Asthma......did you know?

wow, wonder what the statistics are in the UK, but it is very thought provoking!!!

i too have asthma, and thought it was well controlled, till this year, in the past 3 months have had a bad flare and have had to have 2 courses of steroids, this might not seem a big deal, but it is the first time in the 15 years i have had asthma, that i have had to have any "extra" help!!!!

it certainly opened my eyes up to be more aware of my health!!!

tc you guys, especially as the weather is turning colder for many of us


sandra xxxx

A large forum can be intimidating especially to someone that has never visited a support forum before. That is exactly why I am grateful to be part of the HW family, to help ease the fears of our members, answer any question that I can, and have mine answered in return. Hw is truly a friendly and open forum thanks to it's many volunteers and wonderful members.

I was just astonished that the fact that in this day and age that asthma can still be so life threatening for people because they underestimate the severity of their attacks. I have only known one person with severe asthma and he would "push the envelope" to the point where it would take a long time before his emergency inhaler would work. Now I realize that is a very dangerous thing for him to do.

Luckily my son never had life threatening asthma but any kind of asthma can seem severe when you suffer from it. So take care all! :)

---

**Sherry**
Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 1992
Meds currently taking: Colazal 750mgs-9 daily
Uc status: Remission (1yr but not sure if much longer)
Diagnosed with Secondary Reynaulds Syndrome in 2004
Meds currently taking: Niacin 650mgs-1 daily
SRS status: Very active.....give me 100 degree weather and I'll be happy!!!!!
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At three weeks of age I was hospitalized and diagnosed with asthma.  Now, 38 years later, just when I think I've researched all about it on my own as well as the continued care of a good pulmonologist, allergist, and my wonderful family doctor, there is still more to learn.  When I was 25 I became disheartened that I "still" had asthma.  My pulmonary specialist informed me that despite what many people believe, a patient just doesn't grow out of asthma, like an old pair of shoes.  Presently I take Advair 500/50, Singulair 10, Albuterol Rescue Inhaler, Albuterol/Atrovent Nebulizer Breathing Treatments and Prednisone 10.  For the past 3-4 years my husband and I can count on a trip to the e.r. with hospitalization for 4-5 days almost every 3-4 months.  I hate the course of aggressive treatment of IV Salumedrol (and IV Levaquin, breathing trts q 4 hrs, along with my home meds) for those 4-5 days.  The r.n.'s and respiratory therapists are friends of mine of course and laugh with me with my phrase "on the altar of salumedrol".  Side effects include induced type 2 diabetes, relentless migraines of the worst kind, nausea, water/weight gain, uncontrollable appetite, joint flare pain especially in both knees and both elbows which is debilitating in itself.  When you can't breath, you can't breath, and I am thankful for the medication which improves my accute asthma symptoms and constriction but I'm wondering if anyone out there has any substitution for the dreaded iv salumedrol?