Angelique67]

I'm a smoker with copd and I feel so evil for still smoking reading the thread. I'm trying to increase my ability. I use Advair and a rescue inhaler.

[growlycat]

Originally Posted by Angelique67

I'm a smoker with copd and I feel so evil for still smoking reading the thread. I'm trying to increase my ability. I use Advair and a rescue inhaler.

We all have our habits. No judgement here!