Re: Xolair and possible side effects and resultant illnesses

[Guest guest]

Thank you Addy, I appreciate this post.

I have been very concerned lately. I have been taking Xolair for three

years now but wonder what my response to Xolair would have been 3

years ago when I was trying to find out information on Xolair and all

the posts were negative, fearful, and filled with " possible " adverse

reactions. As a severe asthmatic I am prone to upper respiratory

infections and numerous other maladies that go along with Asthma,

allergies, and immune system problems. I am still on Prednisone and

just developed Prednisone Induced Diabetes, thank you Prednisone.

Xolair has allowed me to take lower doses of Prednisone, but in my

case it has not allowed me to get off of Prednisone. This is not

Xolair's fault. I also take several other medications, each list

" adverse Reactions " similar to those posted on this forum as, " did

Xolair cause this " ! If my other drugs say they may cause " this " , why

would I assume " Xolair did it " . I'm afraid the new people may be

getting a perception of Xolair that just is not true from some

postings and will be afraid and fail to receive the possible benefits

from Xolair. So many have had their quality of life improved

dramatically, some of us less dramatically, but I will take any

improvement I can, sometimes a little is a lot.

My Pulmo has stated to me several times that he is not concerned with

Xolair and possible adverse reactions to it, but would like to cut my

other drugs because of the problems they are causing. Unfortunately in

my case that is not possible, again not Xolair's fault, it is a

reality of my illnesses/medical condition.

I have discovered, reluctantly, that there is no " magic pill " and if

life were fair I would be a Bizzillionair, good looking, and young

again.

Ron

On Jul 20, 2008, at 5:47 AM, pyle456 wrote:

> We have had a run lately of questions regarding Xolair and

> possible/potential side effects and/or possible/potential resultant

> illnesses.

>

> Quite frankly, as a moderator, I'm beginning to get frustrated by

> this,

> particularly with the concerns that sound more like complaints than

> questions or concerns. I know that I am not the only moderator who

> feels this way. I quite realize that this is part of the reason for

> the group and I/we just have to deal, but I'm about ready to wonder if

> two or three of our posting family are simply looking for a reason NOT

> to take Xolair. Also, I'm concerned that some of us are relying more

> on information from this group than our own doctors. THIS GROUP IS

> SIMPLY A FORUM OF EXPERIENCED PATIENTS, NOT MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

>

> Please, everyone, if you have any kind of concern or questions about

> Xolair, by all means post them here. But please make an appointment to

> discuss this issue with your prescribing physician AND your GP. ANd,

> of course, feel free to share your doctor's response with the group.

>

> Finally, please remember that Xolair is NOT a cure. It is simply the

> best hope for those of us with IgE mediated disease whose illness is

> so

> serious that we have become steroid dependent. Certainly physicians

> are now prescribing it for folks with mild and moderate asthma, and to

> excellent effect, and that portion of the population may have greater

> questions about taking such a serious medication. But those of us

> who've been dying slowly from regular prednisone use and who've been

> at

> risk of a fatal allergic or asthmatic attack on a regular basis are

> grateful for the opportunity to take a medicine that has such a good

> chance of giving a normal life.

>

> Gotta go take my blood pressure medicine, my calcium & vitamin D, and

> do my weight bearing exercises, thank you prednisone.

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Addy

> Group co-owner

> Whose marriage has greatly improved now that she no longer has to take

> mood-altering prednisone on a regular basis.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Very well said, Addy.  I'm only a member, but I was having some of the same

questions about the questions. 

 

To your list of what xolair will not help, I would add intrinsic asthma, or

asthma where lungs are already damaged.  What xolair has done for me is to stop

the two or three serious UR infections I was having each year that caused me to

have to take prednisone and antibiotics.  I can now go outside and walk or help

in the yard, or just sit outside and enjoy it.  I could not do that before

xolair.  I will always have some asthma and will always have to take some asthma

medication but xolair has very definitely improved my quality of life and helped

my marriage, too, since I have not had to be on mood altering prednisone.

