Anyone else feel this way?

[eclectic]

I am always getting passed or dropped on hills. At first I blamed it on my bike, wider tires, smaller wheels, heavier. (the bike not me)

Then I graduated to a road bike, smaller tires, bigger wheels, lighter. (not me - the bike - I gained a few pounds so we are now about even again

I was still getting passed.

I went to the doctor "Dr, Dr, what can I do ? ? I can't breathe when I climb hills,please make my lungs better - I want to be able to climb a hill without dying"

Lots of tests later I discovered I was functioning on 65% lung capacity and was chronic asthmatic (I used to just be exercised induced). Very expensive medicine later my lungs are much better although still not perfect

I started to do weight training in December and riding a lot in April, again with the only goal of climbing hills easier. Every time I went out for a ride I tried to climb at least one good hill - I thought "this is only 10 minutes of my life"

I still can't breathe and huff and puff all the way up. My friends are no longer quite so concerned at my condition - very red face and heavy breathing. I still get passed regularly, BUT at the beginning of the summer I could only go 6.5 tops up my measuring stick hill and last week I went up at 7.0

Progress - Not perfection

Hang in there, I wish I could say they get easier but they don't - you just get faster and the pain goes away quicker

[mimitabby]

plantluvver and eclectic,
a lot of wisdom in your two posts! Plantluvver, you have figured out a lot of stuff that a lot of people never become aware of.

and Eclectic, your experience with ASTHMA! proves that a lot of things are just NOT what they seem.

keep pedalling gals...

mimi

[Pedal Wench]

I am always getting passed or dropped on hills. At first I blamed it on my bike, wider tires, smaller wheels, heavier. (the bike not me)

Then I graduated to a road bike, smaller tires, bigger wheels, lighter. (not me - the bike - I gained a few pounds so we are now about even again

I was still getting passed.

I went to the doctor "Dr, Dr, what can I do ? ? I can't breathe when I climb hills,please make my lungs better - I want to be able to climb a hill without dying"

Lots of tests later I discovered I was functioning on 65% lung capacity and was chronic asthmatic (I used to just be exercised induced). Very expensive medicine later my lungs are much better although still not perfect

**Thread hijack in progress**

Wow - could have written that myself! I have about 62% lung capacity too! What can we do about it? I take my asthma inhaler before I ride, but I huff and puff all ride long while no one else is. Does the very expensive medicine help? Mind sharing the name of said very expensive medicine???

[emily_in_nc]

**Thread hijack in progress**
Wow - could have written that myself! I have about 62% lung capacity too! What can we do about it? I take my asthma inhaler before I ride, but I huff and puff all ride long while no one else is. Does the very expensive medicine help? Mind sharing the name of said very expensive medicine???

Me too. I have asthma, but it's mild, and even with albuterol before a ride, I am huffing and puffing WAY more than anyone else I ever ride with, and much slower up hills no matter how light my bike. Any suggestions or tips much appreciated!

Emily

[plantluvver]

Emily,
I have mild asthma, which originally was exercise induced. Two winters ago, I had "a mild cold" for about a month, and the doctor put me on Advair. In summer, I am pretty symptom-free, but I ran out of Advair, and after a few days noticed that my breathing was a little rougher. Something I would not have noticed, except by comparison.

Also, my nurse practionor has told me that this medication allows "retraining" of your respiratory tract. To me, that sounds like reversal of the asthma, but I've never investiagted.

You may give the Advair a try.

Mary

[emily_in_nc]

Mary,

Thanks for the recommendation for Advair. I have my yearly physical coming up soon, so maybe I'll "ask my doctor if Advair is right for me", just like in the commercials. Thanks!

Emily

P.S. I tried Accolate (a different type of allergy med) for nearly a year, but it didn't seem to make much difference in my breathing, if any, so I stopped it.

[Denise223]

Hi Everyone:

I have had asthma since age 19, and am currently on Advair 50/250, Albuterol ("rescue inhalor" - use prn), and Singulair.

Now, (this is what I've been told), when someone is on Advair regularly (twice/daily), you should really not need to use your rescue inhalor (albuterol) a lot -- but, it is suggested to use before & during exercise.

My breathing has become more concerning to me, in that it's almost like I am "forgetting to breathe". It has been this way for awhile, and I've been medicating myself with more Albuterol, without relief. Just yesterday I started getting a little bit dizzy -- nothing alarming though.

I made an appointment to see my internist today.

I was checking on the internet, and came across this interesting link that I wanted to share with everyone.

http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/pran.html

I'll mention it to my doctor & see what she has to say. When I am biking though, I am huffing & puffing very involuntarily, so.......I'm not sure what's going on.

Wishing everyone a happy & peaceful day!

Denise