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Hi Dawghi!
So, far I've had my 5th injection of Xolaire just this past Thursday (06/13). The Asthma is better, yet it still flares-up something awful. It seems as soon as I get down to 10mg of prednisone, I have to go back up to 40mg. Nonetheless, I have not hospitalized since I've started treatment. Usually around this time of year I would have been hospital at least 5 times already, so I believe that Xolaire is working. I just have to be patient. When the coughing starts I feel so bad because nothing stops it ...nothing. When I cough for 2 days or more none stop I get this awful pain in my ribs, both sides and stomach. I mean the pain knocks me to my knees and make me cry. The pain lasts about 30 min to an hour. On one occasion when this happen, I took a pain pill (hydrocodone) and believe it or not it stopped the coughing for exactly 3 hours. I was shocked and I told my doctor about it and he said that there was something in the medicine that suppresses the cough. I can't recall what it was. It really helped, but this is a drug that is highly addictive, so I cannot take on a regular basis. The coughing never really goes away, and the wheezing never goes away. Sometimes the wheezing is so loud it keeps me from going to sleep because I have to make sure that no one has entered the house because it actually sounds like someone is talking to you"026LOL Funny how your mind plays tricks on you when you are sleep deprived.
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Thursday I was back in the hospital. Friday, I found out that I was approved for Xolaire. Though a little late as for as keeping me out of the hospital, I am thankful that I was approved. Most importantly, with the love and care of my new allergist I have a new lung specialist who is working very hard to help me as well. For the first time in a long time I feel hopeful with my new medical team. They both have expressed that I was a complicated case but they were up to the battle. So, I thank God for placing them in my life. This support group has been a big help as well. No matter how bad we may feel that we have it, there is always someone who has it worst. This sounding board keeps me grounded. I am a little concern about starting the Xolaire but I am hoping for the best.
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Cwille,
I am now in the same position. Currently, taking prednisone (now down from 40 to 20) and I have gain a total of 24 lbs. My pulmonologist doesn't seem to be concern about the weight, yet my endocrinologist is very concern because of the diabetes, (result of the prednisone), high-blood pressure (result of asthma medication). Most importantly, I do not like myself with the extra weight. I recently, signed up for Weight Watchers Online, but have yet to commit to it. Not sure if it will work because the weight gain is the result of prednisone not that I eat badly. So, yes I understand what you are going through. I like to suggest, that you take one day at a time. I find that when I focus on getting through one day at a time I tend to stay on course. I pray each night that I awake each morning with the mindset I will have a great day, exercise, eat the food that I prepared, and try to remain positive. It looks like you are on the right track, so please keep pressing forward. You have to allow your body to re-adjusts to accept the lifestyle changes that it has to come to reckon with. If your are heart is in it, YOU CAN DO THIS!
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Thank you for your post. Right after my first post to the site, I was hospitalized. I also suffer with the cough as well. The cough is so bad it is nothing for me to lose 10lbs in a week. To only put it back on again with the high dosage of steroids. I have scheduled an appointment with a new allergist with hopes of getting an alternative method of treating the asthma. While I was in the hospital, I was told that my phosphorus level was high. I'm so afraid that the steroids are now affecting my kidneys. The reason that I cannot sleep is that I have to sit-up. This is not a comfortable position for me. In addition, I have to get up throughout the night for breathing treatments (every 4 hours).
Again, I really appreciate your posting because it makes a difference communicating with someone that understands.
Sleepless
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