Asthma and SAD

I have asthma... exercise, allergy-induced... you name it.

I know prednisone, an oral steroid makes you gain weight... but I never heard that an inhaled steroid makes you gain weight. What meds are you talking about, specifically?

Crud, that means that when I put on weight and I'm needing to use my inhalers more often, that means I'm going to gain more weight... Bad cycle. I would like to know more.

I have asthma too and don't use my steroid inhalors as often as I should. Someone once told me that she thought hers made her put on weight, scary if it's true. Donna, I know how you feel. I've definitely put on weight over the last few weeks, I just can't face exercising at the moment, it's so hard to get the motivation and drag myself to the gym.

I don't want to come across as preachy, but please take care of yourself if you have asthma... and learn your warning signs of an attack so you can be pro-active and not end up in the hospital.

I had a doctor who taught me about "bronchiospasms" and really explained everything to me when I was a very small child. I knew my warning signs of an attack. They're easy enough to ignore, and that can be dangerous. When I was 8 years old or so, I had a severe attack that put me in the hospital, in and out of consciousness where my brain was so starved of oxygen, the doctors told mom that if I lived, I would probably have brain damage.

Please, take good care of yourselves and learn your symptoms. For instance, for me, a tickle under the chin means I'm in for a really bad attack. On cold days when my lungs burn, I tuck my hand into a loose fist and breath in and out of my fist (closest to my thumb, so you can picture it) slowly to warm the air I breathe. Know your triggers, too (exercise, cold weather, emotional stress, allergies, cigarette smoke, respiratory infections and colds)...

Again, sorry so preachy. I just feel strongly how potentially dangerous it can be if you ignore your symptoms!

PS - right now, I'm on prednisone because I've got a respiratory infection, so I am probably going to gain some water weight (ick!) and sometimes food cravings. Oral steroids can cause weight gain and bloating.

I noticed this morning, though, that I slept very deeply last night and of course the steroid gives you energy. I wouldn't recommend anyone go on steroids just to sleep better and have energy (because of serious health risks associated with steroids), but it does make me curious about why I do sleep so deeply while on steroids, despite having SAD.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/222431/are_your_asthma_medicines_causing_weight.html

Hi Guys!
The above website is what I found (not sure how genuine it is!)The reason I was looking for this info in the first place was because I have put on about half a stone and become puffy around my face within only 1 and a half weeks! I know this isn't right especially for me but saying that, I do have a kidney disease and I do go up and down within one day to the next due to fluid but still this is alot in such a short time. I just knew something didn't add up because one can get to know their bodies very well and know when something doesn't add up!

Anyway, I will try to run again later but and really tired as I didn't sleep well and and was up at 6am for work (boo-hoo!!) Hope you are coping well?

Amalthea, thanks for your concern :-) I'm lucky enough to have mild asthma, so usually just get wheezy and don't have attacks (touch wood!). Sounds like yours is more severe, that must have been such a scary experience for you in your childhood. I hope you have it under control now xx

Donna, that's scary. I always take my ventolin inhalor with me, I just forget to take my preventor. It's the same with me, my asthma is brought on by running, especially in the cold weather. I think the contrast between the cold outside and the warm indoors makes it worse too. My asthma definitely gets worse with a cold/ virus as well.

Poor you Amalthea, that's the last thing you need at this time of year. These things make you feel so tired and run down don't they? I've just recovered from a cold/virus thing. Really hope you feel better soon and that you make it home for Christmas. Did you say 6 cats?!!! Think that would make me allergic too.

Yes Amalthea, take it easy and hope you get better soon. Ihave a friend who gets very ill with her asthma and ends up in hospital alot also she gets chest infections too. I feel for her because it really knocks her back for a while.

Hi you guys. I have just returned from a holiday and in two weeks I have put on 12 lbs. I am so depressed. Just before I went away the asthma nurse put me on 48 mls Oxis and four puffs of my preventer per day as I was getting a lot of mucus with a cough. Oh yes, I am glad to say those symptoms are much better, but at what cost! I have just found this site and although not much consolation I'm glad its not just me. At the surgery they tell me that these particular steroids do not cause weight gain, but honestly, you have to eat over 3000 calories extra per day to put on a pound. Well honestly, I have just been to Los Gigantes in Tenerife and I have walked up and down steps and hills and I did not eat at all to excess. I know this is a SAD site, and I too loathe the darkness, but hey, Spring is coming and that's the only thing that's keeping me going today!!

Priya, you're right. I did have 2 rounds of bronchitis since my last post, but I am well again. I think the doctor realized the severity of my illness.

The first time, I called my primary care physician because I was coughing up a bit of blood. It was lung irritation. He agreed to give me prednisone to get through it.

Then, I made an appointment with the allergist, who I hadn't seen in a year to let him know what happened. The allergist changed my maintenance inhaler to Symbicort (I'd tried many others before!)

I had already been starting to get sick when I got put on the Symbicort - I'd been fighting a cold for about a week. The Symbicort kept me from getting sick as quickly, but I still got sick (forsythias started to bloom - they get me every year!)

I got sick over a weekend, again. Saturday, I had to call the allergist because I couldn't breathe when I woke up in the morning. I asked him to help me with my sinuses. He added Astelin to my nasal sprays and told me how to increase my mucinex (guaifenessin).

On Sunday, I almost had to go to the ER because things were progressing so quickly - I had that "brick in my chest" feeling again. I had to call again (so frustrating!)

I got put on prednisone.

A few days later, I went to the pharmacy and asked, "I'm doing everything to clear up this stuffy nose and it just won't quit!" The pharmacist asked what I was doing -- turns out, the mentholated cough drops, the Vick's menthol gel, and the hot showers were causing a "rebound effect" by opening up my blood vessels and increasing congestion!

The pharmacist suggested I use ice packs to constrict the blood vessels in my nose and then reduce the production of mucus. Pseudophed and non-rebounding nasal sprays, he also recommneded but I can't take pseudophed because it disrupts my sleep (I take sleep meds for fibromyalgia).

So, I learned a lot that will help me!