FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6 MONTHS ON XOLAIR

[Guest guest]

Hello,

My asthma was severe after I had my child. It seemed like it got

progressively worse every year. Finally , 60lbs later,after many trips

to the ER and hospital stays I finally got on Xolair. It helped drop

some initial weight because I got off the prednisone almost instantly.

I have been on Xolair for 6 months now and this is the first time I got

sick with a cold. I was praying that It didnt turn into asthma but

sure enough it did. I have noticed that the severity of the asthma

is'nt as bad as I have had it in the past. My doctor put me on a

prednisone pack vs. 60mg of predinisone a day. Usually the pack does

not work for me. I see a little improvement but I am really not

getting worse. I am able to walk and talk most of the time without

being too much short of breath.

I was wondering what other peoples experiences are when they get sick

after being on XOLAIR?

Thanks,

Jeannie

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeannie - my experience has been that initially my asthma decreased, but then

my sinus infections increased - to the point now that I'll be going to Duke

Univ. Med Cntr. for cleaning out the sinuses of the impacted mucus that's full

of nasty bugs. As I understand it, they bring in a pressure washer contractor

who blasts my sinuses at 1000 psi, to get rid of the hardened and impacted yuck

up there. Then they'll pack the blasted cavities (if there's anything left of

my head) with stuff to kill anything that's left. Then, on to about 6 weeks of

infusion of antibiotics through a pic line coupled with mucho prednisone. It's

kill or cure - or maybe it's cure and kill - who knows. Of course, we're not

even talking about my lungs which have problems, too.

Ohldepharte

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

From: Jeannie

Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:01 AM

Subject: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6 MONTHS ON XOLAIR

Hello,

My asthma was severe after I had my child. It seemed like it got

progressively worse every year. Finally , 60lbs later,after many trips

to the ER and hospital stays I finally got on Xolair. It helped drop

some initial weight because I got off the prednisone almost instantly.

I have been on Xolair for 6 months now and this is the first time I got

sick with a cold. I was praying that It didnt turn into asthma but

sure enough it did. I have noticed that the severity of the asthma

is'nt as bad as I have had it in the past. My doctor put me on a

prednisone pack vs. 60mg of predinisone a day. Usually the pack does

not work for me. I see a little improvement but I am really not

getting worse. I am able to walk and talk most of the time without

being too much short of breath.

I was wondering what other peoples experiences are when they get sick

after being on XOLAIR?

Thanks,

Jeannie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com

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[Guest guest]

If you feel like checking your email after all of that, let us know how you are

doing.  Sounds like it will be a while before you will be back to whatever is

normal for you!  God Bless....

From: Terry <onabeach@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6 MONTHS ON

XOLAIR

Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 5:56 PM

Hi Jeannie - my experience has been that initially my asthma decreased, but then

my sinus infections increased - to the point now that I'll be going to Duke

Univ. Med Cntr. for cleaning out the sinuses of the impacted mucus that's full

of nasty bugs. As I understand it, they bring in a pressure washer contractor

who blasts my sinuses at 1000 psi, to get rid of the hardened and impacted yuck

up there. Then they'll pack the blasted cavities (if there's anything left of my

head) with stuff to kill anything that's left. Then, on to about 6 weeks of

infusion of antibiotics through a pic line coupled with mucho prednisone. It's

kill or cure - or maybe it's cure and kill - who knows. Of course, we're not

even talking about my lungs which have problems, too.

Ohldepharte

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

From: Jeannie

Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:01 AM

Subject: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6 MONTHS ON XOLAIR

Hello,

My asthma was severe after I had my child. It seemed like it got

progressively worse every year. Finally , 60lbs later,after many trips

to the ER and hospital stays I finally got on Xolair. It helped drop

some initial weight because I got off the prednisone almost instantly.

I have been on Xolair for 6 months now and this is the first time I got

sick with a cold. I was praying that It didnt turn into asthma but

sure enough it did. I have noticed that the severity of the asthma

is'nt as bad as I have had it in the past. My doctor put me on a

prednisone pack vs. 60mg of predinisone a day. Usually the pack does

not work for me. I see a little improvement but I am really not

getting worse. I am able to walk and talk most of the time without

being too much short of breath.

I was wondering what other peoples experiences are when they get sick

after being on XOLAIR?

