Question:

Got a question for you. Background:  I’ve had asthma in the past, but haven’t needed an inhaler in about 5 – 6 years.  Lately, since the weight loss, I’ve been in excellent health.  Last Wednesday I had a check-up with the doctor and my BP was 110 over 70.  Lungs and heart sounded great.  I had more lab work which I haven’t got the results of yet, but just in April had lab work done and triglycerides were 103 (<150 is normal), total cholesterol was 136 (<200 is normal), HDL cholesterol was 40 ( or = 40 is normal), LDL cholesterol was 75 (< 130 is normal), and cholesterol/HDLC ratio was 3.4 (< 4.4 is normal). All this to say that, although I do have right branch bunch blockage, I think my heart is absolutely sound.  I normally bicycle, very vigorously, for 2 hours every day!  (The only thing that has changed lately is that I started taking Maxide, a diuretic, last Friday because I’ve had some swelling in my hands – but, because of below – haven’t taken one today.) But for the last three days I’ve been having trouble breathing, last night to the point that I had to cut my ride short after 15 minutes, and today to the point that I’m feeling weak and dizzy (and have some tingling in both arms) just sitting in my desk chair.  I’ve made an appointment with my doctor, but couldn’t get in until tomorrow morning.  I don’t feel any pain, so haven’t thought about going to the ER. My question is, even though I’m not wheezing, do you think this could be an asthma attack?  Would swollen sinuses from allergies cause something similar? I know you can’t diagnose anything over the ‘net, but I just wanted to be reassured that not rushing to the ER and waiting to see the doctor tomorrow was OK – or whether this could be something that *should* be seen to immediately. Hugs, CatNipped

Response:

Catnipped sorry to intrude on a Ping But yes it could be an asthma attack you should go and get checked out. My daughter has asthma and has had symptoms EXACTLEY like yours, it was an attack.  Even the swelling could come from the attack.  Please get it looked at. Skritches and purrs, KittyLady

Response:

Catnipped sorry to intrude on a Ping But yes it could be an asthma attack you should go and get checked out. My daughter has asthma and has had symptoms EXACTLEY like yours, it was an attack.  Even the swelling could come from the attack.  Please get it looked at. Skritches and purrs, KittyLady

Thanks, that’s what I thought.  I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow morning. Hugs, CatNipped

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Got a question for you. Background:  I’ve had asthma in the past, but haven’t needed an inhaler in about 5 – 6 years.  Lately, since the weight loss, I’ve been in excellent health.  Last Wednesday I had a check-up with the doctor and my BP was 110 over 70.  Lungs and heart sounded great.  I had more lab work which I haven’t got the results of yet, but just in April had lab work done and triglycerides were 103 (<150 is normal), total cholesterol was 136 (<200 is normal), HDL cholesterol was 40 ( or = 40 is normal), LDL cholesterol was 75 (< 130 is normal), and cholesterol/HDLC ratio was 3.4 (< 4.4 is normal).

Translation: you will die of something other than atherosclerotic heart disease! A 3.4 ratio is quite good; unless there’s been a recent change, I’d think a 5.0 was normal. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – All this to say that, although I do have right branch bunch blockage, I think my heart is absolutely sound.  I normally bicycle, very vigorously, for 2 hours every day!  (The only thing that has changed lately is that I started taking Maxide, a diuretic, last Friday because I’ve had some swelling in my hands – but, because of below – haven’t taken one today.) But for the last three days I’ve been having trouble breathing, last night to the point that I had to cut my ride short after 15 minutes, and today to the point that I’m feeling weak and dizzy (and have some tingling in both arms) just sitting in my desk chair.  I’ve made an appointment with my doctor, but couldn’t get in until tomorrow morning.  I don’t feel any pain, so haven’t thought about going to the ER.

My first thought is that it’s metabolic — oxygen demand, or possibly electrolytes.  Hyperventilation comes more to mind than a cardiac cause.   Maxzide is a combination drug with one drug intended to limit potassium loss — otherwise I’d think more likely low potassium. My question is, even though I’m not wheezing, do you think this could be an asthma attack?  Would swollen sinuses from allergies cause something similar?

Either your not getting enough air, or your hyperventilating to get air.   Were you aware of breathing faster than usual? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know you can’t diagnose anything over the ‘net, but I just wanted to be reassured that not rushing to the ER and waiting to see the doctor tomorrow was OK – or whether this could be something that *should* be seen to immediately. Hugs, CatNipped

Response:

Either your not getting enough air, or your hyperventilating to get air. Were you aware of breathing faster than usual?

What would hyperventilating to get air indicate?  I just did a google search on that phrase and found references to asthma.  And also a surprising one, gastro-intestinal problems?  This particular term you’ve used interests me because I’ve seen my cat do this and since it isn’t coughing, and it almost seems like sneezing, but could now be considered "hyperventilating for air", I’m concerned.  Based on my description to the vet, she didn’t find any indication of asthma or heart trouble, but said it could be early signs of asthma.  Now that I have your term of "hyperventilating to get air" it might indicate to the vet something else?

Response:

Either your not getting enough air, or your hyperventilating to get air. Were you aware of breathing faster than usual? What would hyperventilating to get air indicate?  

In this context, "to get air" was added for some clarity, which I made more confusing. The correct term is just hyperventilation. In people, hyperventilation can be caused by physical or emotional reasons. A lack of oxygen doesn’t as much cause fast breathing but gasping. Excitement can lead to hyperventilation. I just did a google search on that phrase and found references to asthma.  And also a surprising one, gastro-intestinal problems?  This particular term you’ve used interests me because I’ve seen my cat do this and since it isn’t coughing, and it almost seems like sneezing, but could now be considered "hyperventilating for air", I’m concerned.  Based on my description to the vet, she didn’t find any indication of asthma or heart trouble, but said it could be early signs of asthma.  Now that I have your term of "hyperventilating to get air" it might indicate to the vet something else?

Hyperventilation can be due to a very wide range of causes.   Paradoxically, a high carbon dioxide (technically, bicarbonate ion) in the blood will stimulate fast respiration, but fast enough respiration will wash out much of the bicarbonate. The resulting state can leave one dizzy, tingling, etc. At some point in explaining this, things get fairly complicated, in that you need to understand the acid-base balance of the body. Let me merely suggest that the stomach has a good deal of acid, but the acidity can change. Unfortunately, I can’t picture any way to give a cat some of the screening tests for asthma. Does anyone have an idea how to put a mask over a cat’s face and tell the cat to blow out as hard as possible? I think not!

Response:

A note of practicality here: I’m not as learned as Howard but 30 years of seeing and hearing things in ER’s adds up to a few things sticking in your mind: hyperventilating can produce – yes – tingling in extremities, "gasping" rapid breathing and the next thing possible is dizziness and/or PASSING OUT! If I were ‘Nipped I’d stay the h*** off that bike till informed doc gives okay to ride it….or in spite of doing so good on a "health test" it may not matter a rat’s *** how you did or how "good" you feel, if your I don’t need to take tests to see how my health is: 2 cardiologists and 1 internal med doc tell me all I need to know. I live more than a mile above sea level, have mild COPD (smoked 21 years) and do not "hyperventilate"because of it. If the temps in Houston are anything like what’s been going on here, you couldn’t pay me to get on a bike in this heat. Duh. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Either your not getting enough air, or your hyperventilating to get air. Were you aware of breathing faster than usual? What would hyperventilating to get air indicate? In this context, "to get air" was added for some clarity, which I made more confusing. The correct term is just hyperventilation. In people, hyperventilation can be caused by physical or emotional reasons. A lack of oxygen doesn’t as much cause fast breathing but gasping. Excitement can lead to hyperventilation. I just did a google search on that phrase and found references to asthma.  And also a surprising one, gastro-intestinal problems?  This particular term you’ve used interests me because I’ve seen my cat do this and since it isn’t coughing, and it almost seems like sneezing, but could now be considered "hyperventilating for air", I’m concerned.  Based on my description to the vet, she didn’t find any indication of asthma or heart trouble, but said it could be early signs of asthma.  Now that I have your term of "hyperventilating to get air" it might indicate to the vet something else? Hyperventilation can be due to a very wide range of causes. Paradoxically, a high carbon dioxide (technically, bicarbonate ion) in the blood will stimulate fast respiration, but fast enough respiration will wash out much of the bicarbonate. The resulting state can leave one dizzy, tingling, etc. At some point in explaining this, things get fairly complicated, in that you need to understand the acid-base balance of the body. Let me merely suggest that the stomach has a good deal of acid, but the acidity can change. Unfortunately, I can’t picture any way to give a cat some of the screening tests for asthma. Does anyone have an idea how to put a mask over a cat’s face and tell the cat to blow out as hard as possible? I think not!

Response:

Sorry, just now got back from a business dinner. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Got a question for you. Background:  I’ve had asthma in the past, but haven’t needed an inhaler in about 5 – 6 years.  Lately, since the weight loss, I’ve been in excellent health.  Last Wednesday I had a check-up with the doctor and my BP was 110 over 70.  Lungs and heart sounded great.  I had more lab work which I haven’t got the results of yet, but just in April had lab work done and triglycerides were 103 (<150 is normal), total cholesterol was 136 (<200 is normal), HDL cholesterol was 40 ( or = 40 is normal), LDL cholesterol was 75 (< 130 is normal), and cholesterol/HDLC ratio was 3.4 (< 4.4 is normal). Translation: you will die of something other than atherosclerotic heart disease! A 3.4 ratio is quite good; unless there’s been a recent change, I’d think a 5.0 was normal.

Yep, thank you mom for the good genes!  ; – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – All this to say that, although I do have right branch bunch blockage, I think my heart is absolutely sound.  I normally bicycle, very vigorously, for 2 hours every day!  (The only thing that has changed lately is that I started taking Maxide, a diuretic, last Friday because I’ve had some swelling in my hands – but, because of below – haven’t taken one today.) But for the last three days I’ve been having trouble breathing, last night to the point that I had to cut my ride short after 15 minutes, and today to the point that I’m feeling weak and dizzy (and have some tingling in both arms) just sitting in my desk chair.  I’ve made an appointment with my doctor, but couldn’t get in until tomorrow morning.  I don’t feel any pain, so haven’t thought about going to the ER. My first thought is that it’s metabolic — oxygen demand, or possibly electrolytes.  Hyperventilation comes more to mind than a cardiac cause. Maxzide is a combination drug with one drug intended to limit potassium loss — otherwise I’d think more likely low potassium.

I thought hyperventilation also – since I feel like I’m not getting enough oxygen I keep breathing heavier and faster.  I just don’t know why I feel like I can’t get enough oxygen.  Could that be caused by the asthma?  The only reason I didn’t think that is because I thought with asthma you really weren’t getting enough oxygen so breathing harder/faster would just make up for the oxygen you’re not getting.  I’m also having a bad allergy attack, my sinuses are swollen, so that could contribute to me feeling like I can’t get enough air. Hugs, CatNipped – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My question is, even though I’m not wheezing, do you think this could be an asthma attack?  Would swollen sinuses from allergies cause something similar? Either your not getting enough air, or your hyperventilating to get air. Were you aware of breathing faster than usual? I know you can’t diagnose anything over the ‘net, but I just wanted to be reassured that not rushing to the ER and waiting to see the doctor tomorrow was OK – or whether this could be something that *should* be seen to immediately. Hugs, CatNipped

Response:

Well now I feel silly.  Of course I was having trouble breathing – not only do a have a sever sinus infection, I have a touch of pneumonia! I spent the whole morning at the doctor’s office – they did a pulmonary test, got chest x-rays, gave me a respiratory treatment, and got sent home with Augmentin, Albuterol, a respiratory therapy thingy and a bunch of other meds. In my defense, however, I never run a fever no matter how sick I get (my "normal" temp is 96.8F – I joke that this is because I’m dyslexic) – and with the fibromyalgia, the aches and pains are SOP, so I didn’t realize I was this sick. I’m just bummed ’cause they told me I couldn’t ride my bike for a week!!!! Hugs, CatNipped

Response:

On 2005-07-20, CatNipped penned: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well now I feel silly.  Of course I was having trouble breathing – not only do a have a sever sinus infection, I have a touch of pneumonia! I spent the whole morning at the doctor’s office – they did a pulmonary test, got chest x-rays, gave me a respiratory treatment, and got sent home with Augmentin, Albuterol, a respiratory therapy thingy and a bunch of other meds. In my defense, however, I never run a fever no matter how sick I get (my "normal" temp is 96.8F – I joke that this is because I’m dyslexic) – and with the fibromyalgia, the aches and pains are SOP, so I didn’t realize I was this sick. I’m just bummed ’cause they told me I couldn’t ride my bike for a week!!!!

Doh!  That sucks, but at least it’s not a long-term condition. Take care of yourself and don’t hop on that bike until your body is ready! — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Response:

On 2005-07-20, Hopitus penned: Please sneak up on Oscar w/socks in paws (don’t you have a camera phone?) I would like to see that!

I had to get going this morning and didn’t snap a picture of her … I’ll try to do better in the future. — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – On 2005-07-20, CatNipped penned: Well now I feel silly.  Of course I was having trouble breathing – not only do a have a sever sinus infection, I have a touch of pneumonia! I spent the whole morning at the doctor’s office – they did a pulmonary test, got chest x-rays, gave me a respiratory treatment, and got sent home with Augmentin, Albuterol, a respiratory therapy thingy and a bunch of other meds. In my defense, however, I never run a fever no matter how sick I get (my "normal" temp is 96.8F – I joke that this is because I’m dyslexic) – and with the fibromyalgia, the aches and pains are SOP, so I didn’t realize I was this sick. I’m just bummed ’cause they told me I couldn’t ride my bike for a week!!!! Doh!  That sucks, but at least it’s not a long-term condition. Take care of yourself and don’t hop on that bike until your body is ready!

Yeah, but it’s going to be hard – I have a serious endorphin addiction! Tell, me, why do they call it "walking pneumonia when they want you to stay in bed when you have it?  ; Hugs, CatNipped – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Response:

Please take care of yourself, CN, this is serious! Lots of purrs and best wishes, — Polonca & Soncek

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well now I feel silly.  Of course I was having trouble breathing – not only do a have a sever sinus infection, I have a touch of pneumonia! I spent the whole morning at the doctor’s office – they did a pulmonary test, got chest x-rays, gave me a respiratory treatment, and got sent home with Augmentin, Albuterol, a respiratory therapy thingy and a bunch of other meds. In my defense, however, I never run a fever no matter how sick I get (my "normal" temp is 96.8F – I joke that this is because I’m dyslexic) – and with the fibromyalgia, the aches and pains are SOP, so I didn’t realize I was this sick. I’m just bummed ’cause they told me I couldn’t ride my bike for a week!!!! Hugs, CatNipped

Response:

Well now I feel silly.  Of course I was having trouble breathing – not only do a have a sever sinus infection, I have a touch of pneumonia! I spent the whole morning at the doctor’s office – they did a pulmonary test, got chest x-rays, gave me a respiratory treatment, and got sent home with Augmentin, Albuterol, a respiratory therapy thingy and a bunch of other meds. In my defense, however, I never run a fever no matter how sick I get (my "normal" temp is 96.8F – I joke that this is because I’m dyslexic) – and with the fibromyalgia, the aches and pains are SOP, so I didn’t realize I was this sick. I’m just bummed ’cause they told me I couldn’t ride my bike for a week!!!!

