Expert: Kevin Smith - 12/12/2009

Question
I am a female of 59 yrs. of age.  My mother died of an Asthma attack in 10 minutes.  I have had asthma since my first child at age of 23.  My symptoms continue to get worse each year.  Now I cough continually each time the weather changes and whatever the day is like I seem to have a bad time breathing.  I sometimes will take 10 mg. of Prednisone to just get a day of relief.  I do not like taking it because of the side effects but it is the only thing that works for me.  I use my inhaler all day long on a continued basis as well as the nebulizer.  I as well take Advair 500.  My mother took Theodore.  She felt terrible on that.  Can you suggest something else that may work?  It seems that any change in climate sets me off.  I am lost as to what to do anymore and many times spend time lying down because if I get up and move I start to cough and have trouble breathing.  I a 5' 5" and weigh 130.  Please help!

Answer
Hi there Vicky,

Reading your question, I felt like I can relate to what you're going through - as your case is somewhat similar to my own: prednisone is my saving grace quite often too.

Obviously your asthma is not under proper control if you are having to use your inhaler on a regular basis, AND having to take shots of prednisone here and there to make it through a day.

I would suggest it's time to get in a comprehensive review of your meds. I can say, from personal, experience, that Advair didn't work for me as a control med. It might be time to explore other combo inhalers for your daily treatment - such as Symbicort ( which is budesonide - formoterol combo - a steroid ( Pulmicort ) and a long-acting bronchodilator together - as you probably already know ). For me, personally, this is the only combo that seems to work - so it's a trial-and-error thing to find the one that helps you. Taking prednisone, even a small dose, here-and-there for a day is a fairly drastic measure to have to take with anyone, and it can have certain consequences which I'm sure you're familiar with. However, as you say, sometimes it's all that helps. I hope that a med review and maybe experiment with a different combo will eliminate the need to do that.

It's hard to say what exactly is going on with you at the moment - but the climate affecting you could be several things - though, if I had to guess right now, I would say it could be because your lungs are very sensitive - likely due to your asthma not being under control ) and they're just not getting a chance to 'settle down'.

My question for you is: how is your dr.? Do you have someone you are comfortable speaking with, making suggestions with and telling him/her that things just aren't working as they are right now? Are you compliant on taking your meds daily and not 'skipping' when you're feeling ok?

Let me know about this stuff, and please feel free to ask me anything else you might want!

Take care of yourself.