Thanks,

Jeannie

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - http://www.avg. com

Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.5/1703 - Release Date: 10/2/2008 7:46

AM

[Guest guest]

Adah - I was just kidding about the pressure washer contractor, but they will go

in to flush and suction the sinuses with some special doohickey followed by the

packing of the cavities and the infusion. How I got to this state might be of

interest, however.

Four years ago, I got a nasty group of sinus infections - MRSA, e-coli, fungus

and black mold - that were so bad I had to go to Duke to have the sinuses

scraped clean surgically - what I happily refer to as a sinus D & C - an

absolutely brutal procedure to be avoided if at all possible - two days in

recovery followed by two weeks of bleeding and six weeks of daily vancomycin

infusion through a pic line. Dox said I'd have to flush daily for rest of my

life.

For two years, I had absolutely no problems. Then, two years ago, I got a cold

and my sinuses swelled shut - flushes produced nothing. The cold wouldn't go

away, and apparently somehow resurrected my childhood asthma (my opinion), so

they started me on Xolair, which helped the symptoms, but did nothing for the

cause - infected sinuses. For the next two years till now, I bounced from the

ENT doc who pushed reduction of inflammation with prednisone to the infectious

disease dox who pushed many, many antibiotics into me, including six weeks of

cefepime daily infusions through a pic line - all to no avail. During that two

years I also contracted several other infections in various parts of my decrepit

old body.

Finally, I said to my PC doc that I felt I needed to be thoroughly checked out

regarding my immune system . He set me up with a terrific doc at Duke's Asthma,

Allergy and Airway Clinic who specializes in immunology. I passed a whole

passel of immune tests including checking for cystic fibrosis, so apparently

that's not the problem. However, the Duke doc says I have been getting

" textbook " treatment - ie. the book says give him two weeks of such and such a

prednisone or antibiotic treatment, and that should fix him. In each instance,

the treatment was inadequate or not long enough, resulting in virtual

continuation or resurrection of the infections for two years. Now I have

impacted sinuses with very thick or hardened mucus which more or less has become

one with the sinus tissue - to the extent that they can't tell mucus from tissue

in the CT scans. They feel they can't scrape the sinuses again (hooray), hence

the flush and suction. Duke's doc essentially is saying hit it hard and hit it

long in order to effect a cure. We'll see. If I'm cured, I'll then have

antibiotics at home to use if I get a cold - the idea being to kill off any

sinus infection that might result from the cold, rather than waiting for an

infection to gain a foothold and then try to treat it.

I rattled on about all this because I felt others out there might be suffering

under similar conditions - textbook treatment that just doesn't quite complete

the job.

Ohldepharte

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

From: Adah Voigt

Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 7:09 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6 MONTHS ON

XOLAIR

If you feel like checking your email after all of that, let us know how you

are doing. Sounds like it will be a while before you will be back to whatever

is normal for you! God Bless....

From: Terry <onabeach@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6 MONTHS ON

XOLAIR

Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 5:56 PM

Hi Jeannie - my experience has been that initially my asthma decreased, but

then my sinus infections increased - to the point now that I'll be going to Duke

Univ. Med Cntr. for cleaning out the sinuses of the impacted mucus that's full

of nasty bugs. As I understand it, they bring in a pressure washer contractor

who blasts my sinuses at 1000 psi, to get rid of the hardened and impacted yuck

up there. Then they'll pack the blasted cavities (if there's anything left of my

head) with stuff to kill anything that's left. Then, on to about 6 weeks of

infusion of antibiotics through a pic line coupled with mucho prednisone. It's

kill or cure - or maybe it's cure and kill - who knows. Of course, we're not

even talking about my lungs which have problems, too.

Ohldepharte

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

From: Jeannie

Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:01 AM

Subject: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6 MONTHS ON XOLAIR

Hello,

My asthma was severe after I had my child. It seemed like it got

progressively worse every year. Finally , 60lbs later,after many trips

to the ER and hospital stays I finally got on Xolair. It helped drop

some initial weight because I got off the prednisone almost instantly.

I have been on Xolair for 6 months now and this is the first time I got

sick with a cold. I was praying that It didnt turn into asthma but

sure enough it did. I have noticed that the severity of the asthma

is'nt as bad as I have had it in the past. My doctor put me on a

prednisone pack vs. 60mg of predinisone a day. Usually the pack does

not work for me. I see a little improvement but I am really not

getting worse. I am able to walk and talk most of the time without

being too much short of breath.