Ack! Now REST! Lesson – if you feel like you’re having trouble breathing, it’s because you ARE having trouble breathing! You’re not prone to panic attacks, so take those sort of symptoms seriously. — ~Karen aka Kajikit Crafts, cats, and chocolate – the three essentials of life http://www.kajikitscorner.com

Response:

Please sneak up on Oscar w/socks in paws (don’t you have a camera phone?) I would like to see that! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – On 2005-07-20, Hopitus penned: That explains a lot. Also, at work, my area hasn’t had proper A/C — the sun shines right on us and apparently, the A/C is only operating at 50%.  They’re trying to get it fixed ASAP; in the meantime, it’s almost impossible to get any real work done in the afternoon. I guess I’m spoiled.  We have A/C at home, but I keep asking DH when we can get a second A/C unit for the upstairs. On the plus side, if it ever gets truly awful, our basement is always cool.  Not really suitable as a living area, though. OMG — Oscar the Sock Cat is double-fisting — she has two socks in her paws, not just one, and is taking turns licking both!  If I get up to get a camera, she’ll freak out =/ — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – A note of practicality here: I’m not as learned as Howard but 30 years of seeing and hearing things in ER’s adds up to a few things sticking in your mind: hyperventilating can produce – yes – tingling in extremities, "gasping" rapid breathing and the next thing possible is dizziness and/or PASSING OUT! If I were ‘Nipped I’d stay the h*** off that bike till informed doc gives okay to ride it….or in spite of doing so good on a "health test" it may not matter a rat’s *** how you did or how "good" you feel, if your I don’t need to take tests to see how my health is: 2 cardiologists and 1 internal med doc tell me all I need to know. I live more than a mile above sea level, have mild COPD (smoked 21 years) and do not "hyperventilate"because of it. If the temps in Houston are anything like what’s been going on here, you couldn’t pay me to get on a bike in this heat. Duh.

Well, temps are over 100F and humidity is about 10000000%.  But I only bike in the evenings after it has cooled off a bit, and this is also happening inside my air-conditioned house just sitting at my desk.  I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow and won’t be riding my bike until after that. However, having lived on the gulf coast all of my life, I dont’ think the weather would suddenly cause something like this out of the blue.  I’m thinking probably asthma since I’ve had that in the past and it feels the same (but strangely, I don’t have any "wheezing" that’s normally associated with asthma, just a feeling like I’m not getting enough oxygen). Hugs, CatNipped – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Either your not getting enough air, or your hyperventilating to get air. Were you aware of breathing faster than usual? What would hyperventilating to get air indicate? In this context, "to get air" was added for some clarity, which I made more confusing. The correct term is just hyperventilation. In people, hyperventilation can be caused by physical or emotional reasons. A lack of oxygen doesn’t as much cause fast breathing but gasping. Excitement can lead to hyperventilation. I just did a google search on that phrase and found references to asthma.  And also a surprising one, gastro-intestinal problems?  This particular term you’ve used interests me because I’ve seen my cat do this and since it isn’t coughing, and it almost seems like sneezing, but could now be considered "hyperventilating for air", I’m concerned.  Based on my description to the vet, she didn’t find any indication of asthma or heart trouble, but said it could be early signs of asthma.  Now that I have your term of "hyperventilating to get air" it might indicate to the vet something else? Hyperventilation can be due to a very wide range of causes. Paradoxically, a high carbon dioxide (technically, bicarbonate ion) in the blood will stimulate fast respiration, but fast enough respiration will wash out much of the bicarbonate. The resulting state can leave one dizzy, tingling, etc. At some point in explaining this, things get fairly complicated, in that you need to understand the acid-base balance of the body. Let me merely suggest that the stomach has a good deal of acid, but the acidity can change. Unfortunately, I can’t picture any way to give a cat some of the screening tests for asthma. Does anyone have an idea how to put a mask over a cat’s face and tell the cat to blow out as hard as possible? I think not!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Catnipped, I am not a doctor or medical professional, but I live with an asthmatic. We have an agreement, based on experience – any difficulty breathing means an immediate trip to the emergency room. We were told by nurses at the Urgent Care center (kind of a not-so-emergency room) to tell the triage nurse at the emergency room that Carol had difficulty breathing. That would get us in IMMEDIATELY. Difficulty breathing and chest pains are two of the conditions that are taken very seriously at emergency rooms. I don’t know you, or your situation. But please take a good look at what is happening to you, and decide if you are really OK to wait until tomorrow. If you have any doubt, please consider a trip to the emergency room. We really want to keep getting Sammy-the-huge-kittencat stories Kalynnda, who gets really nervous when someone is having trouble breathing. Thank you!  I’m OK, and I really think it’s just that I’ve been hyperventilating – I just need to find out *why* I’m hyperventilating (I’m not under stress at *all* – in fact I’ve been really happy lately).  If I hadn’t seen a doctor just last Wednesday I would have gone to the ER.   But my heart and lungs were fine just 6 days ago, so I don’t think I need immediate treatment.

Any dietary changes? Coffee, tea, chocolate? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

On 2005-07-20, Hopitus penned:

That explains a lot. Also, at work, my area hasn’t had proper A/C — the sun shines right on us and apparently, the A/C is only operating at 50%.  They’re trying to get it fixed ASAP; in the meantime, it’s almost impossible to get any real work done in the afternoon. I guess I’m spoiled.  We have A/C at home, but I keep asking DH when we can get a second A/C unit for the upstairs. On the plus side, if it ever gets truly awful, our basement is always cool.  Not really suitable as a living area, though. OMG — Oscar the Sock Cat is double-fisting — she has two socks in her paws, not just one, and is taking turns licking both!  If I get up to get a camera, she’ll freak out =/ — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – On 2005-07-20, CatNipped penned: Well, temps are over 100F and humidity is about 10000000%.  But I only bike in the evenings after it has cooled off a bit, and this is also happening inside my air-conditioned house just sitting at my desk.  I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow and won’t be riding my bike until after that. However, having lived on the gulf coast all of my life, I dont’ think the weather would suddenly cause something like this out of the blue.  I’m thinking probably asthma since I’ve had that in the past and it feels the same (but strangely, I don’t have any "wheezing" that’s normally associated with asthma, just a feeling like I’m not getting enough oxygen). It sure is ungodly hot here in Colorado, but that wouldn’t keep me from being active if my wrist weren’t sprained … Anyway, I had a thought, and the symptoms don’t really match up, but I’ll mention it anyway.  There’s a condition called overtraining that can occur when you push your body too hard for an extended period of time.  Didn’t you only recently (last few months) start biking regularly? I overtrained last year, riding my bike every day in addition to some other stuff, and got all the classic symptoms — poor sleep, weakness, increased chance of illness and injury. Again, it doesn’t sound like this is what you’re experiencing at all, but here’s a link anyway: http://www.exrx.net/ExInfo/Overtraining.html

Yeah, I just got my bike for Mother’s day this past May.  And being the little obsessive/compulsive that I am I tend to push myself further and further (one day I’ll do 10 miles – then the next day I *have* to do at least ten miles and preferrably 15 miles, and so on and so on).  So in just a few months I went from not biking at all to biking 2 hours a day.  I’ll have a look at the link and I’ll be sure to mention this to my doctor tomorrow – thanks! Hugs, CatNipped – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Response:

One….more…..time: *how* are you *getting* to your doc tomorrow?! Because of what is going on (*not* because of *why*!) I’m concerned that your problem *might* cause you to lose consciousness if you *drive* – especially *alone*. I used to xray these extremity "tingling" mimic those of an acute M.I. (heart attack). Heat here, unlike FL, where a/c is not a given, is making me very grouchy (cats are bellyup all day & night, once in awhile I poke one just to see if they’re ok! – in Please don’t drive alone tomorrow till you get checked out by doc!!!!!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Catnipped, I am not a doctor or medical professional, but I live with an asthmatic. We have an agreement, based on experience – any difficulty breathing means an immediate trip to the emergency room. We were told by nurses at the Urgent Care center (kind of a not-so-emergency room) to tell the triage nurse at the emergency room that Carol had difficulty breathing. That would get us in IMMEDIATELY. Difficulty breathing and chest pains are two of the conditions that are taken very seriously at emergency rooms. I don’t know you, or your situation. But please take a good look at what is happening to you, and decide if you are really OK to wait until tomorrow. If you have any doubt, please consider a trip to the emergency room. We really want to keep getting Sammy-the-huge-kittencat stories Kalynnda, who gets really nervous when someone is having trouble breathing. Thank you!  I’m OK, and I really think it’s just that I’ve been hyperventilating – I just need to find out *why* I’m hyperventilating (I’m not under stress at *all* – in fact I’ve been really happy lately).  If I hadn’t seen a doctor just last Wednesday I would have gone to the ER.  But my heart and lungs were fine just 6 days ago, so I don’t think I need immediate treatment. BTW, I’ve written the first two paragraphs of "Working at Home With Mommy" but RL keeps getting in the way of me finishing it.  ; Hugs, CatNipped I thought hyperventilation also – since I feel like I’m not getting enough oxygen I keep breathing heavier and faster.  I just don’t know why I feel like I can’t get enough oxygen.  Could that be caused by the asthma? The only reason I didn’t think that is because I thought with asthma you really weren’t getting enough oxygen so breathing harder/faster would just make up for the oxygen you’re not getting.  I’m also having a bad allergy attack, my sinuses are swollen, so that could contribute to me feeling like I can’t get enough air. Hugs, CatNipped

Response:

One….more…..time: *how* are you *getting* to your doc tomorrow?! Because of what is going on (*not* because of *why*!) I’m concerned that your problem *might* cause you to lose consciousness if you *drive* – especially *alone*. I used to xray these extremity "tingling" mimic those of an acute M.I. (heart attack). Heat here, unlike FL, where a/c is not a given, is making me very grouchy (cats are bellyup all day & night, once in awhile I poke one just to see if they’re ok! – in 101o Please don’t drive alone tomorrow till you get checked out by doc!!!!!

Oh, sorry, I didn’t get that, I thought you were just fussing at me about biking.  ;  I *am* going to drive – I don’t have any other way to get there – but I’m not dizzy to the point of passing out or losing control or anything that would affect my driving – just to to point that it’s bothering me and I feel like I can’t catch my breath and making me feel nauseous. Hugs, CatNipped – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Catnipped, I am not a doctor or medical professional, but I live with an asthmatic. We have an agreement, based on experience – any difficulty breathing means an immediate trip to the emergency room. We were told by nurses at the Urgent Care center (kind of a not-so-emergency room) to tell the triage nurse at the emergency room that Carol had difficulty breathing. That would get us in IMMEDIATELY. Difficulty breathing and chest pains are two of the conditions that are taken very seriously at emergency rooms. I don’t know you, or your situation. But please take a good look at what is happening to you, and decide if you are really OK to wait until tomorrow. If you have any doubt, please consider a trip to the emergency room. We really want to keep getting Sammy-the-huge-kittencat stories Kalynnda, who gets really nervous when someone is having trouble breathing. Thank you!  I’m OK, and I really think it’s just that I’ve been hyperventilating – I just need to find out *why* I’m hyperventilating (I’m not under stress at *all* – in fact I’ve been really happy lately).  If I hadn’t seen a doctor just last Wednesday I would have gone to the ER. But my heart and lungs were fine just 6 days ago, so I don’t think I need immediate treatment. BTW, I’ve written the first two paragraphs of "Working at Home With Mommy" but RL keeps getting in the way of me finishing it.  ; Hugs, CatNipped I thought hyperventilation also – since I feel like I’m not getting enough oxygen I keep breathing heavier and faster.  I just don’t know why I feel like I can’t get enough oxygen.  Could that be caused by the asthma? The only reason I didn’t think that is because I thought with asthma you really weren’t getting enough oxygen so breathing harder/faster would just make up for the oxygen you’re not getting.  I’m also having a bad allergy attack, my sinuses are swollen, so that could contribute to me feeling like I can’t get enough air. Hugs, CatNipped

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Catnipped,         I am not a doctor or medical professional, but I live with an asthmatic. We have an agreement, based on experience – any difficulty breathing means an immediate trip to the emergency room. We were told by nurses at the Urgent Care center (kind of a not-so-emergency room) to tell the triage nurse at the emergency room that Carol had difficulty breathing. That would get us in IMMEDIATELY.         Difficulty breathing and chest pains are two of the conditions that are taken very seriously at emergency rooms.         I don’t know you, or your situation. But please take a good look at what is happening to you, and decide if you are really OK to wait until tomorrow. If you have any doubt, please consider a trip to the emergency room. We really want to keep getting Sammy-the-huge-kittencat stories         Kalynnda, who gets really nervous when someone is having trouble breathing. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I thought hyperventilation also – since I feel like I’m not getting enough oxygen I keep breathing heavier and faster.  I just don’t know why I feel like I can’t get enough oxygen.  Could that be caused by the asthma?  The only reason I didn’t think that is because I thought with asthma you really weren’t getting enough oxygen so breathing harder/faster would just make up for the oxygen you’re not getting.  I’m also having a bad allergy attack, my sinuses are swollen, so that could contribute to me feeling like I can’t get enough air. Hugs, CatNipped

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On 2005-07-20, CatNipped penned: Well, temps are over 100F and humidity is about 10000000%.  But I only bike in the evenings after it has cooled off a bit, and this is also happening inside my air-conditioned house just sitting at my desk.  I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow and won’t be riding my bike until after that. However, having lived on the gulf coast all of my life, I dont’ think the weather would suddenly cause something like this out of the blue.  I’m thinking probably asthma since I’ve had that in the past and it feels the same (but strangely, I don’t have any "wheezing" that’s normally associated with asthma, just a feeling like I’m not getting enough oxygen).

