Asthma
26 February 2003, 12:47 PM
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I've recently developed asthma due to an allergic reaction to the new flat we are living in...
Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions of what I can do to reduce the effect of the environment?
I've got one of those air purifier things, doesn't do much it seems..
Any thoughts on this matter?
Cheers, Alex
Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions of what I can do to reduce the effect of the environment?
I've got one of those air purifier things, doesn't do much it seems..
Any thoughts on this matter?
Cheers, Alex
26 February 2003, 12:54 PM
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Alex,
If it's genuinely an allergic reaction then air filters might help - we have a couple of HEPA filters but in reality to make a difference you need one running in every room 24 hours a day (or overnight at least)...
Try and narrow down the potential sources: is it perhaps the carpets, some old curtains or an old mattress that's causing it? Best to isolate and remove the trigger if possible.
When I was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma a few years back I went onto a low-dose steroidal inhaler - Flixotide is the best (I had to ask my doctor for it by name). Taking a minimal dose of this daily is much less harmful than constantly fighting off the attacks with Ventolin. By the way my asthma was exercise-induced but occasionally I get an environmental reaction, e.g. in old hotels...
Hope this helps.
Gareth
If it's genuinely an allergic reaction then air filters might help - we have a couple of HEPA filters but in reality to make a difference you need one running in every room 24 hours a day (or overnight at least)...
Try and narrow down the potential sources: is it perhaps the carpets, some old curtains or an old mattress that's causing it? Best to isolate and remove the trigger if possible.
When I was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma a few years back I went onto a low-dose steroidal inhaler - Flixotide is the best (I had to ask my doctor for it by name). Taking a minimal dose of this daily is much less harmful than constantly fighting off the attacks with Ventolin. By the way my asthma was exercise-induced but occasionally I get an environmental reaction, e.g. in old hotels...
Hope this helps.
Gareth
26 February 2003, 12:59 PM
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Try and get an air purifier. You can also remove the carpets and replace with timber flooring. Ive had asthma since 9 yrs of age and parents had to change flooring in house to timber.
you wouldnt realise the amount of dust they have.
By any chance do you like near a river or lake?
Sean
you wouldnt realise the amount of dust they have.
By any chance do you like near a river or lake?
Sean
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26 February 2003, 01:00 PM
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Alex, it's likely you'll soon adjust to it.
I had problems when I moved into the house in which I now live. The previous occupants had owned a dog and the carpets were full of dog hair/skin flakes/goodness knows what else. The place was also covered in dust.
I damp-dusted and vacuumed every day for a few weeks. I found a
Dyson with the turbo attachment designed to pick up animal hair was particularly effective. I also used an air filter and humidifier to help reduce the dust in the air in my bedroom. After a few weeks it ceased to be a problem.
If you want to borrow the air filter and humidifier, they're in my loft. You aren't likely to need them for long.
Having read this again, edited to say the humidifier probably doesn't help with reducing the dust, but it can make the air easier to breathe and less irritating. It works for me.
Also consider whether there might be anything in the area that your living in that might be causing a problem. The woman I rented my previous house from had a massive problem with her asthma when she moved to a new house. It was eventually found to be the high numbers of some specific sort of tree in the new area. She didn't even realise she was allergic to them.
[Edited by TurboKitty - 2/26/2003 1:06:40 PM]
I had problems when I moved into the house in which I now live. The previous occupants had owned a dog and the carpets were full of dog hair/skin flakes/goodness knows what else. The place was also covered in dust.
I damp-dusted and vacuumed every day for a few weeks. I found a
Dyson with the turbo attachment designed to pick up animal hair was particularly effective. I also used an air filter and humidifier to help reduce the dust in the air in my bedroom. After a few weeks it ceased to be a problem.
If you want to borrow the air filter and humidifier, they're in my loft. You aren't likely to need them for long.
Having read this again, edited to say the humidifier probably doesn't help with reducing the dust, but it can make the air easier to breathe and less irritating. It works for me.
Also consider whether there might be anything in the area that your living in that might be causing a problem. The woman I rented my previous house from had a massive problem with her asthma when she moved to a new house. It was eventually found to be the high numbers of some specific sort of tree in the new area. She didn't even realise she was allergic to them.
[Edited by TurboKitty - 2/26/2003 1:06:40 PM]
26 February 2003, 01:03 PM
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Cheers guys, some useful and some amusing comments! 
It was my doc that has told me, put me on the steroid inhaler (brown colour unit), steroid pills for 5 days and I have the ventolin inhaler too. Got to go back in a couple of weeks for a check up - I'm going to ask to have a full allergy test.
One good thing may come out of it, I'm trying to quit smoking now (and its hard work!)... dunno how long that will last!
