Very Happy....Just found a new asthma doctor after moving...

Hi guys,

So I was really worried about switching asthma doctors when I moved to North Carolina as I had always seen the same allergist who diagnosed me in 2004. And she was wonderful! She was absolutely my favorite doctor. She could actually anticipate when I was having a flare even before I was having trouble (now that's something!).

So I saw the allergist here after begging for an apt. Apparently he's new, and felt kind of sorry for him as he couldn't find anything in the exam room. But he was really nice, and agreed with a lot of things my other doctor was doing. He also wants me to call him right away if I'm having trouble, which is what I want as I just find things work better that way. I'm supposed to add extra doses of inhaled steroids when I start to get sick, in the hopes of avoiding pred. Does anyone else do this?

Also he wants me to get a dexo something scan, to check my bones? I was surprised as I'm only 29 and he's already worried about prednisone affects. Good someone's thinking about it though. Has anyone else had this done? I'm also supposed to take vitamin D/calcium. I'm really bad about that.

I also found a good GP who didn't even bat an eye at my complicated medical history :). I think it's cause to be relieved and happy, as I was worried about having to switch all of my doctors.

Bee

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yes i'm 36 and had 2 bone dexa scans had 1st last year then had the calcichew and a once week tablet to take and was re scanned this year and bone density level improved signifivantly as they had diagnosed osteopeina due to pred. Have just got another appt for end of next month cause having trouble with hip so had to go for hip xray naf really.

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very hapy... new doctor

Hello Bethere,

That is really great that you have found a dr who is really on the same wave length as you.

I am a children's respiratory specialist nurse in the UK & we would not suggest taking more inhaled steriods on an ad hoc basis as they take a couple of weeks to kick in. So if it is an acute episode there would be no point. To get any benifit you would have to take loads of puffs which would not be accurate in the dose & pretty boring for you so it is easier to take the tabs instead in our opinion.

We would however, increase them on a more longer term basis if your 'control' had slipped for any reason. However, I do know they do thing differently in the States.

We also do dexascans & something called synacthen test on our children who are on long periods of oral steriods just to keep an eye on their bones & adrenal glands & some do have calcium suppliments. I gather from our patients they are not nice but there are quite a few on the market so keep trying different ones until you find the one you like.

Good luck & well done

Ann

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Hi Bee

I am also 29 and have to have a dexascan cos of the steroids, I have already slipped and fractured discs in my back from coughing.....I take calcichew, which I really don't like as I don't like them and their texture etc, yuk......

Glad you had a good doc, it makes you feel a little better when you know there is someone who knows you, one of my practice nurses always says to me that she knows when I am not well just by looking at me, as I can be a bit stubborn and don't like admitting I am unwell....

Take care

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Hi guys,

Thanks for writing back :). I guess maybe I will get the bone dexa scan thing. I do get hip pain, and they're thinking it's arthritis, but maybe it's not?

Ann,

""We would however, increase them on a more longer term basis if your 'control' had slipped for any reason. However, I do know they do thing differently in the States.""

I agree with you. Some of the things people take on this board, particularly for more severe asthma, I haven't heard of here either. Of course it's important to note that I'm increasing my inhaled steroids at my doctor's advice to, so no one should do this on their own just to see. Also, he explained, that the studies say that this doesn't work, but that he has several collegues (including reasearchers) who say that it does. Now this said, my last asthma doc. had me doing the same thing, and it worked only occasionally. However this time I'm on almost double the dose of inhaled steroids as they other times I've tried, and it seems it's worth a try if it decreased the amount of steroids I have to take orally. Basically I'm supposed to add extra puffs of steroid inhaler at the first sign of extra symptoms (and I do tend to get sick the same times every year), and then do that for at least a month, until I taper down to my original, still high dose.

I did take a calcium vit. D chew last night. Do they taste awful there? Here they have caramel and chocolate flavors that are pretty good.

Still wondering when I will have to take more inhalers. I got very sick this time last year, so am hoping to avoid wheezing for four months straight.

Bee

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Bee

You are lucky with your flavours of calcichew things, the flavours I am only aware they do over here are orange or lemon...I hate the lemon ones especially, yuk.....

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Orange or lemon flavored? Ick. That sounds perfectly dreadful. It was kind of funny thought because my asthma doc told me he wanted me to take the vitamin, and that he didn't care how I did it, as long as I did. One more thing...

Bee