It sure is ungodly hot here in Colorado, but that wouldn’t keep me from being active if my wrist weren’t sprained … Anyway, I had a thought, and the symptoms don’t really match up, but I’ll mention it anyway.  There’s a condition called overtraining that can occur when you push your body too hard for an extended period of time.  Didn’t you only recently (last few months) start biking regularly? I overtrained last year, riding my bike every day in addition to some other stuff, and got all the classic symptoms — poor sleep, weakness, increased chance of illness and injury. Again, it doesn’t sound like this is what you’re experiencing at all, but here’s a link anyway: http://www.exrx.net/ExInfo/Overtraining.html — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

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Catnipped, I am not a doctor or medical professional, but I live with an asthmatic. We have an agreement, based on experience – any difficulty breathing means an immediate trip to the emergency room. We were told by nurses at the Urgent Care center (kind of a not-so-emergency room) to tell the triage nurse at the emergency room that Carol had difficulty breathing. That would get us in IMMEDIATELY. Difficulty breathing and chest pains are two of the conditions that are taken very seriously at emergency rooms. I don’t know you, or your situation. But please take a good look at what is happening to you, and decide if you are really OK to wait until tomorrow. If you have any doubt, please consider a trip to the emergency room. We really want to keep getting Sammy-the-huge-kittencat stories Kalynnda, who gets really nervous when someone is having trouble

breathing. Thank you!  I’m OK, and I really think it’s just that I’ve been hyperventilating – I just need to find out *why* I’m hyperventilating (I’m not under stress at *all* – in fact I’ve been really happy lately).  If I hadn’t seen a doctor just last Wednesday I would have gone to the ER.  But my heart and lungs were fine just 6 days ago, so I don’t think I need immediate treatment. BTW, I’ve written the first two paragraphs of "Working at Home With Mommy" but RL keeps getting in the way of me finishing it.  ; Hugs, CatNipped – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I thought hyperventilation also – since I feel like I’m not getting enough oxygen I keep breathing heavier and faster.  I just don’t know why I feel like I can’t get enough oxygen.  Could that be caused by the asthma? The only reason I didn’t think that is because I thought with asthma you really weren’t getting enough oxygen so breathing harder/faster would just make up for the oxygen you’re not getting.  I’m also having a bad allergy attack, my sinuses are swollen, so that could contribute to me feeling like I can’t get enough air. Hugs, CatNipped

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My first thought is that it’s metabolic — oxygen demand, or possibly electrolytes.  Hyperventilation comes more to mind than a cardiac cause. Maxzide is a combination drug with one drug intended to limit potassium loss — otherwise I’d think more likely low potassium. I thought hyperventilation also – since I feel like I’m not getting enough oxygen I keep breathing heavier and faster.  I just don’t know why I feel like I can’t get enough oxygen.  Could that be caused by the asthma?  

Asthma certainly can cause lack of oxygen.  I’ve never heard an asthmatic having an attack serious enough to reduce oxygen not say that they feel "tight" or can’t get enough air. To me, the clue is the tingling in both arms, following exercise.  That sounds like hyperventilation.  If it happens again, try rebreathing into a paper, not plastic bag, which will raise your carbon dioxide levels. If the tingling stops quickly, that’s the likely cause. It’s still an open issue why you are hyperventilating. The tingling, however, doesn’t go with asthma, because asthmatic breathing isn’t moving a lot of air and getting rid of CO2. The only reason I didn’t think that is because I thought with asthma you really weren’t getting enough oxygen so breathing harder/faster would just make up for the oxygen you’re not getting.  

this isn’t all that scientific, but I’d say that the work of breathing in a significant asthmatic attack would be too great to sustain hyperventilation. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m also having a bad allergy attack, my sinuses are swollen, so that could contribute to me feeling like I can’t get enough air.

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Question:

i’ll second that.  everyone in my family has asthma and respiratory allergies.  whenever i eat milk products (i can’t drink milk but i’ll occasionally have cheese) it makes not only my allergies worse but i’m more likely to have asthma attacks.  the same is true for the rest of my family.

I find it amazing when I think how powerful the forces of the milk industry are. They have convinced the world that milk is actually good for us. Do a simple search on PUBMED under the terms ‘milk’ and ‘asthma’ and you’ll get over 100 published peer review articles on the direct association with milk products and asthma. Yet we still keep feeding our kids milk and taking them to the hospital when they can’t breath, yet no one makes the connection. The doctors who have proven again and again that children with the worst asthma in the world no longer have it after they stop eating milk products along with other antigens are simply laughed at. Should I tell the truth about diabetes?

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  Things that can decrease allergy & allergic asthma flares: bathing a cat once a week,

hahahahahahahaha! Who needs allergies when you can die of blood loss!?

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You CANNOT believe just ONE study.  A review of the literature (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&… ids=11240945&dopt=Abstract) showed the following CONCLUSION: Exposure to pets appears to increase the risk of asthma and wheezing in older children. The observed lower risk among exposed than among unexposed young children is consistent with a protective effect in this age group but could also be explained by selection bias. In layperson’s terms:  exposure to pets does seem to increase the risk of asthma in older children.  It seems to LESSEN the risk of asthma in younger children. Things that can decrease allergy & allergic asthma flares: bathing a cat once a week, getting rid of carpet, spraying for roaches (big contributor to asthma), <snip

A better way to get rid of roaches is to avoid feeding them.   LShaping

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Things that can decrease allergy & allergic asthma flares: bathing a cat once a week, hahahahahahahaha! Who needs allergies when you can die of blood loss!?

) Yup, that and handling one after vacuuming.   LShaping

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I read in one of the newspapers here only a couple of weeks ago that new research has shown that children with pets develop less asthma than those in a pet free household. It has also been researched that most of the asthma allergies were dust mite related, so carpet, and other soft furnishings make it worse as thats where dust mites live, also in the nice warm atmospheres in our homes. Thats why since I took out all my carpets, turned off the heat in my bedroom, and sleep with the window open all year, I have gone from being severely asthmatic and needing hospitalisation a couple of times a year, to having not had a serious attack in years. —

Ditto for me. On the advice of doctors, [ GP`s and Hospital Specialists ], I have no carpets and no central heating, and my widows are permanently open. My health has vastly improved as a result. When I visit friends, they have to open their windows for me as I start wheezing very quickly, more so if they have heating on. Patch

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I find it amazing when I think how powerful the forces of the milk industry are. They have convinced the world that milk is actually good for us.

i cringe whenever i see one of those milk mustache ads.   Yet we still keep feeding our kids milk and taking them to the hospital when they can’t breath, yet no one makes the connection.

i was lucky to have a good doctor who told our entire family to stop eating milk products.  he said it was about the worst thing you can do to yourself if you have any sort of respiratory problems. what amazes me is that most of the people i know refuse to believe it’s bad for you.  they grew up being told it’s good for you, so it must be. The doctors who have proven again and again that children with the worst asthma in the world no longer have it after they stop eating milk products along with other antigens are simply laughed at.

unfortunately, those doctors don’t have tradition and a cute ad campaign on their side. Should I tell the truth about diabetes?

well, according to my mom it’s the fault of sweet breakfasts.  the amount of sugar people consume first thing in the morning is unbelievable. shelly and elliott & harriet http://members.home.net/scouvrette/index/

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I read in one of the newspapers here only a couple of weeks ago that new research has shown that children with pets develop less asthma than those in a pet free household. It has also been researched that most of the asthma allergies were dust mite related, so carpet, and other soft furnishings make it worse as thats where dust mites live, also in the nice warm atmospheres in our homes. Thats why since I took out all my carpets, turned off the heat in my bedroom, and sleep with the window open all year, I have gone from being severely asthmatic and needing hospitalisation a couple of times a year, to having not had a serious attack in years. —

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sorry for the delay, this article was in the Calgary Herald on March 6, 2001. Please read and decide what you would like to do. Permission to cross post if you give credit to the paper for the article. It is not available on-line, so you may want to print it for people who you think should read it, but don’t have internet access. Thanks for your time. Melissa From Calgary Herald, March 6, 2001:         *New Research*             Asthma, pets don’t mix                 The Associated Press, Chicago     Asthma cases could drop nearly 40 per cent among U.S. youngsters under age six if susceptible children didn’t have pets or other allergy triggers in their homes, researchers say.     Their study suggest that eliminating known household risks could prevent asthma in more than 500,000 children a year and underscores the important role environmental factors play in development of the disease.     "This could have a profound effect on medical costs in the United States and, more importantly, on the health of children," said Dr. Bruce Lanphear, associate professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.     His findings appear in the March issue of Pediatrics. They are based on an analysis of data on 8,257 children under six who participated in a national health survey between 1988 and 1994. About six percent had asthma.     Children with pet allergies were 24 times more likely to develop asthma than those without. Living in homes with smokers or where gas stoves were used for heat were also significant risk factors; such children were nearly twice as likely to have asthma.     "If residential exposures, including tobacco smoke and indoor allergens, were eliminated, and if these exposures are determined to cause asthma, which is the central hypothesis among experts, we would reduce asthma in this age group by 39 per cent," Lanphear said.     Dr. Gillian Shepherd, a New York allergist and member of the academy’s board of directors, said the study underscores a consensus among asthma experts that "we should be a lot more aggressive at trying to block young kids’ exposure to allergic materials."     "If you come from a family that has a history of allergies, you absolutely, positively should not own a pet with kids at home," Shepherd said. Sigh. What a prat. I have asthma and allergies, but NOT to fur or feather. Another study has shown that kids living with animals are FAR LESS likely to develop allergies. Patch

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IMHO the increase in pet allergies…and *all* allergies…is related to the increase in pollution and exposure to irritating agents in general.

There’s bunches of theories.  I’m partial to the one that says we’ve removed so many deadly things from our environment that our immune systems are now "bored"… they’re programmed to latch on to the most dangerous thing in the environment, and everything above allergens has gotten knocked off that list. (The problem is, if you DON’T knock those things off the list, you get a higher infant mortality rate.  Asthma and allergies are a lot more acceptable.) —

Response:

You CANNOT believe just ONE study.  A review of the literature (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&… ids=11240945&dopt=Abstract) showed the following CONCLUSION: Exposure to pets appears to increase the risk of asthma and wheezing in older children. The observed lower risk among exposed than among unexposed young children is consistent with a protective effect in this age group but could also be explained by selection bias. In layperson’s terms:  exposure to pets does seem to increase the risk of asthma in older children.  It seems to LESSEN the risk of asthma in younger children. Things that can decrease allergy & allergic asthma flares: bathing a cat once a week, getting rid of carpet, spraying for roaches (big contributor to asthma), using a DEhumidifier & HEPA filter, vacuuming with HEPA filter vacuum, putting plastic over bed linens to decrease dust mites, washing bed linens in water 130 dgrees F every week, killing visible household mold with a 10% bleach solution, treating carpets & upholstery with tannic acid or benzyl benzoate spray, staying indoors as much as possible during pollen season, avoiding natural fibers in clothing & upholstery & bed linens, wearing a mask during indoor cleaning & outdoor yard work (if you can’t talk someone else into doing these things for you) and keeping pets out of bedroom. — The aforegoing is my opinion based on the facts presented.  It is not intended to be medical advice, nor should it be construed as inviting or constituting a doctor-patient relationship.

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Sigh. What a prat. I have asthma and allergies, but NOT to fur or feather. Another study has shown that kids living with animals are FAR LESS likely to develop allergies. Patch

Hi Patch, That’s interesting… can you guide me to the study please. In my family… there’s my Mum (she has asthma)….. no pets there’s my brother (he has asthma) …..no pets there’s moi…. LOADS OF PETS (no asthma) and there’s my sis.. (LOADS OF PETS) … no asthma BUT, my brother still won’t come round and sit with my pets and won’t let his kids either. I’d love to show him the study……. Best wishes, Marilyn Marilyn Bergeman Somerset, UK Domestic Dog Trainer www.soundplaydogs.com Author of ‘Essentials for the Domestic Dog Owner’ with six week training course –  ISBN:  0953890619. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Do you all think its possible that they are referring to, although there was no specification, outside pets who come indoors say at night?  I can see *some* logic in pets causing allergy problems & possibly instigating asthma attacks if they’re the kind of dogs who run outside all day long and then come in at night. The reason I think this is because being outside in all the pollen, dirt, and all the other umpteen million airborn allergens, it can settle on their coats then travel inside the house with them.  Now indoor dogs, or those kept in kennels would be different, if my theory holds any water. What do you all think? — Tara O. The Hall Monitor Have you microchipped your pet yet?

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     [snip...]     [snip...]     [snip...] If I’m not mistaken, it’s the protein in the animal saliva that dries on the animal after it washes itself and flakes off into the air that causes allergies.  That’s why cats, who lick themselves much more often than dogs, tend to cause more allergies- and those with feline allergies can sometimes handle dogs.

Many people are allergic to dog or cat "dander", which I believe is composed of dead skin cells that the animal sheds… —

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Do you all think its possible that they are referring to, although there was no specification, outside pets who come indoors say at night?  I can see *some* logic in pets causing allergy problems & possibly instigating asthma attacks if they’re the kind of dogs who run outside all day long and then come in at night. The reason I think this is because being outside in all the pollen, dirt, and all the other umpteen million airborn allergens, it can settle on their coats then travel inside the house with them.  Now indoor dogs, or those kept in kennels would be different, if my theory holds any water.

In a related issue, my *dogs* have matter in their eyes after being ouside only five or ten minutes to potty. I believe this is caused by the dirt and pollution in the air, because it occurs all year long. While the dogs are indoors, they have *no* such problem IMHO the increase in pet allergies…and *all* allergies…is related to the increase in pollution and exposure to irritating agents in general. —

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Oh maaaan <whining but I love ice cream sooooo much!!

Get some of the vegetable frozen treat called Frosty Paws…dogs *love* it…I bet it tastes good!!! Actually, I believe there are non-dairy frozen treats for people too… —

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Get some of the vegetable frozen treat called Frosty Paws…dogs *love* it…I bet it tastes good!!! Actually, I believe there are non-dairy frozen treats for people too…

yep.  the frozen rice milk "ice cream" is pretty darned good, IMO.  mmmm.  most good grocery stores now have a healthy section where they carry it.  it’s not usually in with the regular frozen stuff. shelly and elliott & harriet http://members.home.net/scouvrette/index/

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I agree with that.  Its very unfortunate that the pets are being blamed when they can’t help transporting allergens  anymore than my black car can keep from turning green every spring due to pollen. — Tara O. The Hall Monitor Have you microchipped your pet yet?

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I have asthma and allergies, but NOT to fur or feather.

Same here…got enough allergies that it’s affected my sense of smell & hearing…but I can shove my nose in my pup’s fur & inhale as much as I want to without a single problem, & the same with the birds’ feathers…neither allergies nor asthma are set off by them. Another study has shown that kids living with animals are FAR LESS likely to develop allergies.

Yup…having a pet helps people in a lot of physical ways, some of which are: helps the body & airways to relax, lowers blood pressure, draws out autistic & emotionally handicapped people and increases range of motion & amount of physical activity. It also helps the immune system to function normally, instead of over-reacting with histamines. — Paul C – Purebred…mix…their tails still wag the same and they’ll still grab your lunch. Scratch an ear anyways.

