Sport Induced Asthma

[Crankin]

ZenS, it is not uncommon to get EIA after a bout of pneumonia. I have had allergies since childhood and asthma started in, in my thirties. It hasn't been an issue in years, but every once in awhile it kicks in when I am cycling or running in the cold. Funny, that x country skiing doesn't seem to trigger it.
I am not sure why you "just let it pass," because asthma is nothing to joke about. What type of inhaler do you have? If it's albuterol, yes it can cause you to get shaky for a little bit, until you get used to it. Many asthmatics take a different type of inhaler that's more of a preventative daily, and use the albuterol as a rescue inhaler, or before exercise. I know that learning to breath fully through your nose, instead of gulping air through your mouth, when riding, especially climbing, has helped many on this list.

I've had pneumonia twice and many bouts of bronchitis (though not recently, thankfully). It took me months to get my aerobic conditioning back, especially when I was teaching aerobics... I had to swim, slowly, for two months before I could start teaching again. And that's when I was young!
Please, use your inhaler before you ride, or go back to the doc and see what else they can do for you.

[bmccasland]

ZenS - having difficulty breathing while riding may be "normal" for you, but it IS NOT NORMAL. Trust me on this, I've been there. I went undiagnosed most of my life. I always knew I couldn't run and breathe at the same time. People just told me I was out of shape. No, I was out of air. It really angers me how I got poo-pooed. It wasn't until I was bike riding on the levee, in my 40s with some folks that actually cared and had a really hard time breathing - I mean struggling to breathe at 12 mph - resting, then riding back to the office, with an escort, at 10 mph, which was all I could manage without my breathing getting out of control.

Breathing like a freight train is not normal.

Fortunately I had a doctor that took me seriously AND exercise was important to him. Not moving was not an option as far as Dr. R was concerned. I take an inhaler twice daily and another one before I ride, or any form of hard exercise.

Do you hurt around your sternum or upper chest? I wasn't prepared for how much asthma attacks HURT.

Please, see a doctor. Find one that takes you seriously. There is a breathing stress test they can do to you. I have normal resting lung capacity, not so normal under stress.

[Caroline]

Called the doc and explained the receptionist that I have had trouble breathing and breathing loudly while cycling lately, that I have never experienced that, leading to what I thought were panic attacks. She said I should come tomorrow morning as an emergency patient

I have a 10 miles TT tomorrow evening ... maybe I ll get a prescription before the race.

[mayanorange]

Caroline, glad you're getting that sorted! Good luck with the time trial!

[Miranda]

Hi Caroline

OK, however this journey takes you, don't give up hope. As my docs have told me "the disease should not define you".

There are many options of meds, tx plans, etc. you can do. If you don't like one doc, med, whatever... try again.

I have asthma/allergies, and a bunch of other junk. So does everyone in my fm. DD literally almost died from her asthma. And... with that, she is the best 'sweeper' on her soccer team... sprinting hard in fresh cut grass fields sucking rag weed/golden rod pollen flying like mad. My docs told me that when DD survived the hospital I would "become her asthma expert". I am. And for me. I road cycle, mtb, and teach spinning... can sprint with the best of em. Plus, I'm an old broad too.

I've got a boat load of meds for me and the household. Does that sux sometimes? Yea. But hey... at the end of the day you "do what you gotta do". So, chin up sista... good Karma thoughts coming your way.

[bmccasland]

So what did the Doc say Caroline? Get you on some meds? Set you up for a breathing stress test? We want you to breathe and ride at the same time!

[Caroline]

Hi all

So I went to see the doc this morning and she prescribed me a sabutamol spray to take twice a day plus before I ride and in case of emergengy. I also have to go to the hospitakl to get further tests done in a few weeks. And I got some blood sample taken and sent to the lab. Irish health services are quite slow, so i am not really sure when I am getting sceduled for the breathing tests.
The doc said it looked like sports induced asthma.