[MotownJohnny]

Hi, if anyone has experience with asthma treatments, I would like some input.

I am really trying hard to succeed with some fairly extreme (by my standards) sports - my goal is to do a triathlon this year.

I have always felt "winded" and "weird" all my life with the kind of exertion that sports require. Best way I can describe it is that I feel like I can't get enough air, and my chest is not able to expand the way it should. What it feels like, anyway.

I finally went to a pulmonologist last year, after really, really struggling during the winter of 2013-2014. It got really bad, I was having nausea, dizzyness, etc. with anything over a low Zone 3 workout. 4 was awful, breaking into 5 briefly made me feel like my chest would explode.

I went because I got fed up, I knew it wasn't "right" and I did some research and thought I may have had exercise induced asthma. Well, that is what the pulmonologist found - my intake was normal, my outflow was only 41% of normal at rest. I was given Singulair, Albuterol as needed, and Symbicort.

At first, relief was good, not 100% but a lot better. Still felt tightness with exertion, but not nearly as much nausea and dizzyness.

Well, with the advent of cold weather, symptoms are worse again, even with greater use of albuterol. Still not as bad as last year, but ... just not "right". Swimming is especially hard, because if I screw up my breathing and don't get in enough breaths, it leaves me with a deficit I can't seem to recover from. Did a 1000 yards the other night, but I was wiped afterwards and it was tough - and that was with sucking down a couple of hits of albuterol during.

I realize I may be at this point forever, but I would like to pursue other optionis. I think I should start with a second opinion, and see what else I could try. Whether this is meds or something else, like some kind of respiratory therapy, I dunno????

Any input appreciated.

[pegasus]

Hello MotownJohnny,

I have asthma also which is very bad. Mine is bad enough to need steroids (prednisolone) when it is out of control. Infections and stress make my asthma worse. It is worth going back to your doctor and there should be a dedicated asthma nurse to help sort out the correct medication for you. I am on a seretide disc inhaler for steroid long term symptom reduction and a ventoline inhaler (one which I just breathe in without having to coordinate my breathing to as a rescue medication.)

The point is, there are many different medications and inhalers that can suit you, it's just a matter of finding the right combination.