Winter Cycling With ****ing Asthma
01-07-13, 09:04 AM
#26
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Another lifelong asthmatic here. I've taken daily maintenance and rescue meds for 45+ years, and can't count the ER trips anymore, and almost became a statistic when the docs found out in the 80s you can't mix a couple of 'back then' popular treatments....
Getting to this party a bit late. Lots of good info.
I'll add....
SymbiCort works much better for me than any of the other maintenance inhalers (Advair, or any other inhaled propellant based corticosteroids). I've tried them all over the years.
Getting to this party a bit late. Lots of good info.
I'll add....
SymbiCort works much better for me than any of the other maintenance inhalers (Advair, or any other inhaled propellant based corticosteroids). I've tried them all over the years.
Thank you, lots of good information there! I had asthma as a kid, was fine until I was about 40, then it came back with a vengence. I will look up the things you use/suggested to see it they will work for me.
Now I'm on some kind of inhaled steroid (Ventolin?) for use pretty much every day, then albuterol when I need it for esp. cold days or when riding on cold mountain roads (like I did last Saturday). I did the ride, even though it was pretty cold at times (low was 37 Deg.F I think) and the altitude got up to almost 5,000 feet.
https://app.strava.com/activities/36091515
Yes, I agree, coffee helps! I had two cups of coffee and a cinnamon roll when I got to Baldy Village and felt even better after that!
Rick / OCRR
01-07-13, 09:24 AM
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Wow hartphoto,
Thank you, lots of good information there! I had asthma as a kid, was fine until I was about 40, then it came back with a vengence. I will look up the things you use/suggested to see it they will work for me.
Now I'm on some kind of inhaled steroid (Ventolin?) for use pretty much every day, then albuterol when I need it for esp. cold days or when riding on cold mountain roads (like I did last Saturday). I did the ride, even though it was pretty cold at times (low was 37 Deg.F I think) and the altitude got up to almost 5,000 feet.
https://app.strava.com/activities/36091515
Yes, I agree, coffee helps! I had two cups of coffee and a cinnamon roll when I got to Baldy Village and felt even better after that!
Rick / OCRR
Thank you, lots of good information there! I had asthma as a kid, was fine until I was about 40, then it came back with a vengence. I will look up the things you use/suggested to see it they will work for me.
Now I'm on some kind of inhaled steroid (Ventolin?) for use pretty much every day, then albuterol when I need it for esp. cold days or when riding on cold mountain roads (like I did last Saturday). I did the ride, even though it was pretty cold at times (low was 37 Deg.F I think) and the altitude got up to almost 5,000 feet.
https://app.strava.com/activities/36091515
Yes, I agree, coffee helps! I had two cups of coffee and a cinnamon roll when I got to Baldy Village and felt even better after that!
Rick / OCRR
For clarification...
Ventolin is albuterol (propellant based inhaler) but as a brand name. Albuterol in a vial/nebulizer solution is usually still called albuterol (as a generic). Albuterol is a 'rescue' option. Flovent, another brand name (is 'usually' prescribed in conjunction with Ventolin as a maintenance option) is fluticasone (or a cortocosteriod). I use SymbiCort (a different cortocosteriod instead).
Forgot to add...with EIA....I can go like a slow locomotive on a bike/walk/hike (or almost any other exercise) for hours with no problems of EIA. That is, until, I try to hit 80-90% of my max heart rate. So, I don't do much mountain biking.....and I'm almost always wearing a HRM on the long hauls, to watch it going up hills....downhill high excitement heart rates don't seem to affect me
I'm no means a doctor or even play one on the 'net. Just saying, for the benefit of others, what has worked the best for me, and being a lifelong asthmatic.
Also....get yearly flu shots....and my doc has started me on the pneumonia shots. So far so good. A couple of years ago....I had pneumonia 3 times in a year (thanks to kids in an elementary school which I still think is biological experiment).
HTH.
01-07-13, 09:25 AM
#28
Senior Member
I used to carry Ventolin as a rescue inhaler but was advised strongly against overuse as the doctors want it to be an effective drug for use when really needed. I was recently advised that it is no longer suggested if Symbicort is being used as it doesn't make that much of a difference.
Check with your doctors though as I am not one of those! Dave may have an opinion on this as well.
Check with your doctors though as I am not one of those! Dave may have an opinion on this as well.
01-07-13, 05:06 PM
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I used to carry Ventolin as a rescue inhaler but was advised strongly against overuse as the doctors want it to be an effective drug for use when really needed. I was recently advised that it is no longer suggested if Symbicort is being used as it doesn't make that much of a difference.
Check with your doctors though as I am not one of those! Dave may have an opinion on this as well.
