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Having been only recently diagnosed as asthmatic, I'm now getting used to taking my reliever when I go running. I've used it a few times on the run and it helps knowing that I have it to hand. I'm in training for London (and running for National Asthma Campaign) and my query is as follows:
which is the smallest reliever you can get hold of and what is your best way of storing it whilst running?
also,
Is an auto inhaler better than a manual inhaler to use whilst running/
I would be grateful for any info from any other "asthmatic marathoneers"!
which is the smallest reliever you can get hold of and what is your best way of storing it whilst running?
also,
Is an auto inhaler better than a manual inhaler to use whilst running/
I would be grateful for any info from any other "asthmatic marathoneers"!
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Comments
I haven't come to take the p**s this time.
Do you need the ventolin for the whole race?
I find, If I take a few puffs before the race, and then carry an old inhaler for the first mile, if I need it I have a few more puffs and then sling it.
After that I'm always fine, but I suppose it depends on how bad your asthma is and if you will be stressed without the inhaler.
I have no problem with a normal inhaler when running.
Good luck at FLM
Pete.
v good advice
best of luck!!
Miles makes smiles.
Progression
Then the first bad experience I had with it was at the Bath Half...usual routine of using it before the race, but at about 7 miles breathing became a problem and I nearly pulled out of the race, which I've never done before.
Anyway, I finished, but with a slow time for me. Then for the rest of the afternoon, evening and night I was getting palpatations. I went to see my GP on the Monday morning who checked my BP, pulse, heart and lungs and said everything was fine. Although I was relieved, I was still getting the palpatations until well into Monday afternoon (GP said it was "just a side effect of the inhaler")
She has given me a presciption for Montelukast sodium tablets, which are supposed to be good for exercise induced asthma, but mentioned side effects of gastric problems (which is the last thing you need out runnin, right!) so I'm reluctant to get them, especially as I have a number of big races coming up...2 marathons, 2 halfs, a 10K and a 32 mile ultra.
But I'm also reluctant to use the inhaler because of the palpatations.
I have no idea what to do and am becoming increasingly frustrated with it, because my body is trained up but my breathing is f***ed up.
PLEASE...can anyone help me?
if you are open to alternitive medicine try http://www.buteyko.com/ most people in medical world haven't heard of it or dismiss it instantly. I went on one of the courses about 5 or 6 years ago as throughout my teens was blighted with exercise induced asthma but no inhalers seem to work, sure the relievers did help in an attack but whenever i upped the intensity of exercise i had breathing difficulty and no 'preventer' seemed to help. Not sure whether I grew out of ashtma or whether it was this method of breathing that helped, but it might be worth a look,especially if you are finding no help from inhalers.
Unfortunatly I had an attack at the beginning of the year out of the blue (nothing for 5 years, haven't used inhalers for about the same time), and have really struggled since physically and mentally with my training since, I haven't trained all this week because of fatigue and lack of motivation. However I am trying to get back into a routine of doing the buteyko method exercises, and one thing I have noticed is that the exercises are a good predictor of whether I can or can't do a hard session.
I know how frustrating it is i have lost so much fitness over the last 3 months i feel like giving up this season already. !If you have a look at the web site and want anymore info give me a shout.
Sorry to hear of your awful time with asthma,i can only go on my own experience been asthmatic all my life and have had palpitations which are very scary I have been on most astma meds and for one reason or another have not worked for me or have had side effects I was on serotide but cause blood clots!!!! finally 2 years ago found Oxis and pulmicort which suited me in the previuos 10 years I was really ill with asthma could hardly walk up a hill just could not breath.I have both types of asthma and found out about Exercise induced asthma after i took up running a year ago but after doubling my meds I have no problems except in speed sessions/hillwork/interval training and when I am running fast in races for example in 10@2 laps of track after 2 laps I am gasping for breath and sometimes have a panic attach training partner is used to me and talk's me through it each time getting me to breath deeply and talk to him to get air back into lungs. so we always have a 1 minute recovery between sets but it happens 10 times and nothing I can do to prevent it happening and would never ever give up my intervals.