 

Thanks for your great post and reminder.

 

Adah

From: pyle456 <jamcculloch2@...>

Subject: [ ] Xolair and possible side effects and resultant illnesses

Date: Sunday, July 20, 2008, 5:47 AM

We have had a run lately of questions regarding Xolair and

possible/potential side effects and/or possible/potential resultant

illnesses.

Quite frankly, as a moderator, I'm beginning to get frustrated by this,

particularly with the concerns that sound more like complaints than

questions or concerns. I know that I am not the only moderator who

feels this way. I quite realize that this is part of the reason for

the group and I/we just have to deal, but I'm about ready to wonder if

two or three of our posting family are simply looking for a reason NOT

to take Xolair. Also, I'm concerned that some of us are relying more

on information from this group than our own doctors. THIS GROUP IS

SIMPLY A FORUM OF EXPERIENCED PATIENTS, NOT MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

Please, everyone, if you have any kind of concern or questions about

Xolair, by all means post them here. But please make an appointment to

discuss this issue with your prescribing physician AND your GP. ANd,

of course, feel free to share your doctor's response with the group.

Finally, please remember that Xolair is NOT a cure. It is simply the

best hope for those of us with IgE mediated disease whose illness is so

serious that we have become steroid dependent. Certainly physicians

are now prescribing it for folks with mild and moderate asthma, and to

excellent effect, and that portion of the population may have greater

questions about taking such a serious medication. But those of us

who've been dying slowly from regular prednisone use and who've been at

risk of a fatal allergic or asthmatic attack on a regular basis are

grateful for the opportunity to take a medicine that has such a good

chance of giving a normal life.

Gotta go take my blood pressure medicine, my calcium & vitamin D, and

do my weight bearing exercises, thank you prednisone.

Thanks for listening,

Addy

Group co-owner

Whose marriage has greatly improved now that she no longer has to take

mood-altering prednisone on a regular basis.

[Guest guest]

AMEN Addy!

Of course Xolair has side-effects, and it's not a magic concoction

that 'cures' asthma. I've been on Xolair every 2 weeks since 5/05,

and, yes, I still get infections (I have a sinus infection right now

in fact). The bigger picture though is that 2 1/2 years ago, I was on

90mg of Prednisone three times a day, and felt like I lived in my

local hospital, now I'm able to tolerate just 7mg of Pred once every

other day, and I haven't been hospitalized in about 15 months. So is

Xolair 'worth it' for me? You bet.

--- In , " pyle456 " <jamcculloch2@...>

wrote:

>

> We have had a run lately of questions regarding Xolair and

> possible/potential side effects and/or possible/potential resultant

> illnesses.

>

> Quite frankly, as a moderator, I'm beginning to get frustrated by

this,

> particularly with the concerns that sound more like complaints than

> questions or concerns. I know that I am not the only moderator who

> feels this way. I quite realize that this is part of the reason

for

> the group and I/we just have to deal, but I'm about ready to wonder

if

> two or three of our posting family are simply looking for a reason

NOT

> to take Xolair. Also, I'm concerned that some of us are relying

more

> on information from this group than our own doctors. THIS GROUP IS

> SIMPLY A FORUM OF EXPERIENCED PATIENTS, NOT MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

>

> Please, everyone, if you have any kind of concern or questions

about

> Xolair, by all means post them here. But please make an

appointment to

> discuss this issue with your prescribing physician AND your GP.

ANd,

> of course, feel free to share your doctor's response with the group.

>

> Finally, please remember that Xolair is NOT a cure. It is simply

the

> best hope for those of us with IgE mediated disease whose illness

is so

> serious that we have become steroid dependent. Certainly

physicians

> are now prescribing it for folks with mild and moderate asthma, and

to

> excellent effect, and that portion of the population may have

greater

> questions about taking such a serious medication. But those of us

> who've been dying slowly from regular prednisone use and who've

been at

> risk of a fatal allergic or asthmatic attack on a regular basis are

> grateful for the opportunity to take a medicine that has such a

good

> chance of giving a normal life.