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Oh maaaan <whining but I love ice cream sooooo much!! — Lori in Peoria – Happy Hound Bakery at Happy Hound Hollow ~ Ask me about hound-sitting while you vacation! ~ Family stuff:  http://www.geocities.com/reynoldsfamily_2000/ Happy Hound Hollow Sighthound Rescue: http://www.geocities.com/happyhoundhollow

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     Asthma cases could drop nearly 40 per cent among U.S. youngsters under age six if susceptible children didn’t have pets or other allergy triggers in their homes, researchers say. Why get rid of the dog? All most children with asthma have to do is give up milk consumption and they will see asthma cases dwindle to nothing. I have seen at least 100 children who stopped milk consumption have all of the severe symptoms of their asthma disappear. It’s a shame the milk industry has such power over peoples minds. i’ll second that.  everyone in my family has asthma and respiratory allergies.  whenever i eat milk products (i can’t drink milk but i’ll occasionally have cheese) it makes not only my allergies worse but i’m more likely to have asthma attacks.  the same is true for the rest of my family. milk products in general are really hard on the respiratory and digestive systems.  *never* consume milk products after any sort of stomach/intestinal flu.  humans have a hard enough time digesting milk when they’re well without trying to do so with an off-kilter digestive tract.  also stay away from them when you’ve got any sort of cold or respiratory problems because they cause your body to increase mucous production. shelly and elliott & harriet http://members.home.net/scouvrette/index/

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    Asthma cases could drop nearly 40 per cent among U.S. youngsters under age six if susceptible children didn’t have pets or other allergy triggers in their homes, researchers say. Why get rid of the dog? All most children with asthma have to do is give up milk consumption and they will see asthma cases dwindle to nothing. I have seen at least 100 children who stopped milk consumption have all of the severe symptoms of their asthma disappear. It’s a shame the milk industry has such power over peoples minds.

i’ll second that.  everyone in my family has asthma and respiratory allergies.  whenever i eat milk products (i can’t drink milk but i’ll occasionally have cheese) it makes not only my allergies worse but i’m more likely to have asthma attacks.  the same is true for the rest of my family. milk products in general are really hard on the respiratory and digestive systems.  *never* consume milk products after any sort of stomach/intestinal flu.  humans have a hard enough time digesting milk when they’re well without trying to do so with an off-kilter digestive tract.  also stay away from them when you’ve got any sort of cold or respiratory problems because they cause your body to increase mucous production. shelly and elliott & harriet http://members.home.net/scouvrette/index/

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    Asthma cases could drop nearly 40 per cent among U.S. youngsters under age six if susceptible children didn’t have pets or other allergy triggers in their homes, researchers say.

Why get rid of the dog? All most children with asthma have to do is give up milk consumption and they will see asthma cases dwindle to nothing. I have seen at least 100 children who stopped milk consumption have all of the severe symptoms of their asthma disappear. It’s a shame the milk industry has such power over peoples minds.

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I’m allergic to cats like crazy and have asthma, but I’ve got 5 dogs (greyhounds and whippets), and neither myself our my daughter (age 7) show any signs of being allergic to them, nor does my daughter exhibit any signs of asthma.  Funny the article doesn’t say anything about the benefits of pets and pet therapy — lower blood pressure, anti-depressant, etc.

If I’m not mistaken, it’s the protein in the animal saliva that dries on the animal after it washes itself and flakes off into the air that causes allergies.  That’s why cats, who lick themselves much more often than dogs, tend to cause more allergies- and those with feline allergies can sometimes handle dogs. Could be wrong, but I read it a while ago and just can’t remember where (I want to say Reader’s Digest, though I KNOW it’s not right). -Amanda & Lucy http://uberpest.50megs.com

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I have a son with pretty bad asthma (has to use a nebulizer alot, etc) and he is okay around dogs.  You can sure tell a difference when he is around cats though.  It seems to be more seasonal allergies that trigger his asthma.  I also keep the carpets vacuumed and the dogs washed. I too read a report that said pets can lower asthma/allergy attacks. amy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m allergic to cats like crazy and have asthma, but I’ve got 5 dogs (greyhounds and whippets), and neither myself our my daughter (age 7) show any signs of being allergic to them, nor does my daughter exhibit any signs of asthma.  Funny the article doesn’t say anything about the benefits of pets and pet therapy — lower blood pressure, anti-depressant, etc. — Lori in Peoria – Happy Hound Bakery at Happy Hound Hollow ~ Ask me about hound-sitting while you vacation! ~ Family stuff:  http://www.geocities.com/reynoldsfamily_2000/ Happy Hound Hollow Sighthound Rescue: http://www.geocities.com/happyhoundhollow Sorry for the delay, this article was in the Calgary Herald on March 6, 2001. Please read and decide what you would like to do. Permission to cross post if you give credit to the paper for the article. It is not available on-line, so you may want to print it for people who you think should read it, but don’t have internet access. Thanks for your time. Melissa From Calgary Herald, March 6, 2001:         *New Research*             Asthma, pets don’t mix                 The Associated Press, Chicago     Asthma cases could drop nearly 40 per cent among U.S. youngsters under age six if susceptible children didn’t have pets or other allergy triggers in their homes, researchers say.     Their study suggest that eliminating known household risks could prevent asthma in more than 500,000 children a year and underscores the important role environmental factors play in development of the disease.     "This could have a profound effect on medical costs in the United States and, more importantly, on the health of children," said Dr. Bruce Lanphear, associate professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.     His findings appear in the March issue of Pediatrics. They are based on an analysis of data on 8,257 children under six who participated in a national health survey between 1988 and 1994. About six percent had asthma.     Children with pet allergies were 24 times more likely to develop asthma than those without. Living in homes with smokers or where gas stoves were used for heat were also significant risk factors; such children were nearly twice as likely to have asthma.     "If residential exposures, including tobacco smoke and indoor allergens, were eliminated, and if these exposures are determined to cause asthma, which is the central hypothesis among experts, we would reduce asthma in this age group by 39 per cent," Lanphear said.     Dr. Gillian Shepherd, a New York allergist and member of the academy’s board of directors, said the study underscores a consensus among asthma experts that "we should be a lot more aggressive at trying to block young kids’ exposure to allergic materials."     "If you come from a family that has a history of allergies, you absolutely, positively should not own a pet with kids at home," Shepherd said. Sigh. What a prat. I have asthma and allergies, but NOT to fur or feather. Another study has shown that kids living with animals are FAR LESS likely to develop allergies. Patch

– Another Chance Dogs CUR Station #454 Killeen, Tx http://www.horsematch.com/acdresq

Response:

I’m allergic to cats like crazy and have asthma, but I’ve got 5 dogs (greyhounds and whippets), and neither myself our my daughter (age 7) show any signs of being allergic to them, nor does my daughter exhibit any signs of asthma.  Funny the article doesn’t say anything about the benefits of pets and pet therapy — lower blood pressure, anti-depressant, etc. — Lori in Peoria – Happy Hound Bakery at Happy Hound Hollow ~ Ask me about hound-sitting while you vacation! ~ Family stuff:  http://www.geocities.com/reynoldsfamily_2000/ Happy Hound Hollow Sighthound Rescue: http://www.geocities.com/happyhoundhollow

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sorry for the delay, this article was in the Calgary Herald on March 6, 2001. Please read and decide what you would like to do. Permission to cross post if you give credit to the paper for the article. It is not available on-line, so you may want to print it for people who you think should read it, but don’t have internet access. Thanks for your time. Melissa From Calgary Herald, March 6, 2001:         *New Research*             Asthma, pets don’t mix                 The Associated Press, Chicago     Asthma cases could drop nearly 40 per cent among U.S. youngsters under age six if susceptible children didn’t have pets or other allergy triggers in their homes, researchers say.     Their study suggest that eliminating known household risks could prevent asthma in more than 500,000 children a year and underscores the important role environmental factors play in development of the disease.     "This could have a profound effect on medical costs in the United States and, more importantly, on the health of children," said Dr. Bruce Lanphear, associate professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.     His findings appear in the March issue of Pediatrics. They are based on an analysis of data on 8,257 children under six who participated in a national health survey between 1988 and 1994. About six percent had asthma.     Children with pet allergies were 24 times more likely to develop asthma than those without. Living in homes with smokers or where gas stoves were used for heat were also significant risk factors; such children were nearly twice as likely to have asthma.     "If residential exposures, including tobacco smoke and indoor allergens, were eliminated, and if these exposures are determined to cause asthma, which is the central hypothesis among experts, we would reduce asthma in this age group by 39 per cent," Lanphear said.     Dr. Gillian Shepherd, a New York allergist and member of the academy’s board of directors, said the study underscores a consensus among asthma experts that "we should be a lot more aggressive at trying to block young kids’ exposure to allergic materials."     "If you come from a family that has a history of allergies, you absolutely, positively should not own a pet with kids at home," Shepherd said. Sigh. What a prat. I have asthma and allergies, but NOT to fur or feather. Another study has shown that kids living with animals are FAR LESS likely to develop allergies. Patch

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sorry for the delay, this article was in the Calgary Herald on March 6, 2001. Please read and decide what you would like to do. Permission to cross post if you give credit to the paper for the article. It is not available on-line, so you may want to print it for people who you think should read it, but don’t have internet access. Thanks for your time. Melissa From Calgary Herald, March 6, 2001:         *New Research*             Asthma, pets don’t mix                 The Associated Press, Chicago     Asthma cases could drop nearly 40 per cent among U.S. youngsters under age six if susceptible children didn’t have pets or other allergy triggers in their homes, researchers say.     Their study suggest that eliminating known household risks could prevent asthma in more than 500,000 children a year and underscores the important role environmental factors play in development of the disease.     "This could have a profound effect on medical costs in the United States and, more importantly, on the health of children," said Dr. Bruce Lanphear, associate professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.     His findings appear in the March issue of Pediatrics. They are based on an analysis of data on 8,257 children under six who participated in a national health survey between 1988 and 1994. About six percent had asthma.     Children with pet allergies were 24 times more likely to develop asthma than those without. Living in homes with smokers or where gas stoves were used for heat were also significant risk factors; such children were nearly twice as likely to have asthma.     "If residential exposures, including tobacco smoke and indoor allergens, were eliminated, and if these exposures are determined to cause asthma, which is the central hypothesis among experts, we would reduce asthma in this age group by 39 per cent," Lanphear said.     Dr. Gillian Shepherd, a New York allergist and member of the academy’s board of directors, said the study underscores a consensus among asthma experts that "we should be a lot more aggressive at trying to block young kids’ exposure to allergic materials."     "If you come from a family that has a history of allergies, you absolutely, positively should not own a pet with kids at home," Shepherd said.

Sigh. What a prat. I have asthma and allergies, but NOT to fur or feather. Another study has shown that kids living with animals are FAR LESS likely to develop allergies. Patch

Response:

Sorry for the delay, this article was in the Calgary Herald on March 6, 2001. Please read and decide what you would like to do. Permission to cross post if you give credit to the paper for the article. It is not available on-line, so you may want to print it for people who you think should read it, but don’t have internet access. Thanks for your time. Melissa From Calgary Herald, March 6, 2001:         *New Research*             Asthma, pets don’t mix                 The Associated Press, Chicago     Asthma cases could drop nearly 40 per cent among U.S. youngsters under age six if susceptible children didn’t have pets or other allergy triggers in their homes, researchers say.     Their study suggest that eliminating known household risks could prevent asthma in more than 500,000 children a year and underscores the important role environmental factors play in development of the disease.     "This could have a profound effect on medical costs in the United States and, more importantly, on the health of children," said Dr. Bruce Lanphear, associate professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.     His findings appear in the March issue of Pediatrics. They are based on an analysis of data on 8,257 children under six who participated in a national health survey between 1988 and 1994. About six percent had asthma.     Children with pet allergies were 24 times more likely to develop asthma than those without. Living in homes with smokers or where gas stoves were used for heat were also significant risk factors; such children were nearly twice as likely to have asthma.     "If residential exposures, including tobacco smoke and indoor allergens, were eliminated, and if these exposures are determined to cause asthma, which is the central hypothesis among experts, we would reduce asthma in this age group by 39 per cent," Lanphear said.     Dr. Gillian Shepherd, a New York allergist and member of the academy’s board of directors, said the study underscores a consensus among asthma experts that "we should be a lot more aggressive at trying to block young kids’ exposure to allergic materials."     "If you come from a family that has a history of allergies, you absolutely, positively should not own a pet with kids at home," Shepherd said.

Response:

Question:

I don’t know if these signs would be any different in an adult, but the info my son’s pediatrician gave us says that some of the clues of an impending asthma attack are: a low number on the peak flow meter cough tight chest, heart beats fast throat is scratchy itching tummy hurts, throwing up a little wheezing nose runs, sneezing red or watery eyes, dark circles under eyes feeling tired, quiet, lays around feeling dizzy, head hurts other clues: change in behavior can’t sleep change in appetite rashes, hives face hot or flushed voice changes Patrice mentioned a delayed reaction she had to mold…incidentally, we were also told that if your asthma is affected by cold weather, you can have a delayed reaction to that up to six hours later. Linda R.

Response:

Of an impending one,or one in progress…dr tells me I wont feel fine one min,then bang have an asthma attack the next,she said it takes days even weeks to come on..what are the signs/symptoms that one is coming?

Other folks have already posted some ideas.  Here are two "unusual" symptoms I have noticed in myself: – tightness in throat; suddenly can’t clear my throat – my chin starts itching (that’s weird!) — Steven D. Litvintchouk                   Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed herein             are not those of my employer.

Response:

Of an impending one,or one in progress…dr tells me I wont feel fine one min,then bang have an asthma attack the next,she said it takes days even weeks to come on..what are the signs/symptoms that one is coming? I suggest that you ask for a referral to an asthma specialist.  Asthma

However getting your asthma well-controlled and finding out what your triggers (if any) are will reduce the likelihood of an unexpected attack.  I’ve never had one – but my asthma is the coughing variety, not the falling-on-the-floor-struggling-to-breath variety. Surfer!    Send email to: surfer at                nevis-view dot                    demon dot co dot uk "I can resist anything but temptation" – Oscar Wild

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – cough tight chest, heart beats fast throat is scratchy itching tummy hurts, throwing up a little wheezing nose runs, sneezing red or watery eyes, dark circles under eyes feeling tired, quiet, lays around feeling dizzy, head hurts other clues: change in behavior can’t sleep change in appetite rashes, hives face hot or flushed voice changes

Gee, in Ontario our doctors would diagnose that as Fibromyalgia and allergies! (I’m not disputing you.  Just an indicator of how "doctoring" goes here). J

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Of an impending one,or one in progress…dr tells me I wont feel fine one min,then bang have an asthma attack the next,she said it takes days even weeks to come on..what are the signs/symptoms that one is coming? I suggest that you ask for a referral to an asthma specialist.  Asthma However getting your asthma well-controlled and finding out what your triggers (if any) are will reduce the likelihood of an unexpected attack.  I’ve never had one – but my asthma is the coughing variety, not the falling-on-the-floor-struggling-to-breath variety.

