Any people living with asthma on here?

ComicBookGeekGirl · May 2012

I just went to the doctors today because I had a REALLY bad episode yesterday and was down to the last bit of my inhaler and it wasn't helping much.
I've never been digagnosed with asthma before, but have had bronchitis several times (three times last year and once this year.) and had to use an inhaler to help with the coughing. The Nurse Practitioner has me coming back in two weeks to talk to my doctor and to run tests, but she said you can develop asthma even if you were not born with it, and this has me really depressed.

Anyone here living with asthma and able to workout with sucess? She told me, no aroebics or anything for the next three days. I can walk but I need to rest. Kind of depressed cause working out makes me feel better.

darkknightfan · May 2012

Ive had asthma for years ... The best advice I can give you is start SLOW. your not going to run a marathon overnight .. NEver get too far from your inhaler while your exercising and dont let yourself get into a full blown episode before hitting the inhaler .. I have a nebulizer that I used BEFORE getting on the treadmill for a while... Over time your lungs (like any other muscle) will get stronger and youll find yourself needing the inhaler less and less. C25K is a perfect way to introduce yourself into cardio.. The mix of walk/running doesnt tax your breathing that much but you get a good workout .. Hope that helps

jenelizmin · May 2012

I've had challenges with it my whole life, but was never diagnosed until I joined the military. Up until then I just didn't understand why I could never be as "fit" as the other people doing the same things I was. Of course you need to listen to whatever your dr says, but besides that you need to learn to listen to your body. I found that by doing a lot of cardio on the eliptical I was able to build up my lung capacity. (I had Pulmonary Function Tests that showed this, but I could tell by the way I felt as well). Once I built up my strength there I started breaking into running again. I'm now doing the C25K program to progress my running beyond military requirements. I follow the program, but listen to my body. If a week is challenging I repeat it. I haven't had an asthma attack in months and seldom use an inhaler anymore. The key is not pushing yourself to the point where you have an actual attack. Yes, working out is supposed to be a challenge, but if it hurts or is scary then slow down or stop. This is supposed to be fun, not torture.

violet456 · May 2012

I have had asthma for years. Controlling medication like Advair helps a LOT. I agree with darknightfan, have your inhaler with you at all times, as if you have an attack and don't have it, it can be scary. I'm allergic to nature, as I like to put it, so dander, pollen, dust, etc agrivate it. But with Advair and the blue inhaler occasionally it works. Once you have done the tests and got some things under control you can do almost anything. Always listen to your body though. If I'm feeling a bit weezy or tight before exercising I take a puff on my blue inhaler before starting to prevent a full attack.

I hope this helps, and hopefully you get things under control.

danadew18nj · May 2012

Hello!! I have dealt with asthma my whole life! Thank goodness its not "exercise induced" asthma BUT the slightest little cold and my asthma kicks in to a full furry of coughing (sounds like a dog bark), wheezing, shortness of breath yadi yada. The best thing you can do is take care of yourself. I have to excise indoors bc I know the winters are too cold for my baby lungs and the sping/ fall bring too much pollen / floating things in the air and the summer... Well, I just am uncomfortable in the heat. I'm from NJ.

Please don't get too upset abt thew tests, if they could do one now, I suggest it- I'm assuming its a lung function test? And an xray? I have to tell u the inhalors seem to be "whatever" in my book bc they really help me breath... Its when I get sick and need to be on prednisone it really hinders my weight loss

and overall ability to function.

I am just one story though! Try to stay positive! If you have asthma I am sure, you will find many to support you and have your same struggles on MFP.

-Dana

ComicBookGeekGirl · May 2012

I've had challenges with it my whole life, but was never diagnosed until I joined the military. Up until then I just didn't understand why I could never be as "fit" as the other people doing the same things I was. Of course you need to listen to whatever your dr says, but besides that you need to learn to listen to your body. I found that by doing a lot of cardio on the eliptical I was able to build up my lung capacity. (I had Pulmonary Function Tests that showed this, but I could tell by the way I felt as well). Once I built up my strength there I started breaking into running again. I'm now doing the C25K program to progress my running beyond military requirements. I follow the program, but listen to my body. If a week is challenging I repeat it. I haven't had an asthma attack in months and seldom use an inhaler anymore. The key is not pushing yourself to the point where you have an actual attack. Yes, working out is supposed to be a challenge, but if it hurts or is scary then slow down or stop. This is supposed to be fun, not torture.