>

> Gotta go take my blood pressure medicine, my calcium & vitamin D,

and

> do my weight bearing exercises, thank you prednisone.

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Addy

> Group co-owner

> Whose marriage has greatly improved now that she no longer has to

take

> mood-altering prednisone on a regular basis.

>

[Guest guest]

Addy - with all due respect, I feel I have to question re the more frequent

upper respiratory infections. Never had all that much trouble with them until

2004 when I got sinuses full of MRSA, and three other infections, after which I

had no probs. Then at the beginning of 2007 I started xolair, and I've been

having chronic sinusitis and sinus infections ever since - in fact, I'm taking

antibiotics for one now. Just recently, I noticed on the xolair web site that

adverse reactions to xolair include viral infections - 23% and upper resp.

infections - 20%, so I can't help but wonder if I'm in one of those percentages,

especially since I've had other than upper resp infections during this period.

Mostly, I'm just picking at straws, trying to find a reason so we can try to

prevent all these damn infections. And of course, that's a big part of my gripe

- the medical profession is far more interested in treating than preventing.

My PCP admits conventional medicine has failed me so far, which is why I'll be

at Duke next month. By the way, a note of humor - when I mentioned the 23% -

upper resp inf. adverse reaction rate to my ENT dude, he basically said, what

can you expect from a lot of people with sinus problems? It was a stopper.

Ohldepharte

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

From: pyle456

Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 6:47 AM

Subject: [ ] Xolair and possible side effects and resultant

illnesses

We have had a run lately of questions regarding Xolair and

possible/potential side effects and/or possible/potential resultant

illnesses.

Quite frankly, as a moderator, I'm beginning to get frustrated by this,

particularly with the concerns that sound more like complaints than

questions or concerns. I know that I am not the only moderator who

feels this way. I quite realize that this is part of the reason for

the group and I/we just have to deal, but I'm about ready to wonder if

two or three of our posting family are simply looking for a reason NOT

to take Xolair. Also, I'm concerned that some of us are relying more

on information from this group than our own doctors. THIS GROUP IS

SIMPLY A FORUM OF EXPERIENCED PATIENTS, NOT MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

Please, everyone, if you have any kind of concern or questions about

Xolair, by all means post them here. But please make an appointment to

discuss this issue with your prescribing physician AND your GP. ANd,

of course, feel free to share your doctor's response with the group.

Finally, please remember that Xolair is NOT a cure. It is simply the

best hope for those of us with IgE mediated disease whose illness is so

serious that we have become steroid dependent. Certainly physicians

are now prescribing it for folks with mild and moderate asthma, and to

excellent effect, and that portion of the population may have greater

questions about taking such a serious medication. But those of us

who've been dying slowly from regular prednisone use and who've been at

risk of a fatal allergic or asthmatic attack on a regular basis are

grateful for the opportunity to take a medicine that has such a good

chance of giving a normal life.

Gotta go take my blood pressure medicine, my calcium & vitamin D, and

do my weight bearing exercises, thank you prednisone.

Thanks for listening,

Addy

Group co-owner

Whose marriage has greatly improved now that she no longer has to take

mood-altering prednisone on a regular basis.

[Guest guest]

Terry, with all due respect , you and your ENT practically made my

point for me. Yes, you might be in the 20%, but we are a group who

is (are?) prone to upper resp and sinus infections, and who've been

taking lots of meds that cause a wide range of side effects prior to

starting Xolair.

BTW have you been keeping a diary? Have you noticed any correlation

between these episodes you've been having and the fact that our area

has started getting rain again in the last few months? My symptoms

always increase with rain and drastic changes in barometric pressure.

Friday and Saturday were hell, thank you Cristobal.