I’m cough-variant too, but MY coughing spasms get so intense and so long that eventually I’m falling on the floor (or on my bed, or on my sofa, or….), coughing my guts out. I’ve actually had neighbors complaining to me about all the noise I make.  ("Can’t you stop that damn coughing?  We’re trying to sleep!!") — Steven D. Litvintchouk                   Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed herein             are not those of my employer.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Of an impending one,or one in progress…dr tells me I wont feel fine one min,then bang have an asthma attack the next,she said it takes days even weeks to come on..what are the signs/symptoms that one is coming? I suggest that you ask for a referral to an asthma specialist.  Asthma However getting your asthma well-controlled and finding out what your triggers (if any) are will reduce the likelihood of an unexpected attack.  I’ve never had one – but my asthma is the coughing variety, not the falling-on-the-floor-struggling-to-breath variety. I’m cough-variant too, but MY coughing spasms get so intense and so long that eventually I’m falling on the floor (or on my bed, or on my sofa, or….), coughing my guts out. I’ve actually had neighbors complaining to me about all the noise I make.  ("Can’t you stop that damn coughing?  We’re trying to sleep!!")

If that’s the case at the moment I suggest you go back to the doctor and review your treatment. Surfer!    Send email to: surfer at                nevis-view dot                    demon dot co dot uk "I can resist anything but temptation" – Oscar Wild

Response:

Of an impending one,or one in progress…dr tells me I wont feel fine one min,then bang have an asthma attack the next,she said it takes days even weeks to come on..what are the signs/symptoms that one is coming?

Colin is right…an asthma attack can happen very quickly.  I have also had "delayed reaction" attacks such as when I am exposed to mold in the garden I will wake up that night with extreme SOB.  Yawning a lot is an another indicator to me that I’m having an asthma flare.  It’s confusing at first and will take you some time to identify your triggers and just how exposure to them will affect you…be it immediate or progressive. Best of luck, Patrice

Response:

Of an impending one,or one in progress…dr tells me I wont feel fine one min,then bang have an asthma attack the next,she said it takes days even weeks to come on..what are the signs/symptoms that one is coming?

I suggest that you ask for a referral to an asthma specialist.  Asthma attacks can happen without warning. "Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."    General Colin Powell

Response:

Of an impending one,or one in progress…dr tells me I wont feel fine one min,then bang have an asthma attack the next,she said it takes days even weeks to come on..what are the signs/symptoms that one is coming?

Response:

Question:

  Interesting study reported yesterday which seems to contradict common belief. This, from the LA Times is vague in citation. Family Pet & Preventing Childhood Allergies Can you spare your children from getting certain allergies? The answer may lie in a surprising solution. Man’s best friend could be your kid’s best friend.

Question:

I HAVE ASTHMA NOW FOR 10 YEARS I GO TO THE TIPTON CLINIC IN MARIETTA OHIO HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HELP ME I TAKE CLARITN D OF A MORNING AND A REGULAR CLARITON AT NOON AND AT 6 PM I TAKE A BROMEDFED THEN AT NIGHT I TAKE A SINGULAR AND 3TIMES A DAY I TAKE A MUCUS PILL CALLED HUMBID. THIS MEDICINE  IS SUPER FOR ME  HOPE THIS ADVICE WILL HELP YOU LIKE IT DID ME.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – please let me know your oppinion;                   i am a 35 yr. old male recently diagnosed with asthma, i’m not sure  if doctor is correct? my history, a smoker  for 12 yrs with history of bad colds, plurecy, and breathing problems as a teenager that w   ent away and were never diagosed.           this past year i noticed my breathing wasn t so good and blamed it on the cigarrettes. well it got worse and i finally gave up cigarrettes last month but my breathing problems are with me daily now.     my major copmplaint is shortness of breath and i have pain in both my arms. i ended up in e.r twice and my cxr and ekg were normal both times.                                i went to a pulmonoligist, and he did a  spirometer test  in his office before and after he gave me a bronchodialator. he said my breathing improved after medication. he gave me proventil and flunisolide for meds but do not seem to help very much. i also went fo a pulma onary function test and the tech said he saw no signs of asthma in my test.                 i am awaiting for my next vist to the doctors for him to offically interpert the test. any oppinions anyone has  i would be thankfull. dave

You probably need to give your lungs a chance to recover from years of smoking.  Work with your doc to control symptoms for six months or so and then see how you feel.

Response:

please let me know your oppinion;                   i am a 35 yr. old male recently diagnosed with asthma, i’m not sure  if doctor is correct? my history, a smoker  for 12 yrs with history of bad colds, plurecy, and breathing problems as a teenager that w   ent away and were never diagosed.           this past year i noticed my breathing wasn t so good and blamed it on the cigarrettes. well it got worse and i finally gave up cigarrettes last month but my breathing problems are with me daily now.     my major copmplaint is shortness of breath and i have pain in both my arms. i ended up in e.r twice and my cxr and ekg were normal both times.                                i went to a pulmonoligist, and he did a  spirometer test  in his office before and after he gave me a bronchodialator. he said my breathing improved after medication. he gave me proventil and flunisolide for meds but do not seem to help very much. i also went fo a pulma onary function test and the tech said he saw no signs of asthma in my test.                 i am awaiting for my next vist to the doctors for him to offically interpert the test. any oppinions anyone has  i would be thankfull. dave

Response:

Question:

Thanks for the advice everyone. We will go to the vet on monday and let you know what he says. Mariska – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

I have a similar problem with my 14 year old cat who has always been very healthy but has displayed this condition for a number of years. Looking forward to your report from your vet. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks for the advice everyone. We will go to the vet on monday and let you know what he says. Mariska Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Before you buy.

Response:

I had the same problem (still do sometimes) with my cat Harley.  I caught him a couple months ago he was feral, and noticed that he was breathing very heavy and panted sometimes.  He did this while playing and once in the car on the way to the vet.  I had an ultrasound done and the vet said he had a small heart murmur but not serious that he maybe overexerting himself and trying to show domination, which I can see because everytime you play with him and the toy touches him the wrong way he will open his mouth and pant a little.  I strongly suggest a visit to your vet and possibly an ultrasound hopefully it will put your mind at ease and your cats!  Good Luck.

Response:

Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat?

We had a cat who did this once he got older (12 years).  It turned out to be nothing.  BUT, we did take him to the vet, since abnormal breathing can be a sign of heart disease. I strongly recommend that you take your cat to the vet to be safe. Please let us know what you find out. Thanks for the response, Mariska.

– JR

Response:

I would definitely take her to the vet and explain what you’ve observed. One thing that comes to mind is a possible heart problem.  Reason: my middle cat has a heart murmur, & from the outset the vet said to watch for heavier than normal breathing while she’s at rest, & to let the vet know if I ever noticed it.  Good luck – hope it turns out to be trivial rather than major. Cathy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

*Any* breathing problem can be a sign of heart disease. I think you should take your cat to a vet as soon as possible. You’ve waited too long already, Phil. — "A kitten, in the animal kingdom,          is like a rosebud in a garden" Feline Healthcare:  http://maxshouse.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

My cat, Midge, also breaths rather fast and she was very thouroughly checked out and long story short her hearts is ok but the vet thinks she MAY have asthma. She was given a shot, but I still see her chest moving up and down almost twice as fast as the other cats.  I cannot "hear" her breathing, and she doesn’t cough, which are also signs of asthma. Please keep us posted or at least me, if you wouldn’t mind, because I’m still

Response:

Thanks for the advice everyone. We will go to the vet on monday and let you know what he says. Mariska – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

I have a similar problem with my 14 year old cat who has always been very healthy but has displayed this condition for a number of years. Looking forward to your report from your vet. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks for the advice everyone. We will go to the vet on monday and let you know what he says. Mariska Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Before you buy.

Response:

I had the same problem (still do sometimes) with my cat Harley.  I caught him a couple months ago he was feral, and noticed that he was breathing very heavy and panted sometimes.  He did this while playing and once in the car on the way to the vet.  I had an ultrasound done and the vet said he had a small heart murmur but not serious that he maybe overexerting himself and trying to show domination, which I can see because everytime you play with him and the toy touches him the wrong way he will open his mouth and pant a little.  I strongly suggest a visit to your vet and possibly an ultrasound hopefully it will put your mind at ease and your cats!  Good Luck.

Response:

Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat?

We had a cat who did this once he got older (12 years).  It turned out to be nothing.  BUT, we did take him to the vet, since abnormal breathing can be a sign of heart disease. I strongly recommend that you take your cat to the vet to be safe. Please let us know what you find out. Thanks for the response, Mariska.

– JR

Response:

I would definitely take her to the vet and explain what you’ve observed. One thing that comes to mind is a possible heart problem.  Reason: my middle cat has a heart murmur, & from the outset the vet said to watch for heavier than normal breathing while she’s at rest, & to let the vet know if I ever noticed it.  Good luck – hope it turns out to be trivial rather than major. Cathy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

*Any* breathing problem can be a sign of heart disease. I think you should take your cat to a vet as soon as possible. You’ve waited too long already, Phil. — "A kitten, in the animal kingdom,          is like a rosebud in a garden" Feline Healthcare:  http://maxshouse.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

My cat, Midge, also breaths rather fast and she was very thouroughly checked out and long story short her hearts is ok but the vet thinks she MAY have asthma. She was given a shot, but I still see her chest moving up and down almost twice as fast as the other cats.  I cannot "hear" her breathing, and she doesn’t cough, which are also signs of asthma. Please keep us posted or at least me, if you wouldn’t mind, because I’m still

Response:

Thanks for the advice everyone. We will go to the vet on monday and let you know what he says. Mariska – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

I have a similar problem with my 14 year old cat who has always been very healthy but has displayed this condition for a number of years. Looking forward to your report from your vet. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks for the advice everyone. We will go to the vet on monday and let you know what he says. Mariska Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Before you buy.

Response:

I had the same problem (still do sometimes) with my cat Harley.  I caught him a couple months ago he was feral, and noticed that he was breathing very heavy and panted sometimes.  He did this while playing and once in the car on the way to the vet.  I had an ultrasound done and the vet said he had a small heart murmur but not serious that he maybe overexerting himself and trying to show domination, which I can see because everytime you play with him and the toy touches him the wrong way he will open his mouth and pant a little.  I strongly suggest a visit to your vet and possibly an ultrasound hopefully it will put your mind at ease and your cats!  Good Luck.

Response:

Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat?

We had a cat who did this once he got older (12 years).  It turned out to be nothing.  BUT, we did take him to the vet, since abnormal breathing can be a sign of heart disease. I strongly recommend that you take your cat to the vet to be safe. Please let us know what you find out. Thanks for the response, Mariska.

– JR

Response:

I would definitely take her to the vet and explain what you’ve observed. One thing that comes to mind is a possible heart problem.  Reason: my middle cat has a heart murmur, & from the outset the vet said to watch for heavier than normal breathing while she’s at rest, & to let the vet know if I ever noticed it.  Good luck – hope it turns out to be trivial rather than major. Cathy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

*Any* breathing problem can be a sign of heart disease. I think you should take your cat to a vet as soon as possible. You’ve waited too long already, Phil. — "A kitten, in the animal kingdom,          is like a rosebud in a garden" Feline Healthcare:  http://maxshouse.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a nice small black cat of about 6 years old. She eats good and looks healthy and lively enough, but the last couple of monts we noticed her breathing rather heavily now and then. We only hear it when she is lying down and is relaxed. Should we be worried about this? Has anyone experienced the same with his or her cat? Thanks for the response, Mariska.

Response:

My cat, Midge, also breaths rather fast and she was very thouroughly checked out and long story short her hearts is ok but the vet thinks she MAY have asthma. She was given a shot, but I still see her chest moving up and down almost twice as fast as the other cats.  I cannot "hear" her breathing, and she doesn’t cough, which are also signs of asthma. Please keep us posted or at least me, if you wouldn’t mind, because I’m still

Response:

Question:

Hi!I Had an attack the other night.I had been taking my normal medicine which was Serevent 2 puffs 2 times a day,Vanceril DS 3 puffs 3 times a day and Proventil when needed.My normal peak flows range around 450 personal best.They dropped to 350 so i called my doctor.She has now put me on Prednisone for 12 days and i am to use my nebulizer every 4 hours while continuing my normal medicines.I am to go see her this coming week.What i was wanting to know is if there is any other medicine you think works better than what i’m taking.I don’t much care to take Prednisone but i will if it will get me better.It seems every time i have an attack (i usually end up in the hospital for 3 days)they always put me on prednisone.Is this normal.Any comments would be appreciated. Take Care, P.S. Sorry for the long post.I needed to get this off my chest.

Response:

Hi!I Had an attack the other night.I had been taking my normal medicine which was Serevent 2 puffs 2 times a day,Vanceril DS 3 puffs 3 times a day and Proventil when needed.My normal peak flows range around 450 personal best.They dropped to 350 so i called my doctor.She has now put me on Prednisone for 12 days and i am to use my nebulizer every 4 hours while continuing my normal medicines.I am to go see her this coming week.What i was wanting to know is if there is any other medicine you think works better than what i’m taking.I don’t much care to take Prednisone but i will if it will get me better.It seems every time i have an attack (i usually end up in the hospital for 3 days)they always put me on prednisone.Is this normal.Any comments would be appreciated.

Hmmm. 350/450=77.7%  This is the top of the yellow zone for most people. [Green zone 80-100% PB, Yellow zone 50-80% PB, Red zone <50%] Current guidelines are for asthmatics to use an Action Plan based on peak flow readings; typically steroid inhaler dose is double and Proventil used as needed in yellow zone. This plan works for me and I avoid unnecessary trips to ER. In red zone, typically the inhaled steroid is doubled again or prednisone started, and doctor notified. Apparently your peak flows don’t correlate well with symptoms. Since you have ended up in hospital previously, I can see why your doctor takes an aggressive approach, and starts prednisone and nebulizer in the yellow zone. However many doctors would try doubling the inhaled steroid first and use Proventil as needed. There is no problem in taking 12 pf/day of Vanceril DS during an exacerbation, or for that matter, if needed for Severe asthma. Prednisone is the strongest and best medication for exacerbations but should only be continued until peak flows return to green zone. It is safe for short-term therapy but has serious side effects when used for long term therapy. Usually an exacerbation does not require emergency room care until peak flows drop into red zone (<50% PB). However the per cent readings have to be individulized for the patient. In my case, I only ended up in ER once, and vowed never to go back if possible. I sometimes have to quadruple my inhaled steroids for an exacerbation. (Normally take 4 pf/day Vanceril DS, have gone to 16 pf/day during an exacerbation when peak flow dropped to 50% PB) Ellis

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Hi day and Proventil when needed.My normal peak flows range around 450 personal best.They dropped to 350 so i called my doctor.She has now put me on Prednisone for 12 days and i am to use my nebulizer every 4 hours while continuing my normal medicines.I am to go see her this coming week.What i was wanting to know is if there is any other medicine you think works better than what i’m taking.

