Guest guest Posted October 21, 2007 Report Share Posted October 21, 2007 I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over two years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy tests showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering asthma attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces art supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the smell of the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're talking non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been more intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get allergy shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, cigarette smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be beneficial for someone who reacts to irritants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 An IgE count of 135 is not extremely high but it's high enough to indicate you are producing excess IgE - probably in response to allergens - and warrants a try on Xolair. You may find that you get some partial relief from the shots but you'll still have to avoid non-allergic type irritants. Things like cigarette smoke and cleaning products bother me as well but my main triggers are allergens, namely dust mites. Xolair won't cure our asthma but it's a very effective treatment. Good luck with the shots!! JoyCarol and <jclutterbuster@...> wrote: I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over two years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy tests showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering asthma attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces art supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the smell of the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're talking non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been more intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get allergy shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, cigarette smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be beneficial for someone who reacts to irritants? __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 Perfumes, cleaning products,paints and glues used to make me very asthmatic. I have been on xolair for 20 months and can deal being around them now. I have to believe it was because of xolair. Sharon In , " JoyCarol and " <jclutterbuster@...> wrote: > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over two > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy tests > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering asthma > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces art > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the smell of > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're talking > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been more > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get allergy > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, cigarette > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be beneficial for > someone who reacts to irritants? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 I had the same problem. Anything would set my asthma off. Someone at work sprayed Lysol and I had to go to the hospital. Mouthwash would also trigger an attack or minty gum. I have been on Xolair shots for 2 years now and I have no problems at all anymore. I dont even need to use an albuterol inhaler. > > > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over two > > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy tests > > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering asthma > > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces art > > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the smell of > > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're talking > > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been more > > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get allergy > > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, cigarette > > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be beneficial for > > someone who reacts to irritants? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 Sharon, I can also tolerate irritants, especially perfume, better since starting on Xolair 1-1/2 years ago. I used to have severe reactions, actually anapylactic reactions, to perfumes. My last attack was about three months after starting Xolair. Since then, nothing as serious. I still gag a bit when someone around me stinks themselves up but I can tolerate it. Maybe a hit or two of albuterol is still needed if prolonged, like having someone in my car that stinks, but my throat doesn't starting closing up and my lips don't start swelling up. I can walk down the soap asile in the grocery store. I think overall my body has become less reactive to my usual asthma triggers, but I still try to avoid them. > > > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over two > > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy tests > > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering asthma > > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces art > > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the smell of > > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're talking > > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been more > > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get allergy > > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, cigarette > > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be beneficial for > > someone who reacts to irritants? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 I am not a medic of any kind but I would like to offer a theory as to why asthmatics on xolair seem to have a lesser reaction to scents after being on xolair for a while. Here goes: When I was first tested for allergies, I was mildly allergic to a number of pollens, grasses and mold. In other words I was not highly allergic to any one thing. So when I asked my doctor why these pollens and mold were causing my asthma to flare up, he told me that if any two or three of the things I was allergic to were high or in the air at the same time, it would trigger an attack. If the count went extremely high for any one of these things it would also trigger an attack. Now here's my theory. The xolair takes care of the things we are actually allergic to so that we are less sensitive to the scents since our bodies are not reacting to allergens. (Layman's terms) Maybe Fran can tell us if this is possible from a medical standpoint. It is just a theory/guess on my part. I, too have noticed that I am not as sensitive to " smells/scents/smoke " as I used to be, although I still cannot tolerate smoke hardly at all--really bothers my eyes as well as my breathing, so I try hard to avoid it at all costs. Sometimes it is just impossible. And I do avoid the perfume samples in the cosmetic departments! Our prayers are with those of you in California who are suffering. Hope this is a better week for all. We have high winds and rain and very cool weather where I am--we also have a fire warning for tomorrow as it is supposed to dry off quickly with dry air coming in and low humidity, but high winds continuing. Adah mister_manganese <mister_manganese@...