Addy

--- In , " Terry " <onabeach@...>

wrote:

>

> Addy - with all due respect, I feel I have to question re the more

frequent upper respiratory infections. Never had all that much

trouble with them until 2004 when I got sinuses full of MRSA, and

three other infections, after which I had no probs. Then at the

beginning of 2007 I started xolair, and I've been having chronic

sinusitis and sinus infections ever since - in fact, I'm taking

antibiotics for one now. Just recently, I noticed on the xolair web

site that adverse reactions to xolair include viral infections - 23%

and upper resp. infections - 20%, so I can't help but wonder if I'm

in one of those percentages, especially since I've had other than

upper resp infections during this period. Mostly, I'm just picking

at straws, trying to find a reason so we can try to prevent all these

damn infections. And of course, that's a big part of my gripe - the

medical profession is far more interested in treating than preventing.

>

> My PCP admits conventional medicine has failed me so far, which is

why I'll be at Duke next month. By the way, a note of humor - when I

mentioned the 23% - upper resp inf. adverse reaction rate to my ENT

dude, he basically said, what can you expect from a lot of people

with sinus problems? It was a stopper.

>

> Ohldepharte

>

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

> From: pyle456

>

> Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 6:47 AM

> Subject: [ ] Xolair and possible side effects and

resultant illnesses

>

>

> We have had a run lately of questions regarding Xolair and

> possible/potential side effects and/or possible/potential

resultant

> illnesses.

>

> Quite frankly, as a moderator, I'm beginning to get frustrated by

this,

> particularly with the concerns that sound more like complaints

than

> questions or concerns. I know that I am not the only moderator

who

> feels this way. I quite realize that this is part of the reason

for

> the group and I/we just have to deal, but I'm about ready to

wonder if

> two or three of our posting family are simply looking for a

reason NOT

> to take Xolair. Also, I'm concerned that some of us are relying

more

> on information from this group than our own doctors. THIS GROUP

IS

> SIMPLY A FORUM OF EXPERIENCED PATIENTS, NOT MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

>

> Please, everyone, if you have any kind of concern or questions

about

> Xolair, by all means post them here. But please make an

appointment to

> discuss this issue with your prescribing physician AND your GP.

ANd,

> of course, feel free to share your doctor's response with the

group.

>

> Finally, please remember that Xolair is NOT a cure. It is simply

the

> best hope for those of us with IgE mediated disease whose illness

is so

> serious that we have become steroid dependent. Certainly

physicians

> are now prescribing it for folks with mild and moderate asthma,

and to

> excellent effect, and that portion of the population may have

greater

> questions about taking such a serious medication. But those of us

> who've been dying slowly from regular prednisone use and who've

been at

> risk of a fatal allergic or asthmatic attack on a regular basis

are

> grateful for the opportunity to take a medicine that has such a

good

> chance of giving a normal life.

>

> Gotta go take my blood pressure medicine, my calcium & vitamin D,

and

> do my weight bearing exercises, thank you prednisone.

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Addy

> Group co-owner

> Whose marriage has greatly improved now that she no longer has to

take

> mood-altering prednisone on a regular basis.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sometimes a drug holiday is enough to see if the side effects you are getting is

due to the drug in question. For example, was advil causing my asthma to worsen?

I had no idea so I stopped it for several months to see. Made no diff.

So.....for anyone who is concerned re: xolair side effects, why don't you

negotiate a xolair vacation with you doctor's approval. Keeping all other

variables the same (eg not getting another Fluffy the Cat or Binky the Dog), see

if the infections and concerns go down....if so, maybe you have your answer??

Just an idea....

----- Original Message ----

From: pyle456 <jamcculloch2@...>

Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6:24:52 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: Xolair and possible side effects and resultant

illnesses

Terry, with all due respect , you and your ENT practically made my

point for me. Yes, you might be in the 20%, but we are a group who

is (are?) prone to upper resp and sinus infections, and who've been

taking lots of meds that cause a wide range of side effects prior to

starting Xolair.

