Asthma exacerbation and exercise...been sick almost a month

_nice_
_nice_ Posts: 55 Member
edited November 18 in Fitness and Exercise
I know you're out there...athletes with asthma. I just want to know that all my gains will be re-gained, all my PRs surpassed, that I will be able to work hard for 90-200 minutes at a time again...and what to do in the mean time. I am just starting to feel a little better and walked a tiny bit yesterday. What do you start with? I do everything as my normal go to exercise: lift heavy, bike, kayak, run (a little), yoga, hike, HIIT, dance, body weight exercises...I just play hard. Every day.

How do you stay strong when you are down? I have lost some weight while sick (increased WOB, SOB while cooking...so don't cook or eat, right?) have some good definition, but I know my back has lost strength. I haven't lifted since may 1, and I have laid around a LOT.

My medical management is complicated, I have other respiratory issues on top of asthma, and that's not what this post is about. I am getting care, on meds, seeing specialists and generalists just about weekly. No pets in the house, allergen reduction techniques well developed...

I appreciate your support!

Replies

  • DesertGunR
    DesertGunR Posts: 187 Member
    As for the asthma problem all I can say is it can be overcome. There are several pro football players that suffer from it and at least one I am aware of is a Hall of Fame Running Back. So once you get the correct management figured out for you, I would be inclined to believe that all those PR's you want to surpass will eventually happen.

    Until you get it under control, I think you already know what you need to do. Improve your cooking/diet so you are at least eating at deficit. If you are now extremely inactive you might need to change your setting to sedentary to limit yourself as best possible.

    Though you may not be able to lift or do cardio at a level that causes you respiratory distress, do what you can just to keep yourself moving. You can concentrate a little more on stretching routines to increase your flexibility. I would think you could do Yoga at or very near to prior levels without causing distress since it can be done at varying intensity levels.

    Good Luck!
  • WSCHEREM
    WSCHEREM Posts: 19 Member
    edited May 2015
    I had this problem when I started winter hiking. I complained to my doc because after a hike it felt like I had severe bronchitis for two nights after climbing.

    Then I went on vacation and it happened again in the Mojave desert...I was sick as a dog the night after a hike from 4000 to 7000 feet.

    My doc gave me a test. I had 90% of exhaling ability of a typical person my age and weight, but 220% of the volume when inhaling, according to a spirometer. He gave me an inhaler but I can only use it before exercise--not for anything else.

    It was like I was a young person again...all the mucus didnt stay in lungs anymore...I had to constantly wipe my nose, and blow the stuff out...sorry but I could not achieve leave no trace ethics. But best of all I could breathe again.

    Now when I hike and bike, I can breathe much easier and burn far more calories. I don't have big problems with tree pollen, but I can't breath as easy as I could in the winter after I got the inhaler. I also drink a quart of water to help all the crud get out of my nose.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    I cannot know about the other medical issues, but taking a break a few weeks because of asthma is common, especially with seasonal allergies, and it will not set you back. Focus on recovering, discuss with your dr a plan for how to start exercising again, have your rescue inhaler with you, and do not worry. It happens to me every spring, and I do not always recognise the early signs, so there have been years where I have a few weeks where I need to stay off exercise other than walking. It is just a break and it does not really affect much regarding strength etc, I just take it easy for a while.
  • _nice_
    _nice_ Posts: 55 Member
    Thanks folks! My asthma is better, I have been doing well for about 10 days now (in total it was 6-7 weeks of rest). During my many dr. Visits I was diagnosed with COPD due to chronic asthma, and I still have all the scar tissue from long term ventilator support during infancy. My FEV1 was in the 60% range. I have been back to the gym several times and was delighted to find a very minimal deload on upper body strength. I am very close to my max on pull ups, I am very comfortable at close to my max on DL, but strangely lost about 100 pounds off my leg press. But that gives me a goal!
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