The Asthma Thread

hey guys -<br><br><b>Rose-</b>glad to hear that you are feeling better about things. Just remember that the wheezing is telling you something. I believe a lot of people can run through them, but you need to be aware when running through them is ok & when its not. I believe that only comes with experience - just make sure you have the albuturol inhaler with you just in case. This actally sounds like advice that would come from my asthma docs.. lol my treatment is basically - get better thru running -<br><br><b>Drom -</b> sounds like you are doing well. The "cold"- ah you are so funny. Here in So. Oregon, it got into the 60's this last week, and it felt so warm... but i am a transplant from L.A., so i understand what you mean. The thing here in the winter - i can really tell when i'm healthy vs having issues. Its interesting to see the difference at 30 degrees. Anyway, i've instituted treadmill only in the winter, and it really made a difference this year.<br><br>
So, my breathing is doing really well right now. Its getting better every week in the running program. So i guess that's the ticket for me - slow & easy.. problem is legs always want to go further & faster, so the running program is a really good thing. this week i've slacked due to the shoulder - its better, but not well. <img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"> so am going to get my missing 2 days this weekend, hopefully getting off my schedule hasn't hurt me any.

My asthma is bad lately but I think that's due to all the allergens in the air right now. I've had to use my inhaler before almost every run. I also feel like I'm falling apart! Just when one thing starts feeling better, another problem crops up. I recently had shoulder/neck/arm pain and went through 3+ weeks of chiropractic and it's finally starting to feel a lot better; then yesterday the eye dr told me that my low-level glaucoma has gotten much worse so now I'll be on eyedrops for the rest of my life. They make the whites of my eyes vampire-red and really irritate them, so I look pretty sleep-deprived and/or like a pot head. The good thing about it is that one of the side effects is that it makes your eyelashes get darker, thicker and longer. So in time I'll look like a very feminine vampire, I guess.<br><br>
Today I tried something a little different. I walked for 5 minutes and then ran at quite a bit faster pace than normal for 10 minutes, then walked again for 5 minutes. Then I took a yoga class. Usually I take a slow & steady pace for a longer distance.<br><br>
Happy trails, everyone.<br><br>
Susan

I saw this today, thought it was worth sharing as I remembered this thread, but never responded to it.<br><br><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/health/13asth.html?em&ex=1210910400&en=28e7b5739df6ca33&ei=5087%0A" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/he...a33&ei=5087%0A</a><br><br>
My story: I've had asthma since I was a child, but it has become much milder through the years. It's become even more mild the more I've run long distance. When I was a kid I was often excused from gym classes that involved running. I never dreamed I could be a runner until I finally tried it in college in the 1980s and then there was no turning back.<br><br>
I rarely use even albuterol any more before my runs unless it's peak allergy season for me (like now. I use it before about 50% of my runs and always before a marathon). I haven't had an "attack" since I was probably 13 or so. I'd say I get wheeziest if I'm laughing really hard for a long time. Not such a bady thing, I suppose. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
My father and one sister have pretty acute asthma and my son has inherited it as well.

Wow Soundie - its amazing to think you had asthma as a kid & can run so fast. I wanna be like you <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> Actually, I was only diagnosed with asthma when I was 41 (3 years ago) after having an episode I think was triggered by allergies. Actually always had some issues, but no bad asthma attackes until this (except for the one time when I was 3 & my mom took me for a walk through a bunch of ragweed).<br><br>
Geez I think I caught a bad cold at Eugene on top of breathing issues due to pushing myself too far.. <img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"> having bronchitis with asthma, geez is horrible!! Hmmm I guess I need to read that article. I did get a spacer for my albuterol inhaler this week - that seems to help a lot.<br><br>
Riley - woohoo yeah on the 5K!