Asthma !!!!!

[gtfpv]

WELL it's that time of year again . WHO , here is getting regular bouts of asthma . ????
my 8 year old daughter , has been getting it daily and taking her ventolin every day , for the last 3 weeks . just before bedtime . this has happened a couple of times before and passed , however this time everyday , between 6 and 9 pm , she is getting it , the ventolin works within a few minutes , it is not flu related . tonight she has told me she has been waking nightly with it as well .
off to the doctor tomorrow then , she is on a preventative tablet called singular, which she has been on for 5 years . now it aint working .
what i'm worried about is our doctors lack of concern .

any informed advice welcome thanks . if your asthma has been worse recently , what have you done about it .
thanks in advance . :(

and how do i go about seeing an asthma specialist . ? is a GP good enough ??

[uranium_death]

Any doctor who is not concerned with any patient's wellbeing is a bad doctor IMO. I've been to good and bad.

Don't be loyal to a bad doctor. Visit another if you believe it will help.

Best wishes that her symptoms quickly dissipate.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Ok,

In the past weeks I have almost fallen unconscious twice from attacks.

If it wasnt for the partner running to the lounge to grab the puffer I would either be dead or brain dead (as happened to a mate of mine).

My Asthma is triggered by a sneeze. Once i sneeze i have around 10 seconds to take my puffer or i'm pretty much turning purple.

The Standard doctors are useless, I have found a few research centres here in sydney that I will be making a visit to soon enough, why????

Because my Asthma is CURED when I visit South Korea. Yes. Within 2 days i can leave my puffer at home, by 4 days I can sprint for a bus and not die.

Why?? who knows. But im considering moving there at the end of the year, after setting up some sort of research using me as a guinea pig to see whats the bloody reason.

Ok, now there is a GREAT BOOK that i can recoment. "Fed up with Asthma" by Sue Dengate i think.

Buy it, read it, follow it. It links Asthma to food additives. I tried the diets and they DO work. But then again, in Korea i eat as much of the bad stuff as i can with not a problem.

I would pay any sum to be able to leave the home without a bloody puffer in my pocket.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Ok,

In the past weeks I have almost fallen unconscious twice from attacks.

If it wasnt for the partner running to the lounge to grab the puffer I would either be dead or brain dead (as happened to a mate of mine).

My Asthma is triggered by a sneeze. Once i sneeze i have around 10 seconds to take my puffer or i'm pretty much turning purple.

The Standard doctors are useless, I have found a few research centres here in sydney that I will be making a visit to soon enough, why????

Because my Asthma is CURED when I visit South Korea. Yes. Within 2 days i can leave my puffer at home, by 4 days I can sprint for a bus and not die.

Why?? who knows. But im considering moving there at the end of the year, after setting up some sort of research using me as a guinea pig to see whats the bloody reason.

Ok, now there is a GREAT BOOK that i can recoment. "Fed up with Asthma" by Sue Dengate i think.

Buy it, read it, follow it. It links Asthma to food additives. I tried the diets and they DO work. But then again, in Korea i eat as much of the bad stuff as i can with not a problem.

I would pay any sum to be able to leave the home without a bloody puffer in my pocket.

i have that book . regarding australia as having one of the highest rates of asthma . do you think it could be , immunisation . ( being one of the highest immunisers in the world, our diet? or rotuoa i think it was , nuclear experiments .

[Yellow_Festiva]

Who knows? All I can say is that i always thought my Asthma was related to polution, the environment, etc etc etc.

That is a crock. I was in Italy, Turin to be exact. An industrial city with smog so bad that they have days where cars with no Cat' convertors are not allowed on the road. When the smog is really bad cars with number plates with certain combinations are barred from the road.

The same effect as Korea happened there. We were on the 9th floor of an apartment building and by the 4th day I could run up the stairs fast enough to arrive the same time as the lift.

When I was in Korea in Winter i put it down to the fact that there was no pollen etc around. So i went there in Summer. Nup, same effect.

I go there to teach. Out of 400 students 1 had Asthma....

Who knows??? But i do feel for your Daughter. It's a bastard of an illness. Like Cancer i guess. People can look healthy and normal, but be all stuffed on the inside...

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Who knows? All I can say is that i always thought my Asthma was related to polution, the environment, etc etc etc.

That is a crock. I was in Italy, Turin to be exact. An industrial city with smog so bad that they have days where cars with no Cat' convertors are not allowed on the road. When the smog is really bad cars with number plates with certain combinations are barred from the road.

