Asthma?

[93legendti]

My allergist is convinced I have asthma. I am not so sure.

I had symptoms once 3 days after we brought our dog home. I went to the doctor because I thought I had a sinus infection. My dr gave me a breathing treatment and put me on Qvar, because I was wheezing for the first time in my life.
She also added dog to my allergy shots and I am up to maintenance and feel great. I can play with the dog, cuddle with him and I have no symptoms.

I have no overt asthma symptoms. I test slightly low on the breathing test (as I always have), but my dr was shocked I could blow out for over 10 seconds and not collapse.
I can go hard on the bike 3 days in a row with no ill effects. I can bike every day and I still have no ill effects.

I don't know what "chest tightness" feels like.

I have no symptoms of asthma other than the test. I feel Qvar caused me to gain weight. I would love to stop and just carry the pro air "for emergencies". If I had any health concerns I would take my medicine and keep my mouth shut.

Anyone else have experiences similar to mine?

(Sorry if this comes off as a bit of a rant)

[shovelhd]

If you have Pro Air "for emergencies", then at least one doctor believes that you do. Allergies and asthma are closely related, and as you know, allergies change over time. I'd talk to your doctor to get you off the other asthma drug unless you need it. I do just fine using Pro Air as a preventative.

[thwart]

Sounds like you do indeed have episodic asthma.

Whether or not you need to be on a daily preventive inhaled steroid is a judgment call.

Talk further with your allergist.

[seanile]

did they give you a peakflow test?
and for the chest tightness sensation: hold a towel over your face and try breathing through it. then imagine you have the same difficulty releasing the air from your body.

[93legendti]

did they give you a peakflow test?
and for the chest tightness sensation: hold a towel over your face and try breathing through it. then imagine you have the same difficulty releasing the air from your body.

Is that the test where you breath in and then blow out as hard as you can, for as long as you can? If so, yes,

[Tandem Rider]

The peakflow test is pretty foolproof for an asthma diagnosis. Asthma is not something to ignore, un-managed, it can kill you, and people die from it every year. Work to find an athletic Pulmonologist, it makes huge difference. You aren't a 70yo smoker with emphysema, and your expectations are different.

The more I find out about it, the more I see every case is different. Work with your Pulmonologist and don't be afraid to try different treatments, there is no fitzall solution.

[Chris]

Aren't Bergamasco hypoallergenic? Can you be allergic to one anyway? It seems that it might have been a coincidence. You're a cyclist, so you probably have asthma... The good news is that your chances of winning the Tour just went up.

[93legendti]

Aren't Bergamasco hypoallergenic? Can you be allergic to one anyway? It seems that it might have been a coincidence. You're a cyclist, so you probably have asthma... The good news is that your chances of winning the Tour just went up.

Yes, the dog is suppose to be hypoallergenic. 2 allergists have told me that there really is no such thing. I responded wonderfully to the dog serum being added to my allergy shots, my sensitivity was low, but there.

Could be a coincidence, but I did take a blood test to see if I was allergic to dogs and that convinced my dr.

Lol on me winning the TdF!

[93legendti]

The peakflow test is pretty foolproof for an asthma diagnosis. Asthma is not something to ignore, un-managed, it can kill you, and people die from it every year. Work to find an athletic Pulmonologist, it makes huge difference. You aren't a 70yo smoker with emphysema, and your expectations are different.

The more I find out about it, the more I see every case is different. Work with your Pulmonologist and don't be afraid to try different treatments, there is no fitzall solution.

Good advice- I sense most of my drs' asthma patients are young kids or older, sedentary people.

My dr describes me as "very compliant" and get my allergy shots on an exact schedule. My point is I take all my meds conscientiously.

I am on a low does of Qvar and my numbers stayed the same as the tests before I started taking Qvar.
My dr also had me take pro air, wait 20 minutes and repeat the peakflow test and the results were the same...

[seanile]

Is that the test where you breath in and then blow out as hard as you can, for as long as you can? If so, yes,

as was said above, those things are very accurate regarding what can be taken away from that test.
for example, i feel pretty good and in control with my asthma, but when i take the test, they still tell me my lungs are running at 80% capacity and their quality is that of someone who is 9 years older than i actually am. ive had it for so long, with enough damage when my body was still growing (1-5 yrs old) that recently i was told that meds wont do much to improve the chronic condition i have.

