[sujunew]

I was diagnosed with asthma about 10 years ago when I got a severe cough that would go for hours on end without stopping. After that finished I have hardly needed medication since- mainly if I go to an extremely humid city or if the weather changes dramatically. I have never actually had an asthma attack but I think I might be having them now. I can go for hours not coughing at all but next thing I know I am coughing until I have tears pouring from my eyes and can hardly breathe. I have been advised by medical staff to use my ventolin every few hours to try and get on top of things,but I have never had a real asthma attack and don't know how far I should let the coughing episodes go on for before I seek medical help. I know that if I spend the majority of 6 hours in bed again on my hands and knees trying to breathe inbetween bouts that I will do something, but I have so much I have to consider too. I am on my own with a 22mth old. I could ring my ex, but I wouldn't want to arrive at the hospital only to be made triage 5 and have to wait 3 or more hours for any help... I am confused and my brain is fogged by lack okf sleep and the heavy blanket of fog that naturally covers it when one is severely depressed! I would welcome anyones advice, or maybe what has worked for them in a similar situation, or anything. Thank you heaps, irish.

[Rhapsody]

ASTHMA - this illness literally means - - - “Takes Your Breath Away”

Asthma is a severe respiratory allergy reaction.... studies show that there are common triggers that cause an attack of asthma in children.... the most common trigger is stress; other triggers included smoke, food dyes, certain food allergies, mold, pet danger, chemical toxins and respiratory infection.
In adults.... the triggers are adrenal gland exhaustion, constipation, low thyroid function and hypoglycemia.

DIETARY (considerations):

Begin a largely vegetarian diet.... Green leafy vegetables are especially good because of their high magnesium content, which helps to relax bronchial muscles. Drink plenty of water with lemon to thin mucous secretions.
Have your food sensitivities identified (consider allergy testing). Reduce sodium and starchy foods in your diet. Asthmatics have more frequent attacks when they consume high amounts of sodium (salty) foods. To cut down on mucus production avoid dairy products, soft drinks, caffeine, fried foods, sulfites, MSG, and sugary foods.

SUPPLEMENT support for ASTHMA:

1.) Vitamin C - 3000 mg
2.) Vitamin E - 400 IU w/ 200 mcg Selenium
3.) Magnesium 400 mg
4.) Royal Jelly (a pill, for adrenal gland help)
5.) Quercetin - 1000 to 2000 mg

LIFESTYLE Choices:

* Apply a hot ginger compress to the chest
* Massage therapy eases stress and relaxes the muscles
* Deep-Breathing exercises (for proper breathing techniques) TRY: www.bodyflex.com
* Walk every day, or ride a bike
* Avoid tobacco smoke, If YOU smoke - STOP!!
* Use laundry detergent free of perfumes & dyes

***************************************************

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

[pegasus]

irishsj,

I would suggest that you go and see your doctor.

If you are having to use the ventolin more than once a day, your doctor may suggest that you have a preventer-inhaler aswell, (steroid inhaler, usually brown) such as BECOTIDE.

Learn what triggers the asthma- stress, dust house mites, mould etc... so that you can do something about it.

Hope you will consider seeing your doctor about it so that you can get a good nights rest.

[Gemstone]

I agree with Pegasus, you should see your doctor. If you can I would see a specialist (pulmonologist or allergist). If your current doctor is suggesting that you use ventolin (albuterol) as a preventative you need to see someone else. Albuterol used constantly can actually worsen symptoms over time. It can have the same effect has if you take over the counter nose spray all the time, when the drug wears off the symptoms will return immediatly and will get worse.

I have had really severe asthma (been hospitalized more times than I can count) since childhood, but with the right meds I rarely have flair ups anymore.

I wouldn't rely on herbal remedies. They are great for some things but asthma can be life threatening. You really need to be under a good doctors care.

[Rhapsody]

YES, by all means check with a certified DOCTOR and seek his/her advice, for supplements are just that..... a supplement - - - a mere aid to other forms of treatments.