The same effect as Korea happened there. We were on the 9th floor of an apartment building and by the 4th day I could run up the stairs fast enough to arrive the same time as the lift.

When I was in Korea in Winter i put it down to the fact that there was no pollen etc around. So i went there in Summer. Nup, same effect.

I go there to teach. Out of 400 students 1 had Asthma....

Who knows??? But i do feel for your Daughter. It's a bastard of an illness. Like Cancer i guess. People can look healthy and normal, but be all stuffed on the inside...

i know how you feel mate but that statement is a bit harsh . if you can be well by going to korea , and you have a job over there , perhaps you should go. if you were stuffed on the inside then being in korea would make no differance . dont you think, be possitive man.

i recently had a talk to my sons soccer coach, (who is one of the dads) under 6's team . out of 8 kids 4 have asthma. the coach is 45 years old and quite fit . he told me that for 40 years he suffered terribly with asthma he missed all sports, and couldnot run at all . was using puffer 3 times a day , then he seen an asthma add on tv , got the doc to prescribe it to him took it for 2 weeks , and has never had a wheeze since . the doctor dismisses his story, and claims it is not possible . he recommended it to a close frienfd with severe asthma also . and the same result . he cannot explain it , they say it works if you take it regularly, but thse guys took it once . !!!. i will be getting the name of the product and looking into it . to mje this is only a story, but it is good to hear some possitives . that means that this guys lungs are in fair condition , after 40 years of severe asthma.

[MO]

gtfpv..have you tried the asthma websites...I don't have much knowledge except my estranged kids have it and swimming seems to help.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Hmmm I didnt want it to sound the way it came out.

Im wont be going to Korea caus it makes me well, ill be going there to see whats causing me to feel better.

Who knows? could be one chemical? What I mean by being stuffed on the inside is the wheezing, the shortness of breath etc. It's not self inflicted, but at times ill cough like i have been smoking 2 packs a day.

Your story about your mate sounds familar, when i returned i went to the doctors to share my experience and they just said it was luck or a fluke etc. But i know this is BS. Last time I was there i asked a few co workers who had Asthma to record any changes they may see in their own day to day wellbeing. All improved.

This is why I want to investigate it further. Aproach it from a scientific point of view, get regular testing done etc.

I would like to know the drug your mate used. If you do find the name of it, and if you dont mind can you please PM the name of it to me.

Thank you

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by MO

gtfpv..have you tried the asthma websites...I don't have much knowledge except my estranged kids have it and swimming seems to help.

YES MATE , I've tried it all , swimming is good , her asthma has always been there , but only very mild, and well controled , only now it is becoming frequent, but still mild . (although mild is still serious, if not dealt with) doctors seem to generalise with it , but it is something vast when you research it , there wouldn't be enough brain space in the head to be an expert on it , along with the million other things a gp is meant to know . all the experts seem to be in emergency rooms . and we dont want treatment that way . even the books on the subject cross referance there own advice .
thats where people sites come in handy, cheers MO.

[MotherNatureVer2]

I have had a bit to do with Asthma ..... my eldest & youngest have it, mainly around winter when they start playing football....... although youngest since a bout of illness about 18mths ago has suffered worse.

I also have a great mate who has had it for years. She is now 43 & they have just figured out that the puffers were making her worse as she is allergic to them ....... glad they found that one out as we have nearlly lost her a few times.

I only mention this to let you know it is possible & NOT to make you stop the meds ..... my boys are both on Asmol as puffers and this seems to allieviate their problems. This is more to let you know it is possible .......

I would strongly advise to get a second opinion ASAP. Im not sure if its still there but in the Cambelltown area about 15yrs ago there was an asthma clinic ....... was a great place for advise & great Docs who knew what they were doing.

Keep us posted on how she is ;)

[Sourbastard]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Ok,

In the past weeks I have almost fallen unconscious twice from attacks.

If it wasnt for the partner running to the lounge to grab the puffer I would either be dead or brain dead (as happened to a mate of mine).

My Asthma is triggered by a sneeze. Once i sneeze i have around 10 seconds to take my puffer or i'm pretty much turning purple.

The Standard doctors are useless, I have found a few research centres here in sydney that I will be making a visit to soon enough, why????

Because my Asthma is CURED when I visit South Korea. Yes. Within 2 days i can leave my puffer at home, by 4 days I can sprint for a bus and not die.

Why?? who knows. But im considering moving there at the end of the year, after setting up some sort of research using me as a guinea pig to see whats the bloody reason.

Ok, now there is a GREAT BOOK that i can recoment. "Fed up with Asthma" by Sue Dengate i think.

