??? for those with asthma

About a year ago I had a very scary experience when I was out riding. I wa coming up a hill and suddenly had trouble breathing. I was relly struggleing and even getting more then 2 words out at a time was difficult. At the time I shrugged it off to just overdoing it.

A couple of months later I was visiting my sister and we were talking about health issues. I told her about what happened and she reminded me about somethng I had forgotten, our dad has asthma ( I haven't talked to him in 20 years so no wonder I forgot..another long story in it's own!!!) So I started wondering if it had been an excercise induded asthma attack.

Mentioned it to my regular dr at my physical and he sent me to see a pulmonary DR. Tests came back normal and since it had been awhile since the original episode had happened I couldn;t accurately describe what had happened and he sort of fluffed me off.

Well I've had a couple of close calls and then today it started happeneing again. My chest started tightening up and I was having a hard time breathing in and then started coughing too. I stopped riding and just rested and after about 10 minutes the chest eased up and breathing seemed to be back to normal. I just took it easy and went for a shorter ride after that.

Now that I've given you my novel, I guess what I am looking for is when you are having an asthma attack, what are you feeling? Is it sort of like what I was feeling or totally different? I plan on calling the pulmonary DR again but would like to have a little knowledge to go on when I do. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by LoriO

... and then today it started happeneing again. My chest started tightening up and I was having a hard time breathing in and then started coughing too. I stopped riding and just rested and after about 10 minutes the chest eased up and breathing seemed to be back to normal. I just took it easy and went for a shorter ride after that.

...l, I guess what I am looking for is when you are having an asthma attack, what are you feeling? Is it sort of like what I was feeling or totally different?

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Exactly like that! The coughing feels like it's just an attempt to push out the air that isn't going out on its own.

That's the feeling that my Dr. has said is exercise induced asthma. Of course, my primary care just wrote a scrip - I haven't seen a specialist...

CA

Get your doc to check it out again, and hopefully he or she will give you a prescription for an Albuterol inhaler. It's been a lifesaver for me.

I have/had asthma that seems to be triggered by allergens, as well as exercise. Albuterol really helped when I needed it. I haven't had any attacks in several years. One thing I did was move out of an apartment with carpeting and into a house with wood floors. I haven't needed my inhaler in several years. I used to carry it with me, but I've gotten lazy. Probably should just in case.

I have EIA and it's the way you described. Now that I'm in better shape, I rarely have to use my puffer before riding unless the air is cool or it's very humid. I think you need to go back to the doctor.

When I've had an attack, it's always felt as if there was a heavy weight on my chest, like a brick or something, making it difficult to expand my lungs. And there's always been the coughing.

I'm on Advair 1x per day, and when I head out for a strenuous ride on the bike I use my Albuterol inhaler a couple miles into the ride. With these meds, it's been a couple of years since my last serious asthma attack.

I got asthma (I guess that's how you would put it) from getting sick with pneumonia/bronchitis about 10 years ago. Whenever I cough alot, it starts up. I have an albuterol inhaler with me somewhere all of the time (in the glove box or in my purse) and every year I seem to toss it without using it. Except when there is thick smoke (aka forest fires like this year and last year), or when I get sick and I cough alot or if I really really push it hard. Humidity seems to make it harder to breathe but only if I start coughing does it start up.

I got into a conversation with a respiratory therapist (sp??) at a dinner one night (coworker's spouse) and she said there are tests you can do and I guess some kind of breathing training you can do to help it...but mine isn't that bad...

I personally hate using albuterol. It's a last resort for me. But I know when to use it- I find if I can stop the coughing by either drinking something or sucking on a cough drop, I can usually avoid it getting to the elephant on the chest feeling. Oh how I hate that!!!

It's been really humid here the past few days...maybe talk to the doc about that? Might be something else?

Best way I know to describe an asthma attack is to say is like trying to breath through a straw with the end pinched shut. Typically after an attack I cough a lot of junk up out of my lungs. I'm glad I have my inhalers and oral medications for I seldom have attacks now that we (doctor and I) have figured out the best combinations.

