My 4th Anniversary on Xolair

[Guest guest]

Exactly four years ago, I got my first Xolair shot.

At that time, I was nebbing with 3 medications 4-6 times daily, on

Advair twice daily and on 40 mg of evil candy.

I had developed type II diabetes, was 40 pounds overweight, cranky,

grouchy, irritable, depressed and sometimes just downright mean taking

all that Pred. I had 3 cataract surgeries and two cervical disk

fusion surgeries due to disk deterioration from so much steroid use.

I even have a metal plate in my neck.

I don't know how many times I begged my doctor to give me something

besides Pred but there was nothing else she could give me.

I was in her office for an emergency AGAIN when she mentioned a brand

new drug for extreme asthmatics like me. It had just been approved by

the FDA and was fresh on the market. In fact, the Xolair rep had just

left her office and her nurse tried to catch him before he drove off.

At that time, there was no place online to look up this new drug or

any support so I started this group.

We are now up to 463 members since September 15, 2003.

At first, I was extremely apprehensive about it. " Oh No " I said. " Not

me! Did they do a good enough job in those so called " clinical

trials? " What if this brand new stuff gives me warts all over my body,

turns my hands green and they fall off?? I am not going to be the

first guinea pig here in the state of Arkansas. This stuff is very

$$$$$. I know my picky insurance is and they will give me fits to

cover it. "

I was at my wits end and didn't want to live the rest of my life like

this so I took a chance and started the Xolair.

To my surprise, my insurance covered it without question with only a

35.00 co payment for a 3 month supply. I about fainted!

I remember my first shots. I been getting regular allergy shots since

1959 but I was still petrified. I was so scared they would hurt badly

and I would have an extreme reaction but but they didn't and never have.

After 6 months, there was NO improvement in my asthma! I was still

nebbing the same ol way and taking the same drugs with no relief.

I told my doc that I wanted to stop taking it. He (I moved and got a

new doc) encouraged me to give it at least another 6 months. After

another month or two, I gradually started seeing improvement.

After a year, I was doing well enough to go OFF Pred (HALLELUJAH!) and

only was using my neb twice a day.

Now I am only nebbing with Xopenex once or twice a day and taking

Advair. Sure, I have SOME days that are a little worse, we all do. I

then add one or two of those meds back to get me over the hump and

then back off again. Overall, I am 95% improved. Unfortunately, Xolair

is NOT a cure but a powerful weapon to keep our asthma under control.

Side effects you ask?? Not one! The worst side effects I have ever

had were from years and years of Evil Candy.

Thank you Xolair for giving me my life and health back!

Doug Beasley

Group founder