Asthma and fatigue

Joan_Mack · January 25, 2006, 1:13am

Am wondering if anybody else has a lot of fatigue with their asthma. Most of my doctors are very unresponsive about this. Had the same thing when I kept talking about my horrible sore throat which turned out to be

reflux disease. Makes me feel like a nut

when I'm talking and nobody is listening. Hey, maybe they don't know what they are doing

! I am Joan Mack and hope those who have fatigue will write me and tell their stories.

Keah · January 25, 2006, 10:54pm

Joan, It makes perfect sense that asthma would cause fatigue. During an asthma attack, you are not breathing up to your full lung capacity due to airway constriction. This translates into less oxygenation into the blood and less oxygen getting to your muscles and other organs. Without enough O2, it sure is hard to keep going at a normal pace. Fatigue is the most likely result.

Keah a.k.a. Wormy

God helps those who help themselves.

http://www.healingwell.com/donate/

Please help us support this invaluable forum.

Red_34 · January 26, 2006, 1:39pm

I don't have asthma but like Keah said, it makes a lot of sense really.

~Sherry~
_{Ulcerative Colitis since 1992
^{Meds: Colazal & VSL#3}
^{Secondary Raynauld's Syndrome since 2004}}^{Meds: Niacin when needed
_{Donate today to helps others like yourself!
http://www.healingwell.com/donate}}

T.E · February 1, 2006, 2:33pm

ihaveasthma and it really tires me out. i need to find a doctor because i don't have one since i moved. stairs just about put me down.

Red_34 · February 1, 2006, 6:44pm

Hi TE, welcome to Healingwell! What kind of medications if any do you take for your athma?

~Sherry~
_{Ulcerative Colitis since 1992
^{Meds: Colazal & VSL#3}
^{Secondary Raynauld's Syndrome since 2004}}^{Meds: Niacin when needed
_{Donate today to helps others like yourself!
http://www.healingwell.com/donate}}

Joan_Mack · February 5, 2006, 9:58pm

Hi Sherry and all! I take singular, advair and nasacort nasil spray everyday. I think they are all helpful but none of them makes my breathing normal.

maui · February 12, 2006, 5:04am

Hello Sherry and Everybody, I also use advair, albuterol, and nasacort which helps alot but when my asthma is really bothering me, I get tired easily.

Red_34 · February 12, 2006, 6:32pm

Joan, have you told your doc about the meds not working properly? I don't have asthma so I don't know whats normal for an asthmatic but it seems that if you don't have severe asthma that you should be able to find the proper medications that can make your breathing normal and feel less tired.
Maui, welcome to HW! smile

shotgunpointer1 · May 4, 2006, 3:18pm

I have severe Asthma and find that the simplest things tire me out.I used to ride bicycle several hundred miles a week,now I can"t even walk for more than a few hundred feet without feeling fatigued. If I do extensive walking or any major activity I can expect to have an asthma reaction the next day or two.They can be from mild to lasting several days. Fatigue after can last several days as my body recuperates both from the exercise and the ensueing asthmatic reaction. I take a massive amount of medications just to be able to do what little that I can do.

I often wonder if it is all worth the effort. I just don"t seem to get any better no matter what I do . My Doctor says that I expect too much but I just can"t accept that. I have never had anything defeat me so completely.

plusgirl · May 8, 2006, 5:17pm

Hello, All!

I'm a lifelong asthmatic and started Xolair about two years ago. There's a posting here somewhere about my experience with it, the short version is that I'm considered a severe, persistent asthmatic and was on Pulmicort twice a day with albuterol in the mix at least two times a day. After being treated with Xolair, I'm off the Pulmicort unless I get a cold or, as now, when the spring pollen count is off the charts. I also climb a 900 foot waterfall and/or trailrun about 3 miles each day with the dog.

I was one of those asthmatics years ago who had multiple courses of antibiotics and prednisone often related to getting a cold, but just as often not related to anything I could put my finger on.

I highly recommend anyone whose symptoms are not in control to check back in with their doctor. Remember, if you are newly on one of the steroidal inhalers, it may take up to 10 days to see any real relief. Your doctor may want to put you on prednisone for a short taper to help you through the adjustment period.

I also recommend educating yourself about how to boost your immune system. Asthma is considered an immune system type disease because, generally, your histamine (allergic inflammation) response is out of control. And all the meds you take can leach nutrients out of your system and affect your adrenal glands (which may result in the fatigue you're feeling).

