I went to an allergy/asthma clinic to do some allergy testing. I've been an athlete my entire life and still enjoy weight training. I haven't been able to do much lately as I've been suffering quite a bit with shortness of breath and chest tightening. Due to all the allergens that destroy me (ragweed, tree pollen, grass pollen, etc.), I've been dealing with serious inflammation in my lungs and my chest and have been on the verge of asthma attacks for the last month. I'm on 2 different inhalers (emergency and steroid) and just got a cortisone shot. THIS SUCKS. For people that have asthma, how do you deal with it? Do you get cortisone injections often? Where do you tend to keep your emergency inhaler? Any advice is appreciated.
Keep your inhaler with you at all times, either in your pocket, or if you carry a bag. just have it with you. When the allergen count is lower, you can use your inhaler about 5-10 minutes before working out/playing a sport as a preventative. I'm finding that if I use an antihistamine to reduce the amount of phlegm and buildup in the lungs, I fare much better. So in the change of season times e.g. now, I take my antihistamine almost every night, and if it's bad when i wake up in the morning, I take one then too.
Thank you. I will try the pre-workout inhalation once the cortisone kicks in fully. Been taking the anti-histamine every night along with the allergy shots. I saw today's readings for ragweed was finally LOW. You know you're a dork when you fist pump about pollen counts.
Never had a shot before. I was diagnosed in much of the same situation you were about 13 years ago. I was put on a few different preventative meds. Nothing worked until I was put on Flonase and Advair. I did that for about 2 years. I haven't used any preventative meds in the last 2 years and have had few, if any issues. I occasionally need a puff or 2 from the emergency inhaler during one of my indoor soccer games.
I don't have it but my wife does and probably my son (although he is 22 months old and too young to be diagnosed yet). She keeps one inhaler in the medicine cabinet in our hall bathroom and I believe another in whatever purse she is carrying. In the 4 plus years that we have been together, I have only seen her use it like 4 times. You have to know your triggers is what she tells me and avoid them if at all possible. One of her triggers is cigarette smoke. One time we went on a double date with this friend of her and she and the guy were both smoking like there was no tomorrow. By the time we got home, she had to use her inhaler. I do think that it gets better over time but I could be wrong about that. I just know that she had to quit the track team in high school because her asthma was so bad. Good luck in managing it.
I can't go anywhere near cigarette smoke without coughing up a lung. There are certain times in the year where I feel like physically hurting smokers when they are inconsiderate and oblivious to the people around them. I have so many triggers (mainly cigarettes, super strong cologne/perfume, ragweed/tree pollen/grass pollen) that it's hard to predict when I'll get hit. Unfortunately, it's been almost 72 hours since my cortisone shot and I'm still coughing. Hopefully it's not some sort of infection...