Thank you all so much! I will be calling the DR back and see if I can get an inhaler for next time this happens. I've never had this happen before until last year and it only seems to occur when I am really pushing to get up a hill.

BTW, I really like the pinched off straw analogy, really good description of how it felt.

It is really scary when you can't breath!!!

It is scary, LoriO. The best thing you can do is stay calm and breath. I'm not sure which is worse, that attack for the breathing treatments you must take during an attack.

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Originally Posted by makbike

It is scary, LoriO. The best thing you can do is stay calm and breath. I'm not sure which is worse, that attack for the breathing treatments you must take during an attack.

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That is exactly what I've done, just stop and breath until things ease up again. My years of working EMS and being a 911 dispatcher have come in handy at least for something :D I am very good at staying calm in an emergency situation.

Seriously, thanks again to all of you. i will be calling the DR tomorrow to try and get an appointment scheduled.

You know what, I have another question. For those of you with Excersize induced asthma. Do you just not do anything until you find you are having an episode and then use an inhaler or do you use the inhaler before you ride/workout to prevent it? Just curious.

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Originally Posted by LoriO

You know what, I have another question. For those of you with Excersize induced asthma. Do you just not do anything until you find you are having an episode and then use an inhaler or do you use the inhaler before you ride/workout to prevent it? Just curious.

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When it was a problem, I took 1-2 puffs before I rode. Later, only if it was going to be hilly, then only if it was cool or damp. Now I rarely use my inhaler before I ride but I carry it with me if it;s cool or damp out in case I have trouble. Oh, and I use it if I'm racing (or practicing racing). :o

When the weather is likely to trigger mine, my doc really wants me using it before I ride....about 30 minutes before. Cold weather is much worse for me.

CA

Another EIA rider here....

I take Flovent 220 mg 2x per day and Seravent before I ride - I believe that Advair is a combo of those two meds. For the most part I don't have breathing troubles if I'm a couch potato - although temporarily the post-Katrina New Orleans air quality changed that, but the air quality has improved. Just no smoke filled bars for me ;)

High humidity or really cold air does seem to cause more problems. And high humidity in these parts is pretty difficult to avoid. Seems no rhyme or reason to whether or not I can tolerate the humidity from day to day, which drives me bonkers. Yesterday was not a good day, my lungs hated me. Bronchial passages still hurt. No one told me how much having an asthma attack would hurt for hours afterwards!

Your doc can request a stress test in a lab - they put you on a stationary bike, and ride you into an asthma attack. The lab tech where I had the peak flow test told me about it, she was questioning why I wasn't having that particular test instead of the quick peak flow. She did say she's had cyclists bring in their own bikes - not sure if they had the trainer or you need to bring that too. Anyway, you might ask your doc to set you up for the test, and then check with the lab about the bike - or do they do the testing on a treadmill? (running would drive me to an attack sooner)

Good luck!

When I had the first attack last year my regular Dr sent me to do a regular stress and then the pulmary DR did all sorts of breathing tests, lung capacity,etc. EVerything was normal.

bmccasland. I hear on the no rhyme or reason. I rode the other day when it was really humid here and I was fine. Then when the attack happened the other day it was hot out but nice and dry. The only thing I can think of is that I was takeing it easier on the humid days and since it was dry out the other day I was pushing myself a little harder.

Tried to call the Dr today but his office didn't open until 1PM. Must be nice!!!

LoriO, I test normal but have been diagnosed with exercise induced asthma. For a while my doctor (primary care though she specialized in pulmonary medicine) would send me home with a ton of inhalers. I didn't like the way one made me feel (jittery) and never took the steroid one after reading the insert.

With me, I generally know what will set me off. If I'm not in shape and go out too hard (esp on a hill or something) and lose my breathe, it's gone. Same goes for swimming. Maybe I tend to take it easy too much but I haven't had problems in a long time. Smoky places, even the day after I've been there, will give me problems so I avoid them.

I take an allergy medication and also take benadryl if I'm feeling itchy or generally like there's something going on. Being overtired will increase allergies or reacting to the environment in some negative way.