Check with your doctors though as I am not one of those! Dave may have an opinion on this as well.
Albuterol can definitely be addictive. BTDT. Was in an oxygen tent and literally minutes away from an ICU mechanical breathing device (or, iron lung) during my early high school years with one asthmatic episode due to 'too much' albuterol. Didn't sleep for 2 days. Had to sit up to breathe (bruises on arms and legs just from sitting/propping up). I didn't want to be on an iron lung....the oxygen tent was enough....and thankfully a very large dose of cortisone helped/worked (along with some meditation and breathing exercises). Yes, I've had it that bad....but it's all 99.9% controlled now. That 0.1% is 'just cause' there's always something that can crop up.
IMO.....if you are having to use a rescue product (albuterol) during a normal, daily routine of work/life (not EIA or some other asthma exacerbation), then talk with your doctor or lung specialist about a better solution for asthma maintenance.
HTH.
01-09-13, 07:05 PM
#31
Procrastinateur supreme
I second the idea of trying to not overdo the albuterol too.
01-09-13, 08:04 PM
#32
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This is my first post here, and a fitting one I suppose... I may not be a bike expert yet, but UNFORTUNATELY I am an asthma sufferer and I guess you could say "expert". Cold weather is always tough, especially when you immediately start out, if I can muscle through the first 5-10 minutes I am usually ok. Football, bike, hiking anything out in the cold can be a problem. Dealt with it for most of the first 40+- years of my life. The last 6 years with Symbicort used daily, and I am 90%+ symptom free. During the non-allergy seasons I actually cut the dose in half. Cold weather is no longer much trouble. I also carry the albuterol rescue inhaler, but really its more of a security blanket than anything since the Symbicort. Trust me, I tried them all and nothing worked particularly well previously
Ask your Dr. about Symbicort it has really come close to "curing" me, so to speak, my asthma and has cut down on the lung infections etc. bad asthma attacks seemed to be related too. Also a small travel nebulizer is a good idea if you are going in situations that can trigger asthma or unfamiliar surroundings. I have one because my wife and daughter are into horses and...as luck would have it horses and hay kill me! We own five horses and I give them a wide birth, but at a week long horse show in some musty old county fair arena... I am doomed. Even Symbicort can't rule out an attack.
Don't give up, I rode 8 times in the last 2 weeks in upstate NY cold and I have been fine. Before finding the right treatment, I say 50% of those trips would have been tough with the asthma. Back in my 20's every December/January bar-league football game would end with me missing the second series, until my lungs opened up after going into asthma shock at the first few hits of really cold air and exercise combined. The albuterol, while it works is a rough combo when your heart rate is already through the roof...IMHO. if I don't use it in time to ward of an attack I try not to use it in the middle of the activity until I have mellowed out a little.
Ask your Dr. about Symbicort it has really come close to "curing" me, so to speak, my asthma and has cut down on the lung infections etc. bad asthma attacks seemed to be related too. Also a small travel nebulizer is a good idea if you are going in situations that can trigger asthma or unfamiliar surroundings. I have one because my wife and daughter are into horses and...as luck would have it horses and hay kill me! We own five horses and I give them a wide birth, but at a week long horse show in some musty old county fair arena... I am doomed. Even Symbicort can't rule out an attack.
Don't give up, I rode 8 times in the last 2 weeks in upstate NY cold and I have been fine. Before finding the right treatment, I say 50% of those trips would have been tough with the asthma. Back in my 20's every December/January bar-league football game would end with me missing the second series, until my lungs opened up after going into asthma shock at the first few hits of really cold air and exercise combined. The albuterol, while it works is a rough combo when your heart rate is already through the roof...IMHO. if I don't use it in time to ward of an attack I try not to use it in the middle of the activity until I have mellowed out a little.
01-09-13, 08:09 PM
#33
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[QUOTE=hartphoto;15130940
IMO.....if you are having to use a rescue product (albuterol) during a normal, daily routine of work/life (not EIA or some other asthma exacerbation), then talk with your doctor or lung specialist about a better solution for asthma maintenance. HTH.[/QUOTE]
Hi hartphoto,
I actually looked at what I take, and the daily dose is QVAR 80mg. Then I have Pro-Air, which is think is albuterol for when I'm wheezing or having a lot of trouble breathing.
If I'm going out on a difficult ride in cold air, I'll take one of each.
Rick / OCRR
IMO.....if you are having to use a rescue product (albuterol) during a normal, daily routine of work/life (not EIA or some other asthma exacerbation), then talk with your doctor or lung specialist about a better solution for asthma maintenance. HTH.[/QUOTE]
Hi hartphoto,
I actually looked at what I take, and the daily dose is QVAR 80mg. Then I have Pro-Air, which is think is albuterol for when I'm wheezing or having a lot of trouble breathing.
