Asthma
7
Member
197 days
breezy posted 24 weeks ago.
I also have exercise induced asthma and have driven myself crazy trying to train through it. I also take a daily steroid inhaler, singular for any allergy related asthma and an emergency inhaler. It helps sometimes, but I've found the more I use the emergency inhaler, the more I NEED to use it during exercise sessions.
The biggest help I've found was getting a professional fitting on my bike to ensure I wasn't compressing my lungs and ensuring good form during the run to make sure I'm getting the maximum amount of oxygen. I've been focusing on my breathing and slowing down if I feel an attack coming on. Doing all of those things, I've been without an attack for several months and have pretty much removed my dependency on my emergency inhaler.
825
Member
1206 days
dr_rios_ec posted 24 weeks ago.
Hi there:
Exercise Induced Asthma is a very common problem that athletes encounter during training.
One thing that I have learned with these cases is that the treatment direction is like figuring out what to eat before a race.
In other words...
Not always you are going to hit bullseye with the very first protocol of treatment that your doctor prescribed. I am not saying that he or she is wrong, but you have to try and experiment until you find the very right medicine or combo that works better for you.
Sometimes is useful for the patient to use some oral medication in between crisis, like leukotriene inhibitors for example, or also de usage of antihistamines and so on. The behaviour and frecuency of your crisis might get better or worse depending the time of the year. It is very common to have to use more than one med to control the problem.
It would be wrong for me to try to give you the magic formula, because there is none, but I encourage you to try and believe in your doctor.
The type of medicine mix that you are using is pretty good and effective and sometimes might get a few weeks until the real effect kicks in and the inflamatory process is under control. Be a bit patient.
I think general measures like the bike fitting and breathing exercises are of a world of help.
Natural medicine with supplements and such might be of good aid to your treatment but with all due respect, I do not think they are going to be the solution to your health problems.
Don´t give up, and I wish you the very best.
Hasta la próxima!
-Santiago
"Man!! Defeat is worse than dying, cause´you have to live with it" -My Dad
"It ain´t about how hard you can hit...it is how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward"-Rocky Balboa
12
Member
258 days
mlandry2 posted 24 weeks ago.
I used to have bad exercise-induced asthma. After training through it for the last 5 or 6 years instead of using inhalers, it now only effects me at really high intensity speed work (like 400m repeats at sub :55). When it used to be bad, what worked for me was using an Intal inhaler (cromolyn is its generic name i believe) 30 mins before exercise, in combination with the albuterol about 10-15mins before. Intal is really effective against asthma caused by irritants (exercise is an irritant) because it treats the mast cells. This worked wonders for me, but I'm glad I don't have to deal with inhalers anymore.
I'm no doctor, but I am a cell biologist, and I believe flovent is just a corticosteroid, it will help with the symptoms of asthma by reducing the resultant inflammation and swelling of the airways (so maybe what you are feeling later in the day). From what i researched awhile ago, its believed irritation of mast cells is a key factor for exercise-induced asthma, so an Intal inhaler may be much more preventative of having issues in the first place. Definitely consult with a doctor though as there may be more current info, or other more effective mast cell stabilizers.
If you want even more in depth info, feel free to PM me.
6
Member
433 days
cmanfredi posted 24 weeks ago.
I have had asthma and some severe allergies since I was two, and have taken all sorts of medications over the years. I also regularly visited the hospital for asthma when I was growing up. Despite the asthma, I ran X-country and track in high school and college.
The medication that has controlled my asthma the best, by far, is Advair. It comes in a number of different dosages depending on the severity of your symptoms. I also have an albuterol inhaler, which I used pretty frequently prior to starting Advair. I almost never need it any more. I have been doing triathlons for about 3 1/2 years now, and have had no asthma related problems impacting my ability to train/race.
And no, I have no connection whatsoever to the makers of Advair or any other drug company.