Strange thing is sometimes baked goods or junior mints will do the same thing to me. Maybe it is the presence of a strong flavor? Also, oddly enough, sodas from a fountain (not a can or bottle) do the same thing.

It feels like there's a tickle in my throat that is so overwhelming my throat closes up. There are also times that it isn't THAT bad but I'll start coughing and coughing and all sorts of stuff comes out of my lungs.

I've also been told I'm allergic to cats. We have five of them :o Wouldn't give them up for anything.

I guess maybe have an inhaler "just in case". I've been ok with just relaxing and riding through the episode but I have wondered what would happen if it didn't get better. I haven't had an inhaler for years because I never used it.

I hope to hear how your doctors visit goes once he's back in the office :D

Teigyr, I hear you about not taking meds if you don't have to and I prefer not to if I can help it.

If he does give me an inhaler it will be interesting to see how it will affect my workouts. My area is all hills and I often find myself really winded and struggleing to breathe but not yet into a full attack. I am really interested to see if there is any difference. I so often find that it is my breathing that gets me on the hills way before my legs start to really feel it.

I swear, I just turned 40 and I am falling apart!!!! I've been diagnosed with a thyroid issue, and now this. I guess I can take some consolation in the fact that my cholesterol levels are excellen....go figure!!

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Originally Posted by teigyr

I've also been told I'm allergic to cats. We have five of them :o Wouldn't give them up for anything.

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Last time I saw my pulmonologist, I mentioned that my allergies had seemed to clear up a bit during the time between one cat passing away and the adoption of two new ones. He actually said to me "You should get rid of them now before you get too attached. Pets are the worst thing for people with asthma."

I was tempted to ask him if he'd get rid of one of his children if he found out he was allergic to it.

BUT - how is it you hadn't been tested for cat allergy? Pet allergies are pretty much impossible to treat (because of the genetic variations between individuals), but if you're allergic to one inhalant it's likely you're allergic to others as well. Definitely see an allergist and get on immunotherapy!

Growing up I had pretty much chronic bronchitis and sinus problems and infections. I probably also had asthma, but the topic never came up. I was pretty miserable for years because I couldn't breathe.

Then I went to college, and got much better, except when I went home for visits.I couldn't bring my cat to college! Growing up on a farm, we had lots of farm cats and a few house cats. I'll take breathing over cats any day!

Search for and check out the "pursuiters cough" threads and asthma/exercise induced asthma threads. There have been a few of them over the last couple of years.

I am a road racer get exercise induced asthma after a particularly hard time trial (a race discipline). Sometimes I have trouble breathing 'normally' for up to half ann hour after race end, and often have a dry cough for anything between 1-3 days after. i use no medication for this.

I do get asthma ocassionally also - particularly in summer during hayfever season. I also was given an inhaler to help my bronchials with a 4 week winter flu I have been battling.

What really helped me with my very mild asthma was learning that asthma doesn't keep me from breathing air in, it keeps me from forcing air out. Since my asthma is so mild, I'd never seen a pulmonologist, so I learned this from a former riding buddy who has EIA.

Forget trying to inhale. The reason it feels like you can't get air in is because your lungs are already full (of spent air). Use those assistive muscles to forcibly exhale as much as you can. It's amazing how much better I breathe once I learned this.

This is also an old mountain climber's trick. It has a name but I can't remember it. All I know is it works well. I don't know why.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

What really helped me with my very mild asthma was learning that asthma doesn't keep me from breathing air in, it keeps me from forcing air out. Since my asthma is so mild, I'd never seen a pulmonologist, so I learned this from a former riding buddy who has EIA.

Forget trying to inhale. The reason it feels like you can't get air in is because your lungs are already full (of spent air). Use those assistive muscles to forcibly exhale as much as you can. It's amazing how much better I breathe once I learned this.

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Excellent tip, Thank You !

You may also want to keep track of what kind of pollen is really active when you are having these symptoms. There are a lot of websites for that, and you can also link to pollen count trackers through weather forecast websites.

You might notice a pattern where you have a sensitivity to a particular type of pollen -- in my case, trees or ragweed. Those are days when I will either take it easy or stay indoors if I must work out -- go to the gym or the pool. Generally I feel pretty crappy when those allergens are plentiful, so I usually just stay inside and try not to push too much.