If I'm going out on a difficult ride in cold air, I'll take one of each.
Rick / OCRR
01-10-13, 08:08 AM
#34
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It hadn't been too bad until now. But last night I did a social-paced 22.5 miler with friends from the local club : https://app.strava.com/activities/35470361 Temperatures were around 25-degrees F, and any moisture was frozen out of the atmosphere so the air was completely dry.
It was an easy ride, though I pushed it up to about 18.5mph for the final 4.5 mile stretch. No biggie, and I felt fine while riding.
Big mistake.
After the ride, I damn-near coughed my lungs up
I must have taken 15 hits from my inhaler - made no difference at all. I slept with a strong humidifier in the room last night, and today, the lungs are feeling much better but still not quite right.
I have adult-onset Cough Variant Asthma (CVA) which is aggravated by exercise (EIA) and cold/dry weather. The tragedy is that I'm beginning to question the wisdom of cycling through winter, and last night my wife (bless her) started hinting that if I'm planning to continue cycling, we may have to move to an area that has warmer winters.
I'm under the care of a pulmonologist - who doesn't know it yet but he'll be seeing me again next week.
So I'm not looking for medical advice - just sharing (okay, ranting, and feeling sorry for myself
) and I was wondering how many other 50+ers share this or similar problems, and how you deal with them.
It was an easy ride, though I pushed it up to about 18.5mph for the final 4.5 mile stretch. No biggie, and I felt fine while riding.
Big mistake.
After the ride, I damn-near coughed my lungs up
I must have taken 15 hits from my inhaler - made no difference at all. I slept with a strong humidifier in the room last night, and today, the lungs are feeling much better but still not quite right.I have adult-onset Cough Variant Asthma (CVA) which is aggravated by exercise (EIA) and cold/dry weather. The tragedy is that I'm beginning to question the wisdom of cycling through winter, and last night my wife (bless her) started hinting that if I'm planning to continue cycling, we may have to move to an area that has warmer winters.
I'm under the care of a pulmonologist - who doesn't know it yet but he'll be seeing me again next week.
So I'm not looking for medical advice - just sharing (okay, ranting, and feeling sorry for myself
) and I was wondering how many other 50+ers share this or similar problems, and how you deal with them.
01-11-13, 01:53 AM
#35
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I actually looked at what I take, and the daily dose is QVAR 80mg. Then I have Pro-Air, which is think is albuterol for when I'm wheezing or having a lot of trouble breathing.
If I'm going out on a difficult ride in cold air, I'll take one of each.
If I'm going out on a difficult ride in cold air, I'll take one of each.
Something to try, cover your mouth and nose, a scarf is probably the best tool, when you exhale warmth and moisture are caught by the fabric, and when you inhale, the air you draw in is warmed and humidified slightly, by the same fabric. This isn't a cycling only trick, it's an anytime the temperature is low enough, for some people that could be freezing, it could be considerably below freezing for others, I find about -10℃ is good for me, even though I do not have asthma
https://www.buffwear.com/index.php?route=common/home
I'll wear a Neoprene ski mask with a Merino wool buff rag or a Shemagh over the top to keep the air I breath warm.
01-11-13, 07:39 AM
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hartphoto has some very good information, so I tossed in some additional information in red.
Another lifelong asthmatic here. I've taken daily maintenance and rescue meds for 45+ years, and can't count the ER trips anymore, and almost became a statistic when the docs found out in the 80s you can't mix a couple of 'back then' popular treatments....
Getting to this party a bit late. Lots of good info.
I'll add....
SymbiCort works much better for me than any of the other maintenance inhalers (Advair, or any other inhaled propellant based corticosteroids). I've tried them all over the year Symbicort (Budesonide/formoterol) is another very good corticosteroid/long term bronchodilator combination. Some people do better on symbicort, some on advair. Both are good medications. Both last 12 hours per dose.
I've also asked my PCP (she is very well versed in asthma, and we've gotten it well under control, so I'm no longer using a pulmonologist) for the non propellant based versions of albuterol and budesonide Corticosteroid half of (pulmicort). These are the ones in vials mixed with salt water and used via a nebulizer system. They work so much better. I've invested in a portable Pari Trek S system (you can get them all day long for $80 on eBay, no insurance or prescription required). It comes with AC based power and DC (for your car) based power. I've decided on the Pari pump and nebulizer systems....cause I've had almost every other brand....and Pari lasts the longest, and their nebulizers take the shortest amount of time to deliver the doseSpot on information on the nebulizers and a good way to save money.