> wrote: Sharon, I can also tolerate irritants, especially perfume, better since starting on Xolair 1-1/2 years ago. I used to have severe reactions, actually anapylactic reactions, to perfumes. My last attack was about three months after starting Xolair. Since then, nothing as serious. I still gag a bit when someone around me stinks themselves up but I can tolerate it. Maybe a hit or two of albuterol is still needed if prolonged, like having someone in my car that stinks, but my throat doesn't starting closing up and my lips don't start swelling up. I can walk down the soap asile in the grocery store. I think overall my body has become less reactive to my usual asthma triggers, but I still try to avoid them. > > > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over two > > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy tests > > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering asthma > > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces art > > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the smell of > > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're talking > > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been more > > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get allergy > > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, cigarette > > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be beneficial for > > someone who reacts to irritants? > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 Adah, your theory makes perfect sense! Fran > > > > > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over > two > > > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > > > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy > tests > > > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering > asthma > > > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > > > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces > art > > > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the > smell of > > > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're > talking > > > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been > more > > > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get > allergy > > > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, > cigarette > > > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be > beneficial for > > > someone who reacts to irritants? > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 Adah, I call this the ‘bucket too full’ theory. Others call it the ‘threshold theory’. Basically if item A triggers your body to produce, say, 50 units of histamine and you don’t react until, say, 100, you are fine. But if you add another item that also triggers 50 units, you will react. And it doesn’t need to be an allergen all of the time. If I am reacting to oak pollen, perfume sets me off even though that is an irritant for me. Oak triggers the inflammation and mucus production and the irritant just causes more without the histamine trigger. With Xolair, I don’t react as much to the Oak, so there is far less mucus and inflammation for the irritant to make worse. Make sense? B. From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Adah Voigt Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 9:13 AM Subject: Re: [ ] Re: scent reaction I am not a medic of any kind but I would like to offer a theory as to why asthmatics on xolair seem to have a lesser reaction to scents after being on xolair for a while. Here goes: When I was first tested for allergies, I was mildly allergic to a number of pollens, grasses and mold. In other words I was not highly allergic to any one thing. So when I asked my doctor why these pollens and mold were causing my asthma to flare up, he told me that if any two or three of the things I was allergic to were high or in the air at the same time, it would trigger an attack. If the count went extremely high for any one of these things it would also trigger an attack. Now here's my theory. The xolair takes care of the things we are actually allergic to so that we are less sensitive to the scents since our bodies are not reacting to allergens. (Layman's terms) Maybe Fran can tell us if this is possible from a medical standpoint. It is just a theory/guess on my part. I, too have noticed that I am not as sensitive to " smells/scents/smoke " as I used to be, although I still cannot tolerate smoke hardly at all--really bothers my eyes as well as my breathing, so I try hard to avoid it at all costs. Sometimes it is just impossible. And I do avoid the perfume samples in the cosmetic departments! Our prayers are with those of you in California who are suffering. Hope this is a better week for all. We have high winds and rain and very cool weather where I am--we also have a fire warning for tomorrow as it is supposed to dry off quickly with dry air coming in and low humidity, but high winds continuing. Adah mister_manganese <mister_manganese@... <mailto:mister_manganese%40> > wrote: Sharon, I can also tolerate irritants, especially perfume, better since starting on Xolair 1-1/2 years ago. I used to have severe reactions, actually anapylactic reactions, to perfumes. My last attack was about three months after starting Xolair. Since then, nothing as serious. I still gag a bit when someone around me stinks themselves up but I can tolerate it. Maybe a hit or two of albuterol is still needed if prolonged, like having someone in my car that stinks, but my throat doesn't starting closing up and my lips don't start swelling up. I can walk down the soap asile in the grocery store. I think overall my body has become less reactive to my usual asthma triggers, but I still try to avoid them. > > > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over two > > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy tests > > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering asthma > > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces art > > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the smell of > > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're talking > > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been more > > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get allergy > > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, cigarette > > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be beneficial for > > someone who reacts to irritants? > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 Thanks for the confirmation. It did to me, too, but I wasn't sure I was on the right track medically. Adah tiredofsteroids <sitesee@...> wrote: Adah, your theory makes perfect sense! Fran > > > > > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over > two > > > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > > > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy > tests > > > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering > asthma > > > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > > > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces > art > > > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the > smell of > > > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're > talking > > > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been > more > > > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get > allergy > > > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, > cigarette > > > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be > beneficial for > > > someone who reacts to irritants? > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 Does to me. I like the " bucketful theory! " Belsky <crdb@...