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

Atypical Asthma, COPD, and Lyme disease questions and support.

Discussions

Sort by:

Ionic Salt Lamps

Ionic Salt Lamps seem to be all the rage and are supposed to "clean the air of allergens" thereby relieving...

Posted by An_247525

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Ionic Salt Lamps Ionic Salt Lamps seem to be all the rage and are supposed to "clean the air of allergens" thereby relieving...

Ionic Salt Lamps

Ionic Salt Lamps seem to be all the rage and are supposed to "clean the air of allergens" thereby relieving...

Posted by An_247525

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Ionic Salt Lamps Ionic Salt Lamps seem to be all the rage and are supposed to "clean the air of allergens" thereby relieving...

Asthma and Singulair

My son's asthma was acting up, so the doctor prescribed the drug Singulair for him. He's been taking it for a...

Posted by An_245484

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Asthma and Singulair My son's asthma was acting up, so the doctor prescribed the drug Singulair for him. He's been taking it for a...

Very High Heart Rate During Exercise...

Hello, I was just diagnosed with Asthma today, and I was wondering if it is what is causing my heart rate to...

Posted by Tealpwraz

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Very High Heart Rate During Exercise... Hello, I was just diagnosed with Asthma today, and I was wondering if it is what is causing my heart rate to...

Asthma Cures

Hey everyone, I'm wondering if anyone has information about any experimental asthma cures or treatments. ...

Posted by barnescody

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Asthma Cures Hey everyone, I'm wondering if anyone has information about any experimental asthma cures or treatments. ...

Asthma and Alcohol

Hi, I'm 19 years old and to answer your question, yes, I have and do drink alcohol on occasion. I have had...

Posted by An_242438

Take the Poll

How are your asthma symptoms affected by alcohol?

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Asthma and Alcohol Hi, I'm 19 years old and to answer your question, yes, I have and do drink alcohol on occasion. I have had...

cedar asthma ?

I've just learned that workers in sawmills get an asthma called cedar asthma from breathing sawdust from...

Posted by An_242312

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:cedar asthma ? I've just learned that workers in sawmills get an asthma called cedar asthma from breathing sawdust from...

monster truck shows and asthma

Next weekend is a monster truck show. Mu 10 year old step son has asthma and uses an inhaler as needed, Has...

Posted by cdthom

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:monster truck shows and asthma Next weekend is a monster truck show. Mu 10 year old step son has asthma and uses an inhaler as needed, Has...

need help

am 39 years old male from Jordan (Middle East), who have been suffering from BA since 35 years, since 2009...

Posted by Anon_236658

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:need help am 39 years old male from Jordan (Middle East), who have been suffering from BA since 35 years, since 2009...

Are we missing something?

Please help, I feel like I'm getting nowhere with my Medical Care Providers and I think they are missing...

Posted by CplDevilDog

Please help, I feel like I'm getting nowhere with my Medical Care Providers and I think they are missing something.

My history: I'm a 40 YOA male, non-smoker. I'm about 70 lbs overweight for my height (270lbs on 6'). The weight came on fast (5 years) after I lost my career, my goals and my joie de vivre and started chowing down to feel better. I was 4 years in the Marines and used to run 3 miles in 21 minutes with no breathing distress (other than the fact that I just ran 3 miles).

A year ago I started feeling a tightness in my chest every few days accompanied with needing to clear my throat to keep my voice from breaking.

I saw my PCP and he sent me for a chest x-ray and diagnosed my condition as Asthma. He prescribed Advair. I took it for a few days until I read the warnings regarding "last resort for asthma" and a couple of other blurbs (long story short, I decided to self-diagnose and stopped taking the inhaler. BAD, BAD, BAD)

A month ago I started waking with choking and drowning dream at night. I saw an ENT and ENT-Apnea specialist and had a sleep study done. The result was "Mild to Moderate Hypopnea" with Blood Saturation levels of 80-85%

I started on a CPAP machine a week ago with moderate comfort and compliance results so far.

