Thanks for the help

I also have combivent for my rescue inhaler but I understand it is the same as the duoneb? Should that be changed? Am I maybe getting an overdose of these meds?

Thanks pegleg. Happy Holidays to you and your family too:)

Hi Ceebee, I have just joined and was reading your question. Have you tried Advair? I'm 34 and was born with asthma. While most people outgrow it, I have severe allergies so I have had no such luck. I struggled with every combination of meds (when they finally came out with something other than Asbron) until Advair came out. The dr. put me on that as soon as he had the chance and I wouldn't trade it for the world! I use Ventolin or Albuterol as a rescue inhaler. Especially during Spring and Fall. But I can actually go a few days before I have to use the rescue inhaler if the allergens aren't there. That is something I never thought would be possible!! When I get sick with a cold it automatically goes to my lungs so I do have a nebulizer that I use when that happens. I recommend Advair to anyone that has asthma. It sure doesn't hurt to try it. 

Oh Ceebee, If the Advair is helping, you should use it okay. Don't be afraid of what people say about it. It has helped out a lot of people here. If you think you need something better or different always always ask your doctor first okay..
Good luck to you hun and God Bless you.
(((HUGZ))) as always take care hun

Dear Ceebee:  I was reading your last entry.  Advair is a corticosteroid and not a rescue med.  It takes a few days for the "good" effects to take place.  You have to use it continuously and not on a "sometimes" basis.  If Advair is having too many side effects for you, speak w/MD about changing to another corticosteroid.  Also, you can develop thrush from Advair if you don't rinse your mouth thoroughly after use.  Hoarseness is also a less mild side effect of Advair.  You may have more benefit from the change.  Just remember that it takes a fast-acting bronchodilator to help you in an exacerbation.  Atrovent is NOT a fast-acting broncho, but Xopenex & Albuterol are.  It's okay to use Combivent because it contains Albuterol; HOWEVER, during an exacerbation, it's best to use just Xopenex or Albuterol.  Xopenex comes in both 0.83 mg & 1.25 mg dosage.  It seems w/all your exacerbations & problems, that you may be classified as a severe persistent asthmatic.  Talk to your MD about changing your rescue dosage to 1.25 mg. Xopenex for faster relief.  Good luck & hope you feel better soon!

What type of dr. are you going to now? The one that actually started me on the Advair was my OB-GYN, believe it or not, but then he found a great allergy dr. for me. My OB is a "women's health" and not just a "women's" dr. if you know what I mean... It really helps to find one that will listen. I went through the same thing. My dr. that I had after my pediatrician kept brushing it off like it was in my head until I finally landed in the hospital for two weeks. I almost died too. I literally popped a hole in my lung trying to get air into it! You could see me blow up like a balloon! The Advair takes about 2 weeks to start getting the full effects. I take one puff twice a day and yes, you definitely need to rinse your mouth out. The hoarseness and sore throat is probably coming more from the inhalers. That's where mine comes from. My inhaler also causes my tongue to crack and stay sore - gross I know... The prednisone is probably the thing that will have the worst side effects. Weight gain, heart racing, etc. I have found that after using the Advair regularly about a week, I have no side effects. I have been on it for about 4 years now and wished it had came out soooo very long before that. I have Singular too but I have found that I don't need it as much now since the Advair has kicked in. I think once you get off of the Prednisone and really get going on the Advair, you'll be able to tell a bit of difference. I hope anyway. Just try it. Let me know what side effects you're having. I'll see if they ring a bell. It's been awhile. Anything I can do to help, pleeassse let me know!!!

Dear Ceebee:  Sorry to hear that you are not feeling well & your asthma mgt plan is not working.  Find a good pulmonologist that will listen to you; keep a daily diary of your symptoms & the days weather.  If he/she can see how you are on a daily basis, good days versus bad days, compare w/weather & possible triggers, maybe a correct plan can be found.  If a doctor doesn't listen, CHANGE IMMEDIATELY!  You know your body better than anyone.    Hope you feel better soon!