Prior to moving in, new carpets were put in and the walls/ceillings were painted. Can't move out until at least middle of the year or rather that is the earliest I'm likely to afford being able to move.
Turbokitty - thanks for the offer, I might take you up on that, we already have one of those HEPA filter things thou. Thanks.
Alex
[Edited by DrEvil - 2/26/2003 1:05:41 PM]
It was my doc that has told me, put me on the steroid inhaler (brown colour unit), steroid pills for 5 days and I have the ventolin inhaler too. Got to go back in a couple of weeks for a check up - I'm going to ask to have a full allergy test.
One good thing may come out of it, I'm trying to quit smoking now (and its hard work!)... dunno how long that will last!
Prior to moving in, new carpets were put in and the walls/ceillings were painted. Can't move out until at least middle of the year or rather that is the earliest I'm likely to afford being able to move.
Turbokitty - thanks for the offer, I might take you up on that, we already have one of those HEPA filter things thou. Thanks.
Alex
[Edited by DrEvil - 2/26/2003 1:05:41 PM]
26 February 2003, 01:05 PM
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In our new house we bought new carpets with a thin pile but deep underlay downstairs and had pergo flooring for the upstairs bedrooms.
I breathe a lot easier during the night and Bajie Jnr has not had breathing problems or extended boughts of colds since.
I breathe a lot easier during the night and Bajie Jnr has not had breathing problems or extended boughts of colds since.
26 February 2003, 01:08 PM
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Hmm.. we live near a canal, its about 200 yards away, if that.
I can't change the house really, its not ours, the next one will be though - so wood flooring all round me thinks, well plastic stuff..
TurboKitty - seen the edits, thanks.
[Edited by DrEvil - 2/26/2003 1:09:31 PM]
I can't change the house really, its not ours, the next one will be though - so wood flooring all round me thinks, well plastic stuff..
TurboKitty - seen the edits, thanks.
[Edited by DrEvil - 2/26/2003 1:09:31 PM]
26 February 2003, 02:23 PM
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Alex
Had it since early teens. I needn't affect your life if you are careful. It didn't stop me windsurfing at international level and doesn't stop me biking now, or microlighting and skiing.
I smoke, although less than I used too.
Asthma is really hypersensitivity of the lung tissue to allergens. The theory is that a severe allergic reaction permanently damages the lung tissue, causing lower sensitivity to allergens. The type of allergens that cause a reaction differ from person to person. 5 years ago, we bought a very large and very expensive 3 piece suite. You guessed, I was allergic to it and couldn't sit on it for more than 20 minutes
I can now, as I have got used to it.
What does make things worse is booze. For me, particularly red wine (which I love). Half a bottle will greatly increase my sensitivity to allergens. A bottle of wine on my sofa, one evening... and you start to get the picture.
The other thing that I love but have to avoid is chocolate. Normal cat hair is also a real no-no for me. Siamese cats shed virtually no hair, so we have two of those. Dogs and horses are really bad for me, because/so I never go near them.
Find out what allergens you are sensitive to and what things increase your sensitivity. You can then balance between the two, so still enjoying most things in life.
I rarely use my brown inhaler as it makes me moody/aggresive. If I've had a serious weekend on the sauce or a chest infection I have to use it for a couple of days until things settle back down.
There's no cure for it but aerobic excercise can greatly reduce its effect on your life.
More than 1 in 3 school kids are now asthmatic.
Had it since early teens. I needn't affect your life if you are careful. It didn't stop me windsurfing at international level and doesn't stop me biking now, or microlighting and skiing.
I smoke, although less than I used too.
Asthma is really hypersensitivity of the lung tissue to allergens. The theory is that a severe allergic reaction permanently damages the lung tissue, causing lower sensitivity to allergens. The type of allergens that cause a reaction differ from person to person. 5 years ago, we bought a very large and very expensive 3 piece suite. You guessed, I was allergic to it and couldn't sit on it for more than 20 minutes
I can now, as I have got used to it.What does make things worse is booze. For me, particularly red wine (which I love). Half a bottle will greatly increase my sensitivity to allergens. A bottle of wine on my sofa, one evening... and you start to get the picture.
The other thing that I love but have to avoid is chocolate. Normal cat hair is also a real no-no for me. Siamese cats shed virtually no hair, so we have two of those. Dogs and horses are really bad for me, because/so I never go near them.
Find out what allergens you are sensitive to and what things increase your sensitivity. You can then balance between the two, so still enjoying most things in life.
I rarely use my brown inhaler as it makes me moody/aggresive. If I've had a serious weekend on the sauce or a chest infection I have to use it for a couple of days until things settle back down.
There's no cure for it but aerobic excercise can greatly reduce its effect on your life.
More than 1 in 3 school kids are now asthmatic.
