Author Topic: Asthma (Read 487 times)

Sandman · « **on:** November 15, 2001, 11:44:00 PM »

My 13 year old son has asthma. It's something we have been battling for at least the past 10 years.

Found something wonderful last week. I took him in and told the doctor that I didn't feel that we were controlling his asthma. The albuterol seemed to be losing effectiveness. I went looking for another option in anti-inflammatory medicines.

He said to try Advair Diskus and handed us a sample. It's a combination drug. It's both an anti-inflammatory and a bronchodilator. The medicine is inhaled much like albuterol, but it's a powdery substance and the dosage is on a regular basis. Twice a day, my son takes a puff on it, once in the morning, and again when he gets home from school. It's been absolutely wonderful. He hasn't used the albuterol at all in the past week. His asthma is completely, totally under control.

Life is good.

Oh... if you or any of your loved ones share this affliction, check it out... http://www.advair.com

[ 11-15-2001: Message edited by: Sandman_SBM ]

hblair · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2001, 12:51:00 AM »

Thats great to hear sandman.

Medicines come a long way in 25 years. I'm a life-long asthma sufferer. Doing much better nowbut when I was a kid I missed over a month of the first grade cause I was in the hospital. No inhalers worth a flip at that time. There was a time or two I can honestly remember thinking I was gonna die as my dad sped me down the interstate to birmingham to the specialists office. My emergency safety net became a shot of either susphrine <SP?> or adrenaline in the arm. Mom carried em everywhere we went. I actually liked them. You could feel the heart beating faster, and the lungs would just magically clear up. I could go outside and run around for a short time after I was given one. After they wore off I was back inside and out of the allergens.

The medicines we have now don't even compare. I sympathize with you and your son, but thank the Lord we got the medicine we have these days. Hope he continues to improve, and maybe he'll be one of the fortunate ones who outgrows it.

Dune · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2001, 12:53:00 AM »

Good to hear indeed. I never suffered from it, but it almost killed my dad and really took it's toll on my younger sister. Any advance in it's treatment is music to my ears.

Raubvogel · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2001, 01:00:00 AM »

My son had asthma and the scariest moments of my life were rushing him to the hospital with him gasping for breath. Luckily he appears to have outgrown it. Its good to hear there's an alternative to albuterol.

GWH · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2001, 05:55:00 AM »

I remember when I had asthma. Attacks felt like going on a quick jog while breathing through a straw. Then there were the asthma-related coughing fits where I couldn't catch my breath. In general - kinda scary. Thankfully, I haven't had an attack in a while since I've been away from the primary trigger (my cat). I still have the barrel chest from it. I know that my allergies could trigger it again, so I'm careful.

I was on Ventolin/Proventil myself, and that seemed to do the trick for me, I didn't need to go onto the steroidal inhalers to reduce inflammation. It's great to hear that other medicinal options have been developed since I was a kid.

Congrats, Sandman! I'm very happy that you've found your child a way to stick it to this damn disease.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2001, 07:57:00 AM »

Great to hear Sandman, and as mentioned above, sometimes they outgrow asthma.

Sandman · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2001, 07:29:00 PM »

I'm hopeful that he'll outgrow it, but I have my doubts. I'm not a sufferer but my twin brother has had asthma his entire life.

Oh... and for what it's worth, the active anti-inflammatory ingredient in Advair is a corticosteroid, fluticasone propionate. The bronchodilator component is salmeterol xinafoate.

We still keep the albuterol near by (just in case).

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement.

<S>

[ 11-16-2001: Message edited by: Sandman_SBM ]

Badboy · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2001, 07:37:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman_SBM:
I'm hopeful that he'll outgrow it, but I have my doubts. I'm not a sufferer but my twin brother has had asthma his entire life.

There is hope! I outgrew it in my early teens. Hasn't bothered me for 30 years, but it has been known to return in later life.

Best wishes!!

Badboy

Kingonads · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2001, 07:59:00 PM »

I myself am a recent asthma sufferer I was diagnosed last october when I went in for what I thought was a chest cold. Now I am fighting so damn hard to get out of the military on a medical discharge becuase I am sick of the Unit and the BS I put up with about having asthma, I had no history of asthma before I came in the army and I served 2 1/2 years before I came down with it and it was something that I found that frankly sux. but the Advair Diskus was something that too was prescribed to me about 3 months ago and I feel like before I had asthma I can do most of my old activities for once I feel like I have control not my lungs. Anyway who needs to breath. <JK>

Hodo

PS and tell your son that he shouldnt let asthma slow him down he can still play sports if he wants to and beat up luftwaffa dweebs.

Sandman · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2001, 08:03:00 PM »

Thanx Klingonads. The asthma hasn't slowed him down much. He's becoming quite the defenseman on his roller hockey team.

[ 11-16-2001: Message edited by: Sandman_SBM ]