Well, it's official

[wendyzski]

Yeah, we pretty much knew that, but after another x-ray and a slew of tests, barring anything unexpected from the bloodwork, we can be pretty sure it's actually asthma and not something worse that just looks a lot like it.

As I expected, even with my usual morning chest tightness and coughing, my lung capacity was 98% of what is predicted for me height and weight. After some albuterol (the usual basic "rescue" bronchodialator) and a 10-minute wait it was 116% and "normal" for me is probably closer to 120-125% of predicted.

Why yes, I did start playing Baritone Horn at age 8 and singing at age 9, why do you ask? :)

All the rest of my numbers are normal-ish, and improved markedly after the albuterol. The only thing that was oddly low and stayed low was my oxygen uptake rate. It was 72 when 80 is where they like to see it, and albuterol only took it up to 74. It could be explained by the constant inflammation that we expect is going on, or it could be something wierd that would have a marker show up on the blood tests she ordered.

In an attempt to find a regimen that actually WORKS for me, she gave me a different steroid inhaler (Flovent) plus a Seravent diskus. In effect, we are making our own Adviar, only with a different steroid - since I had a lot of throat irritation from regular Advair. I'm also to use a spacer with the Flovent.

It'll be 1-3 weeks before I see any real improvement even if this stuff DOES work, but it's good to have actual hard numbers for my symptoms. I go back in 4 weeks for follow-up and see if this combo is working.

I really like this doc, just as my doc thought I would. She asked a slew of questions and actually listened to my answers. She didn't try to dumb things down for me - in fact she went over my head on a couple of terms but she explained them pretty soon afterwards. She admits to being slightly puzzled as to *why* I've not responded too well to the usual treatments, which as far as I'm concerned is all good - A doc who is willing to say "wow - that's wierd. I'm not sure what we have here" is generally more willing to actually *look* at the data, as opposed to one who immediately assumes an easy answer.

So, physically I'm no better than I was yesterday but I *feel* so much better because there is stuff I can try and there is someone looking out for me.

Of course, all hell broke loose when I finally hit the office at 12:45. It's nice to be needed but bloody hell people!

Comments

[alliesutherland.livejournal.com]

You probably already know this, but you must rinse your mouth REALLY well after using the Serevent. You can get yeast infections of multiple types if you don't.

Glad you're getting good care, though, hon...

[faireraven.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Advair gave me thrush. BLECH! Not doing that again!

Nothing like brushing all of your taste buds off to realize that your mouth needs a damned good rinse after one of those...

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Never really had an issue with that - I just had a constant low-level throat irritation on Advair - like a constant need to clear my throat - with no visible infection of any kind. But thankies for the reminder.

[surlywench.livejournal.com]

Why yes, I did start playing Baritone Horn at age 8 and singing at age 9, why do you ask? :)


lol

I'm glad you've finally got some headway on this..AND a dr. who's willing to work with you to figure it out!!

[capi.livejournal.com]

Yay for a new doc who listens and *ponders*!!! Yay for new meds to try - i hope they work out well for you!

I wonder if the low numbers on oxygen uptake might be from scarring? I'm SURE mine are lower after all those years of coughing without assistance. (Not that i ever needed help coughing, mind you! *snort*) Like you, i started out with SUPREME lung power, but mine will never be documented now, cuz the testing commenced after six or eight years of coughing! Ah well....

I just hope this new stuff does wonders for ya!

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

The impression I got from her was that if the scarring was that bad it would be showing up on the X-ray.

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

glad you got a good doc!
something to bear in mind? take a good long look at the ingredients in everything, herbal tea. cough drops, etc.... see if any of them are related to known allergens.

hubby turned out to be allergic to echinacea...

[faireraven.livejournal.com]

I've probably asked you this before, but how do you know Wendy, unless it's from a costume con?

And I'd agree with keeping a diary of what your intake is each day... Whether it's food, beverages, vitamins, suppliments, etc... Sometimes it's the stupid things.

Since your asthma was in full force pre-bunny, I don't think that's it.

Glad to see it's "only" asthma, though!

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

uh.....
ummmm......
errr....
i actually dont know. memory of a hyperactive ferret, remember? i have trouble remembering which Lj handle goes to which people i know IRL.
Wendy? have we met IRL? or strictly online? through LJ? ummm.... what?

sadly i am allergic to bunny, myself....

[rileybear67.livejournal.com]

I'm in the same boat... Asthma, allergic to bunnies, attention span of a ferret, loves costum.... Oh, look, more stuff!

