Comp riders with asthma, share your stories?

[LowenKi]

Last month I was diagnosed with scarring on my lungs and as a result, asthma (hopefully - the other option is COPD which would be less favourable), following a rather traumatic series of lung complications. I've never had asthma before, and am just about getting used to remembering to take my inhalers out of the house with me! I cough a lot when I ride, although I had a lesson the other day (my first with inhalers) and for the first half an hour I actually felt fit enough to ride! I could breathe well enough and felt great, but the breathlessness and tiredness returned before the hour was finished.

I was just wondering, those of you who ride competetively and have asthma, how does it affect your riding? Any tips or hints that could help me deal with the symptoms a bit better?

How long before you ride do you take your inhaler? Does winter and the cold air make beathing harder still?

Interested to know if my diagnosis really will improve me long term, or if it merely provides a frustrating explanation for my symptoms?!

Thanks in advance for your stories

 

[flyingfeet]

You should be able to control your asthma by using a steroid inhaler regularly.
Having to use a lot of blue implies your symptoms are not under control, and really you should go back and see your doctor

Are you using a spacer device with your inhaler (big clear thing to huff through?)

That said the fitter you are the less you will cough, so riding more or taking other exercise will help.

 

[ironhorse]

Husband has COPD, due in part to a genetic condition
He struggled a bit with XC, but now rides and competes western, which can be quite demanding at times! Being as fit as possible helps, but he can only get fit by riding as he can't run or climb hills.
Cold mornings are a problem - he can't really show our youngster in hand for example as the classes are early.
Dust is also to be avoided like the plague - you may have to pick your venues a bit to avoid dusty surfaces, or stick to the cafe etc when not actually riding. If dust from grooming affects you, a mask might help, although he can't wear one as he is claustrophobic
His inhalers really help, and although he didn't start riding till he was 40 (16yrs ago!) he has had a lot of fun competing. As long as you look after yourself (going to a comp after a heavy night drinking is a no-no we have found!) it shouldn't hold you back!

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

Guidelines say that if your asthma is under control you will need a max of 1 blue inhaler a year. You really need to find out if you have asthma or COPD as steroids have very little effect on COPD but are very helpful in asthma.

If you struggle with a MDI (the puffa inhalers) there are other options, which require much less co-ordination and u dont need a spacer. (spacers are really not good for riders especially after X-C, Ive watch so many riders take a puff after x-c and the technique used ment they didnt get any of the drug anyway!!!

 

[Bubblegum]

My daughter has asthma (had it since age 2) and competes in BE.

A few things :

The most important thing is to keep up with regular asthma checks with your doctor / nurse to make sure you have the correct level of medication. Keeping a regular peak flow chart will identify when things are getting worse, before you actually notice it yourself.

Keep yourself physically fit, the fitter the better. Not just riding, my daughter jogs everyday too, this has helped massively.

Make sure your stable routine suits you. Use dust free bedding/forage and keep the lorry dust free too.

Make sure you have inhalers to hand at all times, ask your 'groom' to carry one for you. When we are out competing, I always walk the XC course with her, just in case she falls off. I want to know how to get to the jump quickly if she needs an inhaler!

Make sure your back protector / air jacket is fitted correctly. We regularly check that laces haven't become tight/loose and the air jacket is always checked properly.

And rest assured that you will be able to still compete. Just make sure you take extra precautions, plan ahead. It can be done.

Good luck

 

[LowenKi]

I've been told to use my brown inhaler two puffs in the morning and two at night... and I have a blue inhaler as well which I have been told to take two puffs first thing and last thing, but also immediately before I walk the dogs, ride or muck out. I've been told that they expect I'll use my blue inhaler around four times per day if I follow these rules.

Today I had a two week check up with an asthma nurse, who gave me a spacer and said I should use this with the brown inhaler, but that it's probably not practical for use with the blue inhaler while I'm on the go. I've been taking my peak flow twice a day for the past fortnight, but it hasn't improved yet and she thought that the spacer might make a difference so I'm back again a week on Friday to see if there has been any change.

Has anybody been sent for any lung function tests at all? To examine oxygen uptake?

Interesting about the dusty surfaces at venues I hadn't really thought about that - luckily I've only really competed outside this year so haven't noticed that this may affect me yet. A mask for grooming and mucking out would be an amazing idea because this always makes me struggle! Great tip thank you so much.

 

[LowenKi]

Bubblegum that's interesting that running helped your daughter - I used to run a lot but haven't been able to so far this year. Today the asthma nurse said I could start doing some gently interval training again (three times per week) on top of my riding so am itching to see if the inhalers allow me to breath enough for a jog! Am very excited about this, have got my girlfriends together this evening for my first run back.

