Asthma 'this is new, now what?

[Dave2you]

will the first time in 42 years I had a hard time breathing During the day as of late

Went to doc. checked for infection with blood work and xray.


He Said I have no infection but believes I have developed Athsma. My mother and brother have this, I have been asthma Free.

Now I take advair and Ibuterol

Can a Cpap machine Cause Athsma?

is it safe to use my Cpap with Athsma?

My Athsma seems to bother me the least when hosed up with Cpap cranking.

Could I have instigated the Asthma to the Surface by treating my Apnea?

will the Athsma meds take away my need For Cpap, they open your airways maybe enough to stop the Apnea's?

I should have asked the doctor but I was stunned

Athsma me? no way

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, CPAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, CPAP

[Moby]

I hear you. That was my reaction when I was diagnosed with adult asthma at the age of 36. "Asthma? No way!"

I am though very pleased you have the diagnosis. Asthma undiagnosed and inadequately treated is very serious indeed and can be fatal. Not trying to be alarmist, but it is important to take it seriously. The danger lies in not taking it seriously.

Don't blame yourself for not asking all the right questions from the doc at the time. It takes a while to get used to the idea of having another problem to deal with, and then to learn about the condition. Give yourself time.

Useful equipment for managing asthma:

Go to the pharmacy and buy
1) a peak flow meter and
2) an extension chamber for your puffers (see below)


Puffers are much more effective if you take them through a special extension chamber which you can buy at a pharmacy... I forget what it's called, they will know what I mean. You put the puffer in at one end, and breathe in and out through the other. You get the full dose, and less of the carrying materials that way. Also the dose goes more in your lungs where it is needed than in your mouth where it isn't.


Make sure you use the medications regularly as prescribed. Some very effective puffers contain a mild steroid which is great for your inflamed lungs but bad for your mouth, so if it says to rinse your mouth out after one make sure you do it well.



Just like on cpap, start with tracking your numbers. You will need a "peak flow meter". Here is a link

http://www.njc.org/disease-info/disease ... index.aspx


I will be happy to help you if I can with any queries and I am sure lots of others will too.

With regard to your other questions,

Can a Cpap machine Cause Athsma?

I doubt the Cpap could cause asthma. Whatever caused it, the more effectively and the earlier it is treated the healthier your lungs will be. In the early stages asthma damage to the lungs is reversible, later it becomes permanent.


is it safe to use my Cpap with Athsma?
Maybe call your sleep doc with that one. I don't see why it would be unsafe,but if I had an acute episode I would check.

As you say, the Cpap seems to help me too.


Could I have instigated the Asthma to the Surface by treating my Apnea?
Are you using a humidifier? Asthma produces thick sticky secretions which may be made drier and thicker inadequately humidified cpap. I use as much humidification as I can, and it has improved my morning asthma a lot. Hardly get it any more.

will the Athsma meds take away my need For Cpap, they open your airways maybe enough to stop the Apnea's?

The meds act on the very tiny airways deep in your lungs. It's as though the main airway were a freeway, and the tiny airways are people's driveways. The meds don't act directly on the airway responsible for OSA, but the pressure changes might have an indirect effect. I think "split city" is doing research in that area, s/he might know.


regards

Di

[Moby]

Dave2you, Here is a link which describes the physiology of asthma quite well, if you are interested at this stage.

http://ppsinc.org/asthma/asth03.htm

The picture is a bit small - but maybe you have a bigger computer than mine!

Di

[cflame1]

There are probably other's on here, but I also have asthma... have had it since I was a kid. It's pretty mild in my case.

The only thing that I've had issues with in my case in regards to using my XPAP is that CFLEX would make me feel like I'm hyperventilating. My sleep doc is also an asthma doc and he has no issues with me using my machine.

[sleepycarol]

I too have asthma. I was diagnosed in my 30's as well. I made sure that the sleep lab and doctor knew about my asthma and nothing was said about it. I feel better with using my machine.