BTW have you been keeping a diary? Have you noticed any correlation

between these episodes you've been having and the fact that our area

has started getting rain again in the last few months? My symptoms

always increase with rain and drastic changes in barometric pressure.

Friday and Saturday were hell, thank you Cristobal.

Addy

--- In , " Terry " <onabeach@.. .>

wrote:

>

> Addy - with all due respect, I feel I have to question re the more

frequent upper respiratory infections. Never had all that much

trouble with them until 2004 when I got sinuses full of MRSA, and

three other infections, after which I had no probs. Then at the

beginning of 2007 I started xolair, and I've been having chronic

sinusitis and sinus infections ever since - in fact, I'm taking

antibiotics for one now. Just recently, I noticed on the xolair web

site that adverse reactions to xolair include viral infections - 23%

and upper resp. infections - 20%, so I can't help but wonder if I'm

in one of those percentages, especially since I've had other than

upper resp infections during this period. Mostly, I'm just picking

at straws, trying to find a reason so we can try to prevent all these

damn infections. And of course, that's a big part of my gripe - the

medical profession is far more interested in treating than preventing.

>

> My PCP admits conventional medicine has failed me so far, which is

why I'll be at Duke next month. By the way, a note of humor - when I

mentioned the 23% - upper resp inf. adverse reaction rate to my ENT

dude, he basically said, what can you expect from a lot of people

with sinus problems? It was a stopper.

>

> Ohldepharte

>

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

> From: pyle456

>

> Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 6:47 AM

> Subject: [ ] Xolair and possible side effects and

resultant illnesses

>

>

> We have had a run lately of questions regarding Xolair and

> possible/potential side effects and/or possible/potential

resultant

> illnesses.

>

> Quite frankly, as a moderator, I'm beginning to get frustrated by

this,

> particularly with the concerns that sound more like complaints

than

> questions or concerns. I know that I am not the only moderator

who

> feels this way. I quite realize that this is part of the reason

for

> the group and I/we just have to deal, but I'm about ready to

wonder if

> two or three of our posting family are simply looking for a

reason NOT

> to take Xolair. Also, I'm concerned that some of us are relying

more

> on information from this group than our own doctors. THIS GROUP

IS

> SIMPLY A FORUM OF EXPERIENCED PATIENTS, NOT MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

>

> Please, everyone, if you have any kind of concern or questions

about

> Xolair, by all means post them here. But please make an

appointment to

> discuss this issue with your prescribing physician AND your GP.

ANd,

> of course, feel free to share your doctor's response with the

group.

>

> Finally, please remember that Xolair is NOT a cure. It is simply

the

> best hope for those of us with IgE mediated disease whose illness

is so

> serious that we have become steroid dependent. Certainly

physicians

> are now prescribing it for folks with mild and moderate asthma,

and to

> excellent effect, and that portion of the population may have

greater

> questions about taking such a serious medication. But those of us

> who've been dying slowly from regular prednisone use and who've

been at

> risk of a fatal allergic or asthmatic attack on a regular basis

are

> grateful for the opportunity to take a medicine that has such a

good

> chance of giving a normal life.

>

> Gotta go take my blood pressure medicine, my calcium & vitamin D,

and

> do my weight bearing exercises, thank you prednisone.

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Addy

> Group co-owner

> Whose marriage has greatly improved now that she no longer has to

take

> mood-altering prednisone on a regular basis.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Addy - maybe we just need a good hurricane to clear the air. By the way, I

forgot to mention the words of wisdom of my pulmo dude when I was trying to get

him to make sense out of my weird IgE numbers. Basically, he simply said, " I

dunno, but if you feel better, it must be working. " Seems sort of like the

time-tested approach to sex - if it feels good, do it.