I had a doctor who was of the opinion that untreated asthma contributed to emphasyma late in life. So, even though mine is exercise-induced, I take qvar every day.

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Originally Posted by LoriO

That is exactly what I've done, just stop and breath until things ease up again. My years of working EMS and being a 911 dispatcher have come in handy at least for something :D I am very good at staying calm in an emergency situation.

Seriously, thanks again to all of you. i will be calling the DR tomorrow to try and get an appointment scheduled.

You know what, I have another question. For those of you with Excersize induced asthma. Do you just not do anything until you find you are having an episode and then use an inhaler or do you use the inhaler before you ride/workout to prevent it? Just curious.

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Triggers are important to identify and can be subtle. My doctor is iffy on whether or not I have asthma, but you can not wheeze and have it. I cough, and it's mostly EIA, but in cold, damp weather, laughing hard can set off an attack, as can anxiety.

Yoga can be helpful for managing asthma (good for breathing and your core). My doctor recommended yoga, but also gave me symbicort to use daily (as needed) for maintenance, albuterol for attacks.

Our pediatrician says that once you have a diagnosis, if you are using your albuterol inhaler 2X a day or 2X a week call your MD. Managed asthma means only occasional albuterol use. Something to bear in mind while you get it under control.

One thing about people who ride a lot & peak flow meter standards: if they're doing a standard battery of tests, they use a range based on your age and height to determine "normal" peak flow. Thing is, if you're fit, it should be more than average (can be way more), so what feels awful to you could be just barely below normal. A savvy PA caught that, and that's how I finally was able to breathe again on the bike.

Good luck--not being able to breathe is awful!

Good Point CycloKitty! My normal peak flow is 350 according to my doctor. I typically blow a 450 - 500. When my peak flow drops to 350 or lower I know my lungs are closing down and it is time to take action.

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Originally Posted by jocelynlf

You may also want to keep track of what kind of pollen is really active when you are having these symptoms. There are a lot of websites for that, and you can also link to pollen count trackers through weather forecast websites.

You might notice a pattern where you have a sensitivity to a particular type of pollen -- in my case, trees or ragweed. Those are days when I will either take it easy or stay indoors if I must work out -- go to the gym or the pool. Generally I feel pretty crappy when those allergens are plentiful, so I usually just stay inside and try not to push too much.

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Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy.

Changed my life.

Also: have them look at the FEV1/FVC. Because it's a ratio, it works for everyone, and doesn't rely on demographic averages/medians to tell whether you're "normal" or not.

I also have asthma and high humidity seems to bother me more than anything else. I also have allergies and in the Spring and Fall I'm bothered, but high humidity has been bothering me all summer. I walk outside and feel like my lungs just close up. I can't breathe..... I haven't been able to ride outside much this summer because of the high humidity (Northeast). I'm hoping for a huge thunderstorm to bring in some low humidity. Does humidity bother anyone else out there?

Yes, the humidity bothers me, but I find that I can acclimate myself to it by doing shorter rides and making sure I am well hydrated. I used to totally stay indoors for exercise on these "bad air" days, but I do much better now. Two weeks ago I did a 35 mile ride on a 96 degree day with high humidity. The pace was slower than my usual, though.
Who said it can't be asthma without wheezing? Both myself and my son have had asthma without wheezing. I believe my doctor called it "specious" asthma. But, my asthma is transient. It rarely bothers me. It's mostly allergy induced or comes on when I have some other thing developing. I keep a Ventolin inhaler just in case, but i go for months without using it. I took Q Var for awhile 2 years ago, but only after having bronchitis. Advair scared me, although it has helped several people on this list.

Humidity gets me, but what gets me a lot worse is the mold that high humidity brings. In hot weather when the humidity is high, there's literally less oxygen in a given volume of air. But if you have pollen allergies, it's likely you have mold allergies, too.