Buy it, read it, follow it. It links Asthma to food additives. I tried the diets and they DO work. But then again, in Korea i eat as much of the bad stuff as i can with not a problem.

I would pay any sum to be able to leave the home without a bloody puffer in my pocket.

I found the same thing when i moved to the states. My asthma dropped off to almost nothing, hayfever went away completely! I came back and it all started up again in a matter of weeks.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by MotherNature

I have had a bit to do with Asthma ..... my eldest & youngest have it, mainly around winter when they start playing football....... although youngest since a bout of illness about 18mths ago has suffered worse.

I also have a great mate who has had it for years. She is now 43 & they have just figured out that the puffers were making her worse as she is allergic to them ....... glad they found that one out as we have nearlly lost her a few times.

I only mention this to let you know it is possible & NOT to make you stop the meds ..... my boys are both on Asmol as puffers and this seems to allieviate their problems. This is more to let you know it is possible .......

I would strongly advise to get a second opinion ASAP. Im not sure if its still there but in the Cambelltown area about 15yrs ago there was an asthma clinic ....... was a great place for advise & great Docs who knew what they were doing.

Keep us posted on how she is ;)

THANKS MOTHER NATURE . this is great research. something i can print out and discuss with doctors ,

[MO]

To all I wish I had the answer to your probs unfortunately I don't.

Please look at all possibility's for solution and always seek second..third opinion.

Good luck guys my thoughts are with you and yours.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Hmmm I didnt want it to sound the way it came out.

Im wont be going to Korea caus it makes me well, ill be going there to see whats causing me to feel better.

Who knows? could be one chemical? What I mean by being stuffed on the inside is the wheezing, the shortness of breath etc. It's not self inflicted, but at times ill cough like i have been smoking 2 packs a day.

Your story about your mate sounds familar, when i returned i went to the doctors to share my experience and they just said it was luck or a fluke etc. But i know this is BS. Last time I was there i asked a few co workers who had Asthma to record any changes they may see in their own day to day wellbeing. All improved.

This is why I want to investigate it further. Aproach it from a scientific point of view, get regular testing done etc.

Maybe it is something you eat or drink here, like maybe something in the water or a particular food you can't get or don't eat while you are out of the country. Maybe you are allergic to something in your house. I don't think they know what causes asthma.

I first got asthma when I was 10. Just started coughing in the classroom one day and bam asthma for the next 10 years. Then it sort of faded only coming back during winter and while I had colds etc. It's pretty much totally gone now. Havent had an attack in at least 5 years and didnt even have an inhaler for about 3 years. I had a mild wheeze about 12 months ago so now I have an inhaler but I used it once and never needed it again. Who knows what causes this disease.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by MotherNature

I have had a bit to do with Asthma ..... my eldest & youngest have it, mainly around winter when they start playing football....... although youngest since a bout of illness about 18mths ago has suffered worse.

I also have a great mate who has had it for years. She is now 43 & they have just figured out that the puffers were making her worse as she is allergic to them ....... glad they found that one out as we have nearlly lost her a few times.

I only mention this to let you know it is possible & NOT to make you stop the meds ..... my boys are both on Asmol as puffers and this seems to allieviate their problems. This is more to let you know it is possible .......

I would strongly advise to get a second opinion ASAP. Im not sure if its still there but in the Cambelltown area about 15yrs ago there was an asthma clinic ....... was a great place for advise & great Docs who knew what they were doing.

Keep us posted on how she is ;)

Hey MotherNature. Do you use Asmol for a specific reason over the regular puffer? Last time I bought my puffers the Pharmacist asked if I wanted the generic. I had no idea that there was a generic for the regular puffer but thats what the Asmol branded puffer is.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by V8GLI

Maybe it is something you eat or drink here, like maybe something in the water or a particular food you can't get or don't eat while you are out of the country. Maybe you are allergic to something in your house. I don't think they know what causes asthma.

I first got asthma when I was 10. Just started coughing in the classroom one day and bam asthma for the next 10 years. Then it sort of faded only coming back during winter and while I had colds etc. It's pretty much totally gone now. Havent had an attack in at least 5 years and didnt even have an inhaler for about 3 years. I had a mild wheeze about 12 months ago so now I have an inhaler but I used it once and never needed it again. Who knows what causes this disease.

As funny as it sounds, water is one avenue I want to investigate. Korea, like many other countries has water that you should not drink direct from the tap. All houses have these filter things that remove the last 1% of whatever impurity is in the water and dispense it either chilled or hot.