The problem is, my wheezing and shortness of breath is getting worse. I can hear myself wheezing throughout the day and my lungs feel tight most of the day. I saw another PCP two days ago and he administered a Spirometry test. My indicated Lung Age is 55 and my average FEV1 over 3 attempts was 65%. (63,51,82)

My PCP says the results are "Normal". Huh? I'm 40 not 55 and 65% doesn't sound like a passing grade to me.

I'm sure my weight figures into the results but wow! How many decades off do I have to be to get an "Abnormal"?

My Grandmother passed from "Non-smoker Emphysema" (if there is such an animal). Not sure if its relevant

So, I've been hitting the gym and treadmill everyday for two weeks now, watching what I eat and trying to use the CPAP through the night. I'm looking for one of those devices they gave my father after he had lung surgery for exercising your lungs. It was like 4 or 5 balls in a cage that you had to blow (suck) to raise them. Figure even while I'm sitting at my desk I can be working on that.

Any other suggestions? Opinions on that Spirometry Report. Should I ask too go back on the Advair? Maybe the 250/50 for COPD?

Thank you for taking the time to read my sob story.View Thread

Posted by CplDevilDog

3 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Are we missing something? Please help, I feel like I'm getting nowhere with my Medical Care Providers and I think they are missing...

asthma or something else?

I'm a 43 year old male and have had asthma all my life. It has historically been well controlled and has...

Posted by shutterbuga

I'm a 43 year old male and have had asthma all my life. It has historically been well controlled and has not impacted my quality of life.

Over the past 7 or 8 years however I have had a change in symptoms. Breathing becomes extremely labored, I feel as though I'm gasping for air. My chest is heavy and feels like it has in years past when I've had bronchitis. The sensation is horrible, it progresses to the point where I've got my hand on the phone ready to dial 911 as I feel like I just can't breath.

My albuterol has virtually zero impact (it doesn't help). I've been on advair 50/500 twice a day for 4 or 5 years now, I also take protonix for reflux and flonase for nasal allergies.
It has been suggested that vocal cord dysfunction may play a role, and I have been to 2 speech therapists and do my breathing exercises daily but notice no improvement (I've been doing these for years by the way).

When I have these episodes they can last an hour, or a week or months. During that time my oxygen levels are always at 95-98% (I have my own pulse/ox) and although I am miserable, I can still go get on my treadmill and workout at a moderate pace. i.e. it hasn't yet hampered my ability to function, but the sensation and constant feeling of struggling for air has taken a huge toll on my ability to enjoy life.

My Doctors have taken chest xrays, given me full pulmonary workups, runs a myriad of blood tests, etc... and everything comes back A-OK. They just continue to tell me that my sinuses and reflux are impacting my asthma. *NOTE: I do not wheeze, and albuterol only occasionally helps the symptoms.

Over the past 7 or 8 years these symptoms would come on, for a few weeks or months and then vanish and I'm be symptom free for 6-9 months. For the past 6 months however I've been symptomatic every day.

The only test that has come back as anything but perfect is my spyrometry. The last time I saw the Dr. I was down to about 60% (I've historically been around 78%).

Any thoughts? What are my Dr. and I missing? What else do I need to pursue?View Thread

Posted by shutterbuga

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:asthma or something else? I'm a 43 year old male and have had asthma all my life. It has historically been well controlled and has...

Rapid Heart, shortness of breath- short time.. not...

I wonder if anyone can answer a question. I have been diagnosed with moderate-severe COPD Emphysema. I haven't...

Posted by sylvelle

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Rapid Heart, shortness of breath- short time.. not long I wonder if anyone can answer a question. I have been diagnosed with moderate-severe COPD Emphysema. I haven't...

asthma/reptiles

my grandson, who has severe asthma, lives in a house with approximately 100 snakes....could the stench...

Posted by eclaine

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:asthma/reptiles my grandson, who has severe asthma, lives in a house with approximately 100 snakes....could the stench...