Are you making a therapy for "right breathing"? it’s very important to know how you must breathing…. I have a Peakflow between 270-350(very good days). In the moment I take 40mg Prednisol (Prednisone)all day…. But it works without gerat complications. Take Care,

Greetz from CH MartinI

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Hmmm. 350/450=77.7%  This is the top of the yellow zone for most people. [Green zone 80-100% PB, Yellow zone 50-80% PB, Red zone <50%] Current guidelines are for asthmatics to use an Action Plan based on peak flow readings; typically steroid inhaler dose is double and Proventil used as needed in yellow zone. This plan works for me and I avoid unnecessary trips to ER. In red zone, typically the inhaled steroid is doubled again or prednisone started, and doctor notified. Apparently your peak flows don’t correlate well with symptoms. Since you have ended up in hospital previously, I can see why your doctor takes an aggressive approach, and starts prednisone and nebulizer in the yellow zone.

It kind of depends though…..my new doctor has me start nebulizer treatments at 80%  (although I can use my albuterol inhaler instead if I’m out somewhere).  This is mostly because 1) I have a *VERY* distinct cut-off point at 480 – above that I have almost no symptoms, at 480 I’m out of breath all the time, and 2) below 430 I feel absolutely awful.  My personal best is about 600 – I’ve averaged 600 for the last 10 days (yippee!) on my current meds, even with this lovely cold snap.  If I get to 400, I generally don’t go anywhere that isn’t absolutely necessary.  He is hoping the neb treatments with my regular medicine will keep things above 400.  If I can’t do that, I’m supposed to call, and if for some reason it gets below 400 without me calling the office or it keeps dropping and won’t go back up with a neb treatment, I have prednisone tablets on hand.  But if I take them, I have to call him ASAP and let him know, and in his words:  "You’d better have a really good excuse for taking them!"

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It kind of depends though…..my new doctor has me start nebulizer treatments at 80%  (although I can use my albuterol inhaler instead if I’m out somewhere).  This is mostly because 1) I have a *VERY* distinct cut-off point at 480 – above that I have almost no symptoms, at 480 I’m out of breath all the time, and 2) below 430 I feel absolutely awful.  My personal best is about 600 – I’ve averaged 600 for the last 10 days (yippee!) on my current meds, even with this lovely cold snap.  If I get to 400, I generally don’t go anywhere that isn’t absolutely necessary.  He is hoping the neb treatments with my regular medicine will keep things above 400.  If I can’t do that, I’m supposed to call, and if for some reason it gets below 400 without me calling the office or it keeps dropping and won’t go back up with a neb treatment, I have prednisone tablets on hand.  But if I take them, I have to call him ASAP and let him know, and in his words:  "You’d better have a really good excuse for taking them!"

Janet, Hi!your asthma sounds just like mine.I start having symptoms at 80% too.I get out of breath and it’s hard for me talk.Then my symptoms start hitting me left and right.If you dont mind my asking what medicines do you take?I take Vanceril DS 3 puffs 3 times a day and Serevent 2 puffs 2 times a day.I’m having to take my nebulizer every 4 hours and prednisone since i had an attack last week.I still haven’t got my peak flows back to normal yet.Thank you for your time.Any help you could give me would be appreciated. Take Care

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Right now (although I have another appointment this afternoon) I’m taking 2 puffs Flovent 220 and 3 puffs Serevent twice a day.  My last attack (from a cold) caused the Flovent to go to this level, and the new doctor I started seeing shortly after that episode decided to leave me there for now…..I was on 2 puffs Flovent 110 twice a day and keeping peak flows between 80-90% most of the time janet – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Janet, Hi!your asthma sounds just like mine.I start having symptoms at 80% too.I get out of breath and it’s hard for me talk.Then my symptoms start hitting me left and right.If you dont mind my asking what medicines do you take?I take Vanceril DS 3 puffs 3 times a day and Serevent 2 puffs 2 times a day.I’m having to take my nebulizer every 4 hours and prednisone since i had an attack last week.I still haven’t got my peak flows back to normal yet.Thank you for your time.Any help you could give me would be appreciated. Take Care

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My experience is almost the opposite. At 80% (400), I feel fine. Sometimes, even 350 doesn’t bother me. But I can’t really tell much difference between 500 and 400. When I get below 350, there’s no doubt that I’m having a problem. I have found that when I go down to 350, if I hold off on the Albuterol for a while, I go back to about 400 without any intervention. BTW, I work at home, so the waiting doesn’t pose a real problem. When I’m out, I use the Albuterol whenever I feel some difficulty breathing. I also had an interesting experience with peak flow over the weekend. My wife and I went on a short trip and (since I was too cheap to let someone park my car for $12) ended up walking about a mile in the rain, carrying a heavy bag. When we got to the room, I was out of breath and checked my peak flow–it was 550. I thought it waqs an anomoly and checked it three or four more times. Each time it was 550. I’ve never been over 500 before–even on Predisone. Clearly the walk caused it. Since then I’ve checked peak flow before and after a walk, and the flow is always higher after the walk. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know why it might happen? Jim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hmmm. 350/450=77.7%  This is the top of the yellow zone for most people. [Green zone 80-100% PB, Yellow zone 50-80% PB, Red zone <50%] Current guidelines are for asthmatics to use an Action Plan based on peak flow readings; typically steroid inhaler dose is double and Proventil used as needed in yellow zone. This plan works for me and I avoid unnecessary trips to ER. In red zone, typically the inhaled steroid is doubled again or prednisone started, and doctor notified. Apparently your peak flows don’t correlate well with symptoms. Since you have ended up in hospital previously, I can see why your doctor takes an aggressive approach, and starts prednisone and nebulizer in the yellow zone. It kind of depends though…..my new doctor has me start nebulizer treatments at 80%  (although I can use my albuterol inhaler instead if I’m out somewhere).  This is mostly because 1) I have a *VERY* distinct cut-off point at 480 – above that I have almost no symptoms, at 480 I’m out of breath all the time, and 2) below 430 I feel absolutely awful.  My personal best is about 600 – I’ve averaged 600 for the last 10 days (yippee!) on my current meds, even with this lovely cold snap.  If I get to 400, I generally don’t go anywhere that isn’t absolutely necessary.  He is hoping the neb treatments with my regular medicine will keep things above 400.  If I can’t do that, I’m supposed to call, and if for some reason it gets below 400 without me calling the office or it keeps dropping and won’t go back up with a neb treatment, I have prednisone tablets on hand.  But if I take them, I have to call him ASAP and let him know, and in his words:  "You’d better have a really good excuse for taking them!"

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I also had an interesting experience with peak flow over the weekend. My wife and I went on a short trip and (since I was too cheap to let someone park my car for $12) ended up walking about a mile in the rain, carrying a heavy bag. When we got to the room, I was out of breath and checked my peak flow–it was 550. I thought it waqs an anomoly and checked it three or four more times. Each time it was 550. I’ve never been over 500 before–even on Predisone. Clearly the walk caused it. Since then I’ve checked peak flow before and after a walk, and the flow is always higher after the walk. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know why it might happen?

Yes my peak flow goes up after exercise. In my case I don’t think things open up more but instead the muscles are all warmed up and give a stronger effort when using pfm.

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This sounds very much like the "Ultrabreathe" from Tangent Healthcare Ltd, Thurston House, 80 Lincoln Road, Peterborough PE1 2SN ENGLAND – http://www.ultrabreathe.com/ It works on the SIMT principle (specific inspiratory muscle training). This type of device seems better than the type with a valve (and not a narrow orifice) for inhaling It has a large ball in a tube to act as a one-way valve for breathing out.  Inhalation is through an incredibly small, adjustable orifice to get a inspiratory suction pressure of something like 20 to 40 cm water column. This stimulates the diaphragm as a "high suction" inspiratory muscle and to naturally open the airways, instead of using meds. The other inspiratory muscles have to stand back, because they have a lower suction performance. In decompensated, asthmatic breathing they would tend to be working, and the diaphragm would be less active or turned off. So it sounds like an intelligent muscle coach, not just something to increase the brute force of the muscles. When there was a lot of tree pollen around last march I found it had a weak but sufficient bronchiodilating effect, which in the long run was very helpful or even indispensable for learning diaphragmatic breathing, a classical asthma approach. You just get down to producing the resistance for yourself in your nose or throat, as, apparently, a non asthmatic does without noticing it (???). Although the Ultrabreathe does have a massive soft PVC mouthpiece to hold it firmly between the teeth and can be conveniently adjusted, my experience is that the same resistance breathing effect can be had by breathing in through a 1/8 inch drinking straw (and out through the nose). If the effect is too strong, cut a hole in the side of the straw.  If it is two weak, bend over and staple one end of a 1/4 or 1/8 inch straw and make some holes with a needle in it as required. Cutting a sliver near the sealed end gives a sort of suction whistle.  The sliver has to start in the deformed part of the straw. As for arriving at the right size of straw, number of holes etc., it seems best to have just enough resistance to get a bronchiodilating effect. If your doctor is a bit scornful or even has a fit, then draw his attention to the study by Weiner (a leading asthma research worker) in the medical periodical Chest (1992, pages 1357-61). Email me for a copy.  Hope this helps. Richard Friedel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me.  A friend of mine has a little girl who suffers badly from asthma.    He tells me that he’s heard somewhere about a new tube (with a ball in ? ) that can aid breathing for asthmatics ?    It’s not an inhaler but something you can breathe into to improve and lessen symptoms.       Any ideas ?   We’re in the UK.                Many thanks,                          -James.

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Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me.  A friend of mine has a little girl who suffers badly from asthma.    He tells me that he’s heard somewhere about a new tube (with a ball in ? ) that can aid breathing for asthmatics ?    It’s not an inhaler but something you can breathe into to improve and lessen symptoms.       Any ideas ?   We’re in the UK.                Many thanks,                          -James.

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Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me.  A friend of mine has a little girl who suffers badly from asthma.    He tells me that he’s heard somewhere about a new tube (with a ball in ? ) that can aid breathing for asthmatics ?    It’s not an inhaler but something you can breathe into to improve and lessen symptoms.

He may be thinking about a "Flutter Device." Its purpose is to loosen mucus in the airways. — Steven D. Litvintchouk                  

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Hi! There is a web site with great information about Asthma. Take a look: Regards, Ed Torres

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Hi! There is a web site with great information about AIDS. Take a look: http://www.usana.com/techservices/health_cond/asthma.html Regards, Ed Torres

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Hi! There is a web site with great information about AIDS.

Just another vitamin salesman with a site full of misleading information.  (Hint, omega oils have been tested and found to be useless in the treatment of asthma – funny how those studies are omitted from the site.)

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Just another vitamin salesman with a site full of misleading information.  (Hint, omega oils have been tested and found to be useless in the treatment of asthma – funny how those studies are omitted from the site.)

That hasn’t stopped our resident whack-a-mole spammer (who shall remain nameless) from making similar claims on his web site, despite the fact that the studies he quoted made no such claims… — Chris King http://www.csking.demon.co.uk

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Sorry again Bob, but I have found that chiropratics are very dangerous. They "adjusted" my husband on two separate ocassions and both time he had ruptured discs which as you should know is not good and can cause serious problems.  UM MOM Susan

Did he have the herniated discs prior to being adjusted, or did the chiros injure him?  Usually what happens in these cases is the chiro may make a previously existing disc lesion worse, depending on what he does.  We are taught to treat disc herniations, but they are traction techniques, which have limited effects, depending on the severity of the herniation.  It’s always prudent to refer a patient with a known or suspected disc herniation for further exam and neurosurgical opinion.   Sorry to hear about your husband.  A disc herniation is tough to treat; no matter what specialty tackles it.

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Until chiropractors decide to take a professional approach to their occupation and do the same thing the osteopaths did, they will remain little more than expensive masseuses.

I like this statement. I went to one and that is just about what he did. Expensive too. He put my neck in a vise grip to pop my neck but I put a halt to that.

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Both kind of.  He wasn’t diagnosed was sent to a chiropractor to get help for the pain.  Don’t know if it caused further damage or not but the dr didn’t do anything to see if he had a herniated disc or not just adjusted until it hurt too bad and my hubby said that’s enough.  UM MOM Susan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sorry again Bob, but I have found that chiropratics are very dangerous. They "adjusted" my husband on two separate ocassions and both time he had ruptured discs which as you should know is not good and can cause serious problems.  UM MOM Susan Did he have the herniated discs prior to being adjusted, or did the chiros injure him?  Usually what happens in these cases is the chiro may make a previously existing disc lesion worse, depending on what he does.  We are taught to treat disc herniations, but they are traction techniques, which have limited effects, depending on the severity of the herniation.  It’s always prudent to refer a patient with a known or suspected disc herniation for further exam and neurosurgical opinion. Sorry to hear about your husband.  A disc herniation is tough to treat; no matter what specialty tackles it.

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He put my neck in a vise grip to pop my neck but I put a halt to that.

You mean, like this? http://members.fortunecity.com/furnacehot/holds/image13.jpg

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Until chiropractors decide to take a professional approach to their occupation and do the same thing the osteopaths did, they will remain little more than expensive masseuses.

Here’s an exerpt from the Michigan Osteopathic Association:   http://www.moa-do.com/OsteoMed/medicineomt.htm Note the asthma reference…Why aren’t you griping about their treatment of asthma?  Just because they are MD’s now? The ABC’s of OMT and How It Can Work for You OMT is predicated upon your DO’s knowledge of medicine. Once your DO has ruled out non-mechanical causes for your illness or injury (through blood and urine testing, x- rays, etc.), and based upon physical/mechanical findings, he may decide to utilize manipulation. While manipulative medicine is commonly associated with physical ailments such as low back pain, this far-reaching treatment modality can also be used to relieve the discomfort or musculoskeletal abnormality associated with a number of disorders, including: Asthma Sinus Disorder Carpal Tunnel Migraines Menstrual Pain The osteopathic approach to treating many diseases includes medication and/or surgical intervention, plus manipulation. OMT can relieve muscle pain associated with a disease, and can hasten your recovery from illness by promoting blood flow through tissues.

