I would like to share some positive / helpful information for anyone going through hell and trying to find answers.
My wife (47) was diagnosed with asthma in her 20's. She occasionally had the odd puff on her inhaler, but never had an attack. Then two years ago she had a severe attack and spent 10 days in hospital. She got better, a few months went by and then in January 2016 she had an identical attack.
Since then she had an attack every month. Each time off to A & E, followed by 7-10 days in hospital. She would then recover at home for another fortnight and then back in again. This continued every month for nearly a year.
We went through 3 different consultants who dismissed Hormones and came out with lots of other possibilities.
Eventually we managed to convince a gynaecologist to prescribe Zoladex injections once a month. This worked great and my wife returned to normal for a few months. However it is known that this drugs effectiveness can wear off. It did and the attacks resumed monthly.
Thankfully, but still sceptical, the gynaecologist agreed to a full hysterectomy. This took place six weeks ago and the transformation has to be seen to be believed.
She is off all the steroids and other Asthma meds, doesn't even need her puffer and we have just returned from quite an active break in the Lakes.
The gynaecologist has signed her off and occupational health has signed her ok to return to work (after nearly 2 years off).
We went through hell trying to get consultants to accept the link with Hormones and spent many a late night googling to find answers. Hopefully this may help someone else.
Written by
AndyPam
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Interesting post I am 49 and my asthma isn't affect hormonally at the moment as I on the pill for another long term health Condition IC. However as I will be 50 next year I know that I won't be able to have the pill. I was warned by one of the asthma nurses on the helpline that my asthma may get worse when I have to go off the pill. Something to keep in mind.
So you see asthma uk don't dismiss the link between women and their hormones. asthma.org.uk/advice/trigge... In my opinion asthma uk is the gold standard for well research and accurate information. When I ever been in doubt I ring the helpline.
The problem is this is so under researched. I've skimmed through lots of medical papers online and there are very few modern study's into the connection. Some say it's too much progesterone, some say oestrogen.
It basically starts of a chain of events that causes the tubes in the lungs to swell. I've contacted a few of these scientist for advice over the last year.
One of the first stories I researched was a lady in a very similar situation to my wife, however the pill managed to stop the attacks.
I'm sure my wife is in a small group, (they plan to write a medical paper on her), it's just so important that this sort of information gets out there so that more people are clued up and able to speak up for themselves when dealing with "less clued up" consultants.
(Nothing against consultants it's just not the way they are trained to deal with asthma and unless they have encountered a hormonal case personally, they are fairly sceptical).
Well out of this comes heightened awareness both for us and the medical profession all good. My daughter suffered a rare migraine 9 years ago ophlampagic miracle. Had a neurologist scratching his head til he worked out what was wrong He never seen one but a colleague had. He wrote a paper on it.
Thanks for the advice. My asthma only started since I started going through the menopause (sorry if tmi!), I never suffered with it previously. Somebody mentioned to me that it could be linked but I didn't believe them until I googled it. You would think that more medical staff would be aware of the effects of hormones.
I think the influence of the hormones on the body in general can be underestimated - particularly when it comes to massive changes such as the menopause. I started to have all sorts of problems (ranging from increased allergic sensitivity - horrendously itchy eyes and an increase in rhinitis problems - to digestive issues) nine years ago when I was in my late forties and verging on being peri-menopausal. No-one in the medical profession has ever suggested that any of this might be hormone related. My GP did acknowledge that it might be after I raised the possibility but then she's older than me and has been through the menopause herself, so she probably appreciates more what it can do to a woman. The gastroenterology consultant I'm seeing listed what he considered to be possible causes of my stomach issues and guess what, menopause was not amongst them. He did add it when I challenged him on it. Now I'm more or less over the menopause things are beginning to calm down. Certainly there has been a massive improvement in the itchy eyes and rhinitis flares.
The one thing I didn't experience during the menopause was a flare in my asthma symptoms. I'm profoundly thankful for that and can only sympathise with those who are not so fortunate.
your wife's story seems to confirm my own version of asthma, namely that it is due to gasping for breath with the mouth open. I forced myself to breathe through the nose and this stopped attacks but not the very much less troublesome sensitivity to pollen etc. Sharp inhaling via the nose deepens breathing by a reflex better than a spray. See "Strelnikova to reduce asthma attacks" on the Internet. By this token, asthma appears to be a question of breathing habits. This medically logical. And it does not mean stopping asthma sprays suddenly.
Hello, I was wondering, how is your wife today? Does she got HRT after her surgery? I believe my asthma is hormone related, although I have persistent asthma and more worse symptoms around my ovulation. My asthma started, when I gave birth to my sun and now i trying to figure how to manage or "cure" it, since my meds arent helping me at all!
I want to try the contraceptive pill next month, but i am afraid that i will not change anything.
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