Re: xolair for atopic dermatitis/pft test

[Guest guest]

Adah, I'm curious about your experience with the pft. I considered them to

border on torture! Finally learned, just before I quit altogether that I could

refuse to go on with the test since I was so dizzy and felt so bad for quite a

while afterward. In fact, I can remember leaving the building still feeling

" looped " and certainly should not have been driving right then. One time the

tech forgot to turn on part of his machine and by the time I repeated parts of

the test 3 times extra my chest was even more inflamed and I was actually

tasting blood.

Ironically, though, on Xolair my pft's did improve by something like 18 points I

believe. I went from the mid 60s to I believe it was the mid 80s. That's why

they considered Xolair a success and I did have less asthma and eventually a

reduction in headaches of say 85%. Strangely, my very last test 9 months ago

which was not as thorough showed my lung function was actually a little bit

lower (worse) than BEFORE I started Xolair which was odd. Perhaps I had a cold

or maybe I developed " tolerance " to Xolair or perhaps lung function changes from

time to time for reasons not explained - like changes in IgE. Since quitting

Xolair 9 months ago the asthma has returned full force as have the sinus

headaches.

I have never smoked either, nor did my parents nor my husband so like you the

only smoke I experienced was before it was pretty much banned from public

places. I too have COPD. So, if you're feeling better (good job!) there must

be some change that they don't know how to measure - hope they figure that out

some day for the sake of all of us! It would help to develop more accurate

testing and treatments.

Thx for reporting your experience.

> > >

> > > Thanks for all the information. Your AD sounds a lot like my daughters.

> > > the xolair sounds promising,,, I'd take 30-40 % at this point. Did it help

the itching this much or just the rash and red skin? My daughters skin is

extremely itchy even when her skin inst broke out, although her skin is always

red. the ointments dont really help her,,she is allergic to two different groups

of the topicals and ones in the other groups dont seem to help. She reacts the

same to prednisone as you. it helps at first but she rebounds when she goes off.

I am hoping whatever we decide to use will kick in before the rebound happens,

but that will mean keeping her on prednisone longer than I want to.

> > >

> > > The aterax doesn't really help with the itching, it just makes her really

tired and helps her sleep. She alternates between that and benadryl every month

or so, Doxepin didn't help her. We haven't tried the bleach baths but I have

read about them helping with staph infections, something to considered.

> > > >

> > > My daughter is covered under our ins. for one more year so if we are going

to try it this would be the time. If it helps a great deal we will have to

figure on how to pay it after her coverage starts.

> > >

> > > just a couple more questions if you dont mind.

> > >

> > > What was your IgE level when you started? did you have any side effects

when started xolair(or after)?

> > >

> > > thank you for all your help. jean

> > >

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