Asthma

[Friday]

Hi Dr Steve

I have asthma. Have had it since pre-teenhood to varying degrees.
For the past few months it's been pretty bad, which I chalked up to allergies like pollen and ragweed.

For the first time in years I don't have insurance so I haven't been to my doctor.

I use Singulair every day to 'control' symptoms (not working at the moment).
Flovent 110mg - 2 puffs twice a day
Albuterol 17mg - as needed , which is about 7-8 times a day. Sometimes i use the aerochamber to maximize the amount of medicine that gets into my lungs.

I am coughing and wheezing like mad. The coughs are rarely productive, even though I take mucinex and there is a good amount of phlegm rattling around in there.
The couging is so hard it gives me a headache, back pain, and nearly causes dry heaving. It's disgusting.

What I would normally do is go to the doctor and get prednisone and a strong cough medicine for nighttime.... but like I said, no insurance. oh... and very little money.

I can't sing, it's such a struggle to exercise, and I don't want to disgust or worry my new co-workers.

Is there anything else I can do to stop this coughing, or is a clinic/ER my only hope for relief?

:sad:

[Jughead]

Hi Dr Steve

I have asthma. Have had it since pre-teenhood to varying degrees.
For the past few months it's been pretty bad, which I chalked up to allergies like pollen and ragweed.

For the first time in years I don't have insurance so I haven't been to my doctor.

I use Singulair every day to 'control' symptoms (not working at the moment).
Flovent 110mg - 2 puffs twice a day
Albuterol 17mg - as needed , which is about 7-8 times a day. Sometimes i use the aerochamber to maximize the amount of medicine that gets into my lungs.

I am coughing and wheezing like mad. The coughs are rarely productive, even though I take mucinex and there is a good amount of phlegm rattling around in there.
The couging is so hard it gives me a headache, back pain, and nearly causes dry heaving. It's disgusting.

What I would normally do is go to the doctor and get prednisone and a strong cough medicine for nighttime.... but like I said, no insurance. oh... and very little money.

I can't sing, it's such a struggle to exercise, and I don't want to disgust or worry my new co-workers.

Is there anything else I can do to stop this coughing, or is a clinic/ER my only hope for relief?

:sad:

Friday..I wish I could send you free Advair..It is a miracle drug for me....It cost me 14 a month..But I'm lucky I have insurance..I am very thankful every day for what I have and don't ...And compared to a lot of people it is not much.....But I believe thou shalt not covet........... Ps I Hope the not sleeping is a not having issue..Love you Juggy...OH Because I have been there big time...

[Friday]

well...

i finally broke down and went to the ER today because i was tired of not breathing and coughing up my pleura on a daily basis.

severe bronchitis blablabla. got two breathing treatments, steroids, cough meds w/codeine, and a zpak.
hopefully these work cause they sure did cost a lot of moolah.

[Dr Steve]

Hi Dr Steve

Hi! Sorry it took so long to get back to you...preparing for the podcast kills my free time.



I have asthma. Have had it since pre-teenhood to varying degrees.
For the past few months it's been pretty bad, which I chalked up to allergies like pollen and ragweed.

For the first time in years I don't have insurance so I haven't been to my doctor.

I use Singulair every day to 'control' symptoms (not working at the moment).
Flovent 110mg - 2 puffs twice a day
Albuterol 17mg - as needed , which is about 7-8 times a day. Sometimes i use the aerochamber to maximize the amount of medicine that gets into my lungs.

Two medications I see missing from this list:


A long acting control inhaler
Ipratropium bromide inhaler


The long-acting control inhalers (e.g., Serevent) help to control your symptoms throughout the day, decreasing your need for short-acting inhalers like Albuterol. For people who have anything but mild-persistent asthma, pulmonologists (lung specialists) will often prescribe one of these.

Ipratropium bromide is also called "ATROVENT" and is a great add-on inhaler for people who produce a lot of mucus and cough, or whose symptoms are not otherwise controlled. Both of these are things you could talk to your doctor about.

They do make a combination inhaler that has the steroid (like your flovent) and a long acting asthma medication. One of these is called "ADVAIR" and you can google it. Ask your doctor if it makes sense for you. I know insurance is an issue, but asthma can be a serious disease (as you already know) and a visit will be worth it in the end.


I am coughing and wheezing like mad. The coughs are rarely productive, even though I take mucinex and there is a good amount of phlegm rattling around in there.
The couging is so hard it gives me a headache, back pain, and nearly causes dry heaving. It's disgusting.

you know, you COULD have adult "Whooping Cough". It has become more and more prevalent out there and is characterized by a terrible cough that just won't go away. There's a vaccine for it now that all adults should consider, and it is treatable with antibiotics though the cough may persist for weeks after the bug is dead.



What I would normally do is go to the doctor and get prednisone and a strong cough medicine for nighttime.... but like I said, no insurance. oh... and very little money.

I can't sing, it's such a struggle to exercise, and I don't want to disgust or worry my new co-workers.

Is there anything else I can do to stop this coughing, or is a clinic/ER my only hope for relief?

I think you're doing all the things you need to do; I'm afraid my advice at this point is to see someone asap. Asthma isn't something to mess with.

Having said that, get your doctor to see if you qualify to get some free medication from the manufacturer until you get insurance again. There are "compassionate use" programs for Advair, Flovent, Serevent, and Singulair. You could save hundreds a month if you qualify.

Good luck and keep us in the loop!


your friend,



Steve

[Dr Steve]

well...

i finally broke down and went to the ER today because i was tired of not breathing and coughing up my pleura on a daily basis.

severe bronchitis blablabla. got two breathing treatments, steroids, cough meds w/codeine, and a zpak.
hopefully these work cause they sure did cost a lot of moolah.

urrrgh, sorry I was late getting back to you. When you improve, consider talking to your doctor about adding on some of those other meds to control your symptoms better, at least in the fall.

your friend,


steve

[razorboy]

Such good advice.

[Section 8]

My mom works for a pharmacy and they sometimes get coupons for some of the medicines that you are taking. Mom normally gives them to me when she gets them, since I too have asthma.

I'll see if there's any coupons laying around where she works and if she has some, I can mail them to you. The more money in your pocket, the better...

[DarkHippie]

I have very bad asthma, and every now and then i see a doctor who will put me on something for it. unfortuanatly, the meds always make me put on weight. alot of weight. I tell the doctor each time, and each time he says that "this stuff won't do that" and sure enough, each fucking time I put on like 30 pounds :(

[sailor]

I have very bad asthma, and every now and then i see a doctor who will put me on something for it. unfortuanatly, the meds always make me put on weight. alot of weight. I tell the doctor each time, and each time he says that "this stuff won't do that" and sure enough, each fucking time I put on like 30 pounds :(

only time i ever had a problem with that was when i went on steroids for it.

[barjockey]

I have very bad asthma, and every now and then i see a doctor who will put me on something for it. unfortuanatly, the meds always make me put on weight. alot of weight. I tell the doctor each time, and each time he says that "this stuff won't do that" and sure enough, each fucking time I put on like 30 pounds :(

Me too it sucks.

[JohnGacysCrawlSpace]

Sucks to your asthmar!

[Chigworthy]

I can vouch for Dr. Steve's recomendation of Serevent. It has reduced my daily asthma attacks to almost zero percent. Unfortunately, I am somewhat procrastinatory in my presription habits, and I need albuterol when I go off my meds. I know Dr. Steve mentioned it a while back, but the bullshitification of albuterol inhalers for environmental reasons is criminal. The new albuterols that I have been receiving for the last year stop working when they are about half-full. Anyone else having trouble like this? I love the environment, but hate environmentalists.