> wrote: Adah, I call this the ‘bucket too full’ theory. Others call it the ‘threshold theory’. Basically if item A triggers your body to produce, say, 50 units of histamine and you don’t react until, say, 100, you are fine. But if you add another item that also triggers 50 units, you will react. And it doesn’t need to be an allergen all of the time. If I am reacting to oak pollen, perfume sets me off even though that is an irritant for me. Oak triggers the inflammation and mucus production and the irritant just causes more without the histamine trigger. With Xolair, I don’t react as much to the Oak, so there is far less mucus and inflammation for the irritant to make worse. Make sense? B. From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Adah Voigt Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 9:13 AM Subject: Re: [ ] Re: scent reaction I am not a medic of any kind but I would like to offer a theory as to why asthmatics on xolair seem to have a lesser reaction to scents after being on xolair for a while. Here goes: When I was first tested for allergies, I was mildly allergic to a number of pollens, grasses and mold. In other words I was not highly allergic to any one thing. So when I asked my doctor why these pollens and mold were causing my asthma to flare up, he told me that if any two or three of the things I was allergic to were high or in the air at the same time, it would trigger an attack. If the count went extremely high for any one of these things it would also trigger an attack. Now here's my theory. The xolair takes care of the things we are actually allergic to so that we are less sensitive to the scents since our bodies are not reacting to allergens. (Layman's terms) Maybe Fran can tell us if this is possible from a medical standpoint. It is just a theory/guess on my part. I, too have noticed that I am not as sensitive to " smells/scents/smoke " as I used to be, although I still cannot tolerate smoke hardly at all--really bothers my eyes as well as my breathing, so I try hard to avoid it at all costs. Sometimes it is just impossible. And I do avoid the perfume samples in the cosmetic departments! Our prayers are with those of you in California who are suffering. Hope this is a better week for all. We have high winds and rain and very cool weather where I am--we also have a fire warning for tomorrow as it is supposed to dry off quickly with dry air coming in and low humidity, but high winds continuing. Adah mister_manganese <mister_manganese@... <mailto:mister_manganese%40> > wrote: Sharon, I can also tolerate irritants, especially perfume, better since starting on Xolair 1-1/2 years ago. I used to have severe reactions, actually anapylactic reactions, to perfumes. My last attack was about three months after starting Xolair. Since then, nothing as serious. I still gag a bit when someone around me stinks themselves up but I can tolerate it. Maybe a hit or two of albuterol is still needed if prolonged, like having someone in my car that stinks, but my throat doesn't starting closing up and my lips don't start swelling up. I can walk down the soap asile in the grocery store. I think overall my body has become less reactive to my usual asthma triggers, but I still try to avoid them. > > > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over two > > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy tests > > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering asthma > > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces art > > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the smell of > > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're talking > > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been more > > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get allergy > > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, cigarette > > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be beneficial for > > someone who reacts to irritants? > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 " Oak triggers the inflammation and mucus production and the irritant just causes more without the histamine trigger. " I think you mean without the IgE trigger (typical of allergy). Mast cells release histamine in situations other than allergy, such as in the presence of many irritants or non-allergic hypersensitivities. Hence many irritant reactions can be subdued by antihistamines in the same way that allergic reactions are. The threshhold theory holds whether we're talking about allergies or irritants or both. Fran > > > > > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over > two > > > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > > > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy > tests > > > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering > asthma > > > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > > > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces > art > > > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the > smell of > > > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're > talking > > > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been > more > > > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get > allergy > > > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, > cigarette > > > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be > beneficial for > > > someone who reacts to irritants? > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 Thank you BFE (bucket full expert)for your prayers. Laurie > > > > > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over > two > > > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > > > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy > tests > > > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering > asthma > > > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > > > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces > art > > > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the > smell of > > > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're > talking > > > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been > more > > > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get > allergy > > > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, > cigarette > > > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be > beneficial for > > > someone who reacts to irritants? > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 You are welcome for the prayers. I have family in the southern part of LA and they had a fire at the end of their street which was put out right away, but that is all. However, their daughter and family who live in LaJolla (outside of San Diego) had to evacuate Monday and are staying with them in LA. Adah sweetliberty1776 <laurie@...> wrote: Thank you BFE (bucket full expert)for your prayers. Laurie > > > > > > I've started Xolair, I've been on prednisone non-stop for over > two > > > years. We really don't know if it will make a difference, my > > > pulmonologist says my IGE levels are only 135 and my allergy > tests > > > showed minimal reactions. Other things seem to be triggering > asthma > > > attacks. I've mentioned before about spills on the stove burner > > > wheezing me right up. Today I was reorganizing some of my nieces > art > > > supplies and I picked up a box of brand-name crayons and the > smell of > > > the wax resulted in my needing a nebulizer treatment. We're > talking > > > non-toxic crayons not spray paints! My asthma has always been > more > > > intrinsic than allergic, sensitive to things you can not get > allergy > > > shots for that you just have to avoid (perfumes, hairspray, > cigarette > > > smoke, dryer sheets, cleaning products). Will Xolair be > beneficial for > > > someone who reacts to irritants? > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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