Oh tough one Karen......I guess you could mention it if it happens again. I know since it is free it will be tough to really complain but I don't think it would hurt if you spoke to someone about it. We aren't just talking a minor irritant here...this is your life.

Which actually brings up a question I wanted to ask you. I know you have severe asthma....I don't have it that bad but in the past week I have been battling a chest cold and of course have been sucking on my inhalers like they are going out of style. I couldn't get in to see my asthma doc so I just stuck it out. A friend who's son has asthma told me that the Albuterol would not help control the cough that the doc would have needed to give me prednisone. Course if they had time to see me that may have worked!!!!!!!!!!
How do they treat your colds when you get them?

I am so sick and tired of getting these uncontrollable coughs each time I get a cold. Tried everything by the way, Delsym, cough drops, steam, Sudafed to dry up my nose, you name it!

Jane, my oldest daughter has asthma too. Darn.. hubby just got home, I'll type later.

Oh Jane! I