Hi Chip and Merry Christmas to you and yours.For the last couple of months I had some health problems that kept me from going online and am now reading this e-mail. About a month ago my breathing turned for the worse and called my pulmonologist who

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Hi Chip and Merry Christmas to you and yours.For the last couple of months I had some health problems that kept me from going online and am now reading this e-mail. About a month ago my breathing turned for the worse and called my pulmonologist who I had only seen a few days earlier and when he examined my lungs he told me they were the best ever. No wheezing and good deep yoga breathing but that changed suddenly and so I phoned him and told him "I'm breathing but don't feel like I'm taking in enough air" and so he prescribed QVAR and before we hung up I asked him if the drug was safe for me to take and he said yes. Meanwhile when I looked up all the side effects there were just too many for me to ignore and I then called my pharmacist who had a record of everything wrong with me and she said "if it were she, she wouldn't take it" and so I didn't okay it. My problem is I don't know if my not being able to breathe is due to poor lung function or the asthma and will never know. For the past couple of days I've been very short of breath 24/7 and if I attempt to be active and do things around the house I run out of oxygen and so the last few days I've just been sitting and reading and watching basketball games. But then last night through the night I found myself constantly trying to take deeper breaths because it seemed I wasn't getting enough oxygen in me. I have Pro Air Albuterol that I could use but it has side effects that keep me away from it. Then you said Qvar contains corticorsteriods and I orally take 5mg. daily and can't seem to handle anything over it so I'm in a bind.I'm breathing but then I'm not taking in enough oxygen. Wish I could explain it better. I wrote earlier that my PFT stated that my lung function has significantly decreased consistent with the patient's known interstitial lung disease and wish I knew if my feeling like I can't breathe is due to that or the asthma and it seems that no doctor can tell me. My breathing was great - perfect for about 8 weeks when we had very good weather but once the weather started to change it seemed like my lungs started to fail me overnight. I keep reading that I should continue exercising and doing hatha yoga which involves timed deep breathing and other things but right now I want to fall on my face from poor breathing. SharonFrom:"CHIP CHAPMAN" Subject:Re: Inhalers JudithDate:November 30, 2011 5:03:55 AM ESTTo:asthma Hi Judith,The two inhalers you mentioned are quite different. The Ventolin or Salbutamol inhaler is a rescue inhaler designed to give fast relief from an asthma attack or bronchial spasm. This inhaler is considered to be very safe and is commonly used as a first defence when breathless.Salbutamol (INN) or albuterol (USAN) is a short-acting â2-adrenergic receptor agonist used for the relief ofbronchospasm in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is marketed as Ventolinamong other brand names. The Qvar inhaler is actually a steroid inhaler, designed for prevention rather than speedy relief.Qvar CFC-free inhalers, autohalers and easi-breathe inhalers all contain the active ingredient beclometasone dipropionate (previously spelt beclomethasone in the UK), which is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid.Corticosteroids are hormones that are produced naturally by the adrenal glands. They have many important functions, including control of inflammatory responses. Beclometasone is a synthetic corticosteroid and is used to decrease inflammation in the lungs. Beclometasone taken by inhaler is known as a preventer. This is because it is taken regularly to reduce the inflammation in the lungs and prevent asthma attacks. Symptoms usually start to get better between three to seven days after starting treatment. However, it is important to continue using this medicine regularly, even after your asthma symptoms have improved, in order to prevent them coming back.So in fact your husband has been given two different inhalers, one rescue and one preventer. Hope this helps? Cheers, Mike (Chip) ChapmanCornwall. UK Subject: Rescue inhaler questionTo: asthma Date: Tuesday, 29 November, 2011, 18:22 Does anyone use QVAR or Ventolin as a rescue inhaler? Any comments on these or on those you use or have tried?My husband, Bob, has been given samples of each by his primary care doctor. So far, Bob doesn't feel a difference in the two. Ventolin contains albuterol sulfate. He also uses an Ipratropium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate inhalation solution in his nebulizer. He purchased the Ventolin; then the doctor gave him a sample of Qvar. Qvar is composed of beclomethasone dipropionate HFA.Sometimes it seems as if doctors in the USA hand out many samples, hoping to get feedback from their patients.ThanksJudy K