Asthma preventing me from leading normal life. HELP! :-( :-(?!
Question: I developed it around the age of 23, and perhaps always had it but was only diagnosed then, as opposed to when I was young.
It unfortunately doesn't seem like it's going to go away permanently anytime soon. I can not have it for a while, and then out of nowhere, I start feeling my lungs start to ache and squeeze and boom, several minutes later, I'm having a bad asthma attack, and end up in the ER on some steroid shots, xopenex and atrovent treatments, and what not.
What the hell?
I'm healthy, don't smoke at all, eat organic, take care of myself, and do evertihng right. I even take daily singular, claritin, pulmicort respules, sometimes advair, and even after I take my xopenex or albuterol, it helps for a few hours and then boom, right back to where we started.
It feels like my lungs are turning against my body, and I don't trust myself anymore, and am too afraid to drive too far from a hospital.
I also don't want to rake in the bills.
I'm just scared!
What do I do?
Answers: I developed it around the age of 23, and perhaps always had it but was only diagnosed then, as opposed to when I was young.
It unfortunately doesn't seem like it's going to go away permanently anytime soon. I can not have it for a while, and then out of nowhere, I start feeling my lungs start to ache and squeeze and boom, several minutes later, I'm having a bad asthma attack, and end up in the ER on some steroid shots, xopenex and atrovent treatments, and what not.
What the hell?
I'm healthy, don't smoke at all, eat organic, take care of myself, and do evertihng right. I even take daily singular, claritin, pulmicort respules, sometimes advair, and even after I take my xopenex or albuterol, it helps for a few hours and then boom, right back to where we started.
It feels like my lungs are turning against my body, and I don't trust myself anymore, and am too afraid to drive too far from a hospital.
I also don't want to rake in the bills.
I'm just scared!
What do I do?
First, the pattern you describe is normal, at least for asthma. Classic Asthma comes in attacks, goes away, and comes back again in response to some trigger(s). In some cases it never really goes away completely, but at least gets almost normal.
Second, lets look at your list of medications you take between attacks.
--Pulmicort is an inhaled steroid alone and Advair includes an inhaled steroid. You probably should not be using both at once. If you need a higher dose of steroids than either provides it should probably be oral. It sounds as if you should always be taking one or the other except when you are on IV or oral steroids - follow the docs instructions then. If you take Pulmicort, see the next comment. These are ICSs - Inhaled CorticoSteroids. There are several more you might use at some time.
--Advair also contains a long acting bronchodilator, If you switch to the Pulmicort, ask if you should also be using salmeterol (Serevent) or formoterol (Foradil). If not taking Advair, you should be taking one of these. There may be another out, now. These are LABAs - Long-Acting-Beta-2-Agonists.
Singulair blocks hormone receptors that are involved in starting an atttack.
These are maintenance drugs. They can reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. The key word is reduce, not eliminate. They do NOT provide quick relief if you are having an attack
--
Now, medications for use during breathing difficulty.
Xopenex or albuterol - good - not Xopenex and albuterol. These are SABAs, Short-Acting-Beta-2-Agonists . They are Rescue Inhalers, used only as needed for breakthrough problems once your asthma is under control. Your doc will tell you how often you can use them, and how many times before calling him or heading to the ER.
Sorry, but the best way to minimize your bills for ER visits, missed work, and office visits is to stick to the maintenance medications and periodic office visits. They are NOT cheap. The only cost saving measure I can suggest is using albuterol instead of Xopenex. If Xopenex does not allow a lot more time between treatments, OR you are only using them for rescue, then the Xopenex probably does not offer a benefit to justify the higher cost.
I know it's scary. Your best support is yourself in learning what your medications are, what your triggers are, reporting changes in symptoms accurately and promptly to your doc. In other words a clear, written, workable action plan for your asthma.
Good luck.
I'm sorry. Have you had your heart checked out? I know that a heart problem can cause all sorts of havoc with your lungs. Good luck and concentrate on feeling better.
You sound as though you need to consult a pulmonary specialist-you need to modify your daily regimen in order to get your attacks better controlled. Much better medication in much more appropriate dosages are available for you now. You say "sometimes Advair" and I think this may be part of the problem-Advair's a daily medication that's taken to prevent symptoms and shouldn't be skipped or modified.
I also think that there may be a slight anxiety factor in your attacks as well. Life's stressful and sometimes it becomes overwhelming-especially when you don't understand what's going on with your own body.
I hope that things get straightened out for you!