Asthma Inhaler problems

Many times, after taking a hit off of my inhaler, I will get extremely close to passing out. Black tunnel...

Posted by An_189810

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Asthma Inhaler problems Many times, after taking a hit off of my inhaler, I will get extremely close to passing out. Black tunnel...

Burnind sensation...

I'm a 42 year old male, and have had asthma my whole life and am on Advair, Singulair and Albuterol. I don't...

Posted by BrianT7

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Burnind sensation... I'm a 42 year old male, and have had asthma my whole life and am on Advair, Singulair and Albuterol. I don't...

mild copd

Was diagnosed several months ago with mild COPD. Went back for a check up a few weeks ago and was told that I...

Posted by An_189809

3 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:mild copd Was diagnosed several months ago with mild COPD. Went back for a check up a few weeks ago and was told that I...

How did i get asthma?

I am 13 and i just got diagnosed with asthma on friday after being taken to the doctor due to shortness...

Posted by dancinonwater

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:How did i get asthma? I am 13 and i just got diagnosed with asthma on friday after being taken to the doctor due to shortness...

Weird feeling after I use my inhaler

Every time I take my inhaler a little bit after words I feel so weird. Its such an odd sensation Im unsure how...

Posted by Kacie123

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Weird feeling after I use my inhaler Every time I take my inhaler a little bit after words I feel so weird. Its such an odd sensation Im unsure how...

How I am improving my Asthma Condition

Hello Everyone, I am 39 years old, male, Indian staying in middle-east. I want to share with you my...

Posted by vbhatia71

Hello Everyone, I am 39 years old, male, Indian staying in middle-east. I want to share with you my experience with my Asthma and how I am gradually improving my health in my own ways.
You may laugh at me if I say that I am trying hard to get rid of my Asthma completely within few months time. Believe me my Asthma is improving a lot!
Since my childhood, I was a shy and 'stay indoors' kind of boy. I was very thin but never had Asthma symptoms. I sometimes had seasonal flu. My parents were healthy till their 50s and my mother then started Severe Asthma for firt time.
I came to Dubai when I was 27 (1998). I had an indoors job and thus was hardly exposed to the extreme hot weather and sand-storms of desert.
Soon I started having very bad cold. Within three years, mild Asthma attacks started (2001). I did not know much and started taking Ventolin on my own. It certainly helped during the attacks but slowly the attacks became more frequent. In 2003 (7 years ago) I started seeing a Pulmonologist who immediately put me on Symbicort-160 (2 x 2). I got huge relief with Symbicort. My Peak Flow reading which was 450 at first, shot to 650, in 2 months.
After 4-5 years of regularly taking Symbicort, I started having flu like symptoms, cold and fever. My doctor put me on Singulair.
The Asthma condition which was under control before slowly became uncontrolled and the frequency of attacks increased gradually. The frequency of Asthma attacks was once a month (Till June this year). I was also taking Xyzal and Fluctonase (Nasal Spray) but I did not get much relief. For severe attacks I got week long tapered courses of Prednisolone. I got hospitalised 3 times in last one year.
I am always curious about health issues and keep reading stuff from internet. I always understood that those who have a poor Immune System get sick soon. I also knew that taking steroids suppresses that immune system even further. I always read about all the medicines Doctor gave me. But one thing that I never I never paid much attention to how to improve the Immune System.
Since I got several attacks since last year, I became really serious about my health. Suddenly my whole focus was on Immune System and I found that Endocrine System has big role in it.
I noted that sometimes I had Severe Migraine attacks also, just before asthma attacks. This chain of Migraine before Asthma attack lead me to Adrenaline levels, and I learnt that all of this was part of Endocrine system.

