Just not fair :/

[anjyil]

Asthma suddenly took a turn for the worst last night. Not sure *why* as I was doing so well. Nearest I can figure, our area is extremely dry and there has been a lot of wind around here lately. During Mom's visit (for a whole week!), we went to places near the ocean and/or with lots of green (both of which are severely lacking around here) and didn't have any trouble until the last day. If it is the dryness, I should start to feel better tomorrow as the clouds are rolling in and rain is predicted for later this week. I think we will be getting ready to go into the rainy season soon, too. OR it could be that I had been getting up to do yoga and walk the dog the last couple of days. I did put on a mask when I noticed anything even slightly chilly, though...

I just hate it when I get bad so suddenly. I think I also need to rethink what my personal best for peak flow is. Doctor said 560, but I have noticed that I can get to 590 at least 40-50% of the time, and almost every time if I am good. So maybe 590 should be my personal best... is there some kind of qualification for what a personal best peak flow is? I always feel awful at anything below 550 anyway...

[Paradigm]

I've got the same sort of problem (including the possible peak flow needing to go up). It's so frustrating. I'm putting it down to the weather and starting to hope for some rain to get the pollen out of the air.

Sorry to hear you're struggling too.

[anjyil in reply to Paradigm]

Thanks. ::hugs:: hope you feel better, too. I guess I am fortunate that, as far as we know, I have no allergies. I have had a few tests that all came out negative so that is good. But then that adds the stress of not understanding why it is happening. At least if I had allergens, I could point at that as my bad guy.

[Paradigm in reply to anjyil]

This webpage from Asthma UK suggests there's a theory that hot air itself can cause airways to narrow. Someone I know has this problem and has to be very careful about going out on hot days.

In fact it seems that asthmatic lungs can take umbridge with practically any type of weather change, especially sudden.

asthma.org.uk/advice/trigge...

(I know that you probably know this, though.)

It is very frustrating when you can't point out why. An attack I had last year, happened with no particular warning or clue and I still wonder why.

[anjyil in reply to Paradigm]

From this experience, it seems that particularly dry air is a problem. I seem to do well when the humidity is a little higher. I already knew that cold, dry air was a trigger, but it seems that maybe dry hot air might not be so friendly to my lungs, either (I often joke that I am half fish lol) But the constant weather changes might also be an issue.

I hate when I miss the warning/clue . There is always one, but I sometimes don't catch it so I miss an important possible trigger. Been trying to keep track of what I do and weather\pm/etc but not much luck yet. I am terrible at documenting these things sometimes.

[Asthma-girl]

I’m so sorry that you’re having a rough patch.

I hope things improve for you soon.

Take care.

[anjyil in reply to Asthma-girl]

Thanks. Mornings seem to be improving at least. Step by step, as always

[strongmouse]

We went away the weekend before last to the sea and there was a breeze blowing off the sea. It was quite blissful to breathe in the cool sea air!

Back home to high pollen levels and a trying to keep cool opening windows but then pollen isn't great as I react to it! I'm becoming a night owl as it is slightly cooler then. Would a humdifier help if you react to the dry air? I remember a holiday in Spain quite a few years ago and it was at the end of a very hot dry summer with a lot of dust. Needless to say it didn't help my breathing and on hot days I avoided towns and cities as the pollution levels increase. Hey ho. Maybe an island in the middle atlantic might work?

Hope you feel better soon.

[anjyil in reply to strongmouse]

We have humidifiers for dry times But I just got back from the doctor and it looks I developed some kind of allergy. Some number came up during the lung function tests that was way higher than normal. Last time I did the tests, that number was a 5 or something and now it was well over 20. We will find out next week.

[strongmouse in reply to anjyil]

Hope that it gives you a good indication of the problem so that you can finda way forwards,

[anjyil in reply to strongmouse]

Well, it is a start. Just a new development, but at least now I know what is going on--or at least maybe for this last month or two. Fingers cross"!