 

[Bubblegum]

Bubblegum that's interesting that running helped your daughter - I used to run a lot but haven't been able to so far this year. Today the asthma nurse said I could start doing some gently interval training again (three times per week) on top of my riding so am itching to see if the inhalers allow me to breath enough for a jog! Am very excited about this, have got my girlfriends together this evening for my first run back.

Have fun

O, and I just remembered that when she was particularly ill a few years back, and could not jog, she went swimming. The moist environment allowed her to still exercise

 

[TarrSteps]

I think all the high spots have been hit, but to the more general topic of management, I find controlling my allergies and being careful about what I eat make a significant difference in my asthma. I can't completely avoid many of my triggers but I can manage my exposure, avoid a few real trigger foods and take antihistamines. It also goes without saying that staying generally healthy helps a lot. Now that I have a bit of sense I down tools and go to sleep asap if I start to get anything bronchial. That way I lose an afternoon, or maybe a day, rather than being medicated and compromised for weeks.

I'm very lucky as mine is quite easily controlled but it took me quite a few years to get to that point.

 

[LowenKi]

Thanks TarrSteps that's really positive to hear! I'm rather bad at slowing down when I feel something coming on, and have paid the price this year with a number of hospitalisations unfortunately! Hopefully I've learnt from this now :S

Just out of interest - I've often wondered if I have some food allergies - how did you find out what your trigger foods are? I get some allergies in the spring and take a Zirtec each morning, but don't tend to get these hayfever type symptoms the rest of the year thankfully.

x

 

[ClobellsandBaubles]

Agree with keeping fit.

Also I have a buff with a fleecey top, mainly as cold air affects my breathing a lot and it's coming up to winter, so I can cover my nose and mouth and helps keep the air warm and moist before going into my lungs and reduces irritation. Might not help with competing but winter schooling definitely if that helps

 

[TarrSteps]

With the foods, I eat them and I wheeze.

Milk is apparently trigger for many asthmatics, not just for people with a known dairy allergy. I used to drink loads but was advised to quit and it made a HUGE difference. It took months to stop craving it though! Initially I gave up cheese a and ice cream as well but eventually made myself a deal I could have limited cheese and maybe a latte here and there. It's tempting because a little bit isn't bad but if.I overdo it I know!

Tomatoes are another known trigger. I have only recently given them up as there is something oin our current flat that triggers me so am trying to be extra careful these days.

I have an impressive set of allergies but generally, if I manage myself, I'm fine.

Certain perfumes/scents are lethal though. One my OH is find of sent me into crisis, even just lingering in the room.

 

[sjdress]

I have quite severe asthma and have gone through all the brown inhalers and now have a combination one as well as a blue one and tablets!
I make sure that i limit dust as much as i can, so shavings instead of straw, wont ride near pollen fields and if i'm feeling wheezy i wont go too far away from home, just incase.
I also fully clip my horse during the winter as i cannot cope with them moulting in the spring.
If i'm wheezy, basically i cannot compete and have been known to have to come home from a competition.
I think basically you just have to be sensible, know your triggers and find the right medication/diet/exercise to keep your asthma under control.

 

[Mike007]

If your blue inhaler definately improves your breathing ,it is not copd.It is asthma.The triggers for an asthma attack are many and varied as Tarr Stepps has explained. Clearly it is possible to get this well under control. I have known TS a while and would never have guessed she suffered from asthma.So that just goes to show.Try to avoid heavy meals,it is much better to snack. This allows the diaphragm more room to move.Apparently it is important to keep well hydrated too, but again dont drink too much in one go.I have had an asthma like problem for a long while but it does not respond at all to inhalers.I had a slight spill of my horse the other day and they found that my right diaphragm(it is effectively two separate muscle groups)does not work properly. This has now led us all to wonder whether this is a result of the accident or that bruising and congestion due to the accident has made somthing I have had for years ,more noticable.But,like I said ,if the blue inhaler works it is asthma.

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

I've been told to use my brown inhaler two puffs in the morning and two at night... and I have a blue inhaler as well which I have been told to take two puffs first thing and last thing, but also immediately before I walk the dogs, ride or muck out. I've been told that they expect I'll use my blue inhaler around four times per day if I follow these rules.

THE BLUE INHALER REALLLY SHOULD ONLY BE USED IF YOU ARE HAVING AN ATTACK - SEE IF YOUR NURSE WILL GIVE YOU A DRY POWDER INHALER (WHERE DO YOU LIVE ROUGHLY?) THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU TOO TAKE AND YOU SHOULD GET MORE OF THE DRUG.