I was wondering what other peoples experiences are when they get sick

after being on XOLAIR?

Thanks,

Jeannie

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - http://www.avg. com

Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.5/1703 - Release Date: 10/2/2008 7:46

AM

[Guest guest]

Terry - that SUCKS.

I'm a stage or two behind you. WHA tried me on two months of

antibiotics when the two week cycle wasn't working. I felt great,

but of course it didn't last. I don't know which pulmo is yours, but

Dr. B gives me an antibiotic whenever I ask for, precisely to keep

the crap to a minimum like you're talking about.

Fortunately, Xolair has improved by Severe Allergic Sinus Disease (my

term - can I get a patent for it?) to the extent that my responses

are less severe and less frequent.

That being said, I woke up this morning unable to breathe through my

nose and choking on my own mucus. FUN.

Addy

Group co-owner

>

> From: Terry <onabeach@...>

> Subject: Re: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6

MONTHS ON XOLAIR

>

> Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 5:56 PM

>

> Hi Jeannie - my experience has been that initially my asthma

decreased, but then my sinus infections increased - to the point now

that I'll be going to Duke Univ. Med Cntr. for cleaning out the

sinuses of the impacted mucus that's full of nasty bugs. As I

understand it, they bring in a pressure washer contractor who blasts

my sinuses at 1000 psi, to get rid of the hardened and impacted yuck

up there. Then they'll pack the blasted cavities (if there's anything

left of my head) with stuff to kill anything that's left. Then, on to

about 6 weeks of infusion of antibiotics through a pic line coupled

with mucho prednisone. It's kill or cure - or maybe it's cure and

kill - who knows. Of course, we're not even talking about my lungs

which have problems, too.

>

> Ohldepharte

>

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

> From: Jeannie

>

> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:01 AM

> Subject: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6

MONTHS ON XOLAIR

>

> Hello,

>

> My asthma was severe after I had my child. It seemed like it got

> progressively worse every year. Finally , 60lbs later,after many

trips

> to the ER and hospital stays I finally got on Xolair. It helped

drop

> some initial weight because I got off the prednisone almost

instantly.

>

> I have been on Xolair for 6 months now and this is the first time

I got

> sick with a cold. I was praying that It didnt turn into asthma

but

> sure enough it did. I have noticed that the severity of the

asthma

> is'nt as bad as I have had it in the past. My doctor put me on a

> prednisone pack vs. 60mg of predinisone a day. Usually the pack

does

> not work for me. I see a little improvement but I am really not

> getting worse. I am able to walk and talk most of the time

without

> being too much short of breath.

>

> I was wondering what other peoples experiences are when they get

sick

> after being on XOLAIR?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jeannie

>

> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg. com

> Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.5/1703 - Release Date:

10/2/2008 7:46 AM

>

>

[Guest guest]

It still doesn't sound like a lot of fun.....I sure hope it really helps you. 

Sounds like you have had enough problems....

 

P,S.  I knew you were kidding about the heavy duty contraptions........

From: Terry <onabeachcharter (DOT) net>

Subject: Re: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6 MONTHS ON

XOLAIR

Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 5:56 PM

Hi Jeannie - my experience has been that initially my asthma decreased, but then

my sinus infections increased - to the point now that I'll be going to Duke

Univ. Med Cntr. for cleaning out the sinuses of the impacted mucus that's full

of nasty bugs. As I understand it, they bring in a pressure washer contractor

who blasts my sinuses at 1000 psi, to get rid of the hardened and impacted yuck

up there. Then they'll pack the blasted cavities (if there's anything left of my

head) with stuff to kill anything that's left. Then, on to about 6 weeks of

infusion of antibiotics through a pic line coupled with mucho prednisone. It's

kill or cure - or maybe it's cure and kill - who knows. Of course, we're not

even talking about my lungs which have problems, too.

Ohldepharte

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

From: Jeannie

Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:01 AM

Subject: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6 MONTHS ON XOLAIR

Hello,

My asthma was severe after I had my child. It seemed like it got

progressively worse every year. Finally , 60lbs later,after many trips

to the ER and hospital stays I finally got on Xolair. It helped drop

some initial weight because I got off the prednisone almost instantly.