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Sorry again Bob, but I have found that chiropratics are very dangerous. They "adjusted" my husband on two separate ocassions and both time he had ruptured discs which as you should know is not good and can cause serious problems.  UM MOM Susan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What amazes me is how you actually believe all these claims. It is very common for people doing this to think they feel better even though the disease has not improved.  As somebody in claims to be a medical professional, I would expect you to at least try to learn more about the subject before you decide whether something is ‘effective.’ Until chiropractors decide to take a professional approach to their occupation and do the same thing the osteopaths did, they will remain little more than expensive masseuses. You made me laugh out loud Colin; thank you. I’m not the bean counter you are, don’t think the same way you do, nor claim to have all the answers.  In fact, as time goes by, I realize how ludicrous that is.  As for the osteopaths, they sold out years ago, abandoning a skillful art of craniopathy, unfortunately. As for chiropractic research, there is more all the time.  The neuro guys have done alot of it already, and as time passes, we will understand more of how and why chiropractic works.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I started a new thread at the top of the board.  And sorry but I tried the bottom posting and I forget so I try to make it easier to read by putting in spaces to separate my responses to make it easier.  UM MOM Susan See my new post at the top about Noni juice and come to you own conclusions. I checked it out as I said I would.  UM MOM Susan Bob I get very leary when something like this comes around and it is supposed to help many diseases that aren’t even close to each other. I will research it and ask my other group and get back to you.  As for begrudging someone else for alternate treatment that works for them, not at all. I applaud anyone who can get relief for themselves in anyway that works for them.  UM MOM Susan It’s good to be leary.  One of the concepts in health care that seems to have us confused and at odds is the "entity" notion of disease. It’s a compartmentalized and narrow view of the human body, which definitely serves it’s purpose in narrowing down variables in research efforts, but because of the rules of the game, anything that claims numerous benefits is seen as beyond possibility; too good to be true. There’s a country song which states; If you don’t stand for something, You’ll fall for everything. We can trust our experience, and not much else, IMO. I didn’t know about it being a post at the top, but it clearly is a top post. Lp

Just joshing you, but bottom posting while I do so.    Lp

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))  UM MOM Susan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I started a new thread at the top of the board.  And sorry but I tried the bottom posting and I forget so I try to make it easier to read by putting in spaces to separate my responses to make it easier.  UM MOM Susan See my new post at the top about Noni juice and come to you own conclusions. I checked it out as I said I would.  UM MOM Susan Bob I get very leary when something like this comes around and it is supposed to help many diseases that aren’t even close to each other. I will research it and ask my other group and get back to you.  As for begrudging someone else for alternate treatment that works for them, not at all. I applaud anyone who can get relief for themselves in anyway that works for them.  UM MOM Susan It’s good to be leary.  One of the concepts in health care that seems to have us confused and at odds is the "entity" notion of disease. It’s a compartmentalized and narrow view of the human body, which definitely serves it’s purpose in narrowing down variables in research efforts, but because of the rules of the game, anything that claims numerous benefits is seen as beyond possibility; too good to be true. There’s a country song which states; If you don’t stand for something, You’ll fall for everything. We can trust our experience, and not much else, IMO. I didn’t know about it being a post at the top, but it clearly is a top post. Lp Just joshing you, but bottom posting while I do so.    Lp

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Bob I get very leary when something like this comes around and it is supposed to help many diseases that aren’t even close to each other.  I will research it and ask my other group and get back to you.  As for  begrudging someone else for alternate treatment that works for them, not at all.  I applaud anyone who can get relief for themselves in anyway that works for them.  UM MOM Susan

It’s good to be leary.  One of the concepts in health care that seems to have us confused and at odds is the "entity" notion of disease. It’s a compartmentalized and narrow view of the human body, which definitely serves it’s purpose in narrowing down variables in research efforts, but because of the rules of the game, anything that claims numerous benefits is seen as beyond possibility; too good to be true. There’s a country song which states; If you don’t stand for something, You’ll fall for everything. We can trust our experience, and not much else, IMO.

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See my new post at the top about Noni juice and come to you own conclusions. I checked it out as I said I would.  UM MOM Susan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Bob I get very leary when something like this comes around and it is supposed to help many diseases that aren’t even close to each other.  I will research it and ask my other group and get back to you.  As for begrudging someone else for alternate treatment that works for them, not at all.  I applaud anyone who can get relief for themselves in anyway that works for them.  UM MOM Susan It’s good to be leary.  One of the concepts in health care that seems to have us confused and at odds is the "entity" notion of disease. It’s a compartmentalized and narrow view of the human body, which definitely serves it’s purpose in narrowing down variables in research efforts, but because of the rules of the game, anything that claims numerous benefits is seen as beyond possibility; too good to be true. There’s a country song which states; If you don’t stand for something, You’ll fall for everything. We can trust our experience, and not much else, IMO.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – See my new post at the top about Noni juice and come to you own conclusions. I checked it out as I said I would.  UM MOM Susan Bob I get very leary when something like this comes around and it is supposed to help many diseases that aren’t even close to each other.  I will research it and ask my other group and get back to you.  As for begrudging someone else for alternate treatment that works for them, not at all.  I applaud anyone who can get relief for themselves in anyway that works for them.  UM MOM Susan It’s good to be leary.  One of the concepts in health care that seems to have us confused and at odds is the "entity" notion of disease. It’s a compartmentalized and narrow view of the human body, which definitely serves it’s purpose in narrowing down variables in research efforts, but because of the rules of the game, anything that claims numerous benefits is seen as beyond possibility; too good to be true. There’s a country song which states; If you don’t stand for something, You’ll fall for everything. We can trust our experience, and not much else, IMO.

I didn’t know about it being a post at the top, but it clearly is a top post.     Lp

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I don’t know if you remember, but I mentioned awhile ago that I have a surgical nurse patient who has MS and has been doing very well since she began taking this Noni juice.  CBI dismissed her "remission," so to speak, as a normal occurence in patients with MS.  Several weeks back she came in again and reported her menstrual cramps were no longer a problem, and her husband, who has had digestive problems for years, is now regular with no abdominal pain, thanks to the same stuff.

What amazes me is how you actually believe all these claims. It is very common for people doing this to think they feel better even though the disease has not improved.  As somebody in claims to be a medical professional, I would expect you to at least try to learn more about the subject before you decide whether something is ‘effective.’ Until chiropractors decide to take a professional approach to their occupation and do the same thing the osteopaths did, they will remain little more than expensive masseuses. "They laughed at Galileo. They laughed at Newton But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown." Carl Sagan

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Bob I get very leary when something like this comes around and it is supposed to help many diseases that aren’t even close to each other.  I will research it and ask my other group and get back to you.  As for  begrudging someone else for alternate treatment that works for them, not at all.  I applaud anyone who can get relief for themselves in anyway that works for them.  UM MOM Susan

The question is:  Did it work or did the patient merely convince himself that it did? Bob cannot tell the difference. "They laughed at Galileo. They laughed at Newton But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown." Carl Sagan

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What amazes me is how you actually believe all these claims. It is very common for people doing this to think they feel better even though the disease has not improved.  As somebody in claims to be a medical professional, I would expect you to at least try to learn more about the subject before you decide whether something is ‘effective.’ Until chiropractors decide to take a professional approach to their occupation and do the same thing the osteopaths did, they will remain little more than expensive masseuses.

You made me laugh out loud Colin; thank you. I’m not the bean counter you are, don’t think the same way you do, nor claim to have all the answers.  In fact, as time goes by, I realize how ludicrous that is.  As for the osteopaths, they sold out years ago, abandoning a skillful art of craniopathy, unfortunately.   As for chiropractic research, there is more all the time.  The neuro guys have done alot of it already, and as time passes, we will understand more of how and why chiropractic works.

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I started a new thread at the top of the board.  And sorry but I tried the bottom posting and I forget so I try to make it easier to read by putting in spaces to separate my responses to make it easier.  UM MOM Susan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – See my new post at the top about Noni juice and come to you own conclusions. I checked it out as I said I would.  UM MOM Susan Bob I get very leary when something like this comes around and it is supposed to help many diseases that aren’t even close to each other. I will research it and ask my other group and get back to you.  As for begrudging someone else for alternate treatment that works for them, not at all. I applaud anyone who can get relief for themselves in anyway that works for them.  UM MOM Susan It’s good to be leary.  One of the concepts in health care that seems to have us confused and at odds is the "entity" notion of disease. It’s a compartmentalized and narrow view of the human body, which definitely serves it’s purpose in narrowing down variables in research efforts, but because of the rules of the game, anything that claims numerous benefits is seen as beyond possibility; too good to be true. There’s a country song which states; If you don’t stand for something, You’ll fall for everything. We can trust our experience, and not much else, IMO. I didn’t know about it being a post at the top, but it clearly is a top post.     Lp

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This is also supposed to help Crohn’s disease and other IBD’s.    Snake oil stikes again!  UM MOM Susan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Asthma … Whatever it is that triggers a person’s Asthma, a food supplement such as Tahitian Noni Juice may help in reducing the severity of the symptoms by boosting the immune system and enhancing the cellular structure of the bronchioles. This is, I believe, mostly due to the proxeronine bundled packages sent by the Golgi apparatus and reticuloendothelium to the affected "sick" cells. Why do you believe this?  Do you have peer-reviewed research to support this, or is it your invention so that you can sell some snake oil? In my survey, of the 5,689 people who consumed noni juice for help with their Asthmatic symptoms, 70 percent reported their symptoms lessened.  Right.  Come with evidence next time.  Better yet, don’t show up at all. Why do you and Colin even bother to respond to such obvious snake oil as this, day after day after day?  There’s very little chance that anybody is going to be taken in by such obvious nonsense.  So why bother? This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to push Noni Juice, and it won’t be the last time.  So I don’t understand what kicks you and Colin get out of patrolling the NG, trying to intercept and shoot down every spammer with obvious snake oil to sell. What the heck is the point? — Steven D. Litvintchouk Well, not everyone is among the cognoscenti as you are.  Many new people show up and may be tempted to subject themselves to at best, expensive and at worst, dangerous treatments.  Just like weeds, the hucksters need to be pruned, or at least revealed for what they are.

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This is also supposed to help Crohn’s disease and other IBD’s.    Snake oil stikes again!  UM MOM Susan

I don’t know if you remember, but I mentioned awhile ago that I have a surgical nurse patient who has MS and has been doing very well since she began taking this Noni juice.  CBI dismissed her "remission," so to speak, as a normal occurence in patients with MS.  Several weeks back she came in again and reported her menstrual cramps were no longer a problem, and her husband, who has had digestive problems for years, is now regular with no abdominal pain, thanks to the same stuff. It truly amazes me how we catagorize facts in life; in the context of what is acceptable or not, we live in denial, we live in pain, we live in fear or in hope of a miracle.  These folks have smiles on their faces, and not knowing anything about Noni juice myself, I applaud them for finding something that is helping them. Would you begrudge them for this?  And as an aside, she mentioned that she left her MD’s office laughing after her last visit, because he would not even have the discussion with her about Noni juice.  She’s feeling great, and he wouldn’t even discuss it.  What irony.

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Bob I get very leary when something like this comes around and it is supposed to help many diseases that aren’t even close to each other.  I will research it and ask my other group and get back to you.  As for  begrudging someone else for alternate treatment that works for them, not at all.  I applaud anyone who can get relief for themselves in anyway that works for them.  UM MOM Susan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This is also supposed to help Crohn’s disease and other IBD’s.    Snake oil stikes again!  UM MOM Susan I don’t know if you remember, but I mentioned awhile ago that I have a surgical nurse patient who has MS and has been doing very well since she began taking this Noni juice.  CBI dismissed her "remission," so to speak, as a normal occurence in patients with MS.  Several weeks back she came in again and reported her menstrual cramps were no longer a problem, and her husband, who has had digestive problems for years, is now regular with no abdominal pain, thanks to the same stuff. It truly amazes me how we catagorize facts in life; in the context of what is acceptable or not, we live in denial, we live in pain, we live in fear or in hope of a miracle.  These folks have smiles on their faces, and not knowing anything about Noni juice myself, I applaud them for finding something that is helping them. Would you begrudge them for this?  And as an aside, she mentioned that she left her MD’s office laughing after her last visit, because he would not even have the discussion with her about Noni juice.  She’s feeling great, and he wouldn’t even discuss it.  What irony.

Response:

Asthma … Whatever it is that triggers a person’s Asthma, a food supplement such as Tahitian Noni Juice may help in reducing the severity of the symptoms by boosting the immune system and enhancing the cellular structure of the bronchioles. This is, I believe, mostly due to the proxeronine bundled packages sent by the Golgi apparatus and reticuloendothelium to the affected "sick" cells.

Why do you believe this?  Do you have peer-reviewed research to support this, or is it your invention so that you can sell some snake oil? In my survey, of the 5,689 people who consumed noni juice for help with their Asthmatic symptoms, 70 percent reported their symptoms lessened.

 Right.  Come with evidence next time.  Better yet, don’t show up at all.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Asthma … Whatever it is that triggers a person’s Asthma, a food supplement such as Tahitian Noni Juice may help in reducing the severity of the symptoms by boosting the immune system and enhancing the cellular structure of the bronchioles. This is, I believe, mostly due to the proxeronine bundled packages sent by the Golgi apparatus and reticuloendothelium to the affected "sick" cells. Why do you believe this?  Do you have peer-reviewed research to support this, or is it your invention so that you can sell some snake oil? In my survey, of the 5,689 people who consumed noni juice for help with their Asthmatic symptoms, 70 percent reported their symptoms lessened.  Right.  Come with evidence next time.  Better yet, don’t show up at all.

Why do you and Colin even bother to respond to such obvious snake oil as this, day after day after day?  There’s very little chance that anybody is going to be taken in by such obvious nonsense.  So why bother?   This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to push Noni Juice, and it won’t be the last time.  So I don’t understand what kicks you and Colin get out of patrolling the NG, trying to intercept and shoot down every spammer with obvious snake oil to sell.   What the heck is the point? — Steven D. Litvintchouk                  

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Why do you and Colin even bother to respond to such obvious snake oil as this, day after day after day?  There’s very little chance that anybody is going to be taken in by such obvious nonsense.  So why bother?   This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to push Noni Juice, and it won’t be the last time.  So I don’t understand what kicks you and Colin get out of patrolling the NG, trying to intercept and shoot down every spammer with obvious snake oil to sell.  

The point is that if you tolerate them they will stay around. Then they can crawl back under that rock they came from. "They laughed at Galileo. They laughed at Newton But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown." Carl Sagan

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Complaint Sent

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For ignorance and prejudice are forever busy.   Drummond (Spencer Tracy) Inherit the Wind Lane

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Asthma … Whatever it is that triggers a person’s Asthma, a food supplement such as Tahitian Noni Juice may help in reducing the severity of the symptoms by boosting the immune system and enhancing the cellular structure of the bronchioles. This is, I believe, mostly due to the proxeronine bundled packages sent by the Golgi apparatus and reticuloendothelium to the affected "sick" cells. Why do you believe this?  Do you have peer-reviewed research to support this, or is it your invention so that you can sell some snake oil? In my survey, of the 5,689 people who consumed noni juice for help with their Asthmatic symptoms, 70 percent reported their symptoms lessened.  Right.  Come with evidence next time.  Better yet, don’t show up at all. Why do you and Colin even bother to respond to such obvious snake oil as this, day after day after day?  There’s very little chance that anybody is going to be taken in by such obvious nonsense.  So why bother? This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to push Noni Juice, and it won’t be the last time.  So I don’t understand what kicks you and Colin get out of patrolling the NG, trying to intercept and shoot down every spammer with obvious snake oil to sell. What the heck is the point? — Steven D. Litvintchouk

Well, not everyone is among the cognoscenti as you are.  Many new people show up and may be tempted to subject themselves to at best, expensive and at worst, dangerous treatments.  Just like weeds, the hucksters need to be pruned, or at least revealed for what they are.