Good Luck................

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

[sujunew]

thanks guys for your input. I saw someone yesterday and she said that while it is like this (most likely trigger stress and weather at mo) she gave me the same advice I had already been given- use the ventolin every 4 hours, try deep breathing/relaxation techniques, and reassess the situation next week. I have had allergy tests done- I am allergic to dog hair (yes, I own a dog but he is a strictly outdoors dog and I have never had a problem around him before) and dust mites. I am trying to completely declutter the house as I hate seeing dust anywhere anyway (going to my mother's house is a true nightmare!) but there is always dust around... Oh- and Rhapsody, thanks for all the advice and suggestions but I could NEVER give up my caffeine intake (coke)- I have been using it as my daily caffeine fix for 17 years now and have tried to stop- I even substitute some of my drinks for soda water- but as I don't drink any other caffeine drinks I NEED MY COKE!!! (lol). And I don't eat much meat either. I will just have to try and ride it out until either the weather settles or the doc proposes a better solution! I do have a flixotide inhaler in the house but it was for my daughter (who was actually having breathing problems because the scar tissue in her throat had contracted and she was literally breathing through a pipe the size of a straw- no asthma medication can fix that!!!). So if the doc agrees hopefully I can use that. But again, thanks all for your input. I will keep referring back to try and sort myself out. Tc xxx

My child has asthma. I have held that boy willing his poor lungs to keep breathing, administering albuterol otherwise known as ventolin, pulmicort, intal, acolaade you nbame it my son is on it or has been on it. I have watched that boys lips turn all kinds of colored blue. and have more times then I can count taken that child in to the after hours clenic to be nebulized.

Asthma is not somethintg you want to ignore and put off taking the medication and waiting to see if it is going to get worse. it is a life threatening health problem. Since you have been presctibed an inhaler and told to use it more than the prescribed every four hours dosage I would not mess around with not taking it and waiting because since diagnosis you have not had a debilitating attack. you post about having a 22 month old, yes it will be hard waiting in the ER with that baby but think about your baby in the event that you wait and your problem tonihgt gets worse. You can't be any good for that baby if you cannot funtion yourself.

my suggestion take that medication as often as you can prescribed by your doctor. if that does not work get pick up that phone for the paramedics. they will come and transport you to the ER. Breathing problems associated with asthma is considered life threatening and if taken by ambulance you will not have to wait for triage. You will be taken right in, nebulized and released. My child and I have been in and out of ER's within a half hour when transported by ambulance.

[ster]

I have been dealing with this problem since I was a child. the dr has me taking singular 10mg a day this has helped me I also have albutarl and combivent. one more thing I do is tai chi breathing this has helped a lot.

[LMo]

My former stepson had asthma -- one natural combatant that worked for him in a few emergencies was several drops of tabasco sauce mixed with water. Poor kid... he was so brave to drink it, even though his face would turn purple immediately afterward! Another benefit of this remedy is that it ALWAYS got him to giggle afterward... which was great when he was feeling scared and panicky about not being able to breathe.

[jennie]

if you are having breathing problems, i'm sure the ER will treat you ASAP.

panic attacks, heat, stress, and allergens trigger my asthma. psychotherapy has helped me the most.

[sujunew]

Thanks heaps everyone for your posts. I finally went to the ER today as I had had enough, and it was worse today than the past few days. It is not so much my asthma but the fact I have bronchitis! So wiwth the antibiotics and the asthma puffers hopefully things will settle down REALLY soon. I have been working on my relaxation breathing, which has helped a lot, and I will be on the preventative inhaler (that was originally prescribed to no1 daughter!) daily. It's been quite scary as I have never had breathing problems like this before(apart from during panic attacks but they are heaps different) and I am so pleased it is finally going to be resolved. I can't believe only 6 days ago my doc said it was just a cough and there was nothing I could do about it. I will forgive her though becoz she was more f ocused on my SIing and the wound she was treating... But again, thanks for all your help and ideas. I will try out all that I can.