PLEASE HELP!!

I am a 19-year-old girl.  All my life I have had difficulties with asthma, but it wasn't until the past 5 years that it has begun to get really bad.  My doctor recently told me that my asthma is what qualifies as severe persistent.  In the past two years alone I have had to go to the ER at least 50 times, at least 30 of which were by ambulance in severe distress(lights and sirens on and all that fun stuff) and I was admitted to the hospital at least 15 of those times usually staying at least 3 days.  I am on Advair 500/5 two times a day, singulair, allegra, veramyst two times a day, protonix two times a day, prednisone 20mg, and duo nebs (albuterol sulfate 3mg and ipratropium bromide o.5mg) every 6 hours increased to every 4 or every 2 hours as needed.  I also have an MDI and epipen that I use as needed.  The epipen is for anaphylactic shock due to bee stings, campfire smoke, and unknown food allergies.  I am so sick of feeling like my chest is going to cave in because I can't breathe or having the jitters and ridiculously bad leg cramps because of the albuterol.  A friend I know recently suggested that I try grape seed extract because it helped her son get completely off all of his asthma medications.  I started the grapeseed extract about a month ago, and so far I have seen no change.  If there is ANY other suggestions that you have I would greatly appreciate it.  I have recently had to withdraw from my college because of the severity of my asthma.  I am so over this  I am so tired of not being able to do the things I love to do.  two years ago I was either rollerblading 15 miles every day or riding my bike 50 miles every day, and now I can't do either.  PLEASE HELP!!!!

Hi,

If you want to find alternatives to regular prescription medications for your allergies, you may find better help from a Naturopathic Physician. They are trained to view you as a whole person, and won't just focus on only one part of you (such as your airway or your skin or your bones). They also may be able to help pinpoint the aggravating factors for your Asthma that may or may not be as easily seen on traditional allergy tests. And they are usually trained in the use of herbs such as grapeseed extract.

I hope this helps - take care,

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-Razzle

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Moderator, Allergies/Asthma

Natruapaths relly do help. (sorry if I spelled that wrong). Also if you don't have a portable nebulizer I would suggest it. Between my naturapath and allergist I can get by on advair/ 250 and albuteral and an epie pen if needed( and a bunch of non prescription stuff). Best of luck.

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Moderator, Allergies/Asthma

mkaye...hi there super star...I have been a chronic asthmatic for a long time and I THINK YOU ARE ONE FABULOUS YOUNG LADY to cope with what you have and you are doing so...so..well..Congratulations.One quick bit of advise...try dissolving one EFFERVESENT vitamin C TABLET IN 1/2PT OF WATER.Sip slowly until it is all gone....it has worked well for me... or squeeze out the juices of 4 oranges..dilute with 1/4 pint of water and do the same.It boost the immune system.BEST TO TAKE IT AT NIGHT WHEN THE BODY IS AT REST AND CAN ABSORBE IT EASIER.
Until I was 40+ I was a session swimmer swimming...1 mile a day, running, horse riding skiing doing everything I WANTED AND THEN I had a very bad reaction to a hornet sting and the asthma started realy bad....slowly over the yers I have got better and I CAN SWIM AGAIN AND WALK 2-3 MILES WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.I have changed my diet COMPLETELY and have a pretty boring but effective exercise regime that I live by...interested just sign in..hugs grooveyxx

Hi mkaye...I am wondering if you received any allergy shots. Those worked wonders for me though it did take a very long time...about 15 years. Also I try to live in a dust free environment since I am very allergic to dust. Use hot water for clothing washes and hot drying cycle.

I know it is hard to accept this problem but you are doing the best you can. Maybe you should be seeing more specialists to fine tune your medications...sounds like an awful lot of stuff.

Best of luck to you.