Today I had a two week check up with an asthma nurse, who gave me a spacer and said I should use this with the brown inhaler, but that it's probably not practical for use with the blue inhaler while I'm on the go. I've been taking my peak flow twice a day for the past fortnight, but it hasn't improved yet and she thought that the spacer might make a difference so I'm back again a week on Friday to see if there has been any change.

Has anybody been sent for any lung function tests at all? To examine oxygen uptake?
YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE spirometory WHICH IS A LUNG FUNTION TEST AND IT WOULD TELL YOU IF YOU HAVE ASTHMA/COPD OR SOMETHING ELSE.
Interesting about the dusty surfaces at venues I hadn't really thought about that - luckily I've only really competed outside this year so haven't noticed that this may affect me yet. A mask for grooming and mucking out would be an amazing idea because this always makes me struggle! Great tip thank you so much.

Have a look at this website its V good and written by experts - this link backs up my point about relievers

http://www.asthma.org.uk/about-asthma/medicines-treatments/reliever-inhalers/

SORRY I WORK WITH EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD EVERYDAY SO ITS MY JOB TO KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT (I HOPE)!!!

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

If your blue inhaler definately improves your breathing ,it is not copd.It is asthma.The triggers for an asthma attack are many and varied as Tarr Stepps has explained. Clearly it is possible to get this well under control. I have known TS a while and would never have guessed she suffered from asthma.So that just goes to show.Try to avoid heavy meals,it is much better to snack. This allows the diaphragm more room to move.Apparently it is important to keep well hydrated too, but again dont drink too much in one go.I have had an asthma like problem for a long while but it does not respond at all to inhalers.I had a slight spill of my horse the other day and they found that my right diaphragm(it is effectively two separate muscle groups)does not work properly. This has now led us all to wonder whether this is a result of the accident or that bruising and congestion due to the accident has made somthing I have had for years ,more noticable.But,like I said ,if the blue inhaler works it is asthma.

The blue inhaler is a SABA (short acting beta agonist) it is also prescribed as first line in COPD, so mike that is not true! Ive just checked on the nice guidelines!

 

[JustMe22]

My asthma is very much not under control - I use at least one blue one a month.

I take it before I ride, try to keep fit..riding at home I keep it on me - at shows its in the car or with family etc so I can take it between classes. I do find it more difficult if its either cold, or if there's lots of dust, pollen etc.

Using a spacer makes it more effective, and make sure you take your purple/brown ones regularly. It is a total PITA though!

 

[Holidays_are_coming]

Justme22 have you been back to your Asthma nurse, its not normal to have to use that amount of blue inhaler!

 

[Pidgeon]

I use my blue inhaler before going XC on the advice of my doctor and it works a treat. Do suffer in the winter with the cold air so try to wrap something round my lower face or just take plenty of breathers.

 

[CrazyMare]

My sister is asthmatic, and my OH one of those very allergic sorts...I am one of those irritatingly healthy ones that doesn't drink fizzy drinks, eat chips etc...

Anyway. I've noticed a very specific pattern - My sister's wheezing and coughing is worse after having even a small amount of fizzy drinks. OH's wheezing is worse after any fizzy drinks. My sinuses fill up after any fizzy drinks.

I don't like them, so don't drink them, OH is much better on the days he doesn't drink diet coke - my cats set him off less, and my sister needs her reliever inhaler less when she sticks to water/fruit juice/squash.

 

[JustMe22]

Holidays are coming - I know it's not normal and yes, been to doctors etc. Its allergy season here too, which doesn't help - nor do we have specialised asthma nurses

 

[Mike007]

The blue inhaler is a SABA (short acting beta agonist) it is also prescribed as first line in COPD, so mike that is not true! Ive just checked on the nice guidelines!

Interesting,I was led to believe that the blue inhaler ,salbutamol? was a bronchiodilator which counteracted the restriction of the lung airways due to the asthma attack,and that because COPD was a permanent damage to the airways it could not open them further. I have no reasonto doubt that the blue inhaler is used as you say ,but I would bet that it doesnt give that magic effect it has for an asthma sufferer during an attack. I am genuinely interested ,not arguing.(thought I had better mention this because we are on hho afterall)

 

[aran]

In clinic we advise asthmatics to use their blue inhaler BEFORE doing any activity that may make them wheeze (like going XC), then of course to use it if they are feeling breathless (but hopefully if they have used it before, and they are doing regular exercise and not over doing it they won't need to). Yes the blue is a reliever but the idea is to use it to pre-empt need.
It's not really about the number of times in a day they use it, more the number of times they need to use it to control current symptoms - so if two puffs are not enough over 5 mins to help I'd be more concerned than if they use it 4 times independently in a day.
A lot of problems are due to people not using their brown inhaler, poor inhaler technique, not measuring peak flow regularly and so not noticing a decrease in lung function and not avoiding triggers.

