Living with asthma: Come introduce yourself & meet others

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Jan 21, 2024

Welcome to the Asthma Support Group on Mayo Clinic Connect.

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Introduce yourself

This is a welcoming forum where you can meet people who know first-hand about living with asthma or parenting a child with asthma. Together we can learn from each other and share stories about challenges and coping strategies, setbacks and the things that help.

Pull up a chair and introduce yourself. What is your experience living with asthma (i.e., type, how long, how is it managed, challenges)? Got a question, tip or story to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Asthma & Allergy Support Group.

pjk69 | @pjk69 | Jan 28 7:33pm

Hello everyone! I learned I had asthma when I was 44. It was because of nighttime coughing that I went to see my daughter’s allergy /asthma specialist. I was getting pneumonia frequently and once I knew I had asthma, I always get vaccinated flu, Co-Vid, RSV and pneumonia. That keeps me fairly healthy, although I sometimes still get pneumonia.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jan 30 8:10am

In reply to @pjk69 "Hello everyone! I learned I had asthma when I was 44. It was because of nighttime..." + (show)

@pjk69 - glad to hear you got a diagnosis and that the vaccinations you're getting are helpful. Wondering if you are being treated with medications on a regular basis for your asthma? If so, what medications did your doctor prescribe?

Mari | @marip | Jun 25 3:23pm

Recently diagnosed with breathing tests. My only symptom was a dry cough. I don't have wheezing or breathing problems. My doctor prescribed an inhaler that is very expensive which my Medicare insurance doesn't cover. Would I need the inhaler? I don't have breathing problems?

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jun 25 4:05pm

In reply to @marip "Recently diagnosed with breathing tests. My only symptom was a dry cough. I don't have wheezing..." + (show)

Medicare.

altilla | @altilla | 6 days ago

In reply to @marip "Recently diagnosed with breathing tests. My only symptom was a dry cough. I don't have wheezing..." + (show)

There may be other options inhaler wise that are more affordable or covered. There are a ton of options it seems like and prices vary quite a bit.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | 6 days ago

In reply to @marip "Recently diagnosed with breathing tests. My only symptom was a dry cough. I don't have wheezing..." + (show)

Hi @marip - I moved your post here so you could connect with others who have a similar diagnosis:

- Living with asthma: Come introduce yourself & meet others https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-asthma-come-introduce-yourself-meet-others/

Glad you connected with @sueinmn and@altilla.

In my experience of asthma personally, I don't have wheezing or breathing issues, just a cough. The inhalers have helped me, as when I cough I envision my lungs being irritated and squeezing. The inhaler should help calm that down.

Fellow members such as @pjk69 @dcypherzzz @mlillich @sharrondriver and others may have thoughts for you on the usefulness of an inhaler even if you don't experience breathing problems and are mainly coughing.

Is there a discount coupon on the inhaler manufacturer's website, by chance? Have you gotten to talk with the prescribing doctor about any alternatives?

jdwelch2025 | @jdwelch2025 | 6 days ago

In reply to @marip "Recently diagnosed with breathing tests. My only symptom was a dry cough. I don't have wheezing..." + (show)

@marip I want to reply to the comment about Medicare not covering the inhaler you were prescribed. I am a SHIIP counselor for Medicare in North Carolina (SHIIP is a free counseling service run by the state insurance department, nonbiased, every state has one - I urge everybody to contact their local SHIIP (sometimes called SHIP) annually to review your Medicare drug coverage - there are ALWAYS changes and you might benefit from changing plans during open enrollment).

We have noticed a lot of problems with inhalers not being available on many insurance companies' formulary lately. If your insurance doesn't cover your prescription another insurance company might, or there might be a cheaper inhaler that your doctor could prescribe that is covered. Every drug plan, whether a Part D for Original Medicare, or an Advantage Plan has its own drug formulary.

Please contact your local SHIIP/SHIP office for free, unbiased, assistance on finding affordable drugs. Insurance plans differ across states and within states. Medicare is not for the faint of heart! SHIIP is an amazing program to help make decisions.

barbu262 | @barbu262 | 4 days ago

In reply to @jenniferhunter "I developed asthma as a adult after a series of respiratory infections. I started having sinus..." + (show)

@jenniferhunter

I developed asthma as a adult after a series of respiratory infections. I started having sinus issues and developed seasonal allergies. I had one calendar year where I kept getting respiratory infections, actually I was sick 8 times in 12 months for about 2 weeks each time. This was back in the 80's when I was a young adult. Finally after a lot of this, I saw the primary care doctor who made a remark that I probably had pneumonia. I had been using a cough suppressant and sleeping sitting up because if I layed down, all I did was cough, and that was probably a mistake to try to suppress phlegm rather that help it move out with an expectorant. It was after this, that I developed chest tightness and was diagnosed with asthma and issued an Albuterol rescue inhaler.

I have allergies that trigger my eosinophilic asthma, and I have thoracic outlet syndrome that make my chest wall too tight on one side of my ribs. It has at times restricted my chest wall movement resulting in trapped phlegm that causes a chest infection. This can periodically happen and it usually starts as a sinus infection, and when I feel my throat start to get a bit sore from post nasal drip and my resting heart rate goes up a little bit, I know it has moved into my lungs and my air absorption is restricted by phlegm.

I found a solution for this because of being a Mayo surgical patient where I was asked to preemptively treat for nasal infections with an antibiotic ointment in my nose for several days before surgery. This works great to quickly clear my sinus/lung issues and I breathe better again. My doctor lets me keep a prescription on hand for this.

I also have done work with my physical therapist and done myofascial release to get my chest wall and lungs moving better. That helps a lot and improves the functioning of the weaker left side. Exercise does help keep my lungs working better.

I pay attention how I feel from day to day and tend to stay inside in my filtered air when there are high mold spores counts outside during damp weather. Molds are a very big trigger for me and I need to avoid them as much as possible because medications are not enough. I also do allergy shots, but really don't like doing it, but it does help when allergies flare.

Jennifer

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@jenniferhunter
This sounds so much like the symptoms I experience with asthma. Adult onset, severe allergy to molds, leading to Costochondritis, because of the coughing. Also, do allergy shots, which do help some.
Thanks for posting.

srqqd | @srqqd | 4 days ago

In reply to @altilla "There may be other options inhaler wise that are more affordable or covered. There are a..." + (show)

I agree. My pulmonologist gave me a sample inhaler Trelogy cost $708/mo. Medicare doesn't cover.
I asked if a less expensive one is available. Fluticasone Furnate/vilanterol Ellipta cost $508 ..Good Rx $257.
After using this steroid inhaler 5 months, the pharmacist checked for a less costly comparable...at CVS, located 2 for me, one $123, one $78 !!!!
My pulmonologist said yes these are fine!
Why does this game have to be so financially difficult?
Remember: check with the pharmacist for a comparable Rx

Mari | @marip | 4 days ago

In reply to @barbu262 "@jenniferhunter This sounds so much like the symptoms I experience with asthma. Adult onset, severe allergy..." + (show)

@barbu262 Are you using an inhaler and is it a steroid medication?

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