Thanks! This made me feel better! We are moving in two days to an apartment with stairs so I can use that for a workout until I can breath comfortably and than go from there. I feel like packing and cleaning caused it because we live on the coast and there is a ton of mold and mildew issues here. I think I got a lungful while cleaning and thats what triggered it. I am allergic to nature too, and I've noticed being outside can trigger an attack as well.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm glad I am not the only one dealing with this.

zoom2 · June 2012

I wasn't diagnosed unti 6 years ago, when I was a new runner and struggling...but I've likely had it since my teens (I'm 39, now). It wasn't until I wanted to engage in aerobic sports that it became a real issue. I am on Qvar (inhaled steroid) 2x/day. I don't need to use my Albuterol rescue inhaler too often, most of the year--only during peak allergy season (May, ha!) and if it's particularly humid.

I wouldn't say I'm just living with asthma, most of the time I'm THRIVING, in spit of it. I run year-round, bike year-round (outdoors as much as possible, sometimes even in the Winter with studded tires), race hard (running, road bike, cyclocross--cyclocross is a REAL test of my lungs, probably more than anything else I do).

darkknightfan · June 2012

I have had asthma for years. Controlling medication like Advair helps a LOT. I agree with darknightfan, have your inhaler with you at all times, as if you have an attack and don't have it, it can be scary. I'm allergic to nature, as I like to put it, so dander, pollen, dust, etc agrivate it. But with Advair and the blue inhaler occasionally it works. Once you have done the tests and got some things under control you can do almost anything. Always listen to your body though. If I'm feeling a bit weezy or tight before exercising I take a puff on my blue inhaler before starting to prevent a full attack.

I hope this helps, and hopefully you get things under control.

Forgot to mention the advair... I kid about having to suck on my hockey puck 2 times a day .. all kidding aside it DOES work

LilRedRooster · June 2012

I've had severe asthma since I was about 5 years old. I was on two medications, Singulair and Advair, for many, many years, and only stopped them when my insurance was dropped, and I couldn't afford them any longer. Now I rely on ephedrine tablets over the counter, and a rescue inhaler that I get from the public health clinic, and have seen many improvements in my asthma the more cardio I do.

Depending on what triggers your asthma (mine is allergens like pet hair, dandruff, pollen, etc.), it is totally manageable, and there isn't any reason to fear it. Even if it's exercise-induced, you can take measures to prevent attacks (taking medication that keeps your airways open, like Advair or a rescue inhaler), can make a HUGE difference. I've been running long-distance since high school, and the more I've run, the better my lungs are. The only times when I have issues are when I run outdoors and the allergens are high, because my lung capacity goes down with the extra mucous and constriction and I can't get the speed or length of time that I might want. Most of the time, it isn't an issue, but there are always times when I just have to work around it, and it's totally possibly.

Don't worry! I'm a super-active person, and have been throughout my life, and having asthma hasn't held me back at all.

Ariberri9 · June 2012

I have exercise-induced asthma, and the best advice my doctor gave me was to "push through it without pushing too hard." Surprisingly, she was right. At first, I'm short of breath; but after I catch my second wind, I'm totally fine. I don't even use an inhaler anymore!

When I started exercising a few months ago, I could barely get through my cardio without gasping for air. Now, I can go through my cardio and strength-training without having an attack.

Brengild · June 2012

Had Asthma for years now. Most of what has been said is true. NEVER be far from your inhaler. I used to run, the asthma finally kept me from doing that but I discovered I was able to bike(and LOVE it). Just have to see what works or you. It shouldnt keep you from excercising you just might have to switch things up a bit.

1DayMarathonRnner · June 2012

I have had asthma for years. Controlling medication like Advair helps a LOT. I agree with darknightfan, have your inhaler with you at all times, as if you have an attack and don't have it, it can be scary. I'm allergic to nature, as I like to put it, so dander, pollen, dust, etc agrivate it. But with Advair and the blue inhaler occasionally it works. Once you have done the tests and got some things under control you can do almost anything. Always listen to your body though. If I'm feeling a bit weezy or tight before exercising I take a puff on my blue inhaler before starting to prevent a full attack.

I hope this helps, and hopefully you get things under control.

This entire post could have come from me. I have had asthma my entire life, in fact it was so bad that in middle school I didn't take PE, because the school nurse recommended it. We didn't have a gym, and PE was three days a week outside. Between my asthma and my allergies of dust, pollen, grass, etc I was in there every three days. Funny yet nice to see someone else had similar health concerns for me.

My doctor and I sat down and when I decided the loose weight the first time and decided that I needed to go slow and to have a trainer with me that knew about asthma. I did it and slowly worked myself up.

Now I have a goal to run a marathon someday with my inhaler by my side. Good luck. The key is knowing what your body can take and slowly building up your endurance. BUT do NOT let asthma stop you from living the life you want.

ComicBookGeekGirl · June 2012

I have had asthma for years. Controlling medication like Advair helps a LOT. I agree with darknightfan, have your inhaler with you at all times, as if you have an attack and don't have it, it can be scary. I'm allergic to nature, as I like to put it, so dander, pollen, dust, etc agrivate it. But with Advair and the blue inhaler occasionally it works. Once you have done the tests and got some things under control you can do almost anything. Always listen to your body though. If I'm feeling a bit weezy or tight before exercising I take a puff on my blue inhaler before starting to prevent a full attack.