So....long story short, I only do 1-2 SymbiCort doses a day (one every 12 hours, perfect), and 98% of the time I never have to do anything else. When things get a bit tough (cold/flu season, or actually come down with any throat/bronchial issue), I switch to the nebulizer versions. While the nebulizer systems take 4-5 minutes to get the dose, they are so much better in the long term results.
If I get into a rescue situation (exercising, but only happens when I really get out of my comfort zone, and I'm not near the car) , it's Ventolier(Ventolin is albuterol, but most inhaler labels mark it as ventolin, another name for albuterol). If I'm anywhere near the Pari S (and can wait), I always use Albuterol (suspected in salt water) capsules, the most effective method, instead.
FWIW, IOW, and YMMV, I've dealt with it so long....I really think I've gotten a feel for when things will get out of hand with my asthma, and slow down to think and react with a treatment accordingly for the situation. I can tell (without being measured) whether my oxygen level is at 98-99% (good), or at a 92-94 (flu/bronchitis/pneumonia) or at a 95-97 (EIA, etc.).
In the cold....it also helps to drink coffee and/or hot tea, and suck on hard candy (or some form of throat lozenge. Provides moisture/steam to the throat, soothing the area and calming the cough reflex.
HTH.
Getting to this party a bit late. Lots of good info.
I'll add....
SymbiCort works much better for me than any of the other maintenance inhalers (Advair, or any other inhaled propellant based corticosteroids). I've tried them all over the year Symbicort (Budesonide/formoterol) is another very good corticosteroid/long term bronchodilator combination. Some people do better on symbicort, some on advair. Both are good medications. Both last 12 hours per dose.
I've also asked my PCP (she is very well versed in asthma, and we've gotten it well under control, so I'm no longer using a pulmonologist) for the non propellant based versions of albuterol and budesonide Corticosteroid half of (pulmicort). These are the ones in vials mixed with salt water and used via a nebulizer system. They work so much better. I've invested in a portable Pari Trek S system (you can get them all day long for $80 on eBay, no insurance or prescription required). It comes with AC based power and DC (for your car) based power. I've decided on the Pari pump and nebulizer systems....cause I've had almost every other brand....and Pari lasts the longest, and their nebulizers take the shortest amount of time to deliver the doseSpot on information on the nebulizers and a good way to save money.
So....long story short, I only do 1-2 SymbiCort doses a day (one every 12 hours, perfect), and 98% of the time I never have to do anything else. When things get a bit tough (cold/flu season, or actually come down with any throat/bronchial issue), I switch to the nebulizer versions. While the nebulizer systems take 4-5 minutes to get the dose, they are so much better in the long term results.
If I get into a rescue situation (exercising, but only happens when I really get out of my comfort zone, and I'm not near the car) , it's Ventolier(Ventolin is albuterol, but most inhaler labels mark it as ventolin, another name for albuterol). If I'm anywhere near the Pari S (and can wait), I always use Albuterol (suspected in salt water) capsules, the most effective method, instead.
FWIW, IOW, and YMMV, I've dealt with it so long....I really think I've gotten a feel for when things will get out of hand with my asthma, and slow down to think and react with a treatment accordingly for the situation. I can tell (without being measured) whether my oxygen level is at 98-99% (good), or at a 92-94 (flu/bronchitis/pneumonia) or at a 95-97 (EIA, etc.).
In the cold....it also helps to drink coffee and/or hot tea, and suck on hard candy (or some form of throat lozenge. Provides moisture/steam to the throat, soothing the area and calming the cough reflex.
HTH.
01-11-13, 07:46 AM
#37
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I used to carry Ventolin as a rescue inhaler but was advised strongly against overuse as the doctors want it to be an effective drug for use when really needed. I was recently advised that it is no longer suggested if Symbicort is being used as it doesn't make that much of a difference.
Check with your doctors though as I am not one of those! Dave may have an opinion on this as well.
Check with your doctors though as I am not one of those! Dave may have an opinion on this as well.
You are far better off, if you have asthma, to use a corticosteroid/long term bronchodilator such as symbicort or advair or another name brand if they work for you long term. Everyone is very different when it comes to how these drugs react (the long term drugs I'm speaking of here)
My strong advice to you if you have asthma, get a long term bronchodilator/corticosteroid combination and using it daily according to instructions. Then, when you get tight or when you know you are going to aggravate your asthma, you can consider using your rescue inhaler as it is intended, as a "rescue" only inhaler.
If your rescue inhaler really makes your heart race, ask our doctor about xopenex as loneviking mentioned, much better rescue drug.
Finally, don't wait till your lungs lock up if you have an attack, when it gets to a certain point, head on to the hospital and get treatment.
Last edited by DavidInGA; 01-11-13 at 07:51 AM.
