Hello & welcome to Mayo Connect, I see that you have been a member for a while, but this is the first time you have posted a message. I hope I can answer sensibly, because my asthma has been an unsolved puzzle for over 30 years.

I should explain that in addition to asthma I have allergies, bronchiectasis, reactive airways (spasm in reaction to scents, allergies, exertion - but not always) and have been treated for mycobacteria avium complex (MAC), pseudomonas and repeated bronchitis. 4 years of treatment and daily airway clearance with saline SEEMED like it should be enough to make me comfortable. But, I still had daily episodes of "tight" or "heavy" chest, plus shortness of breath and high heart rate doing something as simple as walking up the stairs or wiping off the table. Heart problems were ruled out.

My pulmonologist suggested we try a Symbicort inhaler often used for COPD, budesonide (corticosteroid) and formoterol fumarate (long acting beta agonist) - my insurance covers the generic form, but it seems to work.

Combined with the Singulair, Mucinex, antihistamine & airway clearance, this seems to have done the trick for me. I hardly have used my rescue inhaler this summer (used to use it several times a day) and I even managed to mow 1/2 the lawn yesterday without wheezing!

I know that conventional wisdom is that people who have or had MAC should not use steroids, but my pulmo & I decided there is a balancing act between being able to breathe comfortably and stay active and reinfection risk.

Are you looking for a better way to control your asthma?
Sue

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