My WebMD Sign In

Please enter email address

Enter your password

Keep me signed in on this computer

Show more Information

If you select "Keep me signed in on this computer", every time you visit WebMD.com you won't have to type your email address and password. This means that a cookie will stay on your computer even when you exit or close your browser which may reduce your levels of privacy and security. You should never select this option if you're using a publicly accessible computer, or if you're sharing a computer with others. Even if you select this option there are some features of our site that still require you to log in for privacy reasons.

Forget your password? Having trouble signing in?

Why should I
sign up for WebMD?

With a WebMD Account you can:

Track your way to weight loss success
Manage your family's vaccinations
Join the conversation

See more benefits Sign Up

Why WebMD?

My WebMD

Show Menu

Facebook Twitter Pinterest

WebMD Home

Asthma Community

Reply: youtube resources

You have a great sense of humor. I guess it wouldn't be so bad to get mouth to mouth...

Posted by amcate

You have a great sense of humor. I guess it wouldn't be so bad to get mouth to mouth resusitation from a good looking EMT

...but they might use BMV instead. (bad BMV...bag mask ventilation).

I'm not sure what exactly you're asking regarding the difference of asthma treatment. From looking it up, Symbicort is a combination maintenance drug like the Advair 500/50 I take. I've never had an allergist tell me to take Advair more than twice a day because of concerns with asthma related deaths due to the salmeterol component. They tell me to double or at times triple the inhaled corticosteroid component by adding FloVent 220. Usually it is a mild exacerbation they are trying to reverse early on to avoid the need for prednisone.

In terms of the medical system, if a person is disabled and has no one to take care of them, they go to a nursing home. Some are good, some are inhumane. I would have no one to take care of me and could end up in an inhumane situation since I wouldn't have someone on the outside keeping tabs on the nursing home and moving me if needed. So, I avoid that by having DNR/DNI orders, but sometimes hospitals ignore it especially if the person is young. So, I try to avoid hospitals and handle it at home. I've lost consciousness from attacks, but I still feel the same because my biggest fear is not death, it's spending 40 years in an inhumane nursing home.

So, in my case it's very important I get my nebs in on time. I've not lost consciousness from an attack in 8 years as I am aggressive with the nebs early on and I detect a decline early. I've tried to educate people in my life who care about me what to do in an emergency, but some refuse the education. So, that's been my challenge and why I was searching youtube.

I've not experienced socialized medicine, so I don't know the differences. The good part of the USA system is if you have money, you can get excellent care and there are many research centers.

Otherwise, the system is fragmented, which is what the second video is addressing. When I had mild asthma, I saw a general practitioner and it was okay....only when I started having attacks in which the albuterol failed to clear it and I would pass out for 5 min at a time, his assessment was that nothing was wrong and he refused to change my meds. I self referred to an allergist since it was a emergency situation, and I've been treated for asthma for over a decade. It was only last year, at my own request, that other diseases where ruled out. Even so, I had to request the pulmonologist rule out sleep apnea, alpha 1 deficiency, etc. Differential diagnosis should have been years ago, but an asthma specialist only treats asthma. So, it's not coordinated.

I can't qualify for disability in my state even if my doctors believe I need it and even if I'm on a ventilator every month for a week for years. My state is strict in using predicted values of spirometry instead of personal best. My personal best varies a lot from the norms....meaning I won't ever be able to access that benefit.

My state is good at providing me my controller meds at $3 for each one per month. It's a long story, but being on this program ends up disqualifying me from going to National Jewish...it's because the programs are not coordinated together, and so I can only access one, but not both.

So, overall, lack of coordination between providers has been an issue. I was impressed by asthma UK as their advice line also addresses psychosocial components of the disease. In my experience in the USA, they have problems just making sure everyone has access to controller medicines such that the psychosocial aspects get ignored. This is what the second video addresses.

However, the good thing is that if you have knowledge you normally can get decent asthma care in the USA, but it falls on the patient to advocate for themselves.

Let me know if you were wanting other information instead.View Thread

Posted byamcate

8 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:youtube resources You have a great sense of humor. I guess it wouldn't be so bad to get mouth to mouth...

youtube resources

I tried to post under the "resource" tab, but it required a URL, and youtube links don't...

Posted by amcate

8 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:youtube resources I tried to post under the "resource" tab, but it required a URL, and youtube links don't...

