Asthma? Or?

[jarn]

I have asthma.

Since I had walking pneomnoia last year, I feel like it has gotten worse, though I think some of it is fitness.

On our winter backpacking this weekend, I took my inhaler (ventolin) at lunch both Saturday and Sunday. I noticed an improvement in my wheezing, but going up hill was also easier, though I was still working, my recovery was better. Asthma or fitness???????

The thing that really has me worried is I had the most awful dream (-10C without windchill at night) - I dreamt one of the dogs had gotten loose and we had to go get him but I was also having such a bad asthma attack I couldn't speak and I had to go to the hospital. (I haven't been to the hospital for asthma since I was a kid, but that's besides the point). I woke up gasping, feeling like I was suffocating, but I was able to get my breathing under control on my own.

Does that sound like a nightime asthma attack? I was in cold air. I was also wearing a balaclava (which I thought might have psychologically made me feel like I was suffocating?).

Should I bring this up to my doctor? Is there a non-inhaler med I could take when I winter camp? It's just going to get colder, so I'm a bit worried that it WAS a cold-induced asthma attack.

[notfred]

On our winter backpacking this weekend, I took my inhaler (ventolin) at lunch both Saturday and Sunday. I noticed an improvement in my wheezing, but going up hill was also easier, though I was still working, my recovery was better. Asthma or fitness???????

If the inhaler made your recovery/exertion easier that it was the asthma.

nf

[jarn]

Not just me being out of shape and extra airways opened or whatever?

I don't get attacks when I run in the city. Which confuses me, but I just remembered I have tested positive for an allergy to trees (what type, annoyingly not specified). I found the report and it says my prick test was 3+ and my intradermal test was 4+

[Stickler]

Chances are you ought to be on an inhaled steroid, if it doesn't twink with your brain. You likely have some leftover inflammation from the pneumonia, because that crap takes a long time to subside, as does the heightened sensitivity.

I likes me my symbicort-long cycle bronchiodilators with inhaled steroids rock.

Also, if you've got allergy-induced asthma, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Zyrtec, my friend Singulair, and my friend Quercetin. If you aren't on all three, you owe it to yourself to at least try them.

[jarn]

I do have Flovent (which is an inhaled steriod, right?) - but I don't normally use it unless I am sick, because if I get sick respiratory-wise than I have bad asthma.

I asked about weakness from the pneomonia and my gp seemed so-so. I'll ask again.

So it's not silly to go in and see him about this? The dream and waking up like that was really scary - it was SO real.

Right now all I take is the ventolin, as-needed, unless I'm sick in which case I add the flovent. I haven't even heard of those other meds!

Thanks guys

[olga]

jarn, I have COPD, and my doc gave me a script for Albuterol when I told him that some of my aerobic classes at the gym left me wheezing and out of breath. It's a good idea to check with your doctor and discuss this issue.

I don't use my inhaler often, but on humid days when the dance class is crowded, and in very cold weather it is helpful.

olga

[jarn]

Thanks Olga.

I'm thinking perhaps the reason why this happens mostly when I'm in the bush is because of the pine trees. They're supposed to be really bad for allergies and I looked up my file (I have a copy of my old medical file) and a few years ago I tested 4+ on tree allergies on an intradermal test. Which apparently is pretty sensitive. So it could be that as well?

[CrazyCatLady]

I also have asthma, and it gets way worse when I'm camping (around trees and stuff-I'm allergic to several). The cold air also makes mine flare up. Do you think maybe the night time thing was anxiety? I've actually had that same thing happen in the past, waking up from a horrible dream feeling like I couldn't breathe, and chalked it up to anxiety. I never did ask my doctor about it though.

[jarn]

I think the nighttime thing was probably hyperventilation, maybe from wearing the balaclava? I'm not sure though.