Re: Re: Kicking the steroid habit

February 17, 2009

If you take the advair twice a day maybe you could drop it to once a day

to see how you do. I only take the advair once a day.

________________________________

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of

Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 12:20 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Kicking the steroid habit

I can't take steroids at all. However, since my Xolair miracle, the

doctors have stopped

fretting about it. So I guess there's hope. By the way, I think my

miracle might be wearing

off. It's hard to say what's going on, since I have other health

concerns besides asthma.

Pining for the open sea,

>

> About 2-1/2 years ago I started taking Xolair. Quality of life has

> improved dramatically and I'm pretty much normal now. I'll take a

> hit of my Albuterol inhaler a few times a month when I wheeze a

> little for some reason, usually emotional or chemical, but otherwise

> I'm fine.

>

> I was also taking Spiriva for COPD. I dropped that 3 mos ago due to

> extreme dry mouth and teeth rotting out as a result. My recent

> checkup from the COPD-prescribing doctor confirmed I don't need it

> anymore since my spirometer is 87% of normal now, up from the low

> 70's before Xolair. I realize Xolair is not for COPD but I suspect

> COPD and asthma, which I also have, are probably interwoven.

>

> Now I'm hoping to drop Advair which I also take for asthma. I tried

> that a couple years ago after first starting Xolair and it was a

> mistake. But now maybe I can pull it off. I'm going to try as soon

> as the upcoming Spring pollen season is over, maybe sooner if I get

> gutsy.

>

> I'm wondering if anyone else taking Xolair has experienced success in

> kicking the Advair steroid habit.

>

> Please respond if you've been able to drop Advair while taking Xolair.

>

February 17, 2009

Me, too, unless I have an infection like I had for the last three weeks. Did I

say, though, that I did NOT have to take prednisone? My asthma did kick up a

bit, but not bad enough to have to take the bad stuff. Normally, I use advair

just once a day. I think xolair has helped me that much, although I won't ever

be able to run again, but I can walk quite a distance on a good day.

From: Becker <nbecker@...>

Subject: RE: [ ] Re: Kicking the steroid habit

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 12:52 PM

If you take the advair twice a day maybe you could drop it to once a day

to see how you do. I only take the advair once a day.

____________ _________ _________ __

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of

Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 12:20 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Kicking the steroid habit

I can't take steroids at all. However, since my Xolair miracle, the

doctors have stopped

fretting about it. So I guess there's hope. By the way, I think my

miracle might be wearing

off. It's hard to say what's going on, since I have other health

concerns besides asthma.

Pining for the open sea,

>

> About 2-1/2 years ago I started taking Xolair. Quality of life has

> improved dramatically and I'm pretty much normal now. I'll take a

> hit of my Albuterol inhaler a few times a month when I wheeze a

> little for some reason, usually emotional or chemical, but otherwise

> I'm fine.

>

> I was also taking Spiriva for COPD. I dropped that 3 mos ago due to

> extreme dry mouth and teeth rotting out as a result. My recent

> checkup from the COPD-prescribing doctor confirmed I don't need it

> anymore since my spirometer is 87% of normal now, up from the low

> 70's before Xolair. I realize Xolair is not for COPD but I suspect

> COPD and asthma, which I also have, are probably interwoven.

>

> Now I'm hoping to drop Advair which I also take for asthma. I tried

> that a couple years ago after first starting Xolair and it was a

> mistake. But now maybe I can pull it off. I'm going to try as soon

> as the upcoming Spring pollen season is over, maybe sooner if I get

> gutsy.

>

> I'm wondering if anyone else taking Xolair has experienced success in

> kicking the Advair steroid habit.

>

> Please respond if you've been able to drop Advair while taking Xolair.

