Question:
Controlling very mild asthma - nocturnal and exercise induced ?
Answer:
Recently I've started using a CPAP machine to help with my sleep. I find
that this is making my nocturnal asthma slightly worse, although it's still
very mild. Since I'm currently trying to improve my sleep, it seems logical
that I should try to stop myself getting any asthma during the whole night,
rather than often waking up finding it slightly difficult to breath. (I
don't wake up *because* of the asthma - it's not that bad - I wake up at a
normal hour). I take Ventolin before I go to sleep but of course this
doesn't last the whole night. I also get exercise induced asthma. I've always just taken Ventolin before
and/or during exercise.
My GP first gave me a Symbicort Turbuhaler, but I was advised by my very old
fashioned father not to use this unless I really had to, because it's a
steroid. I went straight back to my GP and he said that my dad is wrong,
that the topical steroids are safe and recommended. (also, an allergist I
saw over ten years ago had told me to try to avoid the steroids if I could,
so I did. Mind you, I thought that *all* long lasting treatments were
steroids, which is unfortunate because I think I've been missing out on some
good treatments!)
In any case, my GP has also given me a sample of Oxis, which only has the
long lasting bronchodilator.
I think he'd prefer me use the Symbicort though.
I've tried the Oxis and it's working *very* well so far. I'm kicking myself
for being so ignorant and lazy about my asthma for so long. So far it seems
to have a stronger effect than Ventolin, and yes, it also lasts the whole
night.
I'd like some advice here to help me decide what long term treatment I
should be on. Is it best to see if I can manage with only the Oxis and the
Ventolin? Or should I go straight on the corticosteroids, either with a long
lasting brochodilator or without. (and again, the Ventolin). I've done some
net searches but I'm finding it all a bit confusing. Naturally I will use
whatever advice I receive here in conjunction with practitioner's
recommendations.
i have mild nocturnal and exercise induced asthma. singular works wonders
for me. i stopped coughing every night and slept much better. also, i can
breathe walking through perfume or laundry section of stores now. I had not heard of Singulair. (you do mean Singulair, right? You
actually wrote "Singular")
I'll mention this to my GP when I go back. I've found a good publication on asthma management, and I've decided to take
the Symbicort (inhaled steroid + long term reliever) for a while, which is
what my GP originally gave me. It seems though if I'm going to go on the
inhaled steroids, that I should first try to get by *only* with the
steroids - I may not need the long acting reliever. I'll see what my GP says
about this idea too. It's possible that my asthma is a bit more severe than I've thought, because
I don't think the Ventolin always prevents my exercise induced asthma. The
other night when I went for a jog I found that the Oxis (long term reliever)
did a better job. I've been taking Ventolin for about 25 years (since mid
teens) so perhaps I've become tolerant to it? I thought this didn't happen
with Ventolin but I found a website posting which suggests that this can
happen. Ok, I thought you probably meant Singulair - thanks. (there is actually an
asthma management book/methodology called "Singular" which I found when I
searched for that word) It's interesting that you say that it stops your exercise induced asthma -
apparently Singulair is not supposed to be used for that.
(just an observation - I'm not saying that you are wrong for using it for
that :)
