
Elevation a danger to asthma while on holidays?
Hi. Planning a holiday within about 11 days, visiting relatives. Everyone wants to do...
Posted by TinselPixie
Hi. Planning a holiday within about 11 days, visiting relatives. Everyone wants to do sight seeing. I realized the sites, like Mt. Rushmore are at elevations of 5200-5700 ft. I read once asthmatics aren't supposed to go over 2500 feet. I've done okay at 3100 feet, just abit breathless on stairs but that was 15 years ago. Do I have cause to be concerned about going to higher elevations? My lungs, particularly the right weak one, has been constricted, burning on and off all summer due to intermittent forest fire smoke so it's not happy to begin with. Should I just forget going? Or go but in a wheelchair to avoid an oxygen debt from walking I can't replenish? Is it just too dangerous to go? I'm feeling constant stress since realizing I'd forgotten about altitude. Any ideas, suggestions, comments will really be appreciated. I went through a mountain pass once at 5200 feet and it was NOT a pleasant experience at all, I had to concentrate on my breathing and nothing else except to say "drive through this pass as fast as you can, get me out of here." I'm on Symbicort 200, 1 puff twice a day and it seems fine overall, no hospital visits in a decade or more. Suggestions, cautions, advice??? (It's a minimum 3 month wait to see my MD)View Thread
Posted byTinselPixie
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Thank you very much everyone! You've really given me a great education here. I...
Posted by TinselPixie
Thank you very much everyone! You've really given me a great education here. I appreciate it. I did check with a 24 hour health phone-in hotline we have in Ontario and they said altitude equals no problem for asthma. They do agree I have a sinus/allergies problem though and that's causing a cough and sore throat on and off. However I found that taking a Hall's cough drop yesterday stopped the running down my throat business instantly so I'm taking some with me.
Bresky I'm on the same Symbicort strength as you but it's used as a preventive in my case and my doctor has me on 1 or 2 (my choice) puffs twice a day,much less than yours. Finding out Symbicort can be used as a rescue inhaler explains why it works so quickly on me as well as long term. I have not been to the hospital since going onto it and I think I should count my blessings as we live in a clean air area (wilderness). If I lived say in Toronto, or any big city, I am sure I'd be in much worse shape. I know if I visit a big city for a week or more and there is smog/dirty air it really affects me and my heart goes out to all of you living in dirtier air than me.
Again thank you so very much, all of you, for your very interesting, informative and caring answers. I really appreciate it!View Thread
Posted byTinselPixie
Bresky I'm on the same Symbicort strength as you but it's used as a preventive in my case and my doctor has me on 1 or 2 (my choice) puffs twice a day,much less than yours. Finding out Symbicort can be used as a rescue inhaler explains why it works so quickly on me as well as long term. I have not been to the hospital since going onto it and I think I should count my blessings as we live in a clean air area (wilderness). If I lived say in Toronto, or any big city, I am sure I'd be in much worse shape. I know if I visit a big city for a week or more and there is smog/dirty air it really affects me and my heart goes out to all of you living in dirtier air than me.
Again thank you so very much, all of you, for your very interesting, informative and caring answers. I really appreciate it!View Thread
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Thank you for your detailed reply amcate. As I rather expected, I phoned my doctor's...
Posted by TinselPixie
Thank you for your detailed reply amcate. As I rather expected, I phoned my doctor's office and got a recording saying the office is closed until the 20th and we leave on the 15th. Story of my life with them. Anyways my doctor has never mentioned peak flow meters, nebulizers MDI's...not even sure what they are. I have one med for the asthma, the Symbicort and it seems to work well for me, It takes effect within 10-15 minutes when I need to take an extra puff.
I contacted a 24 hour health hotline here in Ontario and they said elevation should have no effect on asthma. They suggested I drop in on a doctor or clinic regarding my sinuses and possible infection. As I am currently stressed out and a bit under the weather, sitting 6 hours at the local Emergency Department among a bunch of sick people does not thrill me and will likely MAKE me sick. There are no clinics or other doctors available so, unless my health picks up somewhat I think I am stuck with just going and taking a chance with the med I have. Not thrilling but what else can one do?View Thread
Posted byTinselPixie
I contacted a 24 hour health hotline here in Ontario and they said elevation should have no effect on asthma. They suggested I drop in on a doctor or clinic regarding my sinuses and possible infection. As I am currently stressed out and a bit under the weather, sitting 6 hours at the local Emergency Department among a bunch of sick people does not thrill me and will likely MAKE me sick. There are no clinics or other doctors available so, unless my health picks up somewhat I think I am stuck with just going and taking a chance with the med I have. Not thrilling but what else can one do?View Thread
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Thanks both of you. I can try calling my MD's office. We're an underserviced area, half...
Posted by TinselPixie
Thanks both of you. I can try calling my MD's office. We're an underserviced area, half the town has no doctor so he's very busy. But it's worth a shot. He says I can double the Symbicort dose, I just usually take 1 puff not two to keep my med intake to the minimum. I think part of my breathing problems right now stem from allergy/rhinitis--my sinuses haven't been happy for months.
Prednisone--last time I took it for 7 days for a lung infection it worked great, dried out the lungs, but also swelled my face up and I gained 22 pounds in 6 weeks.
Well I shall see if I can get through to my MD at all. I appreciate hearing about your experiences with high altitudes...I can fly fine which is 10,000 feet pressurization with no problems. Perhaps the extra fluids, going slow and and rest will do it. Thanks!!!View Thread
Posted byTinselPixie
Prednisone--last time I took it for 7 days for a lung infection it worked great, dried out the lungs, but also swelled my face up and I gained 22 pounds in 6 weeks.
Well I shall see if I can get through to my MD at all. I appreciate hearing about your experiences with high altitudes...I can fly fine which is 10,000 feet pressurization with no problems. Perhaps the extra fluids, going slow and and rest will do it. Thanks!!!View Thread
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