Bad allergy season

[Guest guest]

I keep hearing that this is a very bad allergy Spring in the

Northeast US and the pollen reports are nearly pegged many days.

People I know that never complained about allergy are suddenly

running for Benedryl and Claratin. A less-fortunate asthmatic co-

worker of mine had to be hospitalized.

I got clobbered with the first wave of Spring pollen and had to take

a coarse of Pred to snap out of it but have otherwise been skating

through. My peak flows take a dive once in a while but for the most

part are running great even on high pollen days. I do a lot of

things outside even though my Doc says stay inside ... I just can't

be a hermit.

I keep with the Xolair program, max dose every two weeks, because I

do think it's helping me. There's no miracle cure here but some

days I really feel great with good breathing and renewed energy and

that's the payoff.

When I take a breating hit, I apologize if I come here a whine but

the cool thing is I know folks here are listening and understanding.

[Guest guest]

This Spring has been very challenging for me and I'm not even allergic to

pollen. I suppose asthmatics will react to any particle that is at extreme

highs, even if they aren't allergic to it. My symptoms are beginning to taper

so fingers crossed that will continue. No Pred yet but I came close a few

times.

mister_manganese <mister_manganese@...> wrote: I keep hearing

that this is a very bad allergy Spring in the

Northeast US and the pollen reports are nearly pegged many days.

People I know that never complained about allergy are suddenly

running for Benedryl and Claratin. A less-fortunate asthmatic co-

worker of mine had to be hospitalized.

I got clobbered with the first wave of Spring pollen and had to take

a coarse of Pred to snap out of it but have otherwise been skating

through. My peak flows take a dive once in a while but for the most

part are running great even on high pollen days. I do a lot of

things outside even though my Doc says stay inside ... I just can't

be a hermit.

I keep with the Xolair program, max dose every two weeks, because I

do think it's helping me. There's no miracle cure here but some

days I really feel great with good breathing and renewed energy and

that's the payoff.

When I take a breating hit, I apologize if I come here a whine but

the cool thing is I know folks here are listening and understanding.

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[Guest guest]

I have not been told what is a poor, adequate or good peak flow reading.

I assume it depends on the individual and how severe the asthma. Can

anyone give me advice on this subject.

My peak flow readings are generally in the 400's. Once in a great while

I might exceed 500 but not often. I have been as low as 320 which I

assume is not very good. During these instances, if my recollection is

correct, I generally experienced some chest tightness and found it a

little difficult to breathe.

Any help out there?

Steve Zimmerman

Have a Good Day

785-296-6947

-----Original Message-----

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of mister_manganese

Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 11:10 PM

Subject: [ ] Bad allergy season

I keep hearing that this is a very bad allergy Spring in the Northeast

US and the pollen reports are nearly pegged many days.

People I know that never complained about allergy are suddenly running

for Benedryl and Claratin. A less-fortunate asthmatic co- worker of

mine had to be hospitalized.

I got clobbered with the first wave of Spring pollen and had to take a

coarse of Pred to snap out of it but have otherwise been skating

through. My peak flows take a dive once in a while but for the most

part are running great even on high pollen days. I do a lot of things

outside even though my Doc says stay inside ... I just can't be a

hermit.

I keep with the Xolair program, max dose every two weeks, because I do

think it's helping me. There's no miracle cure here but some days I

really feel great with good breathing and renewed energy and that's the

payoff.

When I take a breating hit, I apologize if I come here a whine but the

cool thing is I know folks here are listening and understanding.

[Guest guest]

Hi Steve,

My good Peak flow is 400. Before I neb it is around 350ish. When I was

really sick and almost went to the hospital I think it was 200/250/300 for me

this range would be my bad #'s

But I think alot of it is personal like you said. **My home Peak flow

sponsored by Advair has a little bit different reading than the one in the dr.'s

office around 25 or 50 off.

I am having my 2nd Xolair shot next week.

Hope this helps! I

Laurie

Steve Zimmerman <steve@...> wrote:

I have not been told what is a poor, adequate or good peak flow

reading.

I assume it depends on the individual and how severe the asthma. Can

anyone give me advice on this subject.

My peak flow readings are generally in the 400's. Once in a great while

I might exceed 500 but not often. I have been as low as 320 which I

assume is not very good. During these instances, if my recollection is

correct, I generally experienced some chest tightness and found it a

little difficult to breathe.

Any help out there?

Steve Zimmerman

Have a Good Day

785-296-6947

-----Original Message-----

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of mister_manganese

Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 11:10 PM

Subject: [ ] Bad allergy season

I keep hearing that this is a very bad allergy Spring in the Northeast

US and the pollen reports are nearly pegged many days.