Reply: Predinose use

I was trying to find youtube videos for strategies on how to deal with it when you're having...

Posted by amcate

10 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Predinose use I was trying to find youtube videos for strategies on how to deal with it when you're having...

Reply: Predinose use

"And as many times as you tell yourself not to panic, it was to late." It's understandable,...

Posted by amcate

10 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Predinose use "And as many times as you tell yourself not to panic, it was to late." It's understandable,...

Reply: prayers

I'm in agreement with my allergist's view on antibiotics. What he's trying to avoid is me...

Posted by amcate

13 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:prayers I'm in agreement with my allergist's view on antibiotics. What he's trying to avoid is me...

Reply: prayers

Thanks for your support. Also wanted to mention that my medical POA really is a good person...

Posted by amcate

Thanks for your support. Also wanted to mention that my medical POA really is a good person overall and I believe does care about me. He had asthma as a kid, but that was a number of years ago and treatments have changed. I'm not sure he understands the new treatments and what I'm talking about. I've requested he take the time to learn and to learn my individual asthma situation and plan, but he's very busy and probably won't. I told him probably next time I'll just email him since he's not good in those situations. It is nice when you're going through something scary to have someone with you, even if it's over the phone...

I also emailed him to educate him about nebulizers used in emergency management and how it doesn't always completely reverse the attack for me, but it keeps the severity less and stablizes it until prednisone kicks in, which sometimes can be a matter of days due to steroid resistance. I tried to explain to him what 55% peak flow means in terms of risk of becoming unresponsive, what an incomplete response to the neb means, and that most of the time I can prevent the attack from getting that severe (where I lose consciousness) as long as I catch the deterioration in time by monitoring the peak flows and aggressively nebbing early on when it starts to drop. I'm not sure he's interested in understanding all of that, though. He's my best option for a medical POA, though.

Mostly, I just would like it if he could deal with it so if I do end up one of these days dying at home, then I won't have to die alone....but for some reason he can't and I guess still sees me as a healthy 16 year old, when he first met me.

So, your adrenal glands stopped functioning from the prednisone, and the hydrocortisone pills are to replace the corticosteroids the body normally produces?...or are they to treat the asthma? I've never heard of hydrocortisone pills used to treat asthma. I'm fortunate in that so far I've not had major effects from the prednisone, but I've had to make major life style changes including moving away from friends and family to minimalize it since I was taking about 4000 mg a year. Even so, my allergist is not happy with the amount of prednisone I use (now about 1500 mg a year), but I've done all I know to do. Still, I am fortunate as I've not had any major medical effects from it so far....except being crazy while on it

. Anyway, thanks again for your support and I don't ever mean to sound like I take things for granted or complain while others are on vents all the time. With me, I'll never qualify for disability due to the state regs as I've discussed on other threads...but fortunately I can work on call and I make enough for my needs, but it is unstable employment. I wish sometimes I could work full time and contribute to the community that way...but we'll see. I'm trying to use the experience to somehow grow into a more loving and kind person, but I'm still learning. I'm trying to be like a flower that takes the fertilizer stuff of life and turns it into something good. Thanks again for your kind prayers and responding.View Thread

Posted byamcate

13 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:prayers Thanks for your support. Also wanted to mention that my medical POA really is a good person...

Reply: Strengthening Lungs after an attack

No problem. I don't know that you have the wrong definition. I may have misunderstood...

Posted by amcate

7 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Strengthening Lungs after an attack No problem. I don't know that you have the wrong definition. I may have misunderstood...

Reply: Strengthening Lungs after an attack

I act from a preventative standpoint as my education emphasized "the risk of immobilization...

Posted by amcate

7 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Strengthening Lungs after an attack I act from a preventative standpoint as my education emphasized "the risk of immobilization...

Reply: Predinose use

No problem. My doctor tells me to take 40mg at a time. So, on the days I take 80 mg I take...

Posted by amcate

10 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Predinose use No problem. My doctor tells me to take 40mg at a time. So, on the days I take 80 mg I take...

Reply: prayers

I neglected to mention in my last post above that I've not been to work since that day...

Posted by amcate

13 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:prayers I neglected to mention in my last post above that I've not been to work since that day...

1 234 5

Women's Health Newsletter

Find out what women really need.

For more information, visit the Duke Health Asthma and Allergies Center

Other Asthma Information

The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, reviews, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.

Do not consider WebMD User-generated content as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.