>

February 18, 2009

Greetings all, I am usually only an interested lurker on this valuable

newsgroup here but wanted to respond to the advair question. I went off

advair about two months after starting xolair. I've also not had to

take a hit of albuterol since I began shots. After almost ten years of

fairly constant prednisone, i have been off that devilish drug cold

turkey as well. Totally steroid free for eight months tomorrow. I got

some sinus benefits as well, although those have slowly worn off sad to say.

uca79iii wrote:

>

> >

> > If you take the advair twice a day maybe you could drop it to once a day

> > to see how you do. I only take the advair once a day.

> >

>

> I am getting my by weekly Xolair shots this Friday. I will ask my

> doctor if I can go off of Advair since I am doing so well.

>

> This will save me 30 bucks in one drug copay a month.

>

> Doug

> Group founder

> On Xolair over 5 years

>

February 18, 2009

Wish my advair was only $30. I just paid $132 for my advair copay for this

month!

From: uca79iii <uca79iii@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: Kicking the steroid habit

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 4:32 PM

>

> If you take the advair twice a day maybe you could drop it to once a day

> to see how you do. I only take the advair once a day.

>

I am getting my by weekly Xolair shots this Friday. I will ask my

doctor if I can go off of Advair since I am doing so well.

This will save me 30 bucks in one drug copay a month.

Doug

Group founder

On Xolair over 5 years

February 18, 2009

that's the one really good break I have--my copay for xolair is $0. I get one

shot every six weeks. I am going to see the doctor who manages my xolair and

ask him to go back to 1 every four weeks. I did well with that one. I have had

some allergic asthma with the six weeks in between and had to be on an

antibiotic. But I did NOT have to do the prednisone.

Adah

From: uca79iii <uca79iii@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: Kicking the steroid habit

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 6:48 AM

>

> Wish my advair was only $30. I just paid $132 for my advair copay

for this month!

>

Good grief!

What is your Xolair co payment? Mine is 50.00 for 8 shots or a month

supply.

February 18, 2009

I hear you. I've been on Xolair for over 3 years and am still on daily

20 mg Prednisone. My Pulmo says I will probably never get below 20 mg

a day. I also still take a bunch of other asthma meds.

The way I look at it is everything is relative. Without the Xolair,

even though I still have to take a bunch of other meds, my quality of

life would be diminished. I can remember prior to Xolair I could

hardly walk from the living room to the kitchen. Now I can still do

things, as long as I don't try running a marathon, LOL. I remember

prior to the Xolair my expectations were I would have no more asthma

symptoms, now I'm happy just walking over 100 feet, thank you Xolair.

Ron

On Feb 18, 2009, at 10:15 AM, wheelerm1975 wrote:

> I ususally just lurk around this board also, but this time I had to

> post. I am sooo jealous. I have been on Xolair since December '07.

> In April '08 I started prednisone and was on it until the end of this

> February. I am still on Advair 500/50, Q-Var 80, Singulair, Nasonex,

> Astilin, Combivent, DuoNeb and I think that is it...Anyway, in

> November my PFT was in the low 60's and was holding steady when I

> went back at the end of January. I guess this is better than I was

> when I started Xolair. I was in the low 40's then. He took me off

> the prednisone and I am already starting to feel tight again and have

> a lower peak flow. I guess I am just frustrated because it seems so

> many people are having these wonderful results with Xolair and I am

> still sucking air. Sorry for venting, but I was just wondering if

> anyone else is just doing so so on this drug.

>

> Liz

>

> > > >

> > > > If you take the advair twice a day maybe you could drop it to

> once a day

> > > > to see how you do. I only take the advair once a day.

> > > >

> > >

> > > I am getting my by weekly Xolair shots this Friday. I will ask my

> > > doctor if I can go off of Advair since I am doing so well.

> > >

> > > This will save me 30 bucks in one drug copay a month.

> > >

> > > Doug

> > > Group founder

> > > On Xolair over 5 years

> > >

> >

>

February 19, 2009

Ron

what an uplifting testimonial. i needed to read that tonight.

lma