I had a bad cold/flu that settled in my chest. I have a history of asthma. I was seen in the ER last weekend where they gave ma a breathing treatment and zithromax. I saw my PCP 2 days ago for a physical. When she listened to my breathing she was very concerned about the amount of wheezing.
She felt I definitely needed a course of prednione. I told her due to the Lyme I did or want go take it so she reluctantly gave me a stronger steroid inhaler to use.
I saw the pulmono.ogist today and he also was very concerned by how awful I sound and thought I needed the prednisone as well. When I voiced my concern due to the Lyme he became upset. He basically said he doubts the whole chronic lyme thingeven exists and to not take the prednisone could result in me getting much worse and went on to say how death can result due to uncontrolled asthma.
I'm really so unsure about what to do. I don't want to take the prednisone but I also do worry about my breathing.
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
Well, I would write off the pulmonologist advice, since it is not informed. Can you ask your lyme doc about this?
Posted by VV (Member # 38828) on :
Can you ask for inhaled steroids?
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Nebulized glutathione may help Asthma, and it also will likely help with Lyme/coinfection herxing. Ask your LLMD about this.
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
Ellen, you need to BREATHE in order to live.
I know firsthand how serious and life-threatening asthma can be. Take the prednisone--that's my advice.
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
What about fast acting inhalers like albuterol? Sorry your not feeling well.
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
The albuterol is fast-acting and is considered a "rescue inhaler" but albuterol is not a steroid and therefore won't reduce/eliminate lung inflammation.
IMO everyone out there bashing steroids is doing a great injustice to people with severe asthma. You really have no idea what it's like not being able to BREATHE.
Whether you like it or not, or agree or not, steroids are often life-saving to asthmatics.
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
Beaches is correct, albuterol is not enough in this situation. I already use that as well as a nebulizer.
Unfortunately people do not realize that in some instances steroids are needed. I have been on a steroid inhaler advair for several yrs. I have seen several posts where people have said not to even use those. To tell an asthmatic to stop using their inhaler is very dangerous advice. My LLNP has always advised me to continue with the ad air and with this most recent illness has stated that if I need the prednisone to breathe then I should do it. Obviously she would prefer no steroids are used but she said in these circumstances it is different.
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
Ellen, I agree with your LLNP, if you need the prednisone then go ahead and take it.
Breathing is Essential for life. If you are sick despite your daily use of advair and your rescue inhaler is not helping then it is time to take the more powerful medicines to really get in there and reduce the inflammation in your lungs.
Steroids for asthma flares are usually given in a short course that tapers down.
You should be OK as long as you continue your Lyme antibiotics. It's not ideal but it is for life.
If you don't treat your asthma now it can continue to get worse until you are hospitalized. Then you will be so sick that you will have no choice in what they give you.
Take care Ellen, I hope you feel better soon.
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
This is a horrible decision to have to make for yourself. I agree with Beaches and Sammy that breathing is your priority and if it means that you have to take prednisone, then take it.
Once your lungs are less inflamed, you can concentrate on building up your immune system again. There are many herbs to help you with this. I took prednisone for 10 days when I lost my hearing - before I knew I had lyme disease.
I have since bounced back and am told that my immune system is strong now. Healing thoughts being sent your way.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
I know nothing about asthma but I just got a new book that has some interesting info.
The book is called "The Complete Guide to Natural Cures" by Debora Yost. It costs 6.99 new or is available for one cent used on Amazon or 75 cents used on half.com
The subtitle of the book is "Effective holistic treatments for everything from allergies to wrinkles." It gives suggestions for supplements and herbs which might help in various conditions.
The suggestions for asthma include fish oil, flaxseed, onions, quercetin, vitamin C, astragalus, vitamin B6, gingko and oregano.
Supposedly one study found that vitamin C (1000 mg daily) decreased asthma attacks by 75%, vitamin B6 is depleted by asthma meds and supplements decrease frequency and severity of attacks (25 to 50 mg 2 times daily) and gingko is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant which decreases severity of symptoms (150 - 200 mg daily).
The vitamin C dose seems awfully low to me, but none of the supplements listed are very expensive and might be worth trying for long term benefits.
If you take the B6 you also should take an extra B complex -- or just take the B complex by itself to get the suggested dose of B6.. And for tickborne patients the B6 could cause problems with serotonin -- Buhner suggests using Japanese knotweed to prevent serotonin from converting to the neurotoxin quinolinic acid.
The B6 can help with sleep -- but if you are extremely deficient it could possibly cause excessive dreams. Actually if you can't remember your dreams that is one indication that you are low in vitamin B6. Hubby took the activated form of B6 -- p5p.
Take the steroid if needed short term, but maybe try the supplements for long term benefits.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
ellen, have you taken prednisone in the past? and how did that make you feel? both during and after?
my sisters both are on me to try low dose prednisone for 6 months to a year. one has lupus, that has been in remission for 25 years after doing that. the other has what is being called lupus syndrome (another name for something they can't name) she too is better than she has ever been after doing low dose pred for I believe 2 years.
my reason for sharing this is...who really knows what is what? lyme, inflammation, autoimmune, if you need prednisone I think you should take it. it is a wonderful, powerful drug (it can be a scary drug) but you need to breath.
also, there is the theory that if taken along with abx it could flush the bugs out from hiding. I was told be sure to stay on ABX.
My PCP actually took it off and on all through her lyme treatment-- cause she was in so much pain and had to work.
I will say... when I got a cortisone shot in my foot... I felt great for a month, but then had a really bad herx/relapse for a month after that. so it did stoir things up. But I still feel all in all I am still getting better.
Posted by sk8ter (Member # 8671) on :
Please consider taking it..you must get the inflammation down..short bursts will not harm you..your life is important.....take it
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Ask for the lowest possible dosage. Breathing trumps all.