Wendy-lady, I is EXCITEDLY glad that you are getting the care you need and are starting to feel better.
Yay for you!

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

did i tell you about the really neat new yarn and fabric i got.. hey.. umm... what were we talking about?
oh yeah, fabric....

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

I think we met on either metaquotes or cadhla's lj.

[faireraven.livejournal.com]

fabricdragon is SCA in my neck of the woods... Well, ish. She lives in my former kingdom, but vends in my current one...

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

Cadhla's.. it was Cadhla's! and then i saw friends in common.......

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Since your asthma was in full force pre-bunny, I don't think that's it.

Also, if it was I'd feel WORSE if I stayed home on the couch all day, whereas I almost always feel better then. I get my worst symptoms when I go out for the first time in the morning and climb the stairs to the train.

[faireraven.livejournal.com]

Pollen or mold, more likely, then.

*sigh*

Have you ever gotten tested/allergy shots? I was a little basket case as a child, and once I got my allergy shots, my asthma subsided to a dull roar whenever severely exercise induced. I only need my inhalor when I'm either sick already or when I have some HUGE load of exercise getting accomplished.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Not only have I been tested, I got weekly shots from age 11 through age 22, when they said "looks like they're not helping that much and now that we have non-sedating antihisthamines you're probably better off just taking those". Been on Zyrtec ever since.

Last test in 1998 showed *thinks for a moment* dust mold grass trees flowers dogs cats guineapigs....
The mold test was so bad it blew away 4 of the other test sites!
That's why I'm so careful to manage the hay and haydust issues - I'm allergic to Timothy!

I also have hardwood floors and only rugs that can be hot-water washed.

[faireraven.livejournal.com]

Your mold test was my dust test. My arm swelled up like a baseball!

I was a basket case as a child... I still have allergies, but I am FAR better than I was previously... If I hadn't had my shots, I'd've died of an asthma attack long ago, and would break out in hives any time I came near a cat!

My dad was on shots as a teenager, and then when I was 10 (he was about 40 or so) he went back on them again, and they helped somewhat... Eventually the effects fade, so you may have to do them again.

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

mold?
first off all, make sure none of what you are eating is a known mold vector/growth thingy...

next? have someone help you strip your shower, get all the old .. uh. whatsis.. uh. the gooey stuff you put around the tub, get it replaced.
and wash your shower and all hard tile surfaces with white viniger or bleach or whatever doesnt hurt you (not all together! never combine stuff)

i know there are some anti mold things. umm. let me look them up

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

oh my shower gets regular bleachies, never fear. remember that i've had all these allergies for 20-30 years already, so i'm used to this. The only "new" factor in all this is an upswing in asthme symptoms - nothing systemic, no other allergy or digestive symptoms, etc

As for the antibiotics/yeast issues, i hardly ever have yeast issues and i have no problems with any antibiotics themselves. Unlike poor cyd who gets them with any antibiotic.

[faireraven.livejournal.com]

Honey, I get thrush from Advair, almost any antibiotic will drive me nuts with yeast... At least Danactive seems to control issues now.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

whereas I had thrush once about 10 years ago I think, get the girly-type yeastie-beasties maybe once a year or less. The only yeast infections I've had in the past 3 years have been under my saggy boobs!

[osprey333.livejournal.com]

Yay for not being allergic to bunnies! Boo for being allergic to hay. Have you tried orchard grass (I know, the diva may not approve). At least around here in California, the Timothy is much dustier thatn the orchard grass.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

oh - and the trigger is probably something environmental combined with humidity. I do much better on cool days and/or after a rain.

During the winter it was the cold dry air - I had to have the scarf up over my mouth before I opened the door.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

I already do - I am allergic to chamomile and echinacea, so I drink a lot of plain green tea

[jamdin.livejournal.com]

At least you officially know that you have asthma and I wish you the best in treating it. One of my step-brothers had it bad as a kid but he pretty much have it under control as an adult thanks to the meds.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

We had it under control till last fall. I got a horrible case of bronchitis that took 3 different antibiotics and several months to clear up, and ever since then we've not been able to get things back under control.

yeast/mold and antibiotics

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

oh, yeah. that will do it.

antibiotics, for a long time made your yeast overgrow honey.. you have a massive systemic mold/yeast over growth. best thing for it is a strict diet and go on the beneficial gut bacteria in the refridgerator section of your health food store.
read about yeast infections and etc....

[macaodghain.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the club.

...it sucks. I, fortunately, have been able to shake most problems with age, and the assistance of Singulair, which I have been on since... I had to take the kid pills.

Hope you are as lucky.