Cold/Flu or whatever.

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Thu, February 14, 2008

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Hi all,

Recently I have had a series of flare ups due to some sort of respiratory infection. I did get a flu shot this year but maybe it wasn't for the right strain or maybe this is just a cold on steroids...I don't know. Bottom line is that it has been/is giving me the blues. I saw my pulmonologist yesterday and was coughing so badly she had me take a breathing treatment in her office. She prescribed levaquin and prednisone. I am starting to feel much bettter now that I am on antibiotics and a prednisone taper. So much so that I was a bit more active today and found out that feeling better and being better are not exactly the same thing. As a result of pushing myself too hard too soon, I had a slight relapse and needed to use my nebulizer to get things back under control.

I will now chill out until my followup visit in 2 weeks. Lesson learned. I will behave despite how good the pred makes me feel. It will be hard though. Pred always makes me energetic and feelin bullet proof. I would advise everyone to follow their doc's advice no matter how well you feel. It's too easy to relapse.

Be well...and Be smarter than me,

Tom

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Vicki M

2/16/08 10:16am

Hi Tom!

Don't beat yourself up. When you've been feeling bad it can make you a little depressed and when you get treatment that makes you feel better, it's natural to want to get back to your life! We just need to take a little time to let our bodies heal before we jump back into life with both feet.

Have you had asthma all of your life or is it something that came on as an adult? I had childhood asthma that went undetected and untreated until I was in my late teens/early 20's. Been a tough thing to deal with over the years, but they now have treatments that are better than ever. We have alot to celebrate! I remember when the doctor didn't have the ability to give a breathing treatment in their office, you had to go to the hospital!

About the flu shot. I did hear that although people get the flu shot, it is a basic shot to cover the most common strains, but that there are strains that it is not meant to cover. It doesn't take much for a flu strain to mutate into something else.

I hope you are feeling better now and please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!!

Vicki M

thp636

2/17/08 1:42pm

Hi Vicki,

I am still fighting the crud. No danger of me overextending today. I feel really dragged out. Round 2 has me down a bit. Still, it should run it's course in a few days. At least I hope so.

In answer to your question, I developed asthma a little late in life at age 57. I am now 59 and am still trying to get things under better control. It is frustrating not being able to do everything that I once did. You are right though...the progress that I have made is significant. I have a pulmonologist and an asthma specialist that I see at the Washington University Lung Center in St.Louis. They have been great and we continue to try various medications to achieve a more normal lifestyle. At least I haven't had to go to the ER in about 10 months. That is progress. Prior to that I had to go to the ER 4 times in 9 months.

Sometimes I forget or ignore the limitations I currewntly have with this disease. Asthma has a way of reminding you though, doesn't it? I have every hope of achieving more control. I just haven't gotten there yet.

Thank you so much for your kind comments,

Tom

Vicki M

2/25/08 10:16pm

Hi Tom,

How are you doing this week? Any improvement? Are you living in an area with bad weather?

Hope things are looking up for you! Stay in touch!

Vicki M

thp636

2/26/08 6:41pm

I see the doctor again tomorrow. I'm still a shaky but I'm getting there.

Tom

Vicki M

2/26/08 7:54pm

Tom,

Let us know how the doctor appointment goes.

Vicki M

thp636

2/27/08 11:36pm

Well I saw the pulmonologist today. It didn't go as well as I had hoped.

I was shaky and coughing so I was again given a breathing treatment. Because of slight heart palpitations and an elevated pulse rate I was given xoponex (sp?) instead of albuterol to see if my "jitters" settles down. I was also given samples of xoponex for my nebulizer at home and a xoponex inhaler. (I really like my pulmonologist...she really takes an interest in my health and works very hard for me).

I have to stay on pred a little longer although the dosage is small. Oh well, at least pred is cheap. It elevates my blood sugar and I don't sleep well but breathing is more important. When I'm not coughing I don't feel too bad...it's just that once I have had an exacerbation it takes quite a while before things settle down again. I hope the xoponex helps with the jitters and things calm down some.

It has been a rough ride so far.

Be well,

Tom

Vicki M

3/ 4/08 9:24pm

Hi Tom,

You've had a couple days on the new treatment with xoponex. How's that going for you?

Not sure what part of the country you live in, but here in the east the weather is driving us mad. Warm one day, cold the next. The trees, flowers and grass don't know what to do and that means allergies and asthma attacks are worse!

Hope you begin feeling better real soon! Take care and stay in touch!

Vicki M

thp636

3/ 5/08 12:21am

Hi VickiM,

I think the xopenex is working out well. I'm not as jittery and haven't had any heart palpitations since I first started on it. I'm also down to 5 mg of pred for the next two days and I'm finished with it. (for now) My blood sugar readings are back where they should be and things overall are looking up.

I live in St.Charles Mo. and the weather around here has been nuts also. Sunday it was sunny and the temp was 70 degrees. Today a cold front rolls through and we get hit with 10 inches of snow. You just don't know what to expect.

As for my asthma, I still get coughing fits but that is the way it affects me. After an exacerbation I remain hyper sensitive for quite some time and I tire easily. But if I'm quiet I do all right. I should be all right as long as I don't do anything silly.

Thanks for your concern. I hope all is well with you.

Tom

Vicki M

3/ 8/08 11:58am

Hey Tom,

Did you know that cold weather (cold air) will make your asthma symptoms worse? Here a user named WendyC asked about it, and Sloane Miller one of the resident experts here confirmed it. I know that exerting myself in colder weather will trigger an attack for me.

Take care of you, rest and stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!

Vicki M

Cold/Flu or whatever.

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