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I understand your concern, I have never notice a change with altitude however I live in Manitoba which is a flatland. I have been to alberta to red deer and don't remember having much trouble with the altitude.
Do you use a netti part or nasal spray for your sinuses. You can get a nettie pot over the counter they work well to clean out your sinuses.
In Canada symbicort is approved as a rescue inhaler but not in the states. I am currently using symbicort 200/6 mcg 2 puffs 4 times a day to control my asthma but I am being followed closely by a respirologist.
Peak flows are a device you blow into to see what capacity your lungs have it often will show an attack before you become symptomatic. MDI or meter dose inhalers are inhalers such as ventolin that are in an aersol container often used as a rescue inhaler. A nebulizer is a liquid medication made into a vapour to open the lungs better with higher doses of medication then the MDI. Hope that helps.
Stress can also be a huge trigger for asthma and if there is a way for you to control your stress that would help control your asthma better. However saying that is easier then doing.
Make sure you have health insurance and your medical information for when you travel incase you need to use the emergency room.
Hope you enjoy your holiday. Sorry you can't get into your doctor any chance there is a walk in clinic close by.
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Sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well again. I hope you get over it quickly. I can imagine how horrible it would be to go back to what you haven't had to do for about 15 months. Praying that you will feel better soon.
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My parents have a sitzu Lhasa alpso cross. We got him before I was diagnosed with asthma. I don't have allergies to dogs but he does bother my asthma if we don't bath him often or if his hair gets really long. He doesn't shed unless we don't get him cut. My parents make sure he is clean before I come over with non scented shampoo and clip him often. He also doesn't go into the room I sleep in or come close to my face. I can imagine it being hard for ur granddaughter to give up her cat. Good luck BreView Thread



I see a pulmoniologist, however I don't have allergy induced asthma. I did see an allergist for allergy testing and everything was negative although I was on high doses of prednisone at the time.
It is different in Canada because unfortunately we can't necessarily choose who we see. When my asthma started getting worse I was initially referred to an internalist who has an interest in respiratory problems however he was not helpful. I was then referred to a pulminologist who worked with me for about 8 months, and she was good at ruling out other types of illness she then referred me to a different pulminologist who specializes in asthma and COPD. Which in my opinion should have been the first place to go.
She has been treating me for a year and a half and has been excellent. She tested for a few more diseases such as vocal cord disfunction and even did a bronchoscopy (look inside your lungs) to make sure they weren't missing anything I do have a very atypical asthma. I was finally diagnosed with severe cough variant non allergic asthma.
So for me an allergist would not be beneficial as I have never had an allergic response, however I found her good at looking at all aspects of different lung diseases and ruling them out. Every time I have an appointment with her which is every 4-6 weeks she does spirometery and a full chest assessment, and we talk about different treatment options. She is very knowledgable however she has an interest in asthma so I think that might help somewhat.
It might depend on what you prefer but I know she looked at the allergy side of things but I don't react to most allergens.
Let me know what you decide
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I am on singulair have been on it for about 4 years, the only side effect i really noticed was headaches but also started symbicort at the same time so not sure which one causes the headaches. I don't have allergic asthma but my specialist wanted me to stay on it because if I catch any viral illness my asthma is extremely out of control and singulair is supposed to help with some of the viral infections. I agree with Judy try and get a sample if you can. Good luck
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I am sorry to hear about the lung cancer, I do increase it up to 4 puffs twice a day when my asthma is really acting up, I find it does help somewhat with the flares. Are you also on ventolin have you tried that before physical activity? Not sure if it would help or not. I hope your doctor will let you increase it. I know my family doctor and other emergency room doctors I have dealt with are surprised to see me on that dose as it was a respiorologist who increased it. Let me know if you have any more questions, I think I have been on most of asthma medications in the last few years.
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I am on both symbicort and spiriva, sympicort I take 3 puffs twice a day but can take it up to 8 times a day if needed (in Canada it is approved as a reliver medication) and also on spiriva which I take once a day. Spiriva actually does not contain a LABA it is an anticholinergic bronchodilator medication like atrovent, which means it relaxes the smooth muscle and prevents mucous production.
It is safe to take both together, Spiriva has made my asthma much more controlled.
Also Advair is alot like symbicort it is a combination drug that contains a steriod and a LABA.
I hope this helps and hope you don't have to stop the spiriva.
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