OP – definitely get lung function done, keep a diary of inhaler use, potential triggers etc and keep in close contact with your asthma nurse

 

[TarrSteps]

My sister is asthmatic, and my OH one of those very allergic sorts...I am one of those irritatingly healthy ones that doesn't drink fizzy drinks, eat chips etc...

Anyway. I've noticed a very specific pattern - My sister's wheezing and coughing is worse after having even a small amount of fizzy drinks. OH's wheezing is worse after any fizzy drinks. My sinuses fill up after any fizzy drinks.

I don't like them, so don't drink them, OH is much better on the days he doesn't drink diet coke - my cats set him off less, and my sister needs her reliever inhaler less when she sticks to water/fruit juice/squash.

Interestingly, whiskeys, some more than others, often set me off. Alcohol in general doesn't and I haven't noticed a connection to soda but then I don't drink much of it.

 

[sbrownshowhorses]

I have suffered with severe asthma for ever . I have only just got it well under control by the use of a steroid inhaler morning and night . In the cold weather I do find it a bit harder and was advised by the doctors to take a couple of puffs of my blue inhaler 20 mins before exercise or riding and have never been better I compete on the county show circuit / jump / break / school produce etc good luck x

 

[aran]

Distinguishing between COPD and asthma is a challenge
After patient history and examination then spirometry with reversibility is performed to help
All the societies have different % of reversibility as cut offs etc but in very general overview asthma is reversible and COPD is non-reversible (it is slightly) following a sabutamol challenge
So you are right that it doesn't do much for COPD but a blue inhaler is still prescribed as it may be of some benefit. Generally though they tend to move on to a long-acting beta agonist and steroid (like Beclometasone) and anti-cholinergics have a more prominent role
It is all very difficult! And in fact the best thing for COPD is stopping smoking above all!

 

[Llanali]

Mike is correct- the easiest way to diagnose asthma is reversibility testing with a blue SABA. Copd will respond but not like asthma.

This is my field of absolute expertise- only thing I am N expert on so please do PM me. This is my livelihood, I educate professionals about inhaled therapies for respiratory problems.

 

[Mike007]

An interesting point obout fizzy drinks is that they contain an extremely powerfull vasodilator.Good old fashioned carbon dioxide. Since ,as we all know ,asthma is such a sneaky and variable thing from person to person,it should come as no surprise that inhaling the CO2 from a fizzy drink may well trigger somthing off.

 

[dressage_diva]

In clinic we advise asthmatics to use their blue inhaler BEFORE doing any activity that may make them wheeze (like going XC), then of course to use it if they are feeling breathless (but hopefully if they have used it before, and they are doing regular exercise and not over doing it they won't need to). Yes the blue is a reliever but the idea is to use it to pre-empt need.

That's how I've always been taught to use it too as I've been diagnosed as having exercise-induced asthma only, so it's imperative that I take my blue inhaler before any strenuous exercise (I do find I can ride without it, but I always take it before rowing, going to the gym or going running). As a result, it depends how much exercise I'm doing each day as to how much and how often I use it. When I have a cold or chesty cough then I do find I need to use it at other times throughout the day but I've been assured by my doctors that is correct (I had an asthma review last week actually and the nurse told me that blue inhalers can even be beneficial for non-asthmatics if they have a chesty cough!)

OP, something which I don't think has been covered is that depending on what discipline you compete, you may need to advise your governing body that you use inhalers, as I believe it can be detected in a drugs test, and technically you should apply for excemption as otherwise you could get in trouble for failing a test (particularly if you're using the steroid version)? I don't currently compete at affiliated level (and also never need my inhaler to ride), so I don't know the details but a fellow asthmatic told me! See for example:

http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/news/show/812-athletes-urged-to-check-repeat-prescriptions

 

[kit279]

Interesting,I was led to believe that the blue inhaler ,salbutamol? was a bronchiodilator which counteracted the restriction of the lung airways due to the asthma attack,and that because COPD was a permanent damage to the airways it could not open them further. I have no reasonto doubt that the blue inhaler is used as you say ,but I would bet that it doesnt give that magic effect it has for an asthma sufferer during an attack. I am genuinely interested ,not arguing.(thought I had better mention this because we are on hho afterall)

Yes, true in principle but in clinical practice, there is often overlap between the two conditions and COPD is often more of a spectrum. Most COPD patients will be on salbutamol and it is a mainstay of treatment if they get unwell.