Seasonal increase?

[Guest guest]

Every year I have a rougher time in September and October with allergies.

Right now I am on Evil Candy, hopefully for just a short burst. I used to

get very congested which would then either become bronchitis or secondary

pneumonia, or sinus infections every year at this time. The bronchitis and

pneumonia stopped after getting the pneumonia vaccine and my sinuses have

been much better after the nasal surgery last spring. Two years ago was when

I had such a horrid pain in my chest and such asthma flares. We thought it

was triggered by choking on some chicken and possibly rupturing my Nissen

fundoplication (reflux surgery) but after extensive testing that came back

fine. Last year in October was when I got my first shot of Xolair and by

January I was doing much better. Spring with all the trees went well, as did

recovery from nasal surgery. I did great all summer even with being outdoors

for lots of it.

But though ragweed and grasses levels are only low/medium, my asthma is

flaring now and the chest pain is bad enough that prednisone is the lesser

of the two evils. Ragweed and grass have always been biggies. And soon the

fall trees and leaves decomposing are going to send me ducking for cover.

Though once I am reacting it seems to take heavier drugs to calm it down -

benedryl on top of daily zyrtec, prednisone on top of the Advair and

uniphyl, and xopenex nebs added. My allergist and I won't give me my allergy

shots as my 'bucket is too full' already. This saddens me as the pulmo and I

had talked about taking me off Advair next week back in August.

So does anyone get an increase in their Xolair only during their rough

season (if you have one) or is the increase again year round?

On the good news front, the prednisone hasn't made me hungry like prior

times and I have continued to lose the 10 lbs I had gained over the summer

while the kids were home. And I have an inflamed joint in my left foot that

the prednisone is helping to treat instead of the local steroid shot. I am

allergic to NSAIDS, so I have to use ice, compression, elevation, etc and if

not better, steroids.

B.

[Guest guest]

I am on 150/75 Xolair alternating every 2 weeks. This past August was one of

the toughest I've ever been through. My pulmo increased me to 150/150 during

that month and it didn't help a bit. I think the biggest reason I was so bad

was because the pollution levels were sky high but I can't be sure that's the

reason. I have a feeling increasing the Xolair probably won't help but the best

person to ask is your Doc. If you think you are worse because of allergies it

could very well help.

Belsky <crdb@...> wrote: Every year I have a rougher time

in September and October with allergies.

Right now I am on Evil Candy, hopefully for just a short burst. I used to

get very congested which would then either become bronchitis or secondary

pneumonia, or sinus infections every year at this time. The bronchitis and

pneumonia stopped after getting the pneumonia vaccine and my sinuses have

been much better after the nasal surgery last spring. Two years ago was when

I had such a horrid pain in my chest and such asthma flares. We thought it

was triggered by choking on some chicken and possibly rupturing my Nissen

fundoplication (reflux surgery) but after extensive testing that came back

fine. Last year in October was when I got my first shot of Xolair and by

January I was doing much better. Spring with all the trees went well, as did

recovery from nasal surgery. I did great all summer even with being outdoors

for lots of it.

But though ragweed and grasses levels are only low/medium, my asthma is

flaring now and the chest pain is bad enough that prednisone is the lesser

of the two evils. Ragweed and grass have always been biggies. And soon the

fall trees and leaves decomposing are going to send me ducking for cover.

Though once I am reacting it seems to take heavier drugs to calm it down -

benedryl on top of daily zyrtec, prednisone on top of the Advair and

uniphyl, and xopenex nebs added. My allergist and I won't give me my allergy

shots as my 'bucket is too full' already. This saddens me as the pulmo and I

had talked about taking me off Advair next week back in August.

So does anyone get an increase in their Xolair only during their rough

season (if you have one) or is the increase again year round?

On the good news front, the prednisone hasn't made me hungry like prior

times and I have continued to lose the 10 lbs I had gained over the summer

while the kids were home. And I have an inflamed joint in my left foot that

the prednisone is helping to treat instead of the local steroid shot. I am

allergic to NSAIDS, so I have to use ice, compression, elevation, etc and if

not better, steroids.

B.

[Guest guest]

We've had several group members get an increase in dosage,

usually " permanent " following really bad episodes. A couple who get

monthly doses now get a " half " dose at the two week mark. How doses

were increased has varied. Some have gone from X amount once a

month to X amount twice a monhth. Others have gone from X to Y

amount at the same dosing schedule.

I would imagine that a seasonal increase would need to begin in

advance of the season starting, since it takes a while for all the

free floating IgE to get bound. JMHO. It may be that the AAAAI has

issued suggestions on this in addition to the new waiting time.

Addy

Group co-owner

Every year I have a

rougher time in September and October with allergies.

> Right now I am on Evil Candy, hopefully for just a short burst. I

used to

> get very congested which would then either become bronchitis or

secondary

> pneumonia, or sinus infections every year at this time. The

bronchitis and

> pneumonia stopped after getting the pneumonia vaccine and my

sinuses have

> been much better after the nasal surgery last spring. Two years

ago was when

> I had such a horrid pain in my chest and such asthma flares. We

thought it

> was triggered by choking on some chicken and possibly rupturing my

Nissen

> fundoplication (reflux surgery) but after extensive testing that

came back

> fine. Last year in October was when I got my first shot of Xolair

and by

> January I was doing much better. Spring with all the trees went

well, as did

> recovery from nasal surgery. I did great all summer even with

being outdoors

> for lots of it.

>

> But though ragweed and grasses levels are only low/medium, my

asthma is

> flaring now and the chest pain is bad enough that prednisone is

the lesser

> of the two evils. Ragweed and grass have always been biggies. And

soon the

> fall trees and leaves decomposing are going to send me ducking for

cover.

> Though once I am reacting it seems to take heavier drugs to calm

it down -

> benedryl on top of daily zyrtec, prednisone on top of the Advair

and

> uniphyl, and xopenex nebs added. My allergist and I won't give me

my allergy

> shots as my 'bucket is too full' already. This saddens me as the

pulmo and I

> had talked about taking me off Advair next week back in August.

>

> So does anyone get an increase in their Xolair only during their

rough

> season (if you have one) or is the increase again year round?

>

> On the good news front, the prednisone hasn't made me hungry like

prior

> times and I have continued to lose the 10 lbs I had gained over

the summer

> while the kids were home. And I have an inflamed joint in my left

foot that

> the prednisone is helping to treat instead of the local steroid

shot. I am

> allergic to NSAIDS, so I have to use ice, compression, elevation,

etc and if

> not better, steroids.

>

> B.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks. This makes sense. I will have to see what the doctor says.

Ironically my allergist's office just changed their policy. Before I had to

see the doctor or physician's assistant before each Xolair visit. Just last

month they decided I didn't need a visit - I can just come and get the

shot. I could do with a visit tomorrow.

B.