I was Dxed last year with asthma... I went off advair for 3 months (I think).. and just started it again..

Does anyone.. experience.. extreme shortness of breath.. so that you can "do something for 10 minues".. then you have to sit down.. for a bit...
I guess I am trying to determine if this is asthma.. or stress.. or whatever..

We are having ozone action days right now... but I have the air on...

I tell you.. my chest is soo tight.. and I am miserable..

[Rhapsody]

My son has Asthma (w/ Inhaler) and that has never happened to him..... but then again there are different severities that one may have to tend with.

Thanks.....

I did get an opportunity to speak with the PF doctor - he said.. that my lungs are most likely inflamed (as that is my problem)... my blood work always shows a very high level of inflamation .... so my body is reacting to that most likely... and there isn't anything I can do until the advair kicks in.. the quick inhalers don't work for what I have...

[Rhapsody]

Hmm -

A hot cup of tea, sweetened with honey.

Sun and Air is good - just go outside and sit.

Steam - try sitting in a hot steamy bathroom and breathe.

Watch what you eat - milk, eggs, nuts, and seafood are known to trigger asthma.

[heyjoe]

absolutely chest tightness and being short of breath on exertion are signs of asthma.....the steaming the bathroom thing might help and also chocolate believe it or not....has your doctor said anything about steroids short term, i find that helps me.

[SeptemberMorn]

Hon, no doubt your "ozone days" have a lot to do with how you feel. Does your AC unit have a good filter? Do you have an air purifier in your home? Both my son and his wife have asthma. They run both the AC and the AP on days when the polution is high. There is also a machine that you can get for free through your insurance that is a compact model of the machines they have in hospitals that they use for inhalation treatments. I have one of those but rarely use it.

Check with your doctor to see what he prefers that you do. IMO, using an inhalor and steam at the same time is counter productive. The medicines in inhalors dry up the secretions and steam makes it easier to move the secretions out of your system.

My son, daughter in law and I all have rescue inhalers to use when everything contracts and we get really wheezy. It works right away, but you also need something like Advair that works good for the long run.

Prednesone (steroid) is good when you can't seem to get over an attack quickly or pneumonia is a factor but your doctor needs to prescribe those.

DON'T drink the Breath Easy tea without consulting your doctor first! I made that mistake once.

Not sure if I'm explaining myself well enough. Let me know if I need to do better here, ok?

EDIT: Stress can bring on asthma symptoms.

[Gemstone]

I would say poor air quality is probably a problem. Even with the AC on this will cause me problems.

Question about your inhaler: Do you use a spacer device? If not maybe you aren't using it correctly? They can be tricky to get the hang of for some people (especially newly dxed adults and children). The albuterol really should help with the tightness and SOB.

Steam (from a shower) and humidity actually make me feel much worse so I don't know that I would reccomend that. Hot tea and black coffee with help sometimes. Don't have dairy untill you are feeling better.

I agree, maybe talk to your doctor about a short burst of prednisone. That would definitely help.

[SeptemberMorn]

{{{{{{{{{{Freewill}}}}}}}}}}

Hope you're feeling better, Hon!

[heyjoe]

The machine September is talking about is a nebulizer and it has prevented many ER trips for me by having it.

Thank you everyone.. the asthma is even more pronounced today... so if by tommorow ot later tonight it is worse.. I will just go to ER and let them handle it..

I do believe it is out of control.. a first for me..

couple hours sleep maybe last night..

[Pita]

If it is worse today - I would not wait - can you at least can your doctor and let him know it is worse? Take care.

[Gemstone]

(((( Freewill )))))

Sorry you are still having so much trouble.

Can you call your doc and let him know? Maybe he could prevent the ER trip.

I hope you get some relief soon.

[January]

(((((((((( Freewill )))))))))))

Please go to the ER. I don't have asthma, but I do have bronchitis and I have to use an inhaler sometimes. The nebulizer is pretty weird to use at first, but it does help a lot. The medicine you use with the nebulizer will make you nervous at first. Again, please go to the ER. You have to be able to breathe!

Hugs,

Jan

I was diagnosed with asthma about 6 years ago. I was on Advair for a while but it didn't control my symptoms as well as I would have liked. My doctor switched me to Singulair (a tablet, not inhaler) and that has worked out well for me. I also have my albuterol inhaler on hand for sudden attacks. One of my biggest problems is climbing a flight of stairs. I avoid them as much as possible because it is almost guaranteed to set off my asthma. Smoke is also very bothersome, but I generally am not hanging around anyone smoking. I agree, I think the weather can definitely affect things.