[adrien]

Is that the test where you breath in and then blow out as hard as you can, for as long as you can? If so, yes,

It is. Did you wheeze at the end? How did you do?

I have been severely asthmatic most of my life, and only got over the worst of it in the last decade. It will likely kill me one day, and was the reason my family left the UK.

What you describe does sound like asthma, and it is very like allergies, as posted above. What inflames your skin can also inflame your bronchial tubes. That said, a base drug seems excessive for what you describe.

[93legendti]

It is. Did you wheeze at the end? How did you do?

I have been severely asthmatic most of my life, and only got over the worst of it in the last decade. It will likely kill me one day, and was the reason my family left the UK.

What you describe does sound like asthma, and it is very like allergies, as posted above. What inflames your skin can also inflame your bronchial tubes. That said, a base drug seems excessive for what you describe.

No, I cough at the end a few times, no wheezing. I can't remember the number, just my dr surprised I could blow out for so long.

Sorry, to hear about your asthma. I guess I am lucky.

[gasman]

No, I cough at the end a few times, no wheezing. I can't remember the number, just my dr surprised I could blow out for so long.

Sorry, to hear about your asthma. I guess I am lucky.


Coughing is a sign of asthma as is prolonged expiration. Your allergist probably looked at all the test parameters measured-the most important is mid-expiratory flow rate-FEV 25-75. if that's low then you have airways that aren't normal.
I have asthma that is both allergy and exercise induced. I'm fine riding my bike commuting, running errands and easier group rides but when I have to get into Z3-5 efforts all bets are off. Then it's clear to me that a rescue inhaler beforehand makes a difference in my limited ability.I would use it before every race before I stopped racing and I use it now when I know I'm going out with a group on a hard ride. Daily Qvar or other inhaled steroid is something you can work out with your doc. If you feel OK and not short of breath on a daily basis there may not be a compelling reason to use a daily inhaler.

[shovelhd]

^ I have the same symptoms as you and use Pro Air as a preventative and as a rescue inhaler if I push it too hard. My asthma is weather dependent so hard efforts aren't equal. If I don't catch it, fluid starts to build up in my throat, which makes it tighten, and then if I don't take a hit I'm done.

[Seramount]

life-long severe asthmatic...parents had syringes and bottles of adrenaline around for most of my childhood...wasn't allowed to take PE until 6th grade.

also allergic to a number of grass / tree pollens which can trigger asthmatic events.

took cortisone emulsion shots as a kid, which resulted in huge abscesses at the injection sites that had to be drained periodically with a 'horse needle'...traumatic.

symptoms abated somewhat at puberty, and was virtually asthma-free thru my 20s. crap came back with a vengeance in my mid-30s...ugh. took allergy shots for 10 years which helped considerably.

have used a number of various inhalers over the years. albuterol, Flovent, Serevent, etc...effective, but a hassle to always have them at hand.

was finally prescribed Advair...stuff is great. symptoms are now virtually non-existent. after years of twice daily dosings, I'm down to one hit every other week...which is good because the stuff isn't cheap.

have no idea if the OP is truly asthmatic, but it really isn't something to be cavalier about...find the best specialist in your area and get things sorted asap.

[adub]

Nothing wrong with Asthma, all the pros have it.

[Louis]

No, I cough at the end a few times, no wheezing.

I just took a deep breath then blew out for as long as I could. (did not time myself, but it seemed like a long time)

At the very, very, end when I finally stopped, I coughed about two times. No wheezing.

As far as I know I don't have asthma. Never have, never have had symptoms that led me to believe that I might.

Also, I live in St Louis, which according to some folks is allergy-hell. I currently have two cats (had cats and dogs growing up) and a very dirty and dusty house that I don't clean nearly as often as I should.

As far as I know, I don't have allergies.