CeeBee
Please Listen to what Chellej and Pegleg are telling you, You need to Find a Allergy & Asthma Doctor and that is how they are listed hun, Allergy and Asthma Doctor under Specialists in the yellow pages look for Board Certified okay . You need a good asthma action plan for when you feel good and when you are starting to feel Bad.
Wishing you Well
(((Hugz)))
No Doctor should throw meds at you period.. OKAY
Now Get Well Soon

Everyone! Please make sure if you use an MDI, that you use it with an aerochamber. If not, you lose approximately 40% of your tx even if you do it correctly!

Hello Ceebee: Below is a step-by-step process for using an inhaler w/spacer. It's the one I use for teaching it in person & taken from Krames On Demand (a program used by a lot of the hospitals).

Step 1: Remove the caps from the inhaler and the spacer. Attach the spacer to the inhaler. Then shake the inhaler well. Hold the inhaler w/middle finger on the sprayer. Put your index finger & thumb around the spacer.

Step 2: Breathe out normally through your nose. Then put the opening of the spacer in your mouth between your teeth. Close your lips around it. Press down once on the sprayer. This sprays 1 puff of med into spacer. Keep your chin up.

Step 3: Slowly breathe in through your mouth as deeply as you can. This should take at least 3 - 4 seconds. If you're breathing in too quickly the spacer may make a whistling sound.

Step 4: Hold your breath as you slowly count to 10. Then take the spacer out of your mouth keeping mouth closed. Pucker your lips as if you were going to blow out a candle. Breathe out slowly.

If you're prescribed more than 1 puff of med at a time. wait at least 30 seconds between puffs -- unless told otherwise by MD. Shake the inhaler again, then repeat steps 2 - 4.

If done in this matter, you are getting close to 100% of med. You will start to see a real difference! Good luck & if you have any other questions, please let me know.

Ceebee,
I just came across your post and wondered what part of the country you live in? My brother in law had asthmatic emphysema as a child in the 50's and barely survived to adulthood. He had an excellent allergist who pulled him through. Anyway, he grew up in mid Michigan but his symptoms improved greatly when he moved to more mountainous parts of the country. He felt much better when he lived in the mountains in Virginia and now lives in Utah in the mountains there. He still has asthma but he works as a ski instructor in the winter, a bicycle tour guide in the fall in Vermont and as a tennis instructor in the summer.

I guess what I wondered was if possibly where you live is adding to your discomfort? When he comes home for a visit he is almost instantly terribly congested and ill. Just my 2¢.

Dear Ceebee: If you have sinus problems, they will easily trigger an asthma attack. However, there is a HUGE misconception about moving to other areas in order to stop asthma attacks. It will probably help your sinuses which inturn will decrease your asthma attacks. However, if you move to another area, you may run across a new trigger & still not be able to decrease attacks.

That is why we admit pts for asthma attacks in the Springtime. They come south to enjoy the beach & flowers along the Gulf Coast. But at times, they may run across a trigger which they are not exposed to in the northern areas (azalea blooms for ex) resulting in an attack. So if you do move, be prepared in the event you are exposed to a new trigger.

Info for educational purpose only & not med advice.

Good morning Ceebee: A number of people go on vacation & experience asthma attacks due to triggers unknown to them (ex:flowers in vacation area may be a trigger & your state does not have them). Airplanes are another story: The air in the airplanes are constantly circulated; you are in close contact with others who may have perfume, smoke contained in their clothing; perhaps minute amount of mold in the vents of the plane; cold & flu germs are contained & recirculated. In other words, you are entering a germ filled & possibly trigger filled confined area. Before you go on vacation, talk to your doctor about starting routine breathing txs & continue them until you return home. You don't have to have a neb, a MDI is just as affective if used w/aerochamber & done properly (also much easier to have with you at all times). If you have sinus problems, maybe he/she can prescribe something to help. I suffer a lot w/sinuses (today my eyes look like a blowfish) & I try to use saline nasal spray twice a day just to keep the cilia in the nose cleansed. Also, if you are not claustrophobic & don't mind wearing one, the blue masks you see in the store will help a lot to keep the germs/triggers from entering your lungs. A lot of people wear them in public when their immune levels are low. Just remember, by wearing one, you are not limiting yourself, but adapting.
Hope this helps.