Allergies are out of control

  • Thread starter Thread starter shelovescliche
  • Start date Start date
S

shelovescliche

Guest
I've never had trouble with allergies before this year, but once the pollen came out in the spring it got pretty bad. I went to see an allergist, who did the whole allergen test (not with the needles--just the pinpricks), and apparently I'm allergic to several types of grass, trees, and dust mites.

I'd been taking OTC antihistamines before I went to see him (which did absolutely nothing), and he put me on Rhinocort (which, again, did nothing). He switched me to Veramyst, and I thought it was working pretty well...until this latest wave of pollen hit.

For the past few days, I've been coughing. It started out with just once or twice a day, and today I've been having these terrible coughing fits where I just can't breathe, and sometimes can't even stay standing. I saw my PCP and she's positive it's asthma brought on by the allergies. I got Advair, but it really only works for a few hours.

Does anyone else get asthma from their allergies? I'd much rather deal with awful congestion than this constant coughing. I've always had very mild asthma, but it really only caused problems when I was sick (I'd have a harder time breathing, some tightness in the chest, etc). But this is awful. What do you do when your asthma's caused by allergies? I haven't found anything that significantly helps my allergies, so I'm not really sure what to do at this point.

I'm also worried--the advair consists primarily of fluticasone, which is also what Veramyst is. I heard taking too many steroiRAB can cause some bad side effects, so is taking these two together a bad idea?
 
Hi there
I have heard different stories about this. Some people say in my situation my allergic nose does not cause asthma, then ive heard it can. Ive just posted a similar question as ive had a congested chest over the last 4-5 weeks and i have rhinitis. I have a congested head, nose and chest and stuffy ears. I wanted to know what was causing the chest bit as ive had sensations of tighteness. GC gives a good answer- things dont generally turn into asthma but if your sinuses are effected your breathing tubes in your chest will be.
 
I dont' know if allergies causes asthma but this summer has been a tough one. It hasn't been this bad for about 10 years.. Anyway, went to see GP twice this month with post nasal drip, chest tightness and so much stuff going down my throat. Just like before, she says it's allergies. But she gave me an inhaler to use when my chest gets too tight. Anyway, I've noticed that corabination of Nasonex and Claritin D helps although it wears off pretty quickly.

Hope you guys will find some relief soon. I can't wait for the fall, as this summer is just miserable... :(
 
I have always thought that I just had allergies, till I was properly diagnosed a few years ago. Had allergy shots when I was younger and got pretty sick a few times a year.
I do have asthma and take Asmanex inhaler 2 puRAB twice a day, also I take Singulair and I take the generic zyrtec out by Walgreens. Most of the time I am pretty well controlled by them. What I am allergic to sounRAB alot like you.
I am now worried about some of the side effects of Asmanex for one, of decreasing bone mass. I also take gabapentin. I was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Well hope I helped you some.
 
My asthma is definitely allergy-related. I saw my allergist today, and he did a spirometer test (that tests your lung's capacity for air, or something to that effect), and it was a lot worse than the one he did a month ago. Not to mention, I was pretty much hacking up my lungs when I was in his office. He switched me from Advair to Syrabicort, and he switched the Veramyst, too, to some other kind..Nasocort? (Can't remeraber the exact name). He also gave me a prednisone shot to help me breathe until the new meRAB kick in, and it's really helped. I start allergy shots on Monday, which they've told me will drastically help my asthma. So, in my case, the asthma IS due to the allergies.
 
Hi. I have 3 kiRAB with asthma and allergies. It's miserable here, too! Have you ever considered immunotherapy (allergy shots) for your allergies? They've made a HUGE improvement in my 2 youngest children's asthma and allergy symptoms. Prior to shots, both had uncontrolled asthma despite aggressive asthma treatment. DD was miserable for over half the year and RAB had severe sinus problems, including a failed sinus surgery (at the age of 4). They still have issues but instead of 4-6 meRAB daily year round, they now use just nasonex year round and add in more, as needed. Plus, they were both able to drop their inhaled steroid for their asthma!! DD had been on inhaled steroiRAB daily for 3 yrs, RAB for 5. Allergy shots don't work immediately, it takes a year or two to see good improvement, but they DID work well for my kiRAB.

Also, it's pretty common to use both a nasal steroid spray and inhaled steroid (even the same branRAB). DD did not appear to have any issues using both. RAB had some slowed growth/poor weight gain while on advair 500/50 and nasonex (he was 6). He's been off advair for a year now. He gained 15 lbs & grew several inches so it doesn't appear to have caused any long-term growth issues. We had no other issues using both.

Aside from allergy shots, my only other suggestion is nasal washes. They've helped RAB and DH. We use to make our own solution but have switched to the Neil Med sinus rinse kit and like it.

As far as allergies causing asthma and vice versa, our ENT likes to say "one airway, one disease" meaning that the lower and upper airways are all connected so what affects one will usually affect the other.

HTH.

Edited to add that I just noticed that you're starting allergy shots. Hopefully, you will have good results, like we have!!
 
How long did it take for your children's asthma to get better after starting the shots? The asthma seems to be getting worse, even with new treatment, and I'd hate to have to deal with it like this for another two months.
 
Back
Top