[bironi]

93,
You'd know if you had serious asthma.
Ride your bike and save the doctor appointments.:beer:

[93legendti]

93,
You'd know if you had serious asthma.
Ride your bike and save the doctor appointments.:beer:
Thanks...well, we have met our deductible for the year...hate to waste that...;)


For you guys with asthma, do you need to use proair or something similar before you ride? I've tried it both ways and I don't feel a difference.

[gasman]

Thanks...well, we have met our deductible for the year...hate to waste that...;)


For you guys with asthma, do you need to use proair or something similar before you ride? I've tried it both ways and I don't feel a difference.

Like I said, it makes a difference when I'm going really hard. Especially during races. Otherwise, I wouldn't have symptoms. If I forgot to use the inhaler I would blow up.

[Louis]

You know what, after reading this thread it's become pretty clear to me that I too have asthma and need a TUE.

Looks pretty simple to me:

http://www.usada.org/wp-content/uploads/TUE_guidance_asthma-beta_2_agonists.pdf

[Louis]

BTW, more seriously, if you don't want your kids to have asthma be sure you let them play outside in the dirt and with animals, and don't clean your house too thoroughly.

Here's the evidence: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1508749#t=article

[Tandem Rider]

Thanks...well, we have met our deductible for the year...hate to waste that...;)


For you guys with asthma, do you need to use proair or something similar before you ride? I've tried it both ways and I don't feel a difference.

At this point in life, I am aware of the trigger for ME, not anyone else, consequently, I just use it when trigger is present and keep it in a pocket for a rescue if needed later. I don't bother at any other times, it doesn't help if it's not needed.

[93legendti]

At this point in life, I am aware of the trigger for ME, not anyone else, consequently, I just use it when trigger is present and keep it in a pocket for a rescue if needed later. I don't bother at any other times, it doesn't help if it's not needed.

Like I said, it makes a difference when I'm going really hard. Especially during races. Otherwise, I wouldn't have symptoms. If I forgot to use the inhaler I would blow up.


Good to know, thanks guys.

[ripvanrando]

I wonder if I have asthma. I have had bronchitis and pneumonia many times in my life.

I cough out of control in the winter towards the end of a workout especially if the air is moist. End of February and March with pine pollen is the worst. I went to my GP and he did a peak flow test. I was coughing out of control after the test. He said I had good lungs and in the best fitness of all his patients. Told me to go home and I'm just getting old. On today's ride I felt that tightness and coughing after starting back up after a latte stop.

I'm fine in summer or if the air is clean.

After a March 200K Brevet last year, I could not stop coughing and spitting lung (sputum or phlegm). On the way home stopped at a redlight in my vehicle, I started coughing so hard that I could not breath. Thought I was going to die. Cars were honking at me. I could not drive. Missed a light and eventually got my act together. People must have thought I was crazy.

In June last year going up into higher and cooler elevation of the Rockies, someone rolled coal on me. Same deal. Almost immediately I was in trouble. It triggered several days of coughing fits although there was a lot of pine pollen in the air.

Maybe time for a second opinion based upon what I read in this thread.

[shovelhd]

Thanks...well, we have met our deductible for the year...hate to waste that...;)


For you guys with asthma, do you need to use proair or something similar before you ride? I've tried it both ways and I don't feel a difference.

I don't race anymore, only on Zwift. I pre treat before those races and club rides. If I'm at the limit and I am having trouble breathing I will use it during the ride in rescue mode.

I'm getting pretty sick and tired of all the judging here when it comes to this subject. If you don't have asthma, you have no idea what it does to you. Your snarky comments only make you look like an ignorant ass.

[MrDangerPants]

For you guys with asthma, do you need to use proair or something similar before you ride? I've tried it both ways and I don't feel a difference.

I have allergy and exercise-induced asthma . My maintenance is Singular and my emergency is ProAir. I always take ProAir prior to exercise though.

[Tandem Rider]

I don't race anymore, only on Zwift. I pre treat before those races and club rides. If I'm at the limit and I am having trouble breathing I will use it during the ride in rescue mode.

I'm getting pretty sick and tired of all the judging here when it comes to this subject. If you don't have asthma, you have no idea what it does to you. Your snarky comments only make you look like an ignorant ass.

Where is a thumbs up when you need one?:beer: