Those of you with asthma - How do you cope day to day and competing?...

[Chloe_GHE]

Oh, and ask your doctor about "Singulair" (gotta love drug names). I think it's available here now and it's the bomb. Sort of in the "preventer" camp but works very differently.

http://www.medicines.org.uk/guides/singulair/asthma

Argh it does seem like it's sort of a phase that suddenly comes on and then you have to manage it until it goes away. I was actually on singulair last winter but not sure what happened think I must have got better/forgot to repeat prescription.

Hhhhmmmm give up dairy?... I think you may be onto something as if I drink a really cold glass of milk or a milkshake my chest gets really tight and I start to wheeze, aaawwwww I do love dairy though....maybe I'll try a month off it and see what happens.... I was also told once that potatoes can set people off..... no dairy no potatoes waaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Yeah I'm with you on the not wanting to sleep when you can feel your lungs cramping up, it's a horrid feeling, and I try to fight it by propping myself up higher in the bed but always have to give in get up and find my puffer

 

[Pidgeon]

I'm so glad you posted this as I was only thinking this myself as with my hayfever being bad at the moment it impacts on my asthma and I appear really unfit when riding - hey ho perhaps I really am unfit
Worst for me is the XC as I really struggle when hot, but will def try my blue inhaler before and after XC thanks

 

[now_loves_mares]

Can't help on the Asthma front (though I feel for all of the sufferers, it sounds terrible ) However I personally find shavings really dusty. I now use cardboard bedding over rubber mats ( my horse has RAO) as it is totally dust free, and doesn't break down into little particles like shavings does.

I'm not sure of the true irritants for asthma ie it may be the spores in straw rather than dust per se that you are trying to avoid. However, if Cardboard is recommended for Equine RAO sufferers, surely it's got to be good for humans too? I never cough/sneeze in my horses stable like I used to when they were on shavings; and that's me with no allergies at all.

 

[mystiandsunny]

I can't ever remember not having asthma - at varying degrees of severity depending on where I was and time of year. Mine is worst at night (on strong steroid inhaler all summer as a result with a supply of oral steroids always to hand). Last summer I had to have the strong steroid inhaler (much stronger than your brown one) PLUS singulair! But it passes, and as mine's strongly linked to my hayfever, I don't need any medication in the winter now.

Bedding-wise we have shavings, forage = haylage. Beyond that, I've always ridden, and always had asthma, so just got on with it really! You shouldn't feel any symptoms at all if it's managed properly (and you're taking the medication), so riding shouldn't be a problem (I used to do long distance running and riding's easier on the lungs than that!).

 

[TarrSteps]

Hhhhmmmm give up dairy?... I think you may be onto something as if I drink a really cold glass of milk or a milkshake my chest gets really tight and I start to wheeze, aaawwwww I do love dairy though....maybe I'll try a month off it and see what happens....

Seriously, try it and see. I still dream about chocolate milkshakes but every now and then I'll eat too much cheese or similar and I'm reminded of how truly awful the result was. It's not an allergy issue, per se, so it's not like you can never, ever have dairy in anything again. Although, that said, I stay away from the aforementioned milkshakes as I know I'd fall off the wagon!

 

[Baileysno1]

Hate to say it but I eat virtually no dairy too has its been over 10 years now I still have the odd sneaky bit of cheese when I'm being v naughty but feel it on my chest afterwards. I use soya milk on my cereal you can get soy ice cream yoghurts and this wierd cheesly stuff which I have a taste for now.

 

[HammieHamlet]

I would really recommend going on to Symbicort, as the Turbohaler (which is the device it comes in) is arguably one of the best devices you can get on the market - in fact, it even won design awards due to its unique ability to get the particles straight in to your lungs, and not just into the back of your tongue. So many people use normal 'puffers' incorrectly so aren't getting the full effect of their medication. If you are at an event, then I would imagine it would be much more convenient to just have one small, easy to use device, rather than two inhalers and a spacer - especially if there is dirt / dust around.

You can use Symbicort in a 'SMART' way which means taking it for prevention and relief, as it contains the steriod (preventer) and also formoterol (reliever) which acts as quickly as any blue inhaler. If you find you need instant relief, then by taking it you will be getting a double benefit as the preventer will set to work and control the inflammation (which must be occuring for you to feel the need to use a reliever). However, if used on a regular basis, you will probably find that you only need to use in morning and /or evening, and then asthma should be controlled better. Over time, you will actually be taking less steroid - clinical trials prove this. Less exacebations = less oral steriods too which are heaps worse than taking a low dose of steroid on a regular basis.

It's much easier than using a spacer, and much more convenient. In terms of cost, it is comparable to seretide, but as you don't also need a blue inhaler, it can work out cheaper for you especially (as only one prescription needed).