People I know that never complained about allergy are suddenly running

for Benedryl and Claratin. A less-fortunate asthmatic co- worker of

mine had to be hospitalized.

I got clobbered with the first wave of Spring pollen and had to take a

coarse of Pred to snap out of it but have otherwise been skating

through. My peak flows take a dive once in a while but for the most

part are running great even on high pollen days. I do a lot of things

outside even though my Doc says stay inside ... I just can't be a

hermit.

I keep with the Xolair program, max dose every two weeks, because I do

think it's helping me. There's no miracle cure here but some days I

really feel great with good breathing and renewed energy and that's the

payoff.

When I take a breating hit, I apologize if I come here a whine but the

cool thing is I know folks here are listening and understanding.

[Guest guest]

This should have been explained to you by your doc when you were

given your peak flow meter. Your green zone, in which you're not

supposed to need any additional intervention, is the range between

70% of your " best ever " reading and your best ever reading. So if

your best ever is 500, your green zone would be between 350 and 500.

Your yellow zone, in which you're supposed to add whatever meds your

doc has instructed you to add, is between 50% and 70% of your best

ever. So with a best ever of 500, your yellow zone would be between

250 and 350. If you drop into your red zone, which is anything less

than 50% of your best ever, you need to call your doctor immediately.

Having said all that, your zones may need to be individualized by you

and your doc based on your personal history. If you're in your green

zone, say at 80% of your best ever peak flow, but you're having

symptoms, you obviously need to add treatment in addition to your

baseline regimen without waiting until you drop to 70%. For

example,in my own case, my best ever is 450 (which I've hit maybe 4-5

times ever!) and when I'm doing well I'm consistently right at 400-

410. So my 70% is 315, but my chest gets tight at a much higher peak

flow, 380 (85%). I'll use my rescue inhaler (Combivent) and improve,

but if the improvement is only temporary and I bounce back down to

380 and stay there more than 24 hours, I know I have to bump up my

steroids right away or I'll really be in trouble within a couple more

days. If instead I waited to bump steroids up until I'm down to 70%,

I'll be in much bigger trouble for much longer. That's just my

pattern; you and your doc have to base your treatment plan on your

own pattern.

I hope this helps!

Fran

--- In , " Steve Zimmerman " <steve@...>

wrote:

>

> I have not been told what is a poor, adequate or good peak flow

reading.

> I assume it depends on the individual and how severe the asthma.

Can

> anyone give me advice on this subject.

>

> My peak flow readings are generally in the 400's. Once in a great

while

> I might exceed 500 but not often. I have been as low as 320 which I

> assume is not very good. During these instances, if my

recollection is

> correct, I generally experienced some chest tightness and found it

a

> little difficult to breathe.

>

> Any help out there?

>

>

> Steve Zimmerman

> Have a Good Day

> 785-296-6947

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From:

[mailto: ]

> On Behalf Of mister_manganese

> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 11:10 PM

>

> Subject: [ ] Bad allergy season

>

> I keep hearing that this is a very bad allergy Spring in the

Northeast

> US and the pollen reports are nearly pegged many days.

> People I know that never complained about allergy are suddenly

running

> for Benedryl and Claratin. A less-fortunate asthmatic co- worker of

> mine had to be hospitalized.

>

> I got clobbered with the first wave of Spring pollen and had to

take a

> coarse of Pred to snap out of it but have otherwise been skating

> through. My peak flows take a dive once in a while but for the most

> part are running great even on high pollen days. I do a lot of

things

> outside even though my Doc says stay inside ... I just can't be a

> hermit.

>

> I keep with the Xolair program, max dose every two weeks, because I

do

> think it's helping me. There's no miracle cure here but some days I

> really feel great with good breathing and renewed energy and that's

the

> payoff.

>

> When I take a breating hit, I apologize if I come here a whine but

the

> cool thing is I know folks here are listening and understanding.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Steve, from what I understand, the most important peak flow rates

are a very individual thing. If you keep a daily record of your

peak flow (I can recommend my Assess peak flow meter ordered online

through Amazon.com) and a few other things like pollen counts (from

pollen.com for example), weather conditions, medications and how you

feel you'll eventually learn there's a pattern to what conditions

make you feel great and breath great vs what makes you feel bad and

breath bad.

When your peak flow starts taking a dive, you'll know to do

somehting about it before you really become a mess. Likewise, when

your peak flow is high you'll get some ideas of what put you there

Two years ago my peak flows were running between around 450 on bad

days to around 500 on good days, although some early readings were

even below 400. After a couple years of working at it and getting

educated and following my allergist's recommendations and meds, on

my best peak flow days (those " feel like a million bucks " days) I

can hit 650. But when I dip down below around 475 I'm reaching for

the Albuterol. Below 450 I'm asking the doc for a coarse of

Prednisone.

