attacks keep recurring.

adrien

Hello ,

I am a 40 year old woman  & a chronic patient of asthma. I was diagnosed with the

disease in my early  twenties when I had repetitive bouts of cold, cough followed by wheezin.

No amountof medication has helped  me so far to get rid of this problem. Asthma attacks

keep recurring.

mom2two

I would say its time for you to see a pulmonologist or asthma specialist. People often make the mistake of sticking with the same doctors that haven't been able to solve their problems. If you live in a rural area that might mean traveling someplace with a large health care facility. You may also try to find hospitals that are known for their care of asthma patients.  Asthma as you know is a scary and serious condition and it seems like you have suffered with it alot these last twenty years. US News just came out with an article this month about a new drug that is suppose to help asthma patients suffer less attacks but as always with these things only time will tell. It was in the March issue and I found it online if you want to read it. Again, I think you need to find someone who specializes in this and don't rely just on your general doctor. Hope you are attack free soon.

Also you should have a peak flow meter at home that you use several times a day. That way you can see when your airways are starting to close and be able to take your rescue medicines before the attack gets serious hopefully. The peak flow meters can show drops in your flow rates even before you feel them.

geysermom

Are you on medication when you have symptoms or are you on medication every day for your asthma?  Treating asthma only when it is exacerbated is very old school.

I have had asthma for 37 of my 46 years and it is only in the last 12-13 years that I have had good control due to the new medications that include inhaled steriods and long acting bronchodialators and an oral medication that helps to block the asthma response by the body. 

The inhaled steriod and long acting bronchodialator are in one inhaler and the oral medication is a pill.  Thanks to the once a day pill and the twice a day inhaler my asthma has not caused an "attack" for the same 12-13 years I have been taking the two medications.

I agree that you need to see a pulmonologist.  My mother-in-law was absolutely struggling with an new asthma diagnosis at the age of 55 because her GP was only treating her when she was symptomatic (which was almost all the time but not quite).  She ended up in the ED many many times with attacks and it was really scarry because of her hypertension which would go completely out of control with the attacks.  I insisted she see a pulmonologist who put her on the same regular meds that I take and her asthma never required another ED visit. 

Good luck, if anyone knows what a bummer asthma is it is me.