[mattp]

Actually they know what causes asthma. Certain people have a condition called atopy, which comprises asthma, eczema and hayfever, and they may have any or all of these conditions. Basically it means they're more allergic than average, and if you have asthma you're more likely to suffer from hayfever, etc. The two factors in asthma that make it hard to breathe are the inflammation that occurs within your bronchus (windpipe), and the constriction of the smooth muscle that is in the walls of your windpipe. This happens in response to an allergen (of which Australia has heaps, in pollens, grasses etc, which may explain our high incidence of asthma etc. the ones you are allergic to are somewhat determined by childhood exposure, which explains why some of you find relief overseas, as it's a fresh batch of allergens over there that you don't have an allergic response to. It's not a huge mystery). The mainstays of asthma treatment are inhaled corticosteroids (such as flixotide), which reduce inflammation of your bronchus, and beta-agonists (such as ventolin), which reduce the spasm of the muscles. Your GP should be able to explain it fully to you, and if they can't find a new GP. The use of a reliever such as ventolin or asmol, should not be the mainstay of your asthma treatment, unless it is only mild and intermittent. If you are using it most days you need a preventer such as pulmicort to stop the attacks occurring.
The new gold standard though is a combination medication called symbicort, which is hugely effective, so ask your doctor about it. He'll need to put you on a preventer first though, to satisfy PBS restrictions (the government is cheap).
Also, the better you control your asthma now, the better long term outcomes you will attain, so be proactive and tell your GP you need a preventer, or a combination therapy.
I hope that helps a little bit, if there's any questions stick em up. Cheers.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by mattp

Actually they know what causes asthma. Certain people have a condition called atopy, which comprises asthma, eczema and hayfever, and they may have any or all of these conditions. Basically it means they're more allergic than average, and if you have asthma you're more likely to suffer from hayfever, etc. The two factors in asthma that make it hard to breathe are the inflammation that occurs within your bronchus (windpipe), and the constriction of the smooth muscle that is in the walls of your windpipe. This happens in response to an allergen (of which Australia has heaps, in pollens, grasses etc, which may explain our high incidence of asthma etc. the ones you are allergic to are somewhat determined by childhood exposure, which explains why some of you find relief overseas, as it's a fresh batch of allergens over there that you don't have an allergic response to. It's not a huge mystery). The mainstays of asthma treatment are inhaled corticosteroids (such as flixotide), which reduce inflammation of your bronchus, and beta-agonists (such as ventolin), which reduce the spasm of the muscles. Your GP should be able to explain it fully to you, and if they can't find a new GP. The use of a reliever such as ventolin or asmol, should not be the mainstay of your asthma treatment, unless it is only mild and intermittent. If you are using it most days you need a preventer such as pulmicort to stop the attacks occurring.
The new gold standard though is a combination medication called symbicort, which is hugely effective, so ask your doctor about it. He'll need to put you on a preventer first though, to satisfy PBS restrictions (the government is cheap).
Also, the better you control your asthma now, the better long term outcomes you will attain, so be proactive and tell your GP you need a preventer, or a combination therapy.
I hope that helps a little bit, if there's any questions stick em up. Cheers.

thanks . you obviously know your stuff . , she is already on a PREVENTER called SINGULAIR. . i dont know if it is working. perhaps working to a degree , but not preventing . thats the 64 million $ question for me. do you have further advice regarding this . . , and whats your knowledge / qualification?? cheers.

[Outbackjack]

There are lots of people living in the Alice because of their health. For alot (not all) of athsmatics the dry atmosphere out here with no pollution is a positive thing. My wife went from using her ventolin a dozen times a day to once a week.

[MotherNatureVer2]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Hey MotherNature. Do you use Asmol for a specific reason over the regular puffer? Last time I bought my puffers the Pharmacist asked if I wanted the generic. I had no idea that there was a generic for the regular puffer but thats what the Asmol branded puffer is.

The only reason we use the Asmol is because it is cheaper but is as effective as the ventolin.

Being a single parent for way too many years taught me to be thrifty

Ohhhh & mattp does seem to know his stuff ;)

I was way too lazy to type all that out

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

There are lots of people living in the Alice because of their health. For alot (not all) of athsmatics the dry atmosphere out here with no pollution is a positive thing. My wife went from using her ventolin a dozen times a day to once a week.

thats encouraging to know , i have heard many stories like this .
but i read once that people with asthma often move away and hence are removed from their common local allergies , and hence become symptom free, untill they become allergic to their new environment which often happens after anumber of years . it's like you can run , but you cant hide . it's a sickening thought . / but i have heard both sides of this story .