26 February 2003, 02:59 PM
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Pete,
Thanks for that reply, it was actually more indepth than my doctors.. he was fairly blase (sp!) about it, common occurence in Guildford apparently, one of the worst areas in the south for asthma.
I must get a full blood test done for allergies, that has to be the next step.
I'm going to try going without ciggys whilst on the steroids.
Managed just over a day so far.
Thanks for the advice, Alex
Thanks for that reply, it was actually more indepth than my doctors.. he was fairly blase (sp!) about it, common occurence in Guildford apparently, one of the worst areas in the south for asthma.
I must get a full blood test done for allergies, that has to be the next step.
I'm going to try going without ciggys whilst on the steroids.
Managed just over a day so far.
Thanks for the advice, Alex
26 February 2003, 03:08 PM
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Just a comment on the "brown inhaler" - I'm guessing this is Bechotide (spelling might be wrong). This is a steroidal inhaler from the dark ages and is highly systemic, i.e. it gets into your whole system instead of just the bits you want fixing. That might be why Pete starts getting moody and stops giving out discounts when he's using it 
As per my post above I had to push my GP to prescribe Flixotide instead which is much better science - more topical (i.e. only affects the things you want it to), and therefore can be taken in lower doses. I take 150mcg/day of Flixotide to get the same effect as 400mcg/day of Bechotide.
Cheers,
Gareth
As per my post above I had to push my GP to prescribe Flixotide instead which is much better science - more topical (i.e. only affects the things you want it to), and therefore can be taken in lower doses. I take 150mcg/day of Flixotide to get the same effect as 400mcg/day of Bechotide.
Cheers,
Gareth
26 February 2003, 04:29 PM
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Steroid inhaler,nice one.
Dont be doing any dumbell curls with your tongue,or youll end up like Jamie Oliver......
I have pet allergies,when visting houses with dogs in I get breathless so I take Zirtec pills,they work within 20mins.
Later Yoza
Dont be doing any dumbell curls with your tongue,or youll end up like Jamie Oliver......
I have pet allergies,when visting houses with dogs in I get breathless so I take Zirtec pills,they work within 20mins.
Later Yoza
27 February 2003, 08:11 AM
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Move away from the South-East.
Seriously - my wife was suffering from particularly bad asthma when we lived down in Kent. She was taking 2-3 shots of her becotide inhaler 3 times a day, plus antihystamine tablets, and was also having to use her ventolin inhaler 'on-demand' when she got wheezy, which often meant 2 or 3 times a day.
We moved to Scotland in November, and the difference was phenomenal. Within 2-3 weeks she'd cut the becotide down to 2 shots, twice a day, dropped the anti-hystamine tablets altogether, and uses the ventolin maybe once a week, if that. After 3 months she even forgets the becotide altogether some days - something that would have been unthinkable 6 months ago.
Regardless of everything else, it was reason enough in itself to justify getting out of the SE.
Seriously - my wife was suffering from particularly bad asthma when we lived down in Kent. She was taking 2-3 shots of her becotide inhaler 3 times a day, plus antihystamine tablets, and was also having to use her ventolin inhaler 'on-demand' when she got wheezy, which often meant 2 or 3 times a day.
We moved to Scotland in November, and the difference was phenomenal. Within 2-3 weeks she'd cut the becotide down to 2 shots, twice a day, dropped the anti-hystamine tablets altogether, and uses the ventolin maybe once a week, if that. After 3 months she even forgets the becotide altogether some days - something that would have been unthinkable 6 months ago.
Regardless of everything else, it was reason enough in itself to justify getting out of the SE.
27 February 2003, 11:10 AM
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Just a comment on the "brown inhaler" - I'm guessing this is Bechotide (spelling might be wrong). This is a steroidal inhaler from the dark ages and is highly systemic, i.e. it gets into your whole system instead of just the bits you want fixing. That might be why Pete starts getting moody and stops giving out discounts when he's using it
As per my post above I had to push my GP to prescribe Flixotide instead which is much better science - more topical (i.e. only affects the things you want it to), and therefore can be taken in lower doses. I take 150mcg/day of Flixotide to get the same effect as 400mcg/day of Bechotide.
In all honesty Alex, see what the allergy test reveals then look at what you need to remove/add in order to improve things. Stopping smoking is always a good start.
I echo what Pete says with regards to the red wine too!!!!Some useful links for you...
http://allergy.mcg.edu/home.html
http://www.asthma.org.uk/
http://nhlbisupport.com/asthma/
I find that the more you know about it, the easier it is to control.
The steroids you will have taken are Prednisolone (it has many generic names) see here for info on it.
Further info on.....
Flixotide
Becotide
Ventolin
Hope this helps.
[Edited by Little Miss WRX - 2/27/2003 11:10:30 AM]
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