Do you carry ventolin with you at races and use as required? I can not manage with just the one puff at the start of races.
If paula can achieve what she has with asthma I honestly beleive we all can run as best as we can with it and makes me a stronger person for what i have to go through and more determind than ever.I once lost ventolin pre race at cross country and took the stupid risk of running with out it (did not want to let my club down)did well and came home in a a good time but had to be taken to hopitalin Bath due to attack on crossing finish line that was scary!!!!
I would go back to your doctor and explain how you are feeling and see if he can help you I tend to breath out every 2 strides I take I think!!!
hope this has helped you in a small way
Miles makes smiles.
Progression
I was diagnosed with allergic asthma ten years ago, having had undiagnosed 'breathing' problems all my life. Becotide and ventolin kept me going, and then about six weeks ago I was diagnosed with severe allergies to nuts, wheat and citrus. As my IBS totally vanished on my new diet, I decided to slowly cut back on my asthma meds. I am now off them completely, and have no symptoms.
WARNINGS!
This will not work for everyone!
If this (or some other diet, or any alternative rather than steroids) does work for you, always carry your reliever with you, keeping it up to date through repeat scripts. Even ten years down the road you might have an attack - always carry your reliever.
Go very, very gradually.
Check your peak flow night and morning, and at the slightest sign of a dip, go back to the previous dosage of preventer.
That is very interesting glad it has worked for you must be very Happy!
I know I am allegic to nuts and dairy but have not noticed any improvement but I was diagnosed with this 5 years ago!
But they do say to avoid dairy if asthmatic can't for the life of me remember why!!
Miles makes smiles.
Progression
tigger...yes I'm very open to alternative medicine, I am a natural health therapist myself. I've never heard of the buteyko method of breathing tho. I have put the website on my favourites list and will read all about it when I get off here. And tigger, I know how you feel...I was ready to give up running altogether on Tuesday!
Welsh Poppy...no, I don't carry the ventolin with me during races. I've just used it before the race or training session. I know what you mean about the speed sessions though. I was at the track on Friday and experienced the same and got very close to panic. I didn't know there was a link between dairy and asthma tho.
HS...my diet hasn't changed, I've been vegetarian for about 21 years, so hopefully it's not a contributory factor...otherwise it would be a major rethink because of where I get my protein and iron from.
Bill...maybe I'll get the tablets and keep them to try out if all else fails.
Thanx again everyone...I feel a little more hopeful
I do, however, tend to take my inhaler with me on races and long runs, just in case - sometimes atmospheric conditions can agitate my breathing, such as freshly mown grass. Diskhalers are not small, but they are quite flat, so I can usually fit it in a zipped pocket at the back of my shorts. Alternatively, I have a very small waist pack - a Nathan 5k - which will hold inhaler, keys and a mobile quite easily.
Febs Peak Performance lead article was all about Exercise Induced Asthma - and also highlighted an asthma like condition called inspiratory stridor - which I've never heard of (relates to abnormal vocal chords)
Re EIA the article touched on the normal 'treatments -
eg broncho dilators and corticosteroids - but
also highlighted the importance of doing a 10-15 minute WARM UP at moderate intensity (50-60% max HR) - apparently this dramatically helps reduce the incidence of EIA for the next 2 hours - no one quite knows how or why.
Also Dietary Modification - and the link especially between salt and asthma - - restricting salt intake reduces the severity of the post exercise decline in lung function inpeople with asthma after just one week (it says) Whilst a high sodium diet makes it worse
Fish oils - (omega 3 again) help reduce asthama apparently
So do antioxidants - Vit C and Vit E
and caffeine is a bronchodilator - altho its use for EIA is not recommended
Hope this helps someone
BTW tigger....I looked at that website and found it very interesting, especially about breathing too much, which kind of makes sense because in the past I have managed to control my breathing right down while running and achieved better results...but that was pre EIA diagnosis and it's not so easy now. Out of interest, was the course very expensive?
