Re: Intro. /w a couple of questions

[Guest guest]

Hi Jay,

Welcome to the group.

I have only had asthma since August 2004. I probably had it before

and did not know what it was until it got severe and I had to see a

Doctor. But anyway, I have been on Xolair since Oct, 2004 and it

has helped me greatly allowing me to get off prednisone.

I also have bouts of depression, I think it is caused by the asthma

totally changing my life. I thought it was from the pred, but I

have been off it for 3 weeks now and still have alot of mood

swings. Maybe it is just not long enough for my body to get

adjusted to being off the pred.

Until last August I worked full time in a managerial position, and I

was also attending college part time for an IT degree. If I wasn't

at work or school, I was working in the yard. I love to landscape

and garden. Also I have horses and love to ride.

But last August all of a sudden, I couldn't do any of these things.

I had to quit my job and college and couldn't be outside any more

than I had to because my allergies and asthma would flare.

Literally, I couldn't do any of the things I enjoyed in the past.

I am finally starting to see a difference from the Xolair and have

been able to start doing more....but it is still hard to keep a

positive outlook sometimes, especially when I have a bad day

breathing wise. I really miss my old life. But I quess I just have

to work hard at creating a new one.

Hang in there. All the positive people on this list are really

inspirational for me. Thanks group!!!!!!

--

- In , " jffosdick " <jfosdick3@c...>

wrote:

>

>

> Hello all,

>

> I've been lurking in the background for a couple of weeks. I

figured

> I'd introduce myself and ask a question, or two...OK?

>

> I've had asthma for the last 30 yrs. I've seen great advances in

> asthma therapy, and each new year holds even more promise. Luckily

> there is money to be made in asthma

medications\therapies\cures\etc.

> We can count on research dollars being budgeted by the big

research

> pharmaceutical houses and the government.

>

> I have taken Xolair off and on for the last 3 years. Both through

> various pre-release studies and after it was released. My asthma

has

> altered my life, no matter how hard I have tried to live a normal

> life.

>

> Unfortunately, mental depression has been a factor along with the

> obvious difficulties of breathing. Also, I've had difficulty with

> recurring nasal polyps.

>

> My two questions are: Have others members of the group had

problems

> with polyps, and has Xolair been beneficial for that disease? Do

> other members have to struggle with mental depression? Not just

from

> the side effects of steroids, but on a recurring basis?

>

> Xolair has been very beneficial to my situation. Fortunately, I

> respond to prednisone fairly well, so I've been able to stay out

of

> the emergency room. Going back numerous years, I can remember

giving

> myself injections of epinephrine to stay out of the hospital,

having

> an IPPB (intermittent positive pressure breathing) machine, etc. I

> remember when it was a big deal when time released theophylline

was

> introduced. <smile>

>

> Best of luck to all and never give in.

>

> Jay

[Guest guest]

I had sinus polyps, asthma, allergy to aspirin. Xolair completely

cleared up my sinus polyps.

>

>

> Hello all,

>

> I've been lurking in the background for a couple of weeks. I

figured

> I'd introduce myself and ask a question, or two...OK?

>

> I've had asthma for the last 30 yrs. I've seen great advances in

> asthma therapy, and each new year holds even more promise. Luckily

> there is money to be made in asthma

medications\therapies\cures\etc.

> We can count on research dollars being budgeted by the big

research

> pharmaceutical houses and the government.

>

> I have taken Xolair off and on for the last 3 years. Both through

> various pre-release studies and after it was released. My asthma

has

> altered my life, no matter how hard I have tried to live a normal

> life.

>

> Unfortunately, mental depression has been a factor along with the

> obvious difficulties of breathing. Also, I've had difficulty with

> recurring nasal polyps.

>

> My two questions are: Have others members of the group had

problems

> with polyps, and has Xolair been beneficial for that disease? Do

> other members have to struggle with mental depression? Not just

from

> the side effects of steroids, but on a recurring basis?

>

> Xolair has been very beneficial to my situation. Fortunately, I

> respond to prednisone fairly well, so I've been able to stay out

of

> the emergency room. Going back numerous years, I can remember

giving

> myself injections of epinephrine to stay out of the hospital,

having

> an IPPB (intermittent positive pressure breathing) machine, etc. I

> remember when it was a big deal when time released theophylline

was

> introduced. <smile>

>

> Best of luck to all and never give in.

>

> Jay

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome!

I have chronic anxiety. I have been in therapy for over two years

trying to learn how not to worry obsessively about everything. I

battle depression off and on. I had serious depression prior to

Xolair's approval b/c I had been seriously ill with asthma and

recurrent sinus infections for several months.

Xolair hasn't helped my anxiety per se, except that because I am

sick less I can concentrate more on trying to do proactive things

that will help me reduce anxiety and avoid depression.

Take good care of yourself,

Addy

[Guest guest]

Hi Addy,

Thank you for the welcome.

I guess I need to stay on topic here (e.g. Xolair), but I did want to

take the time to see if others experienced the same as myself. At the

same time my astma started I also started to have problems with

mental depression. The depression responds to anti-depressants, but

my curiosity was peaked because of a conversation I had with one of

my doctors. We were discussing the relationship between

neurotransmitters and physical manifestations. The conversation led

me to believe that perhaps there was a link between my

depression/nasal polyps and asthma. My IgE levels are not very high,

but I have benefitted from Xolair treatments. My asthma does not have

a major allergic root, although I am allergic to pollens, etc and

have a sensitivity to alcohol consumption.

