great peak flow reading!

[Guest guest]

I wondered if anyone else had a similar experience with Xolair...

Because my peak flow meter readings are pretty reliable, hovering at an average

of about

355, I stopped taking daily readings a few months back. I don't need my meter

to tell me

I'm having trouble breathing, but I've found it's more beneficial as a gauge of

just how

much of an episode I'm having.

In early March, I was due to have allergy testing at the office of a new

allergist. Because

the testing required me to be off antihistamines for a full 7 days prior, my

doctor put me

on prednisone for a week. For me, being on that is like being on vacation--no

allergies,

no asthma, no constant fatigue, but I have trouble sleeping and weird dreams

when I do

nod off. After a full week on it, I took a peak flow meter reading because I

felt great and

wanted to know what I was capable of--I blew a 403, a big improvement from the

usual

355 and constant wheezing even when taking my usual spring regimen of advair,

albuterol, two prescription antihistamines, steroid nose spray, astelin,

sudafed, and

benedryl with hydroxyzene thrown in occasionally.

Long story short, my allergies and asthma were bad enough for me to get approved

for

Xolair, and I started it the first week in April--2 vials every 2 weeks since

then. Last

night, I felt unusually good, so I decided to see what I could blow. I just

about fell-over

when I blew a 416--even on the prednisone I didn't do that well! I have to

wonder if the

Xolair is starting to have an impact even at this early point in my treatment.

If so, what a

blessing and a gift to have something that finally works and doesn't put me into

a sedated

half-asleep stupor!

Just wanted to share my short-term success--we'll see if it holds out, since

grass season

is quickly gearing up in the Atlanta area...anyone else have something similar

to share with

the other new folks on this board?