Response:

Asthma … For those who suffer from severe Asthma, easy tasks such as walking up the stairs or participating in an outdoor picnic can result in hours of labored breathing. Asthma is a chronic condition that affects more than 17 million Americans, and it is a condition that is growing. Studies show that the number of Asthma cases in America has increased by 75 percent between the years 1980 and 1994. In addition, 90 percent of the deaths from Asthma occur in the elderly, the majority of whom are women. … In an Asthmatic person’s lungs, the airways called bronchioles constrict abnormally when stimulated by things such as allergens and exercise, which makes it difficult to expel air from the lungs. Research has linked the presence of allergies with Asthma, though not all Asthmatics have allergies, and not all allergic people have Asthma. Some of the main symptoms of the condition are wheezing, breathlessness, inability to exhale properly, and a phlegm or mucus–producing cough. Inflammation of the lungs is present even in mildest cases of Asthma and can lead to other problems such as respiratory infections. … Genetic susceptibility seems to be one of the major culprits that causes Asthma. However, there are identifiable triggers of the condition. Asthma may be brought on by an allergic response, exercise, bacterial and viral infections, hormones, stress, and other triggers. One interesting note is that 30 to 40 percent of women experience a fluctuation in their Asthma symptoms during their menstrual cycles. … Whatever it is that triggers a person’s Asthma, a food supplement such as Tahitian Noni Juice may help in reducing the severity of the symptoms by boosting the immune system and enhancing the cellular structure of the bronchioles. This is, I believe, mostly due to the proxeronine bundled packages sent by the Golgi apparatus and reticuloendothelium to the affected "sick" cells. In my survey, of the 5,689 people who consumed noni juice for help with their Asthmatic symptoms, 70 percent reported their symptoms lessened. http://www.tahitiannoni.com/mcgaw

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Check the date of this thread… peculiar hey – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – According to my doctor it is very common to deny for yourself that you actually have asthma. It is a mental self defens against an obvious death threth. To make it even more complicated you migth be able to, during long periods, manage without medication thinking "I have no asthma". For two years ago I nearly killed myself resoning in that way. During the summer 1997 I got more and more tired and thought it was a reaction to my workload. I

Question:

Last night Colby woke up and could barely breath.  He had croup so bad that being in the bathroom with steam didnt work.  We took him outside and it calmed down but as soon as we brought him in he started right back in.  We spent 3 hours in the ER getting a steroid shot and cool steam.  It was pretty scarey to see him struggle so desperately for air.  Does anyone know if a baby who has croup a lot is a sign of asthma?  Is it normal for babies to get it more than once?  

Shaina had a couple of attacks of croup when she was a toddler. The first time we brought her to the ER. By the time we got there she was doing better, (being outside in the cool air seemed to have done the trick for her). About a year later she had another attack, and we just did the steaming-the-bathroom trick. She did develop asthma another year or so down the road, but croup is a viral disease, and doesn’t NECESSARILY mean that asthma is in your future… or Colby’s. Though this is certainly something you will want to talk to your pediatrician about. (Shaina was diagnosed with ‘reactive airway disease’ about the time she started having croup, but at that time it mostly showed itself in the form of unusually prolonged cough after a cold. It later evolved into asthma, and she uses inhalers to control it. (Though it isn’t a real bad case. The inhalers usually do the trick, and if they don’t, we resort to the steamy bathroom again and that helps.) Naomi

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Last night Colby woke up and could barely breath.  He had croup so bad that being in the bathroom with steam didnt work.  We took him outside and it calmed down but as soon as we brought him in he started right back in.  We spent 3 hours in the ER getting a steroid shot and cool steam.  It was pretty scarey to see him struggle so desperately for air.  Does anyone know if a baby who has croup a lot is a sign of asthma?  Is it normal for babies to get it more than once?   Kim

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Last night Colby woke up and could barely breath.  He had croup so bad that being in the bathroom with steam didnt work.  We took him outside and it calmed down but as soon as we brought him in he started right back in.  We spent 3 hours in the ER getting a steroid shot and cool steam.  It was pretty scarey to see him struggle so desperately for air.  Does anyone know if a baby who has croup a lot is a sign of asthma?  Is it normal for babies to get it more than once?   Kim

Thanksgiving morning Claudia (23 months) was in the ER for croup (last spring she spent 4 days in the hospital for it!) and this morning Juliana (same age) was admitted for several hours for croup.  I almost called the ambulance because her respiratory distress was so severe.  My triplets are at a 90% chance of asthma I’ve been told because my DH had it as a kid, they were preemies, and they all had RSV bad.  But so far, no asthma. Claudia has been to the ER with croup half a dozen times already, Juliana twice.  Most kids outgrow it by age 3, some not until 7 or 8.  I know one kid who is 12 and still gets it!  I wish I had better news for you.  I’ve finally learned that all the steam in the world does not cure my girls. They need that shot!  I finally wised up and take them immediately to the ER.  Good luck. Ursula

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| Last night Colby woke up and could barely breath.  He had | croup so bad that being in the bathroom with steam didnt | work.  We took him outside and it calmed down but as soon as | we brought him in he started right back in.  We spent 3 | hours in the ER getting a steroid shot and cool steam.  It | was pretty scarey to see him struggle so desperately for | air.  Does anyone know if a baby who has croup a lot is a | sign of asthma?  Is it normal for babies to get it more than | once?   Kim, I am sorry you went through this scary experiment. Our dd  went through the same thing. She ended up in the ER but the shot really helped and the next two nights (that are normally worse than the first night according to our ped) were much better. She got croup again several months later but it was much milder and the usual remedies (steam etc) worked fine. I do not think that there is a link between asthma and croup. Croup is caused by swelling in the throat where the air pipe is most narrow and the swelling presses on the tube and if the swelling is too big it can cut off the air flow through the pipe. I don’t know what the cause of the swelling is though (a virus?). Asthama on the other hand affects the lungs. So far my dd does not show any signs of asthma (but we are watching her, not because she had croup but because I suffered from asthma as a child) Beatrice

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Question:

Many years back I had a kidney scan done with an injected iodine solution. I had very mild hives at the time. Since that time, I cannot eat shrimp.  If I eat more than 2 or 3, I break out in hives.  I can eat mussels though. Tim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think it is the iodine or some iodinated compound in mussels that makes people develop anaphylaxis. I am allergic to iodine/betadine. Some years ago, my cheek was scrubbed with betadine prior to an eye surgery. The betadine was washed off after the procedure and was not covered with a bandage. The next day my eye was completely swollen shut and that whole side of my face looked like an advanced case of cellulitis. Needless to say, since then I do not let anyone near me with betadine swab or a dye injection. However, I have never had any trouble with seafood, although I haven’t often had access to mussels. It hadn’t occurred to me to worry about them. I suppose next time I’ll approach them more cautiously. Emily Perhpas one of the docs or Ellis could provide some more complete info but I do believe that people with iodine allergies are supposed to avoid lobster, mussels, etc…

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I wish I could get a flu shot, only one thing I am allergic to egg whites.  The doctor(s) won’t administer the shots to me.  I would have a anaphylactic reaction.  

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I would have a anaphylactic reaction.

Believe me …one thing you don

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <snip But don’t forget that there are other measures which can be taken to prevent some pneumonia without getting a shot.  These include: 1) healthy eating w/ plenty of fruits and vegetables, and lot a lot of "junk", 2) drinking plenty of fluids, which of course includes 8 glasses of water daily, When intake is specified in ‘glasses’ I always want to know what size glass!  For example in Yorkshire a glass of beer is 1/2 pint, so 8 of those would be 4 pints of water a day. So please folks, can we have the intake as either x litres or pints, or y glasses of z size? <snip

Hi folks! Note that a British pint is 20 fluid ounces! Now to the pneumonia jab. Here in the UK it is called PnuemovaxII and, IIRC, protects against some 23 strains of pneumo-coccous(sp?) pneumonia. Talking to lots of American folks I sometimes get the impression that the definition of pneumonia is different as well. I know of friends there who describe a lower respiratory tract infection as pneumonia. If I understand it correctly pneumonia is an infection of the alveoli, the little bubbles where gas exchange takes place. It is characterised by high fever, pain on breathing and sometimes bloody sputum. It is a *much* more serious condition than LRT infections. Don’t forget that the test for Alpha1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a fairly common genetic disorder that can lead to serious lung disease is free in both the US and the UK. IMO, any one under 50 who presents with serious ‘asthma’ type symptoms and has any degree of COPD should be tested. Regards Support on line at: http://www.alphaone.org     for the US and http://www.alpha1.org.uk     for the UK Or, of course, email me at any time for more details Regards — Robin Muskett ‘When I cannot sing my heart, I can only speak my mind’ (Lennon)

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When intake is specified in ‘glasses’ I always want to know what size glass!  For example in Yorkshire a glass of beer is 1/2 pint, so 8 of those would be 4 pints of water a day. The ‘glass’ here is 16 oz; you are supposed to drink at least a gallon of water a day. Chris Owens

Acutally Chris, I’ve always been told to use and 8 oz glass as a measure–so 8 8 ounce galsses would be 64 ounces.  This is about 2 quarts, or about 2 litres, daily. During hot summer weather I usauly upmy intake to a full gallon daily–especially since summer is also when my allergies are worst and subsequently when I take anithistamines and decongestants as well, which both tend to be "drying". Lesa

Response:

When intake is specified in ‘glasses’ I always want to know what size glass!  For example in Yorkshire a glass of beer is 1/2 pint, so 8 of those would be 4 pints of water a day.

The ‘glass’ here is 16 oz; you are supposed to drink at least a gallon of water a day. Chris Owens

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<snip But don’t forget that there are other measures which can be taken to prevent some pneumonia without getting a shot.  These include: 1) healthy eating w/ plenty of fruits and vegetables, and lot a lot of "junk", 2) drinking plenty of fluids, which of course includes 8 glasses of water daily,

When intake is specified in ‘glasses’ I always want to know what size glass!  For example in Yorkshire a glass of beer is 1/2 pint, so 8 of those would be 4 pints of water a day. So please folks, can we have the intake as either x litres or pints, or y glasses of z size? <snip — Surfer!

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Some swear by it — others swear at it!! Pneumonia is scarring her lungs – not good. I’m not a doctor, but I take the shot. Sometimes I have a reaction to it, most times not. Follow your own heart, but a 7 year old having recurring bouts of pneumonia is definitely something to avoid –  no? good luck – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HI… I have a seven year old with moderate asthma. She seems to have the worse time in the winter. She has cough variant asthma. Last winter her pediatrician changed her meds..to tilade 3xday and azmacort 3xday.Since then she has shown no signs of asthma…its like shes a different person. She has gotton pneumonia the last two winters. My question is how effective is the pneumonia vaccine and is it worth trying. Her pediatrician has said she would approve it to be given to her but im not sure what to do. thanks for any suggestions.                          kristi

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some swear by it — others swear at it!! Pneumonia is scarring her lungs – not good. I’m not a doctor, but I take the shot. Sometimes I have a reaction to it, most times not. Follow your own heart, but a 7 year old having recurring bouts of pneumonia is definitely something to avoid –  no? good luck HI… I have a seven year old with moderate asthma. She seems to have the worse time in the winter. She has cough variant asthma. Last winter her pediatrician changed her meds..to tilade 3xday and azmacort 3xday.Since then she has shown no signs of asthma…its like shes a different person. She has

But don’t forget that there are other measures which can be taken to prevent some pneumonia without getting a shot.  These include: 1) healthy eating w/ plenty of fruits and vegetables, and lot a lot of "junk", 2) drinking plenty of fluids, which of course includes 8 glasses of water daily, 3)getting enough sleep and having a regular sleep/wake schedule, 4) regular excercise, 5) keeping a clean environment, by vacuuming, dusinting, moping freuqently and using a disinfectant cleaner regularly adn 6) keeping a clean body by bathing dialy and wasing hands frequently.  I’ve used this method for several years now, and its been three winters since either I or my duaghter were hospilized for pneumonia, two winters since we’ve had it, and last winter no one in the house even had a cold–without pneumonia vaccines. Lesa

Response:

The pneumonia vaccine protects against bacterial pneumonia but not against a viral pneumonia.  Bacterial pneumonia is an opportunist pneumonia.  It attacks you when your defenses are weakened, such as when you have an infection or flu. It is the most common of type of pneumonia and is highly recommended for elderly people or people with lung disorders such as asthma.  Check with your doctor but I believe it would be recommended.  The pneumonia vaccine I received is good for life.  Also, very important is annual flu shots, and definitely for people with lung disorders.  The flu is a virus that settles in the lung and it is something that you want to protect yourself from especially if you have asthma.  The flu is a virus that changes it’s appearance from time to time, so the flu shot has to be taken annually to be effective.  I would rather gamble on the side of good sense then to risk doing nothing. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HI… I have a seven year old with moderate asthma. She seems to have the worse time in the winter. She has cough variant asthma. Last winter her pediatrician changed her meds..to tilade 3xday and azmacort 3xday.Since then she has shown no signs of asthma…its like shes a different person. She has gotton pneumonia the last two winters. My question is how effective is the pneumonia vaccine and is it worth trying. Her pediatrician has said she would approve it to be given to her but im not sure what to do. thanks for any suggestions.                           kristi

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Flu vaccine is a good idea as well. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HI… I have a seven year old with moderate asthma. She seems to have the worse time in the winter. She has cough variant asthma. Last winter her pediatrician changed her meds..to tilade 3xday and azmacort 3xday.Since then she has shown no signs of asthma…its like shes a different person. She has gotton pneumonia the last two winters. My question is how effective is the pneumonia vaccine and is it worth trying. Her pediatrician has said she would approve it to be given to her but im not sure what to do. thanks for any suggestions. Have her get the vaccine.  It is quite effective; doesn’t cover all types of pneumonia, but any help is worth it for an asthmatic. Chris Owens

– Surfer!

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HI… I have a seven year old with moderate asthma. She seems to have the worse time in the winter. She has cough variant asthma. Last winter her pediatrician changed her meds..to tilade 3xday and azmacort 3xday.Since then she has shown no signs of asthma…its like shes a different person. She has gotton pneumonia the last two winters. My question is how effective is the pneumonia vaccine and is it worth trying. Her pediatrician has said she would approve it to be given to her but im not sure what to do. thanks for any suggestions.

Have her get the vaccine.  It is quite effective; doesn’t cover all types of pneumonia, but any help is worth it for an asthmatic. Chris Owens

Response:

HI… I have a seven year old with moderate asthma. She seems to have the worse time in the winter. She has cough variant asthma. Last winter her pediatrician changed her meds..to tilade 3xday and azmacort 3xday.Since then she has shown no signs of asthma…its like shes a different person. She has gotton pneumonia the last two winters. My question is how effective is the pneumonia vaccine and is it worth trying. Her pediatrician has said she would approve it to be given to her but im not sure what to do. thanks for any suggestions.                           kristi

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