See All
Preferences
My Communities
My Discussions
My Email Digests

I don't think there's any hard and fast rule about asthmatics having to avoid a certain high altitude. In fact, I recall some fairly old studies showing improvement of asthma in children who were sent to the Swiss Alps for treatment.
Personally, I do suffer from altitude sickness, but that was something that predated my asthma. Thus, I know I'm going to have problems when I travel to places like Denver where it's a lot higher elevation than where I live. I take things slow, take ibuprofen for the inevitable headache, drink lots of (non-alcoholic) fluids, and get plenty of rest. I also cut back on exercise temporarily.
Hope some of these thoughts help. If you could take all the precautions you can ahead of time you'll probably lessen your stress and be able to enjoy the trip more. Take care & good luck. JudyView Thread


If it's any comfort, when my son was diagnosed with asthma years ago the allergist put him on Flovent. Per his allergist Flovent is the one inhaled steroid that is best for kids because it has a very low systemic effect -- i.e., the medication almost completely stays in the lungs and doesn't have an effect on the rest of the body. An allergist could explain to you the long term effects, but usually the ability to breathe trumps any side effects unless they're serious.
I also wonder whether allergy shots (i.e., allergen immunotherapy) would help him in the long run. It would take 3-5 years to reach full effect, but desensitizing him to allergens would reduce his attacks and allow him more freedom in his life. I know the shots have worked very well for me.
Hopefully some of this helps you. Take care & good luck. JudyView Thread

Hope these thoughts help. Take care & good luck.View Thread

FeNO stands for Fraction of Exhaled Nitric Oxide. (No, you do not inhale nitric oxide, you exhale it as a normal part of breathing.)
What this test does is to measure the amount of nitric oxide (NO) in your lungs, which is a marker of inflammation. The less NO, the better your lungs are doing. So yes, with the FeNO test the doctor would be measuring whether you were getting better and whether your ICS was doing a good job at reducing lung inflammation.
The test simply involves blowing into a little plastic machine for a specific amount of time -- maybe 30 seconds, or a minute. You have to keep the airflow going out at a certain rate. The gizmo my allergist has has a cloud icon and you have to blow to keep the cloud in the middle. I believe they have you do it 2-3 times to make sure the results are consistent.
The FeNO test is yet another way your doctor can measure how your lungs are doing and how well your asthma is controlled. There's spirometry, FeNO measurement, and simply asking a bunch of questions to see if you're having any symptoms, and when.
Hope this helps. Feel better soon. JudyView Thread

Hmm, I'm wondering if you really need a spacer with the Alvesco. If I recall correctly, Alvesco does not transform into the steroid until it gets into your lungs, which would reduce the incidence of thrush. Maybe this is something to discuss with the doctor, or maybe the Alvesco website has some info on this.
Anyway, good luck with the Singulair, hopefully it gives your asthma treatment an added boost without side effects, as it does for me. JudyView Thread

Why not get a week's worth of samples from your doctor and give it a try? Then you won't be out the $$ for the medication in case it doesn't work for you, or if you get any troublesome side effects.
Just a thought - hope it helps. Take care & good luck. JudyView Thread

Second, it's possible that your lungs are more "twitchy" at night. It may be because after a day of exposure to your allergens they are more sensitive. It may be that you have undiagnosed acid reflux that is inflaming your lungs and that crops up after dinner. It may just be your body's circadian rhythms (cortisol is lower at night). So, if your lungs are more twitchy and sensitive at night, that would explain why taking Alvesco at night would bring on a coughing fit while that doesn't happen in the morning.
Maybe your doctor will let you skip the nighttime dose. Or maybe he/she will tell you to use your albuterol inhaler first, to ward off the coughing.
Again, your best bet is to revisit your doctor and let him/her know how you're doing on the Alvesco and to answer all your questions.
Hope this helps. Take care & good luck. JudyView Thread


www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg ufe
The site is sponsored by two radiology organizations so I think we can trust that it's accurate information. There's also a video so you can listen to a radiologist explain it.
And there's another article on the broader procedure, catherer embolization, that you may want to view as well.
More info soon. JudyView Thread
Women's Health Newsletter
Find out what women really need.
Other Asthma Information
More Related Exchanges
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.
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.



