Two Years on: Up Date.

[asthmatim]

Hi everyone, just to give you all an update on whats going on with my asthma. Final got to see my asthma team on the 13th of April and they ask my to have some blood taken to see if am able to be put on Omalizumab as my asthma is still serve uncontrolled and bordering on brittle asthma type 1. The Doctors have also finally let me have a nebulizer at home and the meds as well. They still want me to keep all my other meds as well but cut out my ventolin puffs and replace it with the Nebs. I have been reading the forum about people have been taking this drug and one of them said that you can have this drug monthly or fortnightly. But my doctors want me to have it every 2 weeks and for the first time I have it they want me to stay in hospital as there are very bad sign effects with it. I just hope that I stop having asthma feelings everyday or mini attacks once I am on this drug. Oh just to add it costs 10k hkd for it over here. So I will only try it for a month or so as it is to dear for me. Would like hear any feedback as I still am not used to being an asthmatic after being so fit all my life. HOPE TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE.

[shassh]

I'm in the UK and have been having the injections for a couple of years now. No bad side effects, however when I had my first few I has to remain at the hospital for a couple of hours after the injection so they could keep a close eye on me for side effects. My asthma has improved (not gone) I still have attacks but not as often. I'm really glad I'm lucky enough to be offered them. In fact I'm off to the hospital this morning to get mine, I have three injections once a month, they are given in the top of my arm, which can be a little sore after but most of the time I don't even know I've had them. Good luck and if I can be of any more help get in touch.

[asthmatim in reply to shassh]

Thank you for telling me of your history with it. What do you think about the doctors telling me that need to take it every 2 weeks because they never said that once a month was even possible. I really hate taking all these drugs but I know that they are keeping me alive, when they work. Hope you are ok and look forward to hear from you soon.

[dawn3y in reply to asthmatim]

Hi, I'm in the Uk too and my daughter has these injections every 2 weeks. No bad side effects noticed. Have made a difference, she still has severe asthma, allergies and bronchiectasis but she can tell when she's due her injections by how she's feeling. They get you to stay in hospital for a while after injections as there's a risk of anaphylactic shock, although there have been no patients in the UK that have had this (obviously I don't know about other countries.) You should be issued with epipen just incase. Apparently it either works for you or it doesn't. There's nothing in between - no "it works a little bit". So fingers crossed it works for you. I think the number of injections and frequency is calculated by what you weigh. I think we're very lucky here in the UK to get this treatment free, as I'm aware how expensive it is. Good luck with it.

[asthmatim in reply to dawn3y]

Thank you for your reply and giving me some of knowledge with this drug. It has been 2 years of helI living with this dam asthma and I hope it does help me gain better control of it. I am happy to hear your daughter is doing well on it. I pray I will too. I will happy for any other insight you have about asthma and the day to life.

[runnerwithasthma2559]

Hello asthmatim

I'm 70. I've had asthma all my life. It's been under control and not under control at various times. I am also a runner. I assume you do some exercise because you refer to yourself as "fit all my life." Please read "asthma-free naturally" by Patrick McKeown. It is by far the best book on asthma ever written. It changed my life. I am now doing my best peak flows ever based on the exercises in that book.

You might be interested in my book as well, "Running with Asthma: An Asthmatic Runner's Memoir." Breathing exercises helped me control my asthma. Running helped too, but the trick was to figure out what type of running and how much. Too much running made my asthma worse. Wishing you better breathing.

John Terry McConnell