Asthma issue

ChasesMumma927

Hi Sorry I didnt know where the correct place to post this question... So I will post it here... Does anyone have asthma that is NOT exercise induced... It just comes and goes as it wants!! and it just makes you feel short of breath.. Never get full blown cannot breathe attacks just shortness of breath cannot get a NICE good breath in???? I feel alone the Dr. said it IS asthma...

If anyone does have symptoms like this please share with me what helps you... Does working out help? Also a year from now me and my husband want to try and start a family... I do not want to be on asthma medications because of what I have read... so another questions has anyone with asthma had a good pregnancy with asthma with and without medications??

so basically my question is does anyone have exercise tricks to help asthma? and does anyone think the medications is okay to take while pregnant??

Oh FYI I am 27 years old and happily married :-)

taso42

Some years ago I got on a controller medication (Asmanex) and it was life changing. My symptoms went virtually to 0. Now in the past 2 years or so, I don't even take the control inhaler and I still have almost no symptoms. The main thing that changed is my fitness level. I went from fat lazy *kitten* to reasonably fit.

So my advice would be -
1. get on a controller medication
2. get fit

Good luck.

Shweedog

Hi. I am a Respiratory Therapist and work in an Asthma/Allergy/Sleep Clinic. As far as the meds go it is always best to weigh the risks with the benefits. This is something your doctor will help you do when you decide to conceive. As far as symotms- no, working out does not "help" asthma. Asthma is a chronic hereditary disease thet effects the lungs through inflammation, airway constriction, and mucus production. You should probably be on a daily controller medicine like Flovent or Advair (if not well controlled) for the inflammation. Then you need a reliever (rescue) inhaler for symptoms of constriction (which are caused by triggers like smoke, cold weather, fumes, dust, pollen, etc). Examples of these are Albuterol and Xopenex. "Tricks" for asthma are avoiding triggers and recognizing symptoms so you can treat then accordingly. Oh, and taking your prescribed medications. Asthma does not ever go away. What can happen, however, is your lungs get bigger and thus symptoms are reduced. So a lot of times you will hear an adult say "I used to have asthma". Not true- they still do. They just do not suffer from the symptoms. Sounds to me like you still have symptoms and should thus seek treatment. Asthma is extremely manageable.

nerdyandilikeit

I've had non-exercise induced asthma since I was 8, and for some reason it's gotten better as I got older. Exercise may make you short of breath in the moment, but over time it really helps your lung stamina (at least it did me). Also, I don't know if you have Hayfever or any allergies, but I notice a major difference in my breathing if I don't take my 24 allergy medicine every day. Do exercises that make you work hard, but are maybe lower impact at first? I'm no expert, but that's my suggestion

kiwipearls

I have had asthma all my life. I have taken Ventolin and Flixotide during both my pregnancies. And my children were not born with any defects.

My friend is a doctor and she would have told me if there were any bad side effects to taking Asthma medication during pregnancy and she didn't.

maddymama

Are you positive it's asthma? How long have you felt like that... overall, asthma should be better controlled than that. Maybe see a specialist? Or another doctor for different ideas? Regarding asthama meds and pregnancy, discuss this with your doctor or OB... not with random people on a forum... this is a serious medical issue, and should be treated as such.
I have EIB, and am not necessarily who you want to hear from. That said, I do want to say, that other than during an asthma attack, the ONLY time I have felt like I can not take in a full breath, I had a bad case of pneumonia. No fever, no cough, just couldn't get a breath in. Doctor ordered an Xray, and it came back showing pneumonia. I was put on a bunch of antiobiotics, and was fine after that.

ChasesMumma927

well I am glad your children are fine.. That makes me feel better... I was told to take Flovent it was expensive and I was just worried about getting on it and then becoming pregnant.. This shortness of breath is awful at times... I am not sure what triggers mine.. It seems like I can be fine for days and weeks then be short of breath for hours to days :-( I actually didnt think it was asthma but my dr said it DEF is asthma and I should take the flovent.. Thank you guys so much for your replys!!

ChasesMumma927

discuss this with your doctor or OB... not with random people on a forum... this is a serious medical issue, and should be treated as such.

I have a Dr. app in 2 weeks and I do talk to her about this.. But I just wanted to hear from other people.. I feel alone with all of this and nobody in my life understands it.. So I figured if i wrote on here someone would feel the same way and we could talk about it...
I dont know if it is asthma but my dr is really sure I had a lung test of some sort done at the hospital and thats the answer they came back with.. So I would say yes it is asthma

froggzy1015

Hi. I am a Respiratory Therapist and work in an Asthma/Allergy/Sleep Clinic. As far as the meds go it is always best to weigh the risks with the benefits. This is something your doctor will help you do when you decide to conceive. As far as symotms- no, working out does not "help" asthma. Asthma is a chronic hereditary disease thet effects the lungs through inflammation, airway constriction, and mucus production. You should probably be on a daily controller medicine like Flovent or Advair (if not well controlled) for the inflammation. Then you need a reliever (rescue) inhaler for symptoms of constriction (which are caused by triggers like smoke, cold weather, fumes, dust, pollen, etc). Examples of these are Albuterol and Xopenex. "Tricks" for asthma are avoiding triggers and recognizing symptoms so you can treat then accordingly. Oh, and taking your prescribed medications. Asthma does not ever go away. What can happen, however, is your lungs get bigger and thus symptoms are reduced. So a lot of times you will hear an adult say "I used to have asthma". Not true- they still do. They just do not suffer from the symptoms. Sounds to me like you still have symptoms and should thus seek treatment. Asthma is extremely manageable.

