Exercised Induced Asthma

[CommuterChick]

I'm so glad you guys are talking about this, I need a benchmark. I've been trying both albuterol and atrovent for a year -- bicycling, snowshoeing, xcountry skiing, swimming, heck, just walking around the open space here near Boulder, and I am huffing and puffing the moment we go uphill, the moment the weather turns cold. When you use your inhalers do your lungs feel like they open up? 'cause mine don't, and I'm not sure what they're supposed to feel like with the inhalers. I get tons of aerobic exercise, but it keeps getting harder and slower.

I had to really talk my internist into testing me for this, so wondering how you all were tested. I was sick a dog at the time, went in for that, so at the same time his nurse had me breathe deeply and steadily into a measuring gizmo for a couple minutes. Then gave me the inhaler, lather, rinse, repeat, and lo it was better, that was it.

So just wondering if you could give me something to compare to. Thanks!

[Pax]

I'm so glad you guys are talking about this, I need a benchmark. I've been trying both albuterol and atrovent for a year -- bicycling, snowshoeing, xcountry skiing, swimming, heck, just walking around the open space here near Boulder, and I am huffing and puffing the moment we go uphill, the moment the weather turns cold. When you use your inhalers do your lungs feel like they open up? 'cause mine don't, and I'm not sure what they're supposed to feel like with the inhalers. I get tons of aerobic exercise, but it keeps getting harder and slower.

I had to really talk my internist into testing me for this, so wondering how you all were tested. I was sick a dog at the time, went in for that, so at the same time his nurse had me breathe deeply and steadily into a measuring gizmo for a couple minutes. Then gave me the inhaler, lather, rinse, repeat, and lo it was better, that was it.

So just wondering if you could give me something to compare to. Thanks!

It sounds like you need a better form of long term control, rather than just emergency and/or steroids.

My doc finally put me on Singular, and that has made a huge difference.

[CommuterChick]

Thanks, Pax, for the encouragement, it helps. Heard back from the doc today, it seems he agrees with me that the inhalers aren't working, he's scheduled another test, so that's good! Hope to have good news to report before all the snow is gone.

[Catrin]

Thanks, Pax, for the encouragement, it helps. Heard back from the doc today, it seems he agrees with me that the inhalers aren't working, he's scheduled another test, so that's good! Hope to have good news to report before all the snow is gone.

Good luck with this, and hope you can find some relief soon!

[breeze]

I'm so glad you guys are talking about this, I need a benchmark. I've been trying both albuterol and atrovent for a year -- bicycling, snowshoeing, xcountry skiing, swimming, heck, just walking around the open space here near Boulder, and I am huffing and puffing the moment we go uphill, the moment the weather turns cold. When you use your inhalers do your lungs feel like they open up? 'cause mine don't, and I'm not sure what they're supposed to feel like with the inhalers. I get tons of aerobic exercise, but it keeps getting harder and slower.

I had to really talk my internist into testing me for this, so wondering how you all were tested. I was sick a dog at the time, went in for that, so at the same time his nurse had me breathe deeply and steadily into a measuring gizmo for a couple minutes. Then gave me the inhaler, lather, rinse, repeat, and lo it was better, that was it.

So just wondering if you could give me something to compare to. Thanks!

Cold air can be a trigger for asthmatics, just like allergies or exercise. I wonder in your case, if the high altitude also has any effect on your aerobic endurance? (No idea, just conjecture.)

Anyway, yes, when you take your "rescue" inhaler, you should feel the lungs opening up within a few minutes. You may also have a "maintenance" inhaler that does not do that. If the rescue inhaler isn't working, you need to check with your doctor. Perhaps you need a form of long-term control that can be used in conjunction with your exercise meds.

For me, the combination of a daily leukotriene inhibitor (blocks the histamine reaction) and a rescue inhaler that I take before exercise is something that works for me. In the spring/summer months I also add a maintenance inhaler to my routine because pollen is a major trigger for me. But other things may work for you-- once you figure out what is causing the asthmatic reaction, it will be easier to solve the problem. Good luck!

[winddance]

I'm so glad you guys are talking about this, I need a benchmark. I've been trying both albuterol and atrovent for a year -- bicycling, snowshoeing, xcountry skiing, swimming, heck, just walking around the open space here near Boulder, and I am huffing and puffing the moment we go uphill, the moment the weather turns cold. When you use your inhalers do your lungs feel like they open up? 'cause mine don't, and I'm not sure what they're supposed to feel like with the inhalers. I get tons of aerobic exercise, but it keeps getting harder and slower.

I had to really talk my internist into testing me for this, so wondering how you all were tested. I was sick a dog at the time, went in for that, so at the same time his nurse had me breathe deeply and steadily into a measuring gizmo for a couple minutes. Then gave me the inhaler, lather, rinse, repeat, and lo it was better, that was it.

So just wondering if you could give me something to compare to. Thanks!

I echo the other poster who said Singulair. I use it when it's cold/wet...for some reason, albuterol doesn't control my exercise-induced asthma from about October - March. And of course, right now, since we're having the worst pollen season ever, I'm sort of afraid to go off of it. When I start sucking on my inhaler 4x/hour for a spin class, I know it's time to start filling the prescription again.

I'm also allergic to life (not kidding, it's never good when the nurse at the allergist walks into the room and goes, "Oh my God!" upon seeing your back to read the skin test,) so some times of the year are harder on me than others.

I remember the first time shortly after starting the maintenance medication to control my asthma that I raced up the stairs at the train station (without getting out of breath) and realized..."ooh, there's so much AIR in the world..." No more having to get off of my bike and lie down on the side of the road!