I have been on Xolair for 6 months now and this is the first time I got

sick with a cold. I was praying that It didnt turn into asthma but

sure enough it did. I have noticed that the severity of the asthma

is'nt as bad as I have had it in the past. My doctor put me on a

prednisone pack vs. 60mg of predinisone a day. Usually the pack does

not work for me. I see a little improvement but I am really not

getting worse. I am able to walk and talk most of the time without

being too much short of breath.

I was wondering what other peoples experiences are when they get sick

after being on XOLAIR?

Thanks,

Jeannie

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - http://www.avg. com

Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.5/1703 - Release Date: 10/2/2008 7:46

AM

[Guest guest]

Wow! Two months of antibiotics. That's a bunch - I was crawling the walls

after six weeks. Did you have the infamous pic line or go orally?

The dox tell me there is so little blood flow through the sinuses that it's very

hard to cure sinus infection, even with the pic line - hence the duration. They

say it's a dark, damp place with little circulation - natural for disease

growth. With my track record, I figure I probably have mushrooms growing in

there.

I'm beginning to think it's a chicken/egg situation - which came first - the

sinus problem or the asthma? While at Duke, they did testing of my lung

capacity. I don't understand any of the results, but I've got five pages of

numbers and graphs. I'll have to try to talk Lee into explaining it all to me.

Duke doc said it wasn't good. Maybe I can get Lee to bring his shop vac to work

again and suck my lungs out again - I felt great after that a few years ago.

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

From: pyle456

Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 6:41 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6 MONTHS ON

XOLAIR

Terry - that SUCKS.

I'm a stage or two behind you. WHA tried me on two months of

antibiotics when the two week cycle wasn't working. I felt great,

but of course it didn't last. I don't know which pulmo is yours, but

Dr. B gives me an antibiotic whenever I ask for, precisely to keep

the crap to a minimum like you're talking about.

Fortunately, Xolair has improved by Severe Allergic Sinus Disease (my

term - can I get a patent for it?) to the extent that my responses

are less severe and less frequent.

That being said, I woke up this morning unable to breathe through my

nose and choking on my own mucus. FUN.

Addy

Group co-owner

>

> From: Terry <onabeach@...>

> Subject: Re: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6

MONTHS ON XOLAIR

>

> Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 5:56 PM

>

> Hi Jeannie - my experience has been that initially my asthma

decreased, but then my sinus infections increased - to the point now

that I'll be going to Duke Univ. Med Cntr. for cleaning out the

sinuses of the impacted mucus that's full of nasty bugs. As I

understand it, they bring in a pressure washer contractor who blasts

my sinuses at 1000 psi, to get rid of the hardened and impacted yuck

up there. Then they'll pack the blasted cavities (if there's anything

left of my head) with stuff to kill anything that's left. Then, on to

about 6 weeks of infusion of antibiotics through a pic line coupled

with mucho prednisone. It's kill or cure - or maybe it's cure and

kill - who knows. Of course, we're not even talking about my lungs

which have problems, too.

>

> Ohldepharte

>

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

> From: Jeannie

>

> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:01 AM

> Subject: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6

MONTHS ON XOLAIR

>

> Hello,

>

> My asthma was severe after I had my child. It seemed like it got

> progressively worse every year. Finally , 60lbs later,after many

trips

> to the ER and hospital stays I finally got on Xolair. It helped

drop

> some initial weight because I got off the prednisone almost

instantly.

>

> I have been on Xolair for 6 months now and this is the first time

I got

> sick with a cold. I was praying that It didnt turn into asthma

but

> sure enough it did. I have noticed that the severity of the

asthma

> is'nt as bad as I have had it in the past. My doctor put me on a

> prednisone pack vs. 60mg of predinisone a day. Usually the pack

does

> not work for me. I see a little improvement but I am really not

> getting worse. I am able to walk and talk most of the time

without

> being too much short of breath.

>

> I was wondering what other peoples experiences are when they get

sick

> after being on XOLAIR?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jeannie

>

> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg. com

> Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.5/1703 - Release Date:

10/2/2008 7:46 AM

>

>

[Guest guest]

Terry,

My asthma has historically been triggered by my SASD (Severe Allergic

Sinus Disease). The dox are right, there is not a lot of room in our

sinuses, hence the ease with which they get infected.