Then, I started writing the sequence of symptoms before a full blown Asthma Attack.First - Pain in Lower Back of head in the center. (Pain in Pituitary Gland?)
Next - Pain in Upper Back, both sides, just below rib-cage (Pain in Adrenal Glands?)
If pain in back does not go away on it's own, in few hours I start Feverish feeling, Body Pain and Heart Rate at rest stays above 110 bpm . (Tachycardia?)
Next — Migraine kicks in (Adrenaline level?)
Start feeling difficulty in breathing (Breathing Tubes constricting?)
In few hours, I either start having pain in Throat or get Flu like symptoms and slowly Asthma Worsens as Mucus increases in Lungs. (Immune system compromised and caught Viruses?)

I was quite sure that all this was linked and started reading further in this direction. I could not find much about improving the Immune system and Endocrine system but I was atleast sure that all of this was related my laziness since childhood that I was never active in my life.
I started doing regular exercise since June this year. I've joined a gym near my place and started slowly with walking and cycling. Since last week I have started weights too.
My Peak Flow Reading in June was 420, in August it was 600 and I am hoping to get even better results this weekend.
More to add later, just wish me good luck for this weeked for now!View Thread

Posted by vbhatia71

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:How I am improving my Asthma Condition Hello Everyone, I am 39 years old, male, Indian staying in middle-east. I want to share with you my...

Carbon Dioxide Levels

Have any of you with asthma seen if your carbon dioxide levels when taken by blood are abnormal? I am seeing...

Posted by AyameJade

0 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Carbon Dioxide Levels Have any of you with asthma seen if your carbon dioxide levels when taken by blood are abnormal? I am seeing...

Exercise Induced Asthma and Running

I've heard that mild exercise induced asthma symptoms are caused when you breathe in cold air during activities...

Posted by TangoUp

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Exercise Induced Asthma and Running I've heard that mild exercise induced asthma symptoms are caused when you breathe in cold air during activities...

Seeking help and understanding

Hi, I hope that there is someone out there to give me some advice. I went into an ER(1) on 3/27 with...

Posted by An_189811

30 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Seeking help and understanding Hi, I hope that there is someone out there to give me some advice. I went into an ER(1) on 3/27 with...

Asthma Advice?

I am a healthy 20 year old female who was recently diagnosed as having Asthma. I have a horrible rattling in my...

Posted by LSS531

13 Replies | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Asthma Advice? I am a healthy 20 year old female who was recently diagnosed as having Asthma. I have a horrible rattling in my...

Prednizone

A very dear friend of mine has been on pred. for 25 years along with other asthma meds. She simply can not...

Posted by wasp2121

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This Discussion Report This | Share this:Prednizone A very dear friend of mine has been on pred. for 25 years along with other asthma meds. She simply can not...

Women's Health Newsletter

Find out what women really need.

Spotlight: Member Stories

frogieartist

I've had to deal with asthma for the better part of my 56 years of life. But for the past 10, I felt something had changed and I was getting worse...More

See All Posts by frogieartist

More Members

Modebb

Edit your story | See All Members

Popular Discussions

Start a Discussion | See All

Helpful Tips

Primatene Mist

I am 73 yers old and have has copd and asthma for 5 years. Being on Medicare the price of my ALBUTEROL was $7.oo , the price has gone up to ... More

Was this Helpful?

13 of 32 found this helpful

Post a Tip | See All

Helpful Resources

Be the first to post a Resource!

Post a Resource

Related Drug Reviews

Drug Name User Reviews

Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Other Member Communities

Dieting Club: 10 - 25 Lbs Member Community Share Your Tips and Support!
Caregiving Member Community The Support and Understanding You Need!
Parenting Friends Talking Member Community Get Support from Members Like You!

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

In-depth coverage:

Find us on:

URAC: Accredited Health Web Site

HonCode: Health on the Net Foundation AdChoices

About WebMD Advertise With Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy Sponsor Policy Site Map Careers Contact Us

Medscape Reference eMedicineHealth RxList Medscape MedicineNet BootsWebMD WebMD Corporate

First Aid WebMD Magazine WebMD Health Record WebMD Mobile Newsletters Dictionary Physician Directory

WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.

Asthma

See All