Ohldepharte

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

From: pyle456

Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6:24 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: Xolair and possible side effects and resultant

illnesses

Terry, with all due respect , you and your ENT practically made my

point for me. Yes, you might be in the 20%, but we are a group who

is (are?) prone to upper resp and sinus infections, and who've been

taking lots of meds that cause a wide range of side effects prior to

starting Xolair.

BTW have you been keeping a diary? Have you noticed any correlation

between these episodes you've been having and the fact that our area

has started getting rain again in the last few months? My symptoms

always increase with rain and drastic changes in barometric pressure.

Friday and Saturday were hell, thank you Cristobal.

Addy

>

> Addy - with all due respect, I feel I have to question re the more

frequent upper respiratory infections. Never had all that much

trouble with them until 2004 when I got sinuses full of MRSA, and

three other infections, after which I had no probs. Then at the

beginning of 2007 I started xolair, and I've been having chronic

sinusitis and sinus infections ever since - in fact, I'm taking

antibiotics for one now. Just recently, I noticed on the xolair web

site that adverse reactions to xolair include viral infections - 23%

and upper resp. infections - 20%, so I can't help but wonder if I'm

in one of those percentages, especially since I've had other than

upper resp infections during this period. Mostly, I'm just picking

at straws, trying to find a reason so we can try to prevent all these

damn infections. And of course, that's a big part of my gripe - the

medical profession is far more interested in treating than preventing.

>

> My PCP admits conventional medicine has failed me so far, which is

why I'll be at Duke next month. By the way, a note of humor - when I

mentioned the 23% - upper resp inf. adverse reaction rate to my ENT

dude, he basically said, what can you expect from a lot of people

with sinus problems? It was a stopper.

>

> Ohldepharte

>

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

> From: pyle456

>

> Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 6:47 AM

> Subject: [ ] Xolair and possible side effects and

resultant illnesses

>

>

> We have had a run lately of questions regarding Xolair and

> possible/potential side effects and/or possible/potential

resultant

> illnesses.

>

> Quite frankly, as a moderator, I'm beginning to get frustrated by

this,

> particularly with the concerns that sound more like complaints

than

> questions or concerns. I know that I am not the only moderator

who

> feels this way. I quite realize that this is part of the reason

for

> the group and I/we just have to deal, but I'm about ready to

wonder if

> two or three of our posting family are simply looking for a

reason NOT

> to take Xolair. Also, I'm concerned that some of us are relying

more

> on information from this group than our own doctors. THIS GROUP

IS

> SIMPLY A FORUM OF EXPERIENCED PATIENTS, NOT MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

>

> Please, everyone, if you have any kind of concern or questions

about

> Xolair, by all means post them here. But please make an

appointment to

> discuss this issue with your prescribing physician AND your GP.

ANd,

> of course, feel free to share your doctor's response with the

group.

>

> Finally, please remember that Xolair is NOT a cure. It is simply

the

> best hope for those of us with IgE mediated disease whose illness

is so

> serious that we have become steroid dependent. Certainly

physicians

> are now prescribing it for folks with mild and moderate asthma,

and to

> excellent effect, and that portion of the population may have

greater

> questions about taking such a serious medication. But those of us

> who've been dying slowly from regular prednisone use and who've

been at

> risk of a fatal allergic or asthmatic attack on a regular basis

are

> grateful for the opportunity to take a medicine that has such a

good

> chance of giving a normal life.

>

> Gotta go take my blood pressure medicine, my calcium & vitamin D,

and

> do my weight bearing exercises, thank you prednisone.

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Addy

> Group co-owner

> Whose marriage has greatly improved now that she no longer has to

take

> mood-altering prednisone on a regular basis.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Come to think of it, , my infectious disease doc (I think I've got too

many dox) recently got all bent out of shape when he learned I'd been using

decongestants, so I quit using them. Can't say I notice any difference.

Sinuses still don't drain.