[mattp]

gtfpv, I don't want to go giving medical advice in a forum, so take everything I say as an issue to raise with your GP. Singulair is a different class of preventer to the inhaled corticosteroids I mentioned, it's something called a leukotriene receptor antagonist. Same result, different mechanism. Having no idea about your daughter's history etc I don't know why she is on that particular medication, but if it's no longer working it's something to look at. The latest and greatest in asthma management really is Symbicort, it has an anti-inflammatory component, plus the component which relaxes the airway muscles is fast-acting and long-lasting. The main point of this is you can use it as both a reliever and a preventer, since it works fast and lasts, so you can use it morning and night, for example, then again during the day if need be. The idea is, of course, is to stop attacks happening though. Really bad cases of asthma can need oral medication (tablets), but I think your best bet from here is to see your GP and get him to make up an asthma management plan for your daughter, which should include spirometry, medications, reviews, and at home testing with a peak flow meter to see if/when her lung function starts to slide. Talk about this with your GP though, don't take my word for it.
ps. I'm in my 7th year of uni, I'll be a doctor at the end of next year (at last!). cheers, Matt.

edit:
I just re-read the above, what I should have said is OFTEN, symbicort is the best option. There are, of course, a number of variables and every patient needs to be assessed individually, the main thing is to sit down and talk to your GP about a management plan that you both understand and agree is do-able.

[gtfpv]

congratulations matt. well done . it wasn't hard to guess!! i will take this info on board and suggest with my doctor . we definately need an asthma management plan , as we have never used peak flow metres and spirometres . i was only discussing this with my wife tonight . perhaps it's only now that she may be able to use these devices appropriately . thanks .

[J.C.]

Excellent. Advice that every asthma sufferer can use and it did cost $100 and two trip to the doctor. Well done Matt. All the best with the studies mate.

[blueoval]

Suffered asthma all my life. Had it since I got pneumonia as an infant. Never really went away. Seemed to have calmed down over the past few years, but flared up when I had pneumonia again late 05.

Ive been using bricanyl and seratide as a preventative. Seems to work well.

[new2ford]

The Australian habit of slamming down ice cold drinks (which constrict the airway) can't help. Europeans here are surprised by this - they use warm or tepid drink. I saw a kid having an asthma attack on a sportsfield recently and the parents were giving him an ice drink! Is that attempted infanticide or what?!

I only get hay fever and likewise it disappears when I get to Europe as though I've never had it. I heard a couple of Americans on a tram in Amsterdam discussing how their hay fever also disappeared when they got to Europe. They attributed it to high pollen in America due to amount of uncultivated land. In Europe land is used intensively and kept more weed-free. Maybe a theory?

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by sourbastard

I found the same thing when i moved to the states. My asthma dropped off to almost nothing, hayfever went away completely! I came back and it all started up again in a matter of weeks.

Yep. My cousin died from Asthma but was revived. He moved to the states 5-6 years ago and has not even had a wheeze. The treatment is very good over there. He now has a job, has put on weight and is much better off.

Australia is the worst country for respiratory diseases, namely asthma and hay fever due to our pollen. Australian native pollen is a cow. I get my hay fever in Spring when all those lovely flowers decide to bloom and all that lovely pollen makes an entrance.

[gozza]

I nearly died of pneumonia when i was born... i Sufferend pretty bad asthma untill high school....Ventolin Plus other type puffers..nebulisers....I used to swim alot and play a variety of sports.....I think sport is a key ingredient...Im not sure if you "grow out" of asthma or it just becomes controlled but i have not suffered from Asmtha attacks and the likes for many years

[SupahStah]

my brother has had asthma his whole life, done everthing to get wear it down. pills, preventors, pumps you name it, its been done, he goes thru a ventolin in about a week and a half and uses it up to 5-6 times a day. his comes and goes when it feels like it, usually after drinking milk it will flare up for some reason? or if he has a little bit of asthma and has some milk it will turn that bad he would try and run for his puffer.

[Mrs Coyote]

I have a cousin who had been a severe asthmatic til he was in his early 20's. He moved from Northern NSW to Brisbane and only has attacks when he goes back to see his family.

I have also been told that if you have asthma from when you are small quite often when you move away from that area you can become better.

My daughter is a well controlled asthmatic but everytime we go to my parents in Tamworth she has an attack and has ended up in hospital there once from asthma. She hates going there. She also cannot eat too much chocolate or it will flare up.