Helpful asthma hints?

[karatemom]

Oh, Onix, I feel your pain!

I've had asthma since I was a kid (I'm 42 now), and for years if I was on a group ride and we came to a hill, you could literally hear me breathing (trying to breathe) all the way up the hill. Even though others said they were maxing out on their heart rates, you couldn't hear them breathe!

Anyway, I tried Albuterol before rides, which helped a little--I had always used it for running. Finally I posted a question about his on RoadBikeReview, and they mentioned a couple of things which helped.
1) Warmups are really important for people with asthma.
2) It's important to take allergy medicine EVERY day, even if I am not having symptoms
3) Go to a doctor!

So,I went to a doctor. He took my blood pressure (92/60), my O2 sats (99) and my resting pulse rate (53) and looked at me and said, "You can't get any better than that!" But, he was a good doctor and sympathized, at least a little, so he gave my Asmanex and told me to give it a try.

The first time I rode with it, the difference was like, night and day! I remember going up a hill, and air was still going into my lungs! "Hey---I can breathe!" I announced.

The next weekend I had an event, the Tour of the Litchfield Hills, mostly hills, hence the name. As a crested one of them, I looked down and was amazed to discover my heart rate was 175 AND I WAS BREATHING FINE! WOW!
It just seemed so much easier than usual!

Anyway, that's my asthma story. I would highly recommend a visit to a doctor. If you can find a Sports medicine doctor, or at least a doctor who is active you might have better luck. It might be trial and error, too--you might need to try different medicines before you find one that really works.

Regarding your maximum heart rate, just wear a heart rate monitor and ride with a group faster than you. On your own it's difficult to really push it to the max.

From years of running and cycling with asthma, I can tell you the better shape you get into, the better off you are. You can almost sort of, get in good enough shape so that the asthma doesnt't kick in.

Good luck to you!

[Onix]

Thanks Karate mom.

Sounds like your past experience on hills is like my current experience! I need to go to the doctor again. I hate dependence on medication--- but it seems like it is time to find a regular set schedule that helps :/

Thank you for your kind words and well wishes!

[miamiugrad]

Me too!!!

I did my first group ride in several years a month ago and got left on a hill gasping for breath and then after that was still struggling for the next few miles. I went to the doctor the following week and got an albuterol inhaler and that has helped. I had a pulmonary function test last week and got the results yesterday. I've got asthma and not just exercise induced. I'm starting on Flovent 2Xs a day and using a flow meter and recording three readings every morning before using the inhaler(s). I also have allergies and take Claritin and Singulair.

I was trying to blame my breathing on being out of shape and overweight. I had done some riding last year but have been seriously (for me) riding since June 1st and it just wasn't getting any easier - legs felt find breathing didn't. I've got over 450 miles in so far this year which for me is huge.

I've read over some of the posts about best times to ride with asthma. I live in Las Vegas so if I wait too late in the day, it's 100 degrees or higher. We do have a lot of dust out here, and I'm sure that's part of the problem. But, I love being out on the road!

I can ride on the flats, it's the hills that get me. What's the best suggestion for improving my performance? I'm over 50, I've dropped 12 pounds since I started riding in June (still have more to go) and I've added yoga to the mix for flexibility and strength. I ride at least 10 miles 4 to 6 days a week and at least one of those rides is around 20 miles.

I want to do the Viva Las Vegas century in October and/or Tour de Tucson in late November but I know I've got to get my speed up (averaging 10.5 to 11.5 mph) as well as being able to handle the hills.

Thanks for any suggestions. I think the biggest lesson for me was not to make excuses because of the weight and being out of shape but to pursue the issue on the breathing when I had problems.