You probably live with chronic sinus inflammation like I do. Every 3

years Dr. B sends me to an ENT " just to make sure. " They never find

anything except inflammation caused by allergies. I've probably told

this story before, but when I went to see Dr. at WHA, they had

me fill out a symptomology form. I was having a good day that day

and rated my sinus symptoms as a " 2, " which is at the low end of the

scale. He looked at my sinuses and looked back at my chart and

said, " you've got an awful lot of inflammation for a " 2. "

Xolair has helped this in that it has really minimized my level of

allergic response, resulting in fewer sinus insults and, when I do

have them, they are usually far less worse than they were pre-

Xolair. This has, in turn, kept the lungs in better order.

Good luck -hang in. Gotta go take my morning meds now.

Addy

> >

> > From: Terry <onabeach@>

> > Subject: Re: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER

6

> MONTHS ON XOLAIR

> >

> > Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 5:56 PM

> >

> > Hi Jeannie - my experience has been that initially my asthma

> decreased, but then my sinus infections increased - to the point

now

> that I'll be going to Duke Univ. Med Cntr. for cleaning out the

> sinuses of the impacted mucus that's full of nasty bugs. As I

> understand it, they bring in a pressure washer contractor who

blasts

> my sinuses at 1000 psi, to get rid of the hardened and impacted

yuck

> up there. Then they'll pack the blasted cavities (if there's

anything

> left of my head) with stuff to kill anything that's left. Then,

on to

> about 6 weeks of infusion of antibiotics through a pic line

coupled

> with mucho prednisone. It's kill or cure - or maybe it's cure and

> kill - who knows. Of course, we're not even talking about my

lungs

> which have problems, too.

> >

> > Ohldepharte

> >

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

> > From: Jeannie

> >

> > Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 5:01 AM

> > Subject: [ ] FIRST TIME SICK ON PREDNISONE AFTER 6

> MONTHS ON XOLAIR

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > My asthma was severe after I had my child. It seemed like it

got

> > progressively worse every year. Finally , 60lbs later,after

many

> trips

> > to the ER and hospital stays I finally got on Xolair. It helped

> drop

> > some initial weight because I got off the prednisone almost

> instantly.

> >

> > I have been on Xolair for 6 months now and this is the first

time

> I got

> > sick with a cold. I was praying that It didnt turn into asthma

> but

> > sure enough it did. I have noticed that the severity of the

> asthma

> > is'nt as bad as I have had it in the past. My doctor put me on

a

> > prednisone pack vs. 60mg of predinisone a day. Usually the pack

> does

> > not work for me. I see a little improvement but I am really not

> > getting worse. I am able to walk and talk most of the time

> without

> > being too much short of breath.

> >

> > I was wondering what other peoples experiences are when they

get

> sick

> > after being on XOLAIR?

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Jeannie

> >

> > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

> >

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg. com

> > Version: 8.0.173 / Virus Database: 270.7.5/1703 - Release Date:

> 10/2/2008 7:46 AM

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Don't have time to look it up now, but browsing on line I came upon several

sites that talked about needing 6 months of antibiotics to really cure a lung

infection, so I wonder if the same would be true of such a deep sinus infection.

Carol

[Guest guest]

hi,

i'm new to the discussion but have been on xolair for 4 years. i've

had decreased in symptoms but sure enough when i get a cold i have a

hard time breathing.

--- In , " Jeannie " <jeanniehidalgo@...>

wrote:

>

> Hello,

>

> My asthma was severe after I had my child. It seemed like it got

> progressively worse every year. Finally , 60lbs later,after many

trips

> to the ER and hospital stays I finally got on Xolair. It helped

drop

> some initial weight because I got off the prednisone almost

instantly.

>

> I have been on Xolair for 6 months now and this is the first time

I got

> sick with a cold. I was praying that It didnt turn into asthma

but

> sure enough it did. I have noticed that the severity of the asthma

> is'nt as bad as I have had it in the past. My doctor put me on a

> prednisone pack vs. 60mg of predinisone a day. Usually the pack

does

> not work for me. I see a little improvement but I am really not

> getting worse. I am able to walk and talk most of the time

without

> being too much short of breath.

>

> I was wondering what other peoples experiences are when they get

sick

> after being on XOLAIR?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Jeannie

>