Thank you for this! I actually have asthma that my Doc can not get under control. It sucks, I hate it. I've been on numerous controllers like Advair and Dulera (made me extremely jittery). I've lost weight and still no difference in my asthma. Mine is allergy related, but here lately it doesn't even go away with a freeze. I take an allergy pill, but thinking maybe I need to switch to something new. Plan on going back to Doc after Christmas.

ChasesMumma927

Sounds to me like you still have symptoms and should thus seek treatment. Asthma is extremely manageable.
[/quote]

Thanks for your post.. I hope it is manageable.. I never stayed on the medication like I was told to.. It worried me to take it.. I am one of those people that hardly EVER take medication :-) I think I am really going to try going on the flovent this time and stay on it and see if it helps.. then I will talk to her and see if she thinks it is okay for pregnancy... I hate this feeling thought... I also didnt take the flovent because everyone I talked to said ohh that doesnt sound like asthma so then I felt dumb for taking it.. Dr said it was asthma after a lung functions test at the hospital..

Thanks for your post!!

Shweedog

Thank you for this! I actually have asthma that my Doc can not get under control. It sucks, I hate it. I've been on numerous controllers like Advair and Dulera (made me extremely jittery). I've lost weight and still no difference in my asthma. Mine is allergy related, but here lately it doesn't even go away with a freeze. I take an allergy pill, but thinking maybe I need to switch to something new. Plan on going back to Doc after Christmas.

For our patients with allergy related asthma (most asthma is) we typically prescribe a regimen of: 1) A controller med, 2) Singulair if necessary, 3) a nasal steroid (sometimes 2) like Nasonex, Astepro, Veramyst, Flonase, Patanase, etc, and 4) an antihistamine like Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra, etc.

Shweedog

Sounds to me like you still have symptoms and should thus seek treatment. Asthma is extremely manageable.

Thanks for your post.. I hope it is manageable.. I never stayed on the medication like I was told to.. It worried me to take it.. I am one of those people that hardly EVER take medication :-) I think I am really going to try going on the flovent this time and stay on it and see if it helps.. then I will talk to her and see if she thinks it is okay for pregnancy... I hate this feeling thought... I also didnt take the flovent because everyone I talked to said ohh that doesnt sound like asthma so then I felt dumb for taking it.. Dr said it was asthma after a lung functions test at the hospital..

Thanks for your post!!

You're very welcome! A PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) is a HUGE indicator of asthma. If you have doubt then maybe schedule one with a Pulmonologist (you made need a referral from your PCP if they don't do PFTs there). They test your lungs before a breathing treatment and then after. If you have a significant response then it shows you have "reactive airways" characteristic of asthma.

jen2607

I have had asthma all my life. There are days where I am really out of breath (especially if it is cold or if it is allergy season ) and I am exhausted. Working out definitely makes it more manageable for me... but I have to know my limits. I use my inhaler 20 minutes before cardio and do any cardio intervally. This may mean I will sprint at a moderate past for 2 minutes, then run for 1 min, then back to sprinting for 2, etc. Sometimes there are triggers that make it harder to get through a workout or I have to use my inhaler during the workout. This may gather criticism, but it really annoys me when people say they've developed "exercised -induced asthma" as an adult. I feel like that is an overly diagnosed condition, when in reality developing asthma as an adult is actually pretty rare. You really should talk to your doctor about a maintenance medicine. I take singulair for allergies and asthma, and I have a preventive steroid inhaler I can use during really cold months if my lungs need the extra support.

maddymama

discuss this with your doctor or OB... not with random people on a forum... this is a serious medical issue, and should be treated as such.

I have a Dr. app in 2 weeks and I do talk to her about this.. But I just wanted to hear from other people.. I feel alone with all of this and nobody in my life understands it.. So I figured if i wrote on here someone would feel the same way and we could talk about it...
I dont know if it is asthma but my dr is really sure I had a lung test of some sort done at the hospital and thats the answer they came back with.. So I would say yes it is asthma

I am so glad you are speaking to your doctors about this.... I wrote what I wrote bc sometimes I feel like people use advice given here instead of true medical advice. I'm glad you've had the pulmonology test done... from what I understand, it's a huge indicator of asthma. Try taking your medications regularly, and see if that helps. Some medications work best once they've had a chance to build up in your system....
Also, talk to your OB about it. Sometimes having medication in your system and having your breathe is much better than having no medication in your system and having difficulty breathing. I happily took my asthma meds during pregnancy, especially when my uterus got so big that it pushed again my lungs and I felt like I couldn't breathe at all.

ChasesMumma927

It just helps me feel better to talk to others that have had healthy pregnancies and had asthma and took the meds. :-) it's nice to not be alone that's all. I'm going to def get on the medication this time and try it out for a few months