Struggling with 'fitness' - Finally an explanation.

[Crackle]

Struggling with my breathing - Finally an explanation.

Well to be precise, knowing I was fit, yet struggling with my breathing when I played footy with the kids or walked fast or just kinda sprinted when playing chasing games, that kinda thing. At the same time being able to run or cycle with none of those effects.

Finally, after much nagging, I went to the docs: Diagnosis, Adult Onset Asthma. It explains a lot, my breathing, my bad sleeping, why colds and bugs settle on my chest and take ages to go (been off the bike two weeks now). I also know why both sons are allergic to various things, seems I'm the bad gene carrier but it's just taken a while to come out in me.

The good news is the inhalers make a huge difference and my Sporometry scores were excellent for lung capacity but poor on my small airways. I just have to adjust to the shortness of breath on some activities and use my reliever pre-sports. I also have to resign myself to having small colds hang around for longer.

In the great scale of things, it's not too bad. I just wanted to tell someone really as I'm both glad to be diagnosed and miffed that I've got it

 

[Fnaar]

Unlucky there, but good you can manage it.

 

[Keith Oates]

Once you know what it is and how to control it then the problem is less worrying. Hope the inhaler use will not have to be too often!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Aperitif]

Power to your elbow (small airways) Crackle - "...we wanna game of football Dad..!"

 

[Crackle]

Thanks chaps.

No puns 'Teef. I'm dissapointed now, surely you can get a few in. I always think of one, get half way down the thread and discover you've beaten me to it with a better one

Inhaler's in two forms Keith. A preventer, which you always take and a reliever for when you feel 'tight' and also, in my case, pre-excercise to just open things up. I might be better able to comment on it being of use in racing now

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thanks chaps.

No puns 'Teef. I'm dissapointed now, surely you can get a few in. I always think of one, get half way down the thread and discover you've beaten me to it with a better one

Inhaler's in two forms Keith. A preventer, which you always take and a reliever for when you feel 'tight' and also, in my case, pre-excercise to just open things up. I might be better able to comment on it being of use in racing now

You'll have to watch for the doping controls now... I've heard they're a piss-take...




Whilst it's not the greatest of news, the fact is you can treat-it/manage it and feel much better. You'll very soon get used to it.
Now get out there and give it hell!

 

[graham56]

I suffer from asthma during the summer brought on by hayfever and it can be a right bugger at times. The Drs got me on Beclazone and Salbutamol, both of which are suposed to make you Superman on the bike,does nowt for me,i must just be crap.

 

[simonali]

I get a bit asthmatic in the summer during hayfever season, too, but have found that the inhalers did nothing for me. Also coughs hang around for about 2-3 months every time I get one.

Had a course of steroid tablets for the hayfever last summer and all was good until I stopped taking them and it just came back! I think I may be steroid resistant?!

 

[Crackle]

Strangely I also suffer with rhinitis, not related to the seasons. In fact I now have it almost constantly, so it's perennial. It's probably strongly related to the development of my asthma. It started about 10 years ago.

As FF says it's manageable but quite rare to develop in adulthood without any particular environmental trigger being responsible (workplace related).

I don't know whether you hayfever sufferers have heard of Sterimar. It's a nasal spray which is just pure ionised sea water. The idea is it cleans the sinuses, particularly of pollen. It's widely used and recommended by ENT specialists. I tried it for the first time today on the recommendation of my doc (it's not available on the NHS) and it's cleared my sinuses beautifully. I wouldn't normally recommend something after one try but I was surprised at the results. I may even be able to cut back the Beconnaise. Costs about a fiver a can.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I don't know whether you hayfever sufferers have heard of Sterimar. It's a nasal spray which is just pure ionised sea water. The idea is it cleans the sinuses, particularly of pollen. It's widely used and recommended by ENT specialists. I tried it for the first time today on the recommendation of my doc (it's not available on the NHS) and it's cleared my sinuses beautifully.

I'm not familiar with the product, but...
In my younger years, Surfing was my sport, Winter/Summer all day long. Getting a regular pounding meant a lot of salt water everywhere including around the sinuses. About half an hour out of the water we got a condition called "Surfers Nose" where the saltwater diluted contents of your sinuses suddenly flood-out.
Today If I have really badly blocked sinuses I'll snort warm salt water off a teaspoon and although not as effective as nearly drowning, it does help clear the tubes!

 

[yoyo]

Crackle, I've had asthma since childhood and recognize your symptoms very readily. Having chesty colds for ages is just part and parcel of my life and I cough for England!! Cold weather 'does for me' and I am also rather tight chested in the heat. Salbutimol does little to relieve me but I find hot drinks and applying heat to my chest really helps. My husband has rhinitis, two of our children have asthma and the other has hay fever - but we do survive! It is a shock to find yourself with this as an adult and I hope you adjust to the regime to gain relief.

It has been suggested that the consumption of dairy products is bad for asthmatics. Due to thyroid problems I have been advised to have a vegetarian and dairy free diet. I have been on this since Christmas and have not had the asthma to the extent that is usual for me. Just a thought.

Yoyo

 

[Speicher]

Yoyo, was it you who recently on another thread, was talking about the benefits of "natural" therapy? you may have called it something similar?
You (if it was you) were saying how much better you are feeling, can you remind me what it was, and who to see for more info. Thank you.

 

[yoyo]

Speicher,

I went to see a naturopath as I simply could not lose weight, was permanently tired and listless, suffered dreadfully from cold etc. He recommended the diet described above and is also supplementing this with some natural remedies. Over four months I have lost over a stone and feel much better.

Prior to this I bought remedies online that I thought might help, but there is nothing for it other than to get help specifically for you. The naturopath I am seeing happens to have recommended something to suit me. A work colleague went to a homeopath and found that their recommendations didn't help at all. Good luck!

Yoyo