Ohldepharte

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

From:

Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:18 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Xolair and possible side effects and resultant

illnesses

Sometimes a drug holiday is enough to see if the side effects you are getting

is due to the drug in question. For example, was advil causing my asthma to

worsen? I had no idea so I stopped it for several months to see. Made no diff.

So.....for anyone who is concerned re: xolair side effects, why don't you

negotiate a xolair vacation with you doctor's approval. Keeping all other

variables the same (eg not getting another Fluffy the Cat or Binky the Dog), see

if the infections and concerns go down....if so, maybe you have your answer??

Just an idea....

----- Original Message ----

From: pyle456 <jamcculloch2@...>

Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6:24:52 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: Xolair and possible side effects and resultant

illnesses

Terry, with all due respect , you and your ENT practically made my

point for me. Yes, you might be in the 20%, but we are a group who

is (are?) prone to upper resp and sinus infections, and who've been

taking lots of meds that cause a wide range of side effects prior to

starting Xolair.

BTW have you been keeping a diary? Have you noticed any correlation

between these episodes you've been having and the fact that our area

has started getting rain again in the last few months? My symptoms

always increase with rain and drastic changes in barometric pressure.

Friday and Saturday were hell, thank you Cristobal.

Addy

>

> Addy - with all due respect, I feel I have to question re the more

frequent upper respiratory infections. Never had all that much

trouble with them until 2004 when I got sinuses full of MRSA, and

three other infections, after which I had no probs. Then at the

beginning of 2007 I started xolair, and I've been having chronic

sinusitis and sinus infections ever since - in fact, I'm taking

antibiotics for one now. Just recently, I noticed on the xolair web

site that adverse reactions to xolair include viral infections - 23%

and upper resp. infections - 20%, so I can't help but wonder if I'm

in one of those percentages, especially since I've had other than

upper resp infections during this period. Mostly, I'm just picking

at straws, trying to find a reason so we can try to prevent all these

damn infections. And of course, that's a big part of my gripe - the

medical profession is far more interested in treating than preventing.

>

> My PCP admits conventional medicine has failed me so far, which is

why I'll be at Duke next month. By the way, a note of humor - when I

mentioned the 23% - upper resp inf. adverse reaction rate to my ENT

dude, he basically said, what can you expect from a lot of people

with sinus problems? It was a stopper.

>

> Ohldepharte

>

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

> From: pyle456

>

> Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 6:47 AM

> Subject: [ ] Xolair and possible side effects and

resultant illnesses

>

>

> We have had a run lately of questions regarding Xolair and

> possible/potential side effects and/or possible/potential

resultant

> illnesses.

>

> Quite frankly, as a moderator, I'm beginning to get frustrated by

this,

> particularly with the concerns that sound more like complaints

than

> questions or concerns. I know that I am not the only moderator

who

> feels this way. I quite realize that this is part of the reason

for

> the group and I/we just have to deal, but I'm about ready to

wonder if

> two or three of our posting family are simply looking for a

reason NOT

> to take Xolair. Also, I'm concerned that some of us are relying

more

> on information from this group than our own doctors. THIS GROUP

IS

> SIMPLY A FORUM OF EXPERIENCED PATIENTS, NOT MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

>

> Please, everyone, if you have any kind of concern or questions

about

> Xolair, by all means post them here. But please make an

appointment to

> discuss this issue with your prescribing physician AND your GP.

ANd,

> of course, feel free to share your doctor's response with the

group.

>

> Finally, please remember that Xolair is NOT a cure. It is simply

the

> best hope for those of us with IgE mediated disease whose illness

is so

> serious that we have become steroid dependent. Certainly

physicians

> are now prescribing it for folks with mild and moderate asthma,

and to

> excellent effect, and that portion of the population may have

greater

> questions about taking such a serious medication. But those of us

> who've been dying slowly from regular prednisone use and who've

been at

> risk of a fatal allergic or asthmatic attack on a regular basis

are

> grateful for the opportunity to take a medicine that has such a

good

> chance of giving a normal life.

