Re: Is there hope for me?

[Guest guest]

Hannah,

I was diagnosed with asthma at age 19. I was constantly in the ER because I

couldn't breathe but I didn't wheeze. The Docs diagnosed me with anxiety, just

like you. They began treating me with Xanax type drugs, which actually worked

for a while. Shortly thereafter, I began to get worse and finally went to a

pulmonologist who diagnosed the asthma. The only thing that has ever worked for

me is Xolair, and recently that doesn't seem to be working like it once did.

I'm allergic to dust mites and my IgE is only 44. Until the last couple of

weeks Xolair has been a miracle drug but the dose had to be adjusted upward from

150 per month to 150 for 2 weeks then 75 for 2 weeks. Definitely try it because

it may do the trick for you even though your IgE count is relatively low.

Everyone is different. Fingers crossed it's just a bad time of year for my

allergies.

Good luck!!

schoolontherock <fromthebirdhouse@...> wrote:

I recently got my IgE test back and I will qualify for Xolair. I am

amazed at how severe my asthma has become. Right now I am on

theophylline, Zyflo, Advair, Asmanex, Ranitide, Loratadine,

Guiffenassen, DuoNeb, and codiene cough syrup all at their maximum

doses. I neb 4 times daily. My attacks do not respond to inhalers

and I self administer Epi injections in my stomach to stop attacks.

I am living on high dose steroids.

I have six young children and I am terrified that I will not be here

for them.

But I am afraid that Xolair wil not work for me. I don't have

allergies really. My IgE was only 48. I am told it needed to be 30

to qualify so that isn't high. I am very allergic to dogs but that

is my only significant reaction and I have had multiple allergy

tests.

Right now I am on 60 mg of prednisone cycling off of 100 mg and I am

still waking up at night to give myself epi injections. Is there

anyone else like me?

I am so tired and so scared. If I don't have really high IgE and

allergies, is there hope that this will work for me?

And to answer a question someone else asked, technically, I do have

adult onset asthma. I was diagnosed last year! But I have been

treated for bronchitis, pluerisy, pnuemonia ect all winter for

years. My sisters all have asthma but when the Dr's listened to my

chest I didn't wheeze so they always said I didn't have it. As an

adult when I went in I was always told it was anxiety or a chest

cold. My MIL finally talked me into seeing the pulmologist she works

for and my spirometer(?) readings were the worst they had ever seen.

Turns out, I don't move enough air to wheeze.

Hannah

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