825
Member
1206 days
dr_rios_ec posted 24 weeks ago.
mlandry2 wrote:
I used to have bad exercise-induced asthma. After training through it for the last 5 or 6 years instead of using inhalers, it now only effects me at really high intensity speed work (like 400m repeats at sub :55). When it used to be bad, what worked for me was using an Intal inhaler (cromolyn is its generic name i believe) 30 mins before exercise, in combination with the albuterol about 10-15mins before. Intal is really effective against asthma caused by irritants (exercise is an irritant) because it treats the mast cells. This worked wonders for me, but I'm glad I don't have to deal with inhalers anymore.I'm no doctor, but I am a cell biologist, and I believe flovent is just a corticosteroid, it will help with the symptoms of asthma by reducing the resultant inflammation and swelling of the airways (so maybe what you are feeling later in the day). From what i researched awhile ago, its believed irritation of mast cells is a key factor for exercise-induced asthma, so an Intal inhaler may be much more preventative of having issues in the first place. Definitely consult with a doctor though as there may be more current info, or other more effective mast cell stabilizers.
If you want even more in depth info, feel free to PM me.
Cromolyn, grate medication for the periods between crisis, as well pointed in the quote, it helps to control de degranulation of mast cells so the attack is prevented before it even appears.
The steroids thou are crucial also, to reduce the inflamatory process that is so violent that makes air difficult to come in and out from the lung pipes.
Again is a combination of different meds that at the end help to control the problem.
-Santiago
"Man!! Defeat is worse than dying, cause´you have to live with it" -My Dad
"It ain´t about how hard you can hit...it is how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward"-Rocky Balboa
71
Member
197 days
RunMDC posted 24 weeks ago.
I have had asthma my entire life and I struggled through it for many years. Then about 7 years ago I finally went to the doctor to get it under control. He started me with the highest level of Advair and over a 2 year period reduced the dosage. Then I went to using Flovent daily and Albuterol in energencies. This was one of the best things I ever did. There are still times of the year when allergies trigger an attack but I just have to be careful during that time.
I think it is important to try different treatments. There are many asthma drugs on the market and not all will be right for everyone because each persons asthma is triggered by something different. Mine is more allergy induced then exercise induced. I have also found that having a healthy diet keeps my asthma under control.
8
Member
416 days
Likemike posted 23 weeks ago.
ADVAIR!!!! I suffered for years. Hands down Advair is the answer! Asthma is aweful. Let us know how you do! For me Advair was a miracle drug. I can't recommend it enough.
And I have no connection to Advair as well.
Mike.
17
Member
185 days
sheracr posted 23 weeks ago.
I'm sorry to hear there are so many asthma sufferers out there, but I appreciate the recommendations. This is new for me, only was diagnosed about a year ago and I felt a bit punted around by the medical staff who didn't want to believe a treatment did not work. Good to know real-life experience with other options. Never fear, I am wonderfully pushy with the doctors when I have a little knowledge under my belt. I'll start experimenting with treatments Thanks!
39
Member
223 days
grindylow2000 posted 23 weeks ago.
I had asthma from birth until around 11yrs old. Im 20 now and through my early teens and high school i never really participated in sports that stressed the resp system (tennis and baseball). After graduation i started rowing in college and from got into tris, i have started to feel that "heavy lung" feeling and couhging after long rides (+50mi) or interval workouts on the indoor rowing amchine (erg)...but other than that i would say that im in the clear! for those of you that still suffer from it, i sympathize!
I am guessing more than one person out there suffers from exercise-induced asthma. My doc has given me Flovent (Fluticasone) to be used daily, and another albuterol inhaler for 'emergencies'.
And so as luck wouldn't have it, neither seems to work particularly well. My asthma is pretty light but sometimes I will bike or run and then can't breathe well the rest of the day (oddly I am ok for a couple of hours, then it gets worse), always gasping for a lung-full. Has anyone had any luck with alternative treatments?
Thanks.
(I know this has been brought up before but I could not get to the information when I searched on TriFuel.)