Asthma can suck it!

[jordanpattern]

I just had a bad asthma attack on ride home from work. Though I'm fairly new to cycling, I'm in pretty decent shape, and my ride home is pretty much all down hill, so I was surprised. I had to pull over, put my head down, take my inhaler, and wait until I could breathe again before resuming. It was embarrassing and crappy!

Are there any other asthmatics out there who ride? How do you deal with it, particularly on longer rides? Any tips or tricks? I'm going to be seeing a doctor this week, and I'll probably have to suck it up and start paying outrageous prices for Advair or Symbicort again, but if there's anything else I can be doing, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks!

[zoom-zoom]

I didn't like Advair...I had back to back thrush infections for over a year, no matter how much I rinsed and gargled after use. Horrible. My doctor switched me to Qvar and I much prefer it. Price is about the same, but I can use it with a spacer device and have not had any issues with thrush in the year+ that I've been on it. I think it actually works better, too, since it's actually getting into my lungs and not on the back of my throat.

I couldn't do jack without my long-acting meds. Now I only use the rescue inhaler here and there. I'm definitely using it more, now, though...dumb seasonal allergy issues.

[emily_in_nc]

There are a ton of folks with asthma who ride, including me, but many of us are lucky to have mild cases. I haven't had an asthma attack in years, but I do wheeze/cough at night if exposed to allergens. I use albuterol before rides on which I expect a lot of pollen or other air issues, but generally don't need it. I used to use Advair daily as a preventative, but really didn't think it helped much, and it is $$$. Once I found out that it could predispose to osteoporosis, I stopped taking it.

Good luck in sorting out your issues. There should definitely be a way for you to manage your asthma so that you'll be able to ride and not have asthma attacks.

[jordanpattern]

Thanks, guys.

I didn't know that about Advair and osteoperosis. I am a small, tiny-boned person with osteoperosis in my family, so I will be sure to ask my doctor about that. If it comes down to it, I'll choose to breathe over concerns about my bones, but it's good to know that I should be looking for alternatives!

I was hoping that getting active would have helped my asthma, but it appears that it's triggering it instead. Can't win 'em all, I guess.

[Pedal Wench]

>>> My doctor switched me to Qvar and I much prefer it. <<<<

I'm on Qvar too. And Foradil on days I'm exercising. With the meds, I'm usually fine, although cold, dry air can cause an attack, or dry air at altitude.

That being said, I don't let it stop me. I'm an endurance rider - don't warm up until 70 miles, and just keep going after that. I also ride all winter since my big race is in February.

Two tricks is to try to warm up for a while, and try to limit how much cold air you're inhaling - I cover my mouth with a buff if it's below 40 degrees until I'm very well warmed up - 20 miles or so. I've also heard that caffeine helps, so a cup of coffee before a ride and most of my drink mixes have caffeine.

[Pedal Wench]

There are a ton of folks with asthma who ride, including me, but many of us are lucky to have mild cases. I haven't had an asthma attack in years, but I do wheeze/cough at night if exposed to allergens. I use albuterol before rides on which I expect a lot of pollen or other air issues, but generally don't need it. I used to use Advair daily as a preventative, but really didn't think it helped much, and it is $$$. Once I found out that it could predispose to osteoporosis, I stopped taking it.

Good luck in sorting out your issues. There should definitely be a way for you to manage your asthma so that you'll be able to ride and not have asthma attacks.

Emily, one other thing to consider though - one of my doctors said that studies are finding the people who left their asthma untreated were more prone to emphysema late in life (in their 80's.)

[jordanpattern]

I'm on Qvar too. And Foradil on days I'm exercising. With the meds, I'm usually fine, although cold, dry air can cause an attack, or dry air at altitude.

That being said, I don't let it stop me. I'm an endurance rider - don't warm up until 70 miles, and just keep going after that. I also ride all winter since my big race is in February.

Two tricks is to try to warm up for a while, and try to limit how much cold air you're inhaling - I cover my mouth with a buff if it's below 40 degrees until I'm very well warmed up - 20 miles or so. I've also heard that caffeine helps, so a cup of coffee before a ride and most of my drink mixes have caffeine.

It's good to know that if I just stump up for the meds, I will (hopefully) be fine. I suppose that makes it worth it.

Pedal Wench, I live in San Francisco, so neither cold nor altitude is ever a problem for me. I will try to warm up more, though. It seems silly doing a warm up for my 3.5 mile commute, but if it prevents me having to stop, then I'm all for it!

[Tri Girl]

I haven't heard of Qvar. I just had my yearly appt with my allergist. I need to call and ask about that.

I have severe asthma. I would not be able to function without Advair. It has literally given me my life back. It's expensive, but thankfully my insurance covers a great deal of the cost and makes it very affordable for me. I don't know how people without insurance can pay for it.
I have no less than 7 inhalers around the house. One in each of my 3 bike bags, one in my running camelbak, one in my swim bag, one in the car, and one in my purse. I don't need them often, but they have to be nearby in case of emergency.

These seasonal allergies just kill me- even with all the good meds.

I don't have any tips- just wanted you to know you're not alone.
Breathing is kinda important...

[ny biker]

I take Pulmicort. It generally works for me, although some hills still make me need albuterol. Also I need to go slow on steep hills. Otherwise the asthma does not hold me back.

A few months ago my doctor suggested I cut the Pulmicort dosage to see if I could get by taking it only once per day. After a few weeks I started having symptoms. Twenty minutes of shoveling snow made me wheeze, whereas I could literally shovel snow for 5 hours without problems last winter. I'm back up to the previous dosage now.

Also, I took Advair for a couple of years, but my doctor switched me to Pulmicort because it's safer to take a single-ingredient drug if it manages your symptoms effectively.

[Catrin]

I have asthma but cannot take any of the assorted inhalers available outside of my rescue inhaler. I have HUGE side-effects to all of that stuff...makes me look, sound and feel like I have emphysema. It is bad...

Without all of that stuff my asthma is mild and rarely acts up unless my cat allergies act up or if I get a sinus infection - then it can get very bad. Cold air tends to aggravate it as well - so I have to be careful when I ride when temps are in the 30's. Last year no matter how hot it got I didn't have a problem, we will see what happens this year.

My doctor doesn't like my not taking any of those other medications - but it all appears to do the opposite of what it is supposed to

[OakLeaf]

My asthma is very mild and 100% allergic, but Singulair has been just wonderful for me.

Another trick (that you probably already know) is that when your chest gets tight, focus on the exhale and use your accessory muscles to force air out. Asthma actually prevents you from exhaling fully - the reason you feel like you can't inhale is that your lungs are already full of spent air. That won't help in a full-on asthma attack, obviously.

Good luck - hope you get it sorted.

[zoom-zoom]

My doctor doesn't like my not taking any of those other medications - but it all appears to do the opposite of what it is supposed to

Catrin, if you haven't tried Qvar, I definitely recommend it...what you just said sums up my experience on Advair. In addition to the thrush I was hoarse, had a constant sore throat, and it beat my immune system to a pulp...I was coming down with every little bug and started feeling like a hypochondriac. Other people even started to comment about how often I was sick. As soon as I got off of Advair and onto Qvar I was fine.

A few months into Qvar our stupid mail order pharmacy messed-up and didn't send my refills on time. In a pinch I opened a remaining pack of Advair I had. Within 3-4 days of starting back on that I had a thrush outbreak and a cold (and some severe anger towards the mail pharmacy, for sure). No coincidence, there.

[zoom-zoom]

My asthma is very mild and 100% allergic, but Singulair has been just wonderful for me.

I wish that med would have worked for me. I've heard that it works wonders for about a third of people who try it. Another third have it do some good, and the remaining third find it does nothing. I was one of the unfortunate people who had luck with it. I love the idea of just taking 1 pill to help with asthma and allergies, though.

[Miranda]

Hmm, I'm curious about the Qvar as well. Might hafta check into that.

I finally gave up on my Advair as well due to the negative effect on my vocal cords...

I'm a fitness instructor and not having my voice to cue class properly just suxed. Plus it didn't feel so great. I tried the powder and inhailer forms. And got the mouth sores from the powder also. Yep, tried rinsing, brushing teeth, eating, anything... nuthin helped. I am def worse off without it. Dunno how that's gonna go with outdoors blooming like crazy. I'm coughing on the mic part of teaching class too.

Simbicort made me too heart racey. My DD takes Pulmacort. Worked well for years for her. Don't think the Singular helped too much.

OK.... OP... do you take your rescue inhailer at least 15mins before you begin to ride / exercise for cardio?

That's part of my asthma action plan. If I don't do that, I'm totally screwed. Yikes, I still got a problem teaching sprints in spin class the other day. It was lil scary. Especially when I had to keep on working to teach the full house of students, ugh.

Just remember... your disease should / does not define your life... keep searching until you get a solution... where there is a will, there is a way.

Good Luck!

[Eden]

I wish that med would have worked for me. I've heard that it works wonders for about a third of people who try it. Another third have it do some good, and the remaining third find it does nothing. I was one of the unfortunate people who had luck with it. I love the idea of just taking 1 pill to help with asthma and allergies, though.

In the lucky third.... I do not have asthma, but I do have seasonal allergies, which plain old anti-histamines don't really touch - I get all the side effects and none of the relief from stuff like Claratin. Singulair together with Allegra, works great for me. The Oto doc I work for tells me it was really a failure for asthma though....