Also, look into taking a yoga class or finding a workshop on "pranayama" (pronounced PRAH nah yahm), which is yogic breathing. When I started on my long journey from unable to walk too far to where I am now, yogic breathing techniques and yoga itself, helped unlock the tightness in my ribcage thus allowing my lungs to expand more easily. These techniques also teach you how to take a complete breath, most of us breathe very shallowly. And, the most important part is emptying your lungs completely. It's not so much that you can't get air in with asthma, you can't get it completely out so you're carbon dioxide level builds up, creating that panicked, "I'm drowning," feeling. And I also recommend, once your symptoms are under control, start exercising SLOWLY!!!!! A little at a time. I started out doing about a tenth of a mile, roughly five hundred feet. That's the distance along a line of five telephone poles. Take it slow, increase as you can and you will recover old strength. I did, I was a high school track star...a sprinter who, by the age of 23, couldn't go upstairs without my albuterol either.

And keep at your doctor. If he or she is dismissive, ask to see a pulmonary specialist and an allergist if you haven't already. Asthma is not a cookie cutter disease and one inhaler may not be the best for all patients (although the insurance company doesn't realize that!!). If your request to be referred to specialists is denied...find another doctor.

Good luck to all, and by the way, I'm 47 now and intend climbing that little mountain every day for as long as my knees hold out!!

Ocicat · September 30, 2006, 10:24pm

Hi Joan M, I've been an asthmatic all my life! mine is moderate. I've read some articles where they say coffee is supposed to be good for you if you have asthma. Then this past year they say caffinated coffee is better for women. I guess if you like it and it doesn't bother you, what the hey, go for it.
Also, the asthma makes me tired sometimes. I was recently on prednisone for a flair and was I ever tired.
Good luck with your asthma

Ocicat · October 1, 2006, 12:55am

I guess I shouldn't have said "go for it" with the coffee, if the docs don't want you to have it. It seems like no one really knows if it's good or bad for you. Maybe if you made a compromise with your doctors and limit the number of cups of coffee you have each day. Then there is that one aspect I read that if you're having an asthma flair reaching for coffee could help! Anyone else know of this...?
My mom would smoke and drink coffee around me all the time and I really never liked the coffee. Both smells together made me sick (coffee & smoke) and she couldn't understand why I was sick all the time.
Anyway, take care and good luck

Joan_Mack · October 2, 2006, 1:28am

Thanks Chartreux...I think I will go for it for now. If I am down with a virus or during the summer, I know that coffee is not going to do it for me. It is at times like this when I feel good and want to have that extra punch that I think the joe might be good for me.

I have no dismissive doctors and could get referrals...it is just that all this medicine has side effects too. Also, I feel extremely rushed when I see my prime care doctor who is really very excellent but he has to deal with the whole me. I suspect my allergist would be more in favor of the java.

I just want to be active enough to "have a life" but do not hope to "conquer the world" since I am getting a bit too old for that!

jcpatrick · October 2, 2006, 7:54pm

I get up in the morning, put my colthes on, use my inahaler to open up my lungs and go for my morning walk with my wife, but the time I'm 1/2 a mile from home I'm tired. It's not just my body, but my brain is tired. Less oxygen I guess, even with the meds.

Joan_Mack · October 2, 2006, 10:42pm

Sorry stonebreaker...unfortunately it really is a battle to keep awake sometimes. I am hoping to use green tea since it might be good for GERD.

Rochelle · June 19, 2007, 2:18am

Regarding fatique, I caught a cold about three weeks ago and my chest felt like it was a brick. I waited two weeks to treat it because I wanted to avoid medicine. I finally gave in; the doctor prescribed ADVAIR. It is definitely helping, but I have serious bone loss and yeast allergies, and I am wary of cortisone. My question: Despite the fact my asthma is mild, I feel very cold and have about three hours worth of energy. My temperature also fluctuates between 99.4 and 98.0, wheras it is 98.6 when I have energy. Can I expect to get asthma with fatique every time I get a cold? Is there a better medication for me? Does anybody recognize my symptoms? The MD ignored my concern about body temperature. I am new to this and very confused. Thanks

ceebee · June 19, 2007, 4:43am

Hi:) i am also sooo tired all the time and my brain gets fuzzy. I am on every med there is. The doc says there is nothing else to give me but I am wondering if some meds are changed, like a different inhaler or something? What does asmanex do? I just got off prednisone again. fifth time this year already. I am doing okay but scared silly of another major attack. I have a pulmonologist but he is always in a hurry. I would feel better if I had prednisone on hand for an emergency but can't get it so far. last summer I was in hospital every month for a week and almost died. This doctor seems to like hospitalizations...he makes mega money then. I can't even get an appointment for a month if I am having problems. His nurse says go to the hospital. I am sick of my paycheck going to the hospital! There has to be a better way. Help!

mdesouza · December 10, 2007, 10:06pm

HI Rache..you should have your Thryoid tested....fatigue and low temp are classic symptoms...you might be hypothyroid