Hi, im Katie.....

Im new to the group and have had quite the experiences in the past week.
I went into  the urgent care hardly able to breathe and they had to give
me nebulizer treatments to  get me started and then some prednisone.

The next night I got up at 3am with a major ashtma attack and had to be
rushed to the hospital. I used  my quick acting inhaler about 8 times
with no avail and finally gave up the control and called 911. I was on
oxygen for awhile and they gave me more nebulizer treatments over there
as well as when i was in the ambulance.

 I was a very mild asthmatic  from 21 years old on up until recently. I
used to be able to get by with maybe about an attack every 8 months to a
year, but things have changed.

I did a bad move lighting my first cigarette at 19 years old over peer
pressure.  I was a very heavy smoker through  but i was trapped in my
addiction and said it couldnt happen to me, but i learned different on
Thursday nite after being rushed to the er. Since Thursday last week, I
have quit smoking and have not lit up since.  I really learned quite
well that night since it scared me.

Now I see I have an intolerance to smoke, the smell of smoke, or any
tobacco whatsoever.  I keep having  attacks when i encounter any of
that. I notice when im under any stress, i have them too or even if i
laugh too much and too hard. And at work i talk to people on phones 5
hours a day 5 days a week, so it wears on my  voice. I have seasonal
allergies as well which i have had even as a kid to start with.

Ive been having  anywhere from mild to moderatte attacks  so far
throughout the day.  I have to use my inhaler an additional 3 or more
times a day then it is prescribed . I feel like a crippled old lady
basically these days. Not vibrant like i used to be.

I still have to see my regular doctor this week after the whole fiasco
so that we can get this under control since im still having problems
with it. I get worn out a lot of times too lately and out of energy
moore then i used to.

So far I take Flovent, and Albuterol for starters. The prednisone was
just temporary....i used to take Serevent and Singulair for a little
while way back when but then no luck. And one of them interacted with
another medication i have to take.

Hope i can find some support here since there arent many online groups
that are continuosly active or if they are active, it doenst work with
this webtv browser...

Take Care