Bill S, if you ask your regular pharmacist to give you an emergency ventolin without prescription, you will get a smaller size than the normal one on the prescription from the doctor. I've done this once and it fits better into the key pocket!
Pete S, fair point about taking an old one with you when racing but I'd always thought that all medication should be disposed of carefully. Ideally, the empties should be returned to the pharmacist for safe disposal and not just 'chucked'.
Totally agree with the comments about what Paula's achieved. Asthma is not an excuse for not running......damn!!
I am a vege as well and have hardly any salt in diet
Trinity- very interseted in Quinoa...what is it ?? as one thing I am lacking is omega three so my personal trainer/massage chap tells me!!
I warm up for 15 minutes before hand just something my coach has taught me to do but does not seem to help but then again maybe I would be worst without doing it.
I have 2 cups of decaff per day maybe I should cut it down to one cup!!
Thanks for all the info
Miles makes smiles.
Progression
Never thought about it like that.
But it is fairly harmless, but will rethink that strategy.
To all those other asthmatics who are runners, may I suggest two things which I hope will be taken on board:
1) If you run with a partner/club, do they know that you're asthmatic and what to do if you have an attack? My partner didn't until I had an attack which scared the cr*p out of him. He now knows! (stupid of me not to tell him) and also what to do if I have an attack.
2) Do you have any id? If you're running by yourself and you keel over, how will anyone identify you? Most of the time oor "history/id" is in our wallets and purses. I now wear a medic alert bracelet 24/7 so that i can be identified if something should happen to me.
Enough preaching, and no, I don't work for medic alert!
Any more info on asthma and running out there?
Thanks for this
Yes Training partner does know about my asthma but have never told him what to do if I had an attack but I am sure he knows!! club also knows I am asthmatic have special form which allows me to use the banned inhalers if I was ever tested!!
I don't have any id on me when running at all...now that has scared me so must sort that out ASAP
Miles makes smiles.
Progression
BUT you'd have to eat a mountain of the stuff to get enough Omega 3s & 6's a day ... and not sure of the effect of boiling - as heat usually destroys essential oils etc
Walnut and rapeseed oils - cold pressed -contain a bit of omega 3 - but not really in the right balance with omega6
I also use the Golden Linseed Omega 3 enhanced from Holland and Barrat - sprinkled on everything / soup / cereal / ice cream!
Also - just found today the Columbus free range eggs - from veggie fed hens - (Safeways - green box) one egg= 1/2 the days omega 3 requirements The hens are fed flax seed oil - good luck to them - I think it tastes yuck!!
Quorn not hams etc I expected to be high - also the tival hot dogs (which aren't that bad comparatively)
But Covent Garden Soups are 3 times saltier than sea water - and so too are some other brands........
I'm on 200mcg beclomethasone twice a day these days - having started on 50mcg a few years ago. I'll take a couple of puffs of salbutamol before a run but if I have a problem while running, I'll be back to the docs to up the dose on the beclomethasone or look for an alternative or additional preventer.
Ok, having said all that, I'd look for a small, light, well fitting bum-bag if I needed to take anyting with me rather than looking for the smallest unit to carry.
Cheers,
Dave.
PS. I never knew Paula was 'one of us'!
PPS. In my day the asthmatic icon was Ian Botham :-}
You can get it from Holland and Barrett and I also noticed that Asda sell it in their Organic section.
And thanx for the salt warning SS
I did some hill work on a treadmill today and really focused on keeping my breathing down, ie, only breathing what I needed and not responding to the panic button and over breathing. It seemed to work because I then forgot about my breathing when the hard work kicked in...normally I'd be panicking by then.
Also my breathing was right back to normal within a minute of stopping.
And what's more I didn't use the ventolin before training (because I don't want palpatations).
So, even tho my GP has diagnosed EIA...do I actually have it??
I'd say that if you're using salbutamol daily, you really ought to be on a preventer. But it's between you and the doc, I suppose.
I recently discovered that fungal infections can trigger asthma. I have suffered badly with fungal infections on my skin and associated urticaria. does anyone out there have asthma that has been treated with anti fungals?