Question:
I have very severe Asthma. It effects me 24/7 and has been that way for
about 20 years now. I've been to several Dr.'s and all pretty much take
the same route. Load me up with pills, inhalers etc. Nothing has ever
made much of a difference. I have been on Advair 500mg but have stopped after the warnings came
out. I believe Advair helped a slight amount. I started Spirava which
maybe helping but have to use a bit longer to really tell.
I've tried Asmacort, Singular, Flovent, Serevent, and a long list of
other drugs with virtually zero improvement.
For most of the 20 years my asthma has been uncontrolled. Albuterol
helps but often only for a short period (30 minutes or less). Even
strong doses of Medrol or Prednisone have little effect.
I have been on Xolair injections for 2 years now. It seems to have
reduced the number of very severe days and ER visits but has not
improved my day to day health.
Anyone else here with very severe asthma where most typical asthma drugs
do very little? If so, what have you done to control your asthma? I've
heard people mention Asmanex. I am not familiar with that. Is there
much success with it where other meds have failed?
Answer:
I suggest that you visit the website of the largest bookstore in the
nearest city and type asthma into the search engine at that site. Purchase
a book (or books) that have been written by a doctor (asthmas specialist).
The book should
be written for people that have asthma. There should be detailed
information in that book that will help you to become an expert on asthma.
There might be advice in the book that will help you. If anyone can
suggest an excellent book related to asthma--please post the title of the
book and the name of the author. Sometimes when your asthma isn't managed well by medication, and
you've tried every combination of drugs, it's because the asthma
is caused by bacteria. Researchers think asthma has different
causes, one of which is bacteria. It's possible that your asthma
is either caused by, or has been made worse by, bacteria. Look
at the studies and the support forum at www.asthmastory.com to
learn more.
I've done considerable amount of research on asthma over the years. I
also get the quarterly medical updates on asthma that Dr's get. Tough
reading for a non-med person at first but you start picking up the lingo. My trouble is I don't seem to fit any of the standard patterns most
asthmatics do. For instance, my asthma is triggered by multiple
things. Allergies are certainly a major contributer but I do not
respond to asthma drugs or allergy injections etc. that go after that
cause. Even the very expensive Xolair injections do little. Xolair
seems to have great success with those that have allergy induced asthma.
My asthma is pretty much a daily thing. I don't have many bad
attacks. Just constant very low lung capacity.
Dr.'s have tried to find other reasons. I also have sudden onset
arthritis. So I had blood tests done. ANA scores were off the chart.
So I had other tests for things such as Lupus to explain the high ANA.
Tested negative.
My immune system is rather weak. I have a heck of a time fighting off
infections. It's my belief my asthma, arthritis and weak immune system
are all related. So far I have not been able to find the underlying
reasons to any of them.
If your ANA were off the chart it sounds like you have some autoimmune
disorder even though you tested negative for lupus. What kinds of infections are you talking about? Bacterial? Viral? How
often do you get infections? What type of arthritis have you been diagnosed with? If rheumatoid
arthritis that would suggest autoimmune disorder that is in keeping
with your elevated ANA. I am not a doctor but have spent time working in a hospital. I know of one
patient that had the same sort of problems that you are having. The doctor
that treated the person came to the conclusion that the disorder she had
was not Lupus but of all of the disorders that he knew about--what she had
was more similar to Lupus than any other disorder. Therefore, he
prescribed for her the same medications that he prescribed for his Lupus
patients.
I suggest that you read the following books:
"The Acid-Alkaline Diet" by Christopher Vasey, N.D
"Stop Inflammation Now" by Richard M. Fleming, M.D.
