Re: High IgE and Weight

[Guest guest]

I weigh a bit over 200 lbs (didn't use to pre-Prednisone, LOL) and my

IgE is 1190. I have been told that the " norms " are what the control

group was and is the " optimum " dosage with least side effects. My Dr

states the side effects, regardless of dosage, weight, IgE levels,

etc, are so few and far between and he worries less about Xoliar then

any other asthma medications. I am still required to take all the

medications (I take 10), prednisone, inhalers (rescue sometimes every

3-4 hours), etc., can't exercise, do anything more strenuous then

getting dressed, but Xolair is still the best thing that happened to

me. My Dr and the Xolair Representative submitted all the necessary

" stuff " to the insurance company, and after the prerequisite delays,

lost paperwork, etc, I was approved, been on it for 1 1/2 years (3

shots every two weeks). Most people, according to reports in this

forum (from Xoliar users), are able to decrease their medications, do

more physically leading a more active life, and have benefited much

more then I from Xoliar. It would be nice if I could live a " normal "

life, but I am grateful for what I have right now and highly

recommend Xolair to anyone who has a chance to get on it. Absent

Xolair, I would really be in bad shape, LOL

Ron

On Jan 23, 2007, at 11:13 PM, instdesgn1 wrote:

> I'm glad to see that some people w/really high IgEs are still able to

> get Xolair. I'm sweating it because I have a high weight (a bit over

> 200 lbs.) and nearly 370 IgE.

>

> This is really crazy because the years of cortizone to keep me

> breathing contributed to the weight gain and blood sugar zig-zags.

> It's hard to exercise much because my chest does " instant tight " on me

> (it seems like)with much movement. This is absurd!!! The treatment

> for the disease (a sham as far as I'm concerned because the old

> treatments were right up there w/blood-letting with all the side

> effects) caused the very problems that I'm afraid will stop me from

> getting treatment. I'm wondering if I need to start showing up at the

> hospital more rather than toughing it out at home. Albuterol doesn't

> help that much any more w/emergencies and I have them every day. Sinus

> scans show chronic inflammation and infection.

>

> Sheesh, I wish I could find out something ... my patience is at an

> all-

> time low right now! My heart is enlarged and other minor heart

> problems - I think it's from asthma treatments as well as the disease

> itself. Get thee out of here, oh, asthma!

>

>

>

D. Carpenter

cowtrail@...

The world is a dangerous place to live;

not because of the people who are evil,

but because of the people

who don't do anything about it.

Albert Einstein

[Guest guest]

>

> I'm glad to see that some people w/really high IgEs are still able to

> get Xolair. I'm sweating it because I have a high weight (a bit over

> 200 lbs.) and nearly 370 IgE.

If you look at the prescribing charts for Xolair (on their web site) I

belive you are still eligible. 200lbs is not that high. Don't be so

hard on yourself.

After 4 months of weight gain ( up to 187 on my small 5ft 2inch

frame....) due to steroid use I have just started to take it off. I

started by portion control (no denying food) and taking walks in the

Mall(hard on the wallet) and on the beach. Last week I joined a

women's gym and happily made it around the curcuit. It was tough and

my heart decided to race so I had to slow it down a little. But it

felt Soooooo good to finally be doing something (I am lucky -- my

asthma seems to not be triggered by exercise... just everything else).

I think the idea here is to start slow. I just found out a few days

ago that I also have a large heart so this made me want to start some

lifestyle changes. I am making it a point to try to buy (and actually

eat) more fresh fruit and I have begun to throw out the top piece of

bread on all sandwitches. It's not much but I don't feel deprived and

it seems to be working. And since the dr said no more caffiene.. so

diet sodas are out; I am watering down fruit juices.

>

> (a sham as far as I'm concerned because the old

> treatments were right up there w/blood-letting with all the side

> effects)

Thanks for the laugh....

>

> Sheesh, I wish I could find out something ... my patience is at an all-

> time low right now!

I know that feeling but maybe it's time to do something special for

yourself. A massage, a pedicure... something fun and pampering...

Somethimes when we spent all our times at Dr's offices we forget how

special we really are... and we forget to pamper ourselves....

something as simple as a ten dollar manicure makes my day. (although

I realize many of the readers can not take the smell in these places).

My sister talked me into buying one new, really nice pair of jeans

for my new, expanding size.... since all I was wearing was sweats.

And even though I plan on losing the weight and ditching these jeans

it really helped my self image over the past two weeks (and I bought

two wonderful new tops....) Hey, at least now I can dress up for the

endless dr appts...

> Get thee out of here, oh, asthma!

ROTFL! sorry kids are teaching me chat speak. That means rolling on

the floor laughing....

There is a light at the end of the tunnel -- I am sure of it. That is

the only way I can get out of the bed in the morning. Sometimes I

just go and sit on the beach or in a local park to try to remember the

beauty around me (too bad the trees and weeds are a killer). It just

helps. I am seriously thinking of doing some yoga once I drop some

more weight just for the relaxation part.

Good luck with everything and go to the website to check the

prescribing info for Xolair. You might be surprised!

>

[Guest guest]

I was approved for xolair and I haven't been to an emergency room in 20 years.

My asthma is pretty well under control unless I develop a sinus infections from

what I call a bad case of hay fever.

I know what you mean about the weight gain. Five years straight on

prednisone--tapering down, being off for about two weeks and then having to go

back on it--led to weight gain which I have tried to get off--I have lost 15

pounds of it and have had trouble losing any more.

I also understand about exercise--but I found out that if I use my inhaler

before I even start I can do better. I do the treadmill and can walk for 30

minutes without having to use my inhaler, but at about 2.5-3.0 speed. The

important thing is to try to do something. When I first started on the

treadmill, I could hardly do five minutes, but I kept at it. Then I could do

fifteen--then 20--then I pushed and tried for 30--Once in a while I can only do

15 or 10 minutes, but most of the time I can do 30 with no problem.

But the weight still won't come off because I am not as consistent about

walking as I should be.

Don't know where you live, or the number of doctors available to you under

your insurance plan, but I was very fortunate to find a doctor twenty years ago

who was willing to work with me (and I with him) to find a combination of

medicines that really worked. That was how I was finally able to come off of

prednisone and use it only when I had severe attacks caused from an infection.

Hope you can find a doctor who is willing to work at helping you get better.

After all, that is really what you and the insurance companies pay them the big

bucks for!

Adah

instdesgn1 <instdesgn1@...> wrote:

I'm glad to see that some people w/really high IgEs are still able to

get Xolair. I'm sweating it because I have a high weight (a bit over

200 lbs.) and nearly 370 IgE.

This is really crazy because the years of cortizone to keep me

breathing contributed to the weight gain and blood sugar zig-zags.

It's hard to exercise much because my chest does " instant tight " on me

(it seems like)with much movement. This is absurd!!! The treatment

for the disease (a sham as far as I'm concerned because the old

treatments were right up there w/blood-letting with all the side

effects) caused the very problems that I'm afraid will stop me from

getting treatment. I'm wondering if I need to start showing up at the

hospital more rather than toughing it out at home. Albuterol doesn't

help that much any more w/emergencies and I have them every day. Sinus

scans show chronic inflammation and infection.

Sheesh, I wish I could find out something ... my patience is at an all-

time low right now! My heart is enlarged and other minor heart

problems - I think it's from asthma treatments as well as the disease

itself. Get thee out of here, oh, asthma!

---------------------------------

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