Bottom line: I been on a thirty year trek to figure out the

underlying causes of my asthma, and the relationship to my other

symptoms/diseases. Is it OK to talk about this stuff on this forum or

should I post one of my email addresses?

Thanks again...Jay

>

>

> Hi and welcome!

>

> I have chronic anxiety. I have been in therapy for over two years

> trying to learn how not to worry obsessively about everything. I

> battle depression off and on. I had serious depression prior to

> Xolair's approval b/c I had been seriously ill with asthma and

> recurrent sinus infections for several months.

>

> Xolair hasn't helped my anxiety per se, except that because I am

> sick less I can concentrate more on trying to do proactive things

> that will help me reduce anxiety and avoid depression.

>

> Take good care of yourself,

>

> Addy

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

Thanks for getting back to me. When I was first diagnosed with asthma

I had a hard time accepting that it was a chronic disease, therefore,

I would not comply with my med treatment as well as I should have. I

just couldn't accept that I had an ongoing disease that needed

attention even when I was feeling well.

The interruption in your life is understandable. I believe we have

all experienced that to some extent, especially if you were not

having problems and developed the disease later in life. I'll tell

you that I suffered with depression along with my asthma for a number

of years. I didn't get treatment for the depression until I had a

hang gliding accident and experienced a myriad of problems. I would

suggest getting assistance from your family practitioner or a

pshychiatrist and get started on antidepressant therapy. I say this

because I noticed improvement in my asthma after going on

antidepressants. The newer anti-depressants have few side effects,

and it's senseless to be struggling mentally when you possibly do not

have to.

Anyway, this is a Xolair board, and I do not want to stray from the

topic. I'm not sure if discussing other topics is tolerated. I wish

you luck and hopefully you can get your situation under control. You

are very fortunate to be on Xolair so early in your diagnoses...that

is great. I believe we are just beginning to see the miracles of

medicine and what can be done.

Thank you...Jay

> >

> >

> > Hello all,

> >

> > I've been lurking in the background for a couple of weeks. I

> figured

> > I'd introduce myself and ask a question, or two...OK?

> >

> > I've had asthma for the last 30 yrs. I've seen great advances in

> > asthma therapy, and each new year holds even more promise.

Luckily

> > there is money to be made in asthma

> medications\therapies\cures\etc.

> > We can count on research dollars being budgeted by the big

> research

> > pharmaceutical houses and the government.

> >

> > I have taken Xolair off and on for the last 3 years. Both through

> > various pre-release studies and after it was released. My asthma

> has

> > altered my life, no matter how hard I have tried to live a normal

> > life.

> >

> > Unfortunately, mental depression has been a factor along with the

> > obvious difficulties of breathing. Also, I've had difficulty with

> > recurring nasal polyps.

> >

> > My two questions are: Have others members of the group had

> problems

> > with polyps, and has Xolair been beneficial for that disease? Do

> > other members have to struggle with mental depression? Not just

> from

> > the side effects of steroids, but on a recurring basis?

> >

> > Xolair has been very beneficial to my situation. Fortunately, I

> > respond to prednisone fairly well, so I've been able to stay out

> of

> > the emergency room. Going back numerous years, I can remember

> giving

> > myself injections of epinephrine to stay out of the hospital,

> having

> > an IPPB (intermittent positive pressure breathing) machine, etc.

I

> > remember when it was a big deal when time released theophylline

> was

> > introduced. <smile>

> >

> > Best of luck to all and never give in.

> >

> > Jay

[Guest guest]

Hi Aramo2811,

I am on a constant quest to find the origin of my nasal polyps. As

with most individuals that have them, I've gone through numerous

surgeries. The Xolair has definately helped in arresting their

growht. I do not have Samter's Syndrome (aspirin

sensitivity/polyps/asthma triad) since I can take as much aspirin and

have no deleterious effects.

Do you have any other triggers that you are aware of, other than

aspirin/allergies?

Thank you...Jay

> >

> >

> > Hello all,

> >

> > I've been lurking in the background for a couple of weeks. I

> figured

> > I'd introduce myself and ask a question, or two...OK?

> >

> > I've had asthma for the last 30 yrs. I've seen great advances in

> > asthma therapy, and each new year holds even more promise.

Luckily

> > there is money to be made in asthma

> medications\therapies\cures\etc.

> > We can count on research dollars being budgeted by the big

> research

> > pharmaceutical houses and the government.

> >

> > I have taken Xolair off and on for the last 3 years. Both through

> > various pre-release studies and after it was released. My asthma

> has

> > altered my life, no matter how hard I have tried to live a normal

> > life.

> >

> > Unfortunately, mental depression has been a factor along with the

> > obvious difficulties of breathing. Also, I've had difficulty with

> > recurring nasal polyps.

> >

> > My two questions are: Have others members of the group had

> problems

> > with polyps, and has Xolair been beneficial for that disease? Do

> > other members have to struggle with mental depression? Not just

> from

> > the side effects of steroids, but on a recurring basis?

> >

> > Xolair has been very beneficial to my situation. Fortunately, I

> > respond to prednisone fairly well, so I've been able to stay out

> of

> > the emergency room. Going back numerous years, I can remember

> giving

> > myself injections of epinephrine to stay out of the hospital,

> having

> > an IPPB (intermittent positive pressure breathing) machine, etc.

I

> > remember when it was a big deal when time released theophylline

> was

> > introduced. <smile>

> >

> > Best of luck to all and never give in.

> >

> > Jay