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Asthmatics...needs some BTDTs (Read 769 times)

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rectumdamnnearkilledem

    I definitely felt that my breathing was easier within a short time of taking the first dose of Advair, so at least the long-acting bronchodilator aspect of it does seem to work on me--woot! Of course, it's raining, so maybe it's the clearer air with less crap floating around, too. My doc is gonna have me overlap the Advair and Singulair a bit, then go off the Singulair if I want. I'm already on Allegra and Floase, too, so even if the Singulair does help, with the other two allergy meds it seems kind of redundant...and not cheap. I'm also still kinda nervous about dumping so many drugs into my system unless they are having a profoundly positive effect on my symptoms.

    Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

    remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

         ~ Sarah Kay

    Trent


    Good Bad & The Monkey

      how long does it generally take for the Advair to kick in?
      1-4 weeks. Using the long acting beta agonist component (which does kick in immediately) as the primary therapy does not work and occasionally kills. Which is why serevent was taken off the market. Advair is preventive therapy. Period. End of story. If you have an acute exacerbation, there are currently only two medications that are indicated. They are albuterol and systemic steroids.
      racerunner1314


        I've been on the same medications for almost my entire life. Nasonex Singulair 10mg, and Advair 500/50. They work wonders. I would not be running if it weren’t for these meds. What is your singulair dosage, maybe increasing it would help. Also, find a good asthma and allergy specialist. I see mine once or twice a year and he occasionally tweaks my dosage. I take advair in the morning so it doesn’t affect my sleep. Once you get on a good regiment of meds you will start to breath easier.
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        rectumdamnnearkilledem

          I'm on the 10mg Singulair...I think that's the only adult dose... Confused Being able to breathe well is easy to take for granted. It's scary when the ability to breathe is compromised even a little bit. I told my DH that the Advair may end up being pretty $$ out-of-pocket...to the tune of maybe more than a hundred bucks (we're not sure what our co-pay would be, yet). At first his reaction was Shocked I don't think we can afford that. I reminded him that I really can't afford to not breathe. I think he pretty quickly realized that this is not some optional treatment regimen.

          Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

          remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

               ~ Sarah Kay

            Kirsten: I FINALLY got out on the road again after a LONG time not runningdue to shin issues (at least there isn't any stress fractures)....but something I noticed and thought you might be interested. Got up and took albuterol first...(like I always do for a run), then hit the Advair 250/50. Went out for a couple..with no breathing issues....didn't have any yesterday...no post run cough...NUTHIN. Breathing was relatively slow (considering) but not as labored as it has been in the past.... All I can suggest is you give it a try....
              Another question...for those of you who have successfully found treatment that works, once it kicked-in did you find that you were amazed by the difference...ie, did you suddenly have a lightbulb moment like "gee, I had no idea how bad my lung function was prior to this course of treatment."?
              Yes! I have been an asthmatic all my life. Recently, it has seemed to be worse. My runs have SUCKED and I've even been waking up in the night needing my inhaler. I went to my PCP about a month ago, who sent me to a pulmonologist. She isn't a runner, but she's a cyclist, and has studied asthma and athletes for quite some time. She told me that you should only be using your rescue inhaler 1-2 times per week - any more than that and your asthma is out of control. She sent me home with 6 different prescriptions. She told me that her goal was to get me to the point where my breathing isn't holding me back. Right now, I'm taking Advir 2x daily, Veramyst 1x daily, and TheoDur 2x daily. I was worried about side effects, but so far the only thing I've noticed is that I cannot sit still during the day. But my running has improved. I had the best run ever this past Saturday. For the first time in my entire life, my breathing isn't what is holding me back. I ran so hard and fast on Saturday that my legs are still sore today (I haven't been sore in 6 months). Its a wonderful feeling.
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              rectumdamnnearkilledem

                Chris, that is so promising. I had a good run today...almost a week after starting Advair. Of course, I had to run really slow to baby a cranky knee, so I don't know if my lungs are better from running slow or from the meds. But for the first time in weeks I wasn't thinking about my breathing, which was nice. Now I just need to get my knee to HTFU. Wink

                Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                     ~ Sarah Kay

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                rectumdamnnearkilledem

                  Wow...almost 2 weeks after starting the Advair and I have not had to use my inhaler at all during the day, in the middle of the night, or woken in a coughing fit in over a week. I'm even thinking using the inhaler pre-runs may be overkill at this point. I'm astounded by how well I have responded to this stuff. I really think I will go off the Singulair, since the combo of Advair, Allegra, and Flonase seem to have my allergies and asthma controlled really well. I am still having some allergy symptoms, but given that pollen is at its absolute peak (my car parked outdoors looks terrible...like someone dumped a vat of yellow dust on it) it's not bad at all. Almost like having super mild allergies.

                  Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                  remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                       ~ Sarah Kay

                    Good news for you!!!
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                    rectumdamnnearkilledem

                      Just had my follow-up appt. with my doc this AM. He's decided to put me on the 250/50 for another month, then see me then for another follow up. Since I have still had less-than-ideal control of symptoms (I'd say the 100/50 is working well 75-80% of the time) we're going to see if I can have fewer or no episodes with the higher dose. I have had a few coughing episodes (mostly at night) and shortness of breath made worse with the recent humid spells. He'd like it if I could avoid using the inhaler except for very rare issues or mid-run (I needed it yesterday). In the past I have used it pre-run, but since my asthma is no longer considered "exercise-induced" he wants me to get away from depending upon it preventatively, since it's not really doing much in that instance.

                      Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                      remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                           ~ Sarah Kay

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