Tell us about your symptoms and treatment experience. Take our survey here.

Late Onset Asthma---Yuck

Hi. I'm female, age 71. Diagnosed with adult onset asthma about a year ago and I guess I'm still in denial. I have always thought of myself as a pretty healthy person. I've gotten sinus infections my entire life, but never had a cough or bad allergies (that I knew of) until about a year ago. Didn't go to the Dr. at first because I only coughed at night -- I kept thinking I was getting better every morning (6 weeks of this). Then started on prednisone and have been on and off prednisone but mostly on since March 2016. Every time I would go off it, I would get my cough back and once I was even admitted to the hospital!

My lung capacity after sinus surgery

In December, I had sinus surgery (worse than knee replacement surgery) which I thought would stop all this. On Dec 30, on a normal follow up with my dr, he discovered that I was breathing at 40% lung capacity -- I knew I was very sleepy but had no idea that was why. -- no cough at all.

Anyway, right now, I am taking 2 inhalers daily. I also have a nebulizer (albuterol) that I use 2-3 times a day. I have just started with Xolair injections but no idea if it will work or not. I bought a humidifier and an air cleaner. Started walking outside, but my allergist says it's not good to walk outside in the winter and during the rest of the year-- well -- pollen, etc. Very slowly decreasing prednisone (now at 5 mg down from 60! mg @ end of Dec), but am scared that I will have to go back on it again! .

My questions about adult onset asthma

Sorry for this long rambling and possibly incoherent story, I do have some questions:

  1. Wouldn't it make sense to figure out th cause of my asthma and remove/fix it rather than treating the symptoms? Or is this so complex that it's not possible to do this.
  2. I have been told this is a chronic disease. My passion is travel-- I ended up cancelling 2 wonderful trips this year and would hate having to give this up. These trips are about a month long. Actually, they are cruises to all over the world. I have not gone any place at all in about a year. Any chance that'll change?
  3. I feel like I'm beginning to think of myself as an invalid -- always afraid that I will get a cold or an unstoppable cough. Thoughts from anyone else? Am I overreacting?
  4. I got this soon after moving to a different city. (from Dayton, OH to Lousville, KY). Could Louisville be causing all this?

I guess I'm no longer in denial, but have moved on to anger!

Thanks, Janet

 

By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Asthma.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.

Community Poll

Are your spring allergies already impacting your asthma?