Really. Everyone with asthma should at least get tested for allergies, and if any part of the asthma is allergy-induced, get immunotherapy. Training your body to deal with the allergens is SO much more effective, and so much healthier, than throwing drugs at it. (Not that drugs aren't helpful and in some cases necessary, just they shouldn't be the first strategy.)

I was diagnosed with asthma after college. I was doing the Albuterol thing but not getting better. My attacks would happen if I were working pretty hard almost anarobic but breathing in cold air. Warm air, I'm fine. weird.

I started going to a chiropractor for something else; my shoulder I think. And with the adjustments I saw improvement in the number and severity of the attacks. I'm still careful with crazy amazon exercise in cold air and I have to stay away from allergens (cats, smoke, mirrors... LOL). I haven't used my inhaler in ?????

I'm going to be trying that breathing out trick for sure. I miss cross country skiing.

Oak- how funny, the asthma topic came up when I was out to dinner with some people from work. The wife of one of the managers is a respitory therapist and was telling me how everyone in the hospital gets albuterol (she was making a joke about a doctor that just knew one inhaler- albuterol) and I told her about my asthma. She said "well you know, it's not that you can't breathe in, it's that you can't get the air OUT that is the problem..." I guess I never thought of it that way...I guess I never thought of it at all because when it happens all I can think about is sucking that nasty gas in to get everything to relax.

I think that is one thing that helps me too is I don't panic. I think tensing up you hold your breath in and then that can't be too good....

As for allergies, I just couldn't do the immunotherapy thing. When the doc said I had to wait in case I went into anaphalaxis (I can't spell) I said "no thanks". I have a diverse group of friends, one of which is very into natural medicine and she told me to start eating honey made from sage (I was allergic to sage). After two weeks, it worked. I thought it was just I got used to sage, but after many years of doing this, if I miss that first week in April when it gets bad, as soon as I start the honey, two weeks, it's gone. I did it out here, finally found "local honey" and yep, allergies gone. I had to find cranberry and wildflower honey as well, there are alot of cranberry bogs here. I didn't think they would be flowering then but hey, it tasted pretty good. I usually tune up every Sunday by eating honey or when I feel a little congested. It's very hard to find local honey so stock up when you find it.

I've had allergy shots 3 times in my life and 3 times I quit. In high school, I would get a mild asthma attack and generally feel awful afterwards. I tried again in my thirties when all of a sudden I developed food intolerances and asthma. Same thing. Eventually, when I calmed down a bit and moved from AZ (can you say dust and mold spores?) to MA I became much healthier.
The shots did help my son when he was small. He had awful allergies in AZ. The poor kid would start sneezing and wheezing from the Bermuda grass on the pre school playground and at home. And, we had his tonsils taken out, which although it's not a common thing to do today, totally cured him of the allergies, ear infections, bronchitis. He's really a healthy adult.
But, I agree, if you treat the allergies, the asthma often goes away.

hi all fellow asthma sufferers -
I also have the diagnosis of EIA (and am a nurse). When I found out I knew what the condition was but thought, "OK, now what?" As stated earlier in the thread asthma is critical when it comes to exhaling and not inhaling.

If I may suggest the following. Find out what your triggers are. For me it is larger weather/humidity changes, smoke, acacia blossoms and emotional stress. If I know that I will be riding under those circumstances I use an inhaler. A byword on inhalers. Most often Albuterol is used - causes big time tachycardia (thats when your heart starts racing) and you can get terrific cotton mouth. I have been using Xopenex with great effect since about a year (no tachycardia, no cotton mouth). Research the side effects well!

When having trouble breathing you want to stop and very consciously start exhaling completely , almost exaggerated, with control. It might feel like your heart will explode in your chest but it is the quickest way to get your breathing back to normal.

Most importantly don't freak out. Asthma is worsened if you panic. Pay attention to your breathing as you go and as you reach maximum effort/exertion, again concentrate on complete exhalation. If you can feel it coming you can slow your pace a bit, control your breathing and be safely on your way.

The tip on the exhalation really works! Chest started to tighten up on me the other day and I just stopped and really concentrated on exhaling and pushing the air out instead of struggleing to get it in. It really helped a lot. Thank you for passing on that great information!