I hope this helps, and hopefully you get things under control.

Forgot to mention the advair... I kid about having to suck on my hockey puck 2 times a day .. all kidding aside it DOES work

I wasted like 5 doses of it today trying to figure out how to use the darn thing today!:laugh:

rebewck · June 2012

I've had asthma all my life, allergy and exercise induced, and I too and allergic to nature.. But it never stopped me from doing anything. To make my lungs stronger my parents started me in sports when I was about 4, and kept a watchful eye out for any problems. Now I take singular and albuterol daily. As a child it was just albuterol and periods of an inhaled steroid. Ive never had to go to the ER for an asthma attack, and have only had a few nebulizer treatments in my life. You'll learn what your triggers are and how to manage them. My best advice is to breathe deep and slow, like meditating, when you start to feel wheezy, and use your medicine like you're supposed to.

Raddichio · June 2012

I've had a lifetime of asthma--60 years---with multiple hospital stays along the way. With the right meds, you can do fine. However, when there are any aggravating factors (i.e., a cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, allergies, etc.), you need to see a doctor and take care of yourself. Several people here have mentioned Advair, which has helped a lot of people, but for me it was nearly deadly. I'm one of the minority that cannot take it.

If you continue to have problems with control, I highly recommend seeing a specialist. I saw a specialist several years ago and it made a lot of difference in my functioning. My doctor had me on several medications that actually made my airways more reactive and my asthma worse; the specialist sorted that out and got me on a regimen that has greatly improved my ability to live a full life with asthma. I was also tested for allergies at that time, and I'm allergic to everything they tested for. Nevertheless, with one oral medication and two inhalers, I'm able to do okay. I am, however, vigilant about avoiding colds whenever possible and, if I do get a cold, I treat it immediately and remain careful because I know it can escalate quickly.

As others have mentioned, always have your rescue inhaler with you. I keep one in most of the rooms in my home, one in each car that I drive, and one in my purse. I also use my maintenance inhaler daily, as well as using my rescue inhaler 15-30 minutes before exercising.

I have never been a regular exerciser. I used to get exercise wtih my recreation (hiking, skiing, etc.), but I haven't been able to do that for almost twenty years due to the demands of my disabled child. I have, however, started a regular exercise regimen at home, both strength training and cardio. I started slowly and am building up to more intense exercise over time, without any significant problems. I am exercising as much to improve or preserve the lung functioning that I have as to burn calories and get fit.

zoom2 · June 2012

Several people here have mentioned Advair, which has helped a lot of people, but for me it was nearly deadly. I'm one of the minority that cannot take it.

I can't tolerate it, either...it totally destroyed my immune system while I was on it (I used it for nearly 2 years and was constantly battling viruses or feeling under the weather) and gave me non-stop thrush outbreaks in the back of my throat. I have no issues with Qvar. Plus the long-acting bronchodilator in Advair kinda scares me--that black box warning is there for a reason.

Raddichio · June 2012

I'm taking Qvar now, as well. Also Xopenex (like albuterol but it doesn't make me so shaky), and accolate, 1 tablet 2 times a day.

sageskye · June 2012

I am newly diagnosed too. When the doctor’s first mentioned that my wheezing (which I thought might be bronchitis) sounded like asthma, I thought for sure that wasn’t the problem. I thought I was too old to develop asthma and even the GP’s I met with said it was unusual to develop it this late. They gave me ventolin and flovent and I started to see some improvements but it wasn’t completely gone.

When I met with my allergist she said with all my precursors (severe eczema and allergies, plus family history) that it definitely wasn’t surprising. She arranged for lung function tests and started me on Alvesco. I feel so much better! I have way more energy, the tightness in my chest (that I was only half aware of) is gone and I am no longer waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air.

I am so glad I was diagnoised!

anawilli · June 2012

It's good to hear that others are having the same issues with their asthma while running (and I'm not the only one).
Boyfriend is an ex-navy guy who can run circles around me, and it's gotten pretty frustrating when I'm running C25K one day just fine and the next I'm feeling like I'm going to die gasping for air. (allergy induced asthma - so anytime theres any pollen or humidity i can barely breathe at all)

I was running pretty well early on, but as the pollen levels increased I had to stop running alltogether. Inhalers and meds just weren't effective. Have another appointment with my allergist in a month or so!

Question - do any of you notice if running indoors on a treadmill helps with the exposure to pollen thing? I thought it might help to try working out indoors when the pollen is high and then moving back outside on low pollen days but don't want to waste my money on a gym membership if that won't make a difference.

Any people living with asthma on here?

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