Take charge of your own health and work at it and you can have some

great days.

--- In , " Steve Zimmerman " <steve@...>

wrote:

>

> I have not been told what is a poor, adequate or good peak flow

reading.

> I assume it depends on the individual and how severe the asthma.

Can

> anyone give me advice on this subject.

>

> My peak flow readings are generally in the 400's. Once in a great

while

> I might exceed 500 but not often. I have been as low as 320 which

I

> assume is not very good. During these instances, if my

recollection is

> correct, I generally experienced some chest tightness and found

it a

> little difficult to breathe.

>

> Any help out there?

>

>

> Steve Zimmerman

> Have a Good Day

> 785-296-6947

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From:

[mailto: ]

> On Behalf Of mister_manganese

> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 11:10 PM

>

> Subject: [ ] Bad allergy season

>

> I keep hearing that this is a very bad allergy Spring in the

Northeast

> US and the pollen reports are nearly pegged many days.

> People I know that never complained about allergy are suddenly

running

> for Benedryl and Claratin. A less-fortunate asthmatic co- worker

of

> mine had to be hospitalized.

>

> I got clobbered with the first wave of Spring pollen and had to

take a

> coarse of Pred to snap out of it but have otherwise been skating

> through. My peak flows take a dive once in a while but for the

most

> part are running great even on high pollen days. I do a lot of

things

> outside even though my Doc says stay inside ... I just can't be a

> hermit.

>

> I keep with the Xolair program, max dose every two weeks, because

I do

> think it's helping me. There's no miracle cure here but some days

I

> really feel great with good breathing and renewed energy and

that's the

> payoff.

>

> When I take a breating hit, I apologize if I come here a whine but

the

> cool thing is I know folks here are listening and understanding.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the advice. I have been recording my peak flows but (even

though after hearing it seems like common sense) relating it to weather

and other conditions I did not really consider. Thanks again.

Steve Zimmerman

Have a Good Day

785-296-6947

-----Original Message-----

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of mister_manganese

Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 12:11 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: Bad allergy season

Steve, from what I understand, the most important peak flow rates are a

very individual thing. If you keep a daily record of your peak flow (I

can recommend my Assess peak flow meter ordered online through

Amazon.com) and a few other things like pollen counts (from pollen.com

for example), weather conditions, medications and how you feel you'll

eventually learn there's a pattern to what conditions make you feel

great and breath great vs what makes you feel bad and breath bad.

When your peak flow starts taking a dive, you'll know to do somehting

about it before you really become a mess. Likewise, when your peak flow

is high you'll get some ideas of what put you there

Two years ago my peak flows were running between around 450 on bad days

to around 500 on good days, although some early readings were even below

400. After a couple years of working at it and getting educated and

following my allergist's recommendations and meds, on my best peak flow

days (those " feel like a million bucks " days) I can hit 650. But when I

dip down below around 475 I'm reaching for the Albuterol. Below 450 I'm

asking the doc for a coarse of Prednisone.

Take charge of your own health and work at it and you can have some

great days.

--- In , " Steve Zimmerman " <steve@...>

wrote:

>

> I have not been told what is a poor, adequate or good peak flow

reading.

> I assume it depends on the individual and how severe the asthma.

Can

> anyone give me advice on this subject.

>

> My peak flow readings are generally in the 400's. Once in a great

while

> I might exceed 500 but not often. I have been as low as 320 which

I

> assume is not very good. During these instances, if my

recollection is

> correct, I generally experienced some chest tightness and found

it a

> little difficult to breathe.

>

> Any help out there?

>

>

> Steve Zimmerman

> Have a Good Day

> 785-296-6947

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From:

[mailto: ]

> On Behalf Of mister_manganese

> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 11:10 PM

>

> Subject: [ ] Bad allergy season

>

> I keep hearing that this is a very bad allergy Spring in the

Northeast

> US and the pollen reports are nearly pegged many days.

> People I know that never complained about allergy are suddenly

running

> for Benedryl and Claratin. A less-fortunate asthmatic co- worker

of

> mine had to be hospitalized.

>

> I got clobbered with the first wave of Spring pollen and had to

take a

> coarse of Pred to snap out of it but have otherwise been skating

> through. My peak flows take a dive once in a while but for the

most

> part are running great even on high pollen days. I do a lot of

things

> outside even though my Doc says stay inside ... I just can't be a

> hermit.

>

> I keep with the Xolair program, max dose every two weeks, because

I do

> think it's helping me. There's no miracle cure here but some days

I

> really feel great with good breathing and renewed energy and

that's the

> payoff.

>

> When I take a breating hit, I apologize if I come here a whine but

the

> cool thing is I know folks here are listening and understanding.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>