Hi everyone
I have had asthma since I was 18 (now 33) and generally have to use my ventolin 1-2 times a day. Docs told me to use it regularly morning and night with my Becotide inhaler. Anyway, due to the fact that I sometimes forget [8D] I haven't stuck to this for the last couple of years and have only used it when required. Sometimes I can go for a whole week without having to use it. Then a few months ago I didn't have to use any inhaler for 9 weeks! I thought perhaps I was finally growing out of asthma, until I had to use it again.
It's been about 3 weeks since I started using it and I have been taking a couple of puffs each day out of neccessity.
So the question is - how can I go 9 weeks without having to use it, and now be back on a daily dose?
I haven't changed my diet, nor my exercise routine, or anything!
Very strange - and annoying!
Any ideas folks?
RE: Asthma changes
Just a guess, caveman, not a medical opinion. Can you pinpoint anything that changed ... environmentally, perhaps ... in relation to the 9 weeks, and then the3 weeks? The weather, plants in season, household products used...that kind of thing.
Holistic
RE: Asthma changes
Hi Laura
Well we live in a small village which has a lot of fruit being grown. We have a large field behind our house which had wheat growing for several months, and a few weeks ago it was cut. This could possibly have caused a bit of asthma. However, I cannot work out if anything changed for those 9 weeks to halt the asthma. I have racked my brains but there isn't anything, which is why i find it so strange.
Also, if I had been growing out of it but the wheat field cutting affected me, this would not still be happening 2-3 weeks later would it? Perhaps it is the farming, but most of the pesticides etc have already been done months ago.
<scratches head>
RE: Asthma changes
Hi Caveman,
The old way of thinking is to ask "what can I avoid?". The way forward may well be asking "how can I cope anyway?"
If you haven't tried it already, do Buteyko breathing. I did, and the effect is amazing. I cheated because I did it with EFT, so it was a lot easier than just Buteyo on its own. You can learn very cheaply by buying an excellent book on the subject called "Close Your Mouth". It's written by this great Irish Buteyko practitioner and is available on Amazon from about £5.50.
One change is that it is colder. Could you be closing old UPVC windows and have inadequate ventilation and so get fungus?Fungus thatcolects this wayshouldn't be in any living or work environment.
RE: Asthma changes
Thanks Suzanne
I have thought about Buteyko in the past but was put off by the cost - tho what cost do you put on health? Anyway, I couldn't afford it, but will certainly pickup this book you mention. I will also look into EFT as I have heard it banded about on HP but don't really know what it entails.
We live in a very old house which stays ventolated<sp> due to holes in the windows etc....it's a 400 year old thatch cottage so it needs to 'breathe' - if you'll excuse the pun!
Maybe it is the cooler weather and rain. In which case maybe I should move abroad! 😀
I don't really want to cope with it, as the 9 weeks proved that somehow I can be rid of it. I just need to work out what the heck made it disappear temporarily.
x
RE: Asthma changes
Just to add a bit, my son was like you, he could go for weeks without then back on and a seemingly endless inhalers again then I found out that my son was reacting to the propellent in the ventolin and becotide inhalers, we swopped to Bricanyl and pulmicort turbohalers, ( no propellants you just suck) and the change was amazing. No he has been free of them for one year 4 months! <fingers crossed>
RE: Asthma changes
Hi Gem, gret news about your kid. I swopped to the 'suck' versions a couple of years ago but they made no difference to the actual asthma. Interesting thought tho!
x
RE: Asthma changes
Oh heck!!! I missed the 400 year old house bit..... are you allergic to moulds? We had to move from our 16thC cottage after I had an allergy test that showed I was reacting tomould spores,after moving ( drastic I know) everyone suffered less respiratory problems.... guess when we moved!
RE: Asthma changes
Hi Caveman,
Have you been under more stress than usual or feeling more tired than usual before your asthma came back?
While I don't have asthma, I had a bad bout of hayfever and I mean bad this summer. The mechanisms in the body for asthma and hayfever are quite similar.
I hadn't had hayfever for some 5 years and then it happened this year.
I took bee pollen as well as plant sterols supplements and while it took a while it seemed to work.
I'm a nutritional therapist and generally healthy so I was just as puzzled as you. But then I realised I had been under quite a lot of stress and certainly have been very tired during that time (long story).
In the case of asthma it may be useful to investigate the health of your gut as that can make you more prone to allergens.
Its my third message today as a new member - I'm on a roll 🙂
I can't help myself as health issues are close to my heart. I'll stop now...need lunch.
Take care.
RE: Asthma changes
Thanks Jo, keep rolling!
I can't recall being under any more stress than usual, although I have been tired lately. I read in an ayurveda book that dairy products bring on more sinus and chest problems so I'm cutting down on these. However, since the 9 weeks i have still had to use my inhaler every day.
Gem,
Moulds, now there's a thought, but we have been there for a year now and I can't think of where any could be hiding.
Something definately changed during those 9 weeks, but I am afraid I'll never get to the bottom of it. If it happens again I will try to keep a record of diet etc to try and pinpoint the cause.
Thanks for the ideas folks
x
RE: Asthma changes
Hi again Caveman,
yes its true that dairy products causes mucous production so it is a good idea to cut down.
If you have been tired lately, your adrenal glands could be down. Adrenals produce hormones like cortisol , adrenalin and DHEA to cope with stress. If the adrenals are tired out the levels of cortisol and adrenalin could be falling. These hormones help in the relaxation of bronchial muscles and opening of the airways. There could have been lack of these hormones (leading to symptoms of tiredness) which then results in constriction of bronchial airways.
There is a lab test called adrenal stress index test which can measure your levels of cortisol and DHEA. This uses saliva sample.
Taking magnesium and essential fatty acids like a good quality fish oil and vit C can help to relax the airways. But it is always advisable to consult a practitioner so that you are taking the right forms, right dosages and that there is no clash with any medications.
All best.
RE: Asthma changes
Wow that's really interesting Jo. I also read about something called ascorbate which I think is a form of vitamin c? It said low levels of vit c can cause asthma so i have started having an orange a day on top of what i was having before. How would I go about getting that lab test?
x
RE: Asthma changes
Hi caveman,
as ascorbate is a form of vit C...it is a good absorbable form.
for the adrenal stress test you can go to [link= http://www.iwdl.net ]www.iwdl.net[/link]. the lab can also recommend a nutritional therapist to help you as ideally you need someone to interpret the test and help you with changes to diet, lifestyleand possibly use certain supplements.
I find the test v useful and have used it with lots of my clients, in combination with taking a detailed case history, etc.