Re:Fearful about starting Xolair

[Guest guest]

GIVE IT A TRY! I have been on prednisone since 1977,

my regular dose the past two years has been 20 mg a

day. The year before trying Xolair I had the

paramedics at my house four times and went to the ER

once, prior to that my asthma had been managed and not

in respiratory distress.

I am female, in my early fifties, and knew I was on a

slippery slope. I started wearing depends because

some days I just didnt' have the breath to make it to

the bathroom and would have have a spell on the way

there.

I finally qualified for Xolair and have had 11

injections. Other than extreme irritability for a

couple days after an injection I've been fortunate and

had no effects. People tell me I sound better when I

talk, I don't look as pasty and grey as I did before I

started the Xolair.

I am now down to 5mg and not struggling. I will wait

until my one year anniversary in July before I try

alternate day therapy and hopefully by 18 months I

will be off the steroids and able to deal with the

winter.

Yea, I was scared too. When I was anticipating my

first shot I had a town board meeting after - I warned

the audience the week before that if I start to blotch

up during the meeting someone let me know immediately

for it would be a reaction. I also told my fellow

board members to be prepared to call an ambulance

should I do into shock. Everyone knew I was sick and I

was not running for re-election.

I had no serious effects. I did feel like crap after

the first two injections (I get them once a month) but

then the third month and I was fine (other than being

irritable but that is often mistaken for my usual

charm).

I have asthma that is deemed life threatening and

severe - I have been intubated and on a ventilator

twice, once in 1980 and also in 1991. I live a guarded

life, fearing that the next respiratory arrest will be

fatal.

Try the Xolair, if you have a reaction you can

discontinue. Most people on this site have not had a

severe reaction. Good luck in getting your life back.

joy