>

> Gotta go take my blood pressure medicine, my calcium & vitamin D,

and

> do my weight bearing exercises, thank you prednisone.

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Addy

> Group co-owner

> Whose marriage has greatly improved now that she no longer has to

take

> mood-altering prednisone on a regular basis.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Look, I'm used to docs apologizing to me b/c they don't know or

there's nothing else they can do for me. We're just in that boat.

RIGHT. A hurricane to clear the air. Barometer drops and I'll have

an elephant on my chest and be nebbing every 2 hours until it hits

shore. You're funny.

Addy

> >

> > Addy - with all due respect, I feel I have to question re the

more

> frequent upper respiratory infections. Never had all that much

> trouble with them until 2004 when I got sinuses full of MRSA, and

> three other infections, after which I had no probs. Then at the

> beginning of 2007 I started xolair, and I've been having chronic

> sinusitis and sinus infections ever since - in fact, I'm taking

> antibiotics for one now. Just recently, I noticed on the xolair

web

> site that adverse reactions to xolair include viral infections -

23%

> and upper resp. infections - 20%, so I can't help but wonder if

I'm

> in one of those percentages, especially since I've had other than

> upper resp infections during this period. Mostly, I'm just

picking

> at straws, trying to find a reason so we can try to prevent all

these

> damn infections. And of course, that's a big part of my gripe -

the

> medical profession is far more interested in treating than

preventing.

> >

> > My PCP admits conventional medicine has failed me so far, which

is

> why I'll be at Duke next month. By the way, a note of humor -

when I

> mentioned the 23% - upper resp inf. adverse reaction rate to my

ENT

> dude, he basically said, what can you expect from a lot of people

> with sinus problems? It was a stopper.

> >

> > Ohldepharte

> >

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

> > From: pyle456

> >

> > Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 6:47 AM

> > Subject: [ ] Xolair and possible side effects and

> resultant illnesses

> >

> >

> > We have had a run lately of questions regarding Xolair and

> > possible/potential side effects and/or possible/potential

> resultant

> > illnesses.

> >

> > Quite frankly, as a moderator, I'm beginning to get frustrated

by

> this,

> > particularly with the concerns that sound more like complaints

> than

> > questions or concerns. I know that I am not the only moderator

> who

> > feels this way. I quite realize that this is part of the reason

> for

> > the group and I/we just have to deal, but I'm about ready to

> wonder if

> > two or three of our posting family are simply looking for a

> reason NOT

> > to take Xolair. Also, I'm concerned that some of us are relying

> more

> > on information from this group than our own doctors. THIS GROUP

> IS

> > SIMPLY A FORUM OF EXPERIENCED PATIENTS, NOT MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

> >

> > Please, everyone, if you have any kind of concern or questions

> about

> > Xolair, by all means post them here. But please make an

> appointment to

> > discuss this issue with your prescribing physician AND your GP.

> ANd,

> > of course, feel free to share your doctor's response with the

> group.

> >

> > Finally, please remember that Xolair is NOT a cure. It is

simply

> the

> > best hope for those of us with IgE mediated disease whose

illness

> is so

> > serious that we have become steroid dependent. Certainly

> physicians

> > are now prescribing it for folks with mild and moderate asthma,

> and to

> > excellent effect, and that portion of the population may have

> greater

> > questions about taking such a serious medication. But those of

us

> > who've been dying slowly from regular prednisone use and who've

> been at

> > risk of a fatal allergic or asthmatic attack on a regular basis

> are

> > grateful for the opportunity to take a medicine that has such a

> good

> > chance of giving a normal life.

> >

> > Gotta go take my blood pressure medicine, my calcium & vitamin

D,

> and

> > do my weight bearing exercises, thank you prednisone.

> >

> > Thanks for listening,

> > Addy

> > Group co-owner

> > Whose marriage has greatly improved now that she no longer has

to

> take

> > mood-altering prednisone on a regular basis.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >