Living with asthma: Come introduce yourself & meet others

@sharrondriver I also use an Aerobika to clear mucus and also take Mucinex. You will need to find the combination of meds and activities that work for you. Stay with the process, it will get better in time. If you are still struggling, though, contact your doctor.

@jenniferhunter Another thing I did was chew sugar free cinnamon gum. It really kept my throat clear.

@colleenyoung
I had Covid Oct 24 and was seriously I'll for months.
I go the Covid vaccine 5 weeks ago and serious exacerbation of my asthma (that RARELY flares up). I've had 2 rounds of Prednisone and Albuterol bullets for HHN. Also had laryngitis with this that lasted off and on for 3 weeks. I'm not sure if I got this bad flu that is going around?'I've done 2 Covid test and both negative.
Provider had me got to ER last night due to chest pressure etc. I am home now and have referral to ENT.
This is the worst Asthma Exacerbation of my life.
I'm glad I joined this site.
TY
Monica

Prayers for healing

Hello @mlillich,

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. From your posts, it appears as if you had asthma before this recent exacerbation. Is that correct? If so, what treatments were you taking for your asthma prior to this latest problem?

I was recently diagnosed with asthma, and I've also have laryngitis. I can understand the frustration you are experiencing. I see that you have been referred to an ENT now. Do you mind sharing what specialist was treating your asthma prior to this? Was it your PCP?

I am currently using a steroid-based inhaler twice a day; it is a generic Symbicort as well as using an Aerobika. Have you been prescribed something similar?

@mlillich
My primary care doctor and my allergist agree that I can no longer have covid shots due to my asthmatic reaction to them.

@mlillich there are flu tests you can pick up in the pharmacy and antivirals like tamiflu that you can take in the first 24 hours. The flu is horrid this year if that is what you have

@hopeful33250
Hello there,
I was diagnosed with asthma as a late teen. I've done allergy shots etc with little relief.
I use Albuterol rescue inhaler and have a Rx for Advair. I rarely use them only when I get chest tightness etc. We lived near a Juniper Tree forested area and I started having severely shortness of breath etc. I saw an allergist and diagnosed that I was allergic to Juniper! I needed a nebulizer as needed with Albuterol to breath/live. It was awful. That was 10 years ago and I still have my nebulizer. I also have a incentive spirometer that I use to exercise my lungs during this time just to judge how much air I can expel.
With this awful month I asked my provider for some Albuterol bullets for my nebulizer, that I haven't used in 10 years. That helped me get about 30% better just using those. I also needed 2 rounds of Prednisone. This cough is unrelenting and I've had it at least a month. The pearls and Rx for a cough medicine did nothing for my cough. I also have post nasal drip and provider agreed that I can take Zyrtec twice daily. I've been mostly resting in bed and taking all the medication available to me.
I've not needed any update to my medication until now. I see my provider next week to see if I need further assistance . My old Rx for only Albuterol and advair have worked for me the last decade. I hate steroids and know that they are my friend when needed.

Hi @mlillich - sorry you are going through all of this and you discovered you live by a major allergen for you! That is really not that easy to fix. Just picking up and moving house is not a simple thing.

I also have been told to take cetirizine (Zyrtec) twice daily, as if I take it at 8 a.m., by 5 p.m. I'm having significant nasal symptoms. Evidently I metabolize it differently than others, as it's intended to be a 24-hour formula.

Just wanted to clarify, what symptoms the albuterol in the nebulizer helped you with?

I've had an unrelenting cough this winter, which is disheartening as my mepolizumab (Nucala) shots had kept that in check till now. In the fall I was diagnosed with bronchitis, and I'm still not sure if it was bronchitis or an asthma exacerbation. I guess in the end it does not matter if the treatment is similar. I take benzonatate (Tessalon Perles) at times, and it helps me a little. Cough drops help me only to not be barking coughing in a large group setting like church or a concert. The stronger, brand name drops somehow seem to be more effective for this.

I was just put on a course of prednisone this week for 5 days. I've not been on a course of prednisone for a couple of years, so on Day 1 I forgot you have to take it with food. I got sick within 10 minutes of taking it. I don't care for having to be put on steroids, and neither does my dear husband. He is not fond of how much it keeps me up at night and how it takes away the filter for things I say. :0

I have honestly found that here and there my old standby allergy and asthma meds no longer work as well as they once did. Frustrating. When I travel, this comes out even more.

Is your cough any better, then, after the courses of prednisone? Or are you thinking you may need something further for that symptom?

Hello,

The nebulizer helped get the Albuterol deeper in to my lung tissue and helped with congestion and unrelenting barky cough. I used a Rx cough syrup and the pearls..did nothing. I forgot to add that I also included Fluticazone nasal spray. I was getting concerned after 4 weeks and was seen by a zoom urgent care provider through my provider's office. He had an ER background and due to length of my exacerbation/symptoms he instructed me to go to ER as I was having "chest pressure/tightness". I was using a incentive spirometer to assess my lung function and my lung sounds were clear. I was able get up to > 3000cc to exercise my lungs. He still encouraged me to go to the ER.
I did go and got chest xray (r/o "walking pneumonia" he said). A breathing treatment, EKG and labs to r/o heart issues etc. I was also given 120 mg of IV Solumedrol and now 3 days later I can see that did the TRICK!!!!
I had an allergist years ago that said "use a bedside HEPA filter in your bedroom nightly". He said it gives you that many hours of filtered air to decrease respiratory irritation. I purchased one recently that DOES NOT REQUIRE FILTER REPLACEMENT! It is a Shark and amazing. The filter replacement for my other HEPA was every 6 months and expensive .

"He is not fond of how much it keeps me up at night and how it takes away the filter for things I say. :0"
You CRACK me up. That is SO true!!!

PS. Due to my use of Prednisone....I went through 3 loaves of sour dough toast that I toasted with lots of butter on my Panini press! I craved sour dough bread 24/7 for a week. LOL

I hope my yammering away is helpful.

Monica 🙂