Guest guest Posted June 25, 2005 Report Share Posted June 25, 2005 hi laura. my pre-xolair experience includes frequent prednisone bursts, which would include long and painful (and emotional) tapers, in addition to boatloads of medication. i also have extensive " sinus disease " which complicates matters. i've had asthma since i was a toddler, but it was fairly well controlled. after 3 years of uncontrollable asthma, my allergist and i decided to give allergy shots another try. i had a reaction at the lowest possible dilution to only one allergen. at that point, the xolair process was started. i've been on xolair since jan 2004 and have never regretted it. my allergies have been more controlled. my asthma continues to cause issues, but not as frequent. (most issues seem to be related to sinus issues). AND i have no needed prednisone since thanksgiving 2004!!!! i'm able to be outside and not have my eyes swell shut. its given me a quality of life back that i had not seen in quite some time. hmm..negatives of xolair - no prednisone? better control of asthma? oh, wait, those are the FABULOUS things. the only negative i have is the idea that it is a " forever " drug. the only " reaction " i had was bruising at the injection site, but thats more related to the steroids and inhaled steroids. i have not been able to discontinue any of my meds, which was discouraging, but as my dr and my husband pointed out, on this combo of meds, i'm now fairly controlled, where before, i was on the same meds and never controlled. i know some people ahve said they've had reactions, but i didn't. overall, if i had to do it again, would i??? in a heartbeat!! hope this helps your decision. heather <lauraz0919@...> wrote: HI, I have been fighting an asthma flare for almost two months now without a real degree of let up, on 40 mg of prednisone now down from 60 at least, but still doing nebulizers daily and all the other medications. My allergist has taken blood work for the preliminary set up of starting Xolair and he said after he " dances " with the insurance companies and they agree to the treatments then I will start the treatment. I am hoping this will reduce my problems. I am " only " allergic to a few things-the big ones of course-mold, ragweed, dust and a few others but the allergist seems to think my body is just in hyper mode and every allergen is being fought. I just wanted to know from a new persons standpoint if you had a choice to go on Xolair or not all over again-would you choose to? Has it helped those on it and what type of things are the downside? Also if you were on prednisone when you started Xolair were you able to be weaned off the prednisone after some time? Thanks for any information, I want to be better physically (and mentally after the prednisone..lol) but I have to admit this is kind of a scarey thing to look forward to. Thank you --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 I have just had severe asthma for the last two years, never bothered me for 56 years. The Dr tried everything, I was a terrible patient. The prednisone I hated, I got the round face, pot gut, gained weight, among other things. My IEg level is 1195, kinda high. They finally sent me to a specialist who said he wanted me to try Xolair, suggested I look it up on the internet, ended up here, glad I did. Been getting the shots for about three months. Got them on Tuesday, felt sick, flu like symptoms, on friday (pretty sure it was not work). That has now gone away. I had slight headaches, they have pretty much gone away. I have noticed a pretty big difference, I can breath and function pretty good, the wife noticed big difference. I'm just now starting to wean off of prednisone, hope it goes well. It should be noted that I had a lot of problems with my insurance company, I literally had to go to my Senator and ask for help. I would do it all over again, still doing my nebulizer and other meds, but being able to function is a good thing. It was scary for me, I hate taking any medication at all and now I have a medicine chest full. This site helped a lot and hang in there, hope things will get better. Ron > HI, > I have been fighting an asthma flare for almost two months now > without a real degree of let up, on 40 mg of prednisone now down from > 60 at least, but still doing nebulizers daily and all the other > medications. My allergist has taken blood work for the preliminary > set up of starting Xolair and he said after he " dances " with the > insurance companies and they agree to the treatments then I will > start the treatment. I am hoping this will reduce my problems. I > am " only " allergic to a few things-the big ones of course-mold, > ragweed, dust and a few others but the allergist seems to think my > body is just in hyper mode and every allergen is being fought. > > I just wanted to know from a new persons standpoint if you had a > choice to go on Xolair or not all over again-would you choose to? Has > it helped those on it and what type of things are the downside? Also > if you were on prednisone when you started Xolair were you able to be > weaned off the prednisone after some time? > > Thanks for any information, I want to be better physically (and > mentally after the prednisone..lol) but I have to admit this is kind > of a scarey thing to look forward to. > > Thank you > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 I agree 110% with . I would have sold my unborn children to get this. I was patient number 2 in my province and I have been waiting for it to come out since the FDA approved it in 2003. (Canada is slow!). I started April 22, 2005. I have had some nice bruises but other than that nada. My pulmo and I are convinced we already see a difference (I am holding my own in the heat and humidity on lower doses of steroids.). This is my meal ticket off prednisone. ps And having met on the webmd boards, I know it is possible! __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 & other Canadian sufferers - Express Scripts is now in Canada, I believe Ontario. They distribute Xolair. We should be able to help many more Canadians now! Pat __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 2005 Report Share Posted June 28, 2005 = that's a great analogy: " I would have sold my unborn children to get this. " Me, too. I told my husband, " I don't care if it's new. I don't care what unforeseen issues there might be. This is my best chance for a life. " > I agree 110% with . I would have sold my unborn > children to get this. I was patient number 2 in my > province and I have been waiting for it to come out > since the FDA approved it in 2003. (Canada is slow!). > > I started April 22, 2005. I have had some nice bruises > but other than that nada. My pulmo and I are convinced > we already see a difference (I am holding my own in > the heat and humidity on lower doses of steroids.). > > This is my meal ticket off prednisone. > > > > ps And having met on the webmd boards, I know > it is possible! > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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