??? for those with asthma

[bmccasland]

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!

[LoriO]

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!!!

[teigyr]

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 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

[LoriO]

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!!

[Kalidurga]

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

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.

[OakLeaf]

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!

[tulip]

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!

[RoadRaven]

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.

[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.

[boy in a kilt]

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.

[LoriO]

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.

Excellent tip, Thank You !

[NbyNW]

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.

[OakLeaf]

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.

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.

[skingsbury]

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?

[Crankin]

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.