Asthma Help...

Kimmie LovesEric

My asthma is out of control and has been for the last 2 months or so.  I am so used to not breathing that when I take my rescue inhaler I realize how bad I actually was.  I've been having an asthma attack for the last 7 hours and my inhaler is not helping. 

I called my ob they referred me to my primary and my primary is refers me to my ob.  The ob says we treat pregnancy not asthma and my primary says since I've had a major history with miscarriage (5 losses) and breathing treatments can cause uterine contractions that my ob should be dealing with this so that they can stop preterm labor if it happens.  I need to see a specialist but no one can see me for at least a month since I'm a "new patient" even though I happen to have a critical need. 

After a day spent on the phone in between breaths I was advised to go to the ER (which I don't feel I should have to when I have 2 doctors, someone should be able to help me) which is going to cost me $75 (per trip) and if I go to the ER every time I need a treatment I'll be there 24 hours a day, every single day until I have this baby.  I have no idea what to do, where to go, who to turn to. 

Our health care system sucks. 

So, what have you done for your asthma?  What are you doctors doing to help you?  Do you have a plan of action that most asthmatic people do?  Is it worse during your pregnancy? Who is helping you control your asthma?  What treatments are you using? 

I apprecaite your advise and wisdom.

 

Thanks ladies.....

gasping for air...

Kimmie

DEBBIE33CASEY

We didn't come up with a specific plan however my dr said to use my inhaler more often than not b/c he wants me to keep breathing!!  If your rescue inhaler isn't doing the trick I would call sooner rather than later- you don't want to be caught in an emergency situation.

DEBBIE33CASEY

I can assure you too, after the baby dropped I could breath easier again, so I only had to worry about asthmatic problems with breathing rather than baby taking up room breathing/asthma.  So you can look forward to that if it hasn't happened already!

LGMHRS

My asthma has actually been better since I've been pregnant.  If your doctor told you to go to the ER though, I'd go.  Especially if after 7 hours your rescue inhaler isnt working. 

jonnylove

Are you using preventative meds or just the rescue inhaler?  I have two inhalers I used twice a day...Serevent disc - once dose in the morning and one in the evening and Asmanex - two doses in the am and two in the pm.  They help SO much and I hardly ever have to use my rescue inhaler (albuterol).  If you are needing your rescue inhaler so much, you probably should have something to prevent you from getting to that place.  Good luck - sorry that you are having so much back and forth from your doctors...this is so important...unbelievable no one is helping you out.

 

Lorrie&Jeremy

I've had horrible asthma just like you throughout my pregnancy.  My doctor says that the start of the third tri is the worst time for asthma.  I see an asthma specialist.  They increased my preventative meds (Advair) and I was also doing nebulizer treatments (basically just albuterol through a nebulizer).  If you don't have a specialist I would go to the ER as your doctor said and maybe they can help you with this.  The first treatment that they gave me was albuterol + something else then at home it was just the albuterol (they gave me a nebulizer).  It did not cause contractions. My ob always said that I need to be able to breathe because if I'm not, the baby is not.

As a side note do you have acid reflux?  My doctor said that acid reflux symptoms are similar to asthma symptoms.  I had horrible acid reflux in addition to the asthma and I didn't even realize it was acid reflux  You might try something for that too. 

 Good luck!  I have been there and it was horrible.  My asthma got a lot better after maybe 30 weeks.

Kimmie LovesEric

Ladies thanks for the advice....I did end up going to an urgent care and had a breathing treatment.  It helped somewhat and will try to find a specialist to help me.  I wish the asthma was from baby being too high up.  I carry soooo low so it's definitely not that.  Every pregnancy my asthma gets worse and worse.  I have a tendency to ignore it which is really bad.  I don't notice I'm having an attack until it's  out of control.  I'll look into the steroid treatments (I was on them as a child).  I didn't know they were safe during pregnancy.  Thanks again...sorry I'm kind of going back and forth..I just feel out of it and dazed.   I basically had a 13 hour attack and it really messed me up....anyway, thanks again!

**Gretchen**

You should try to get on a preventative plan. I've been on Singulair (not a steroid) throughout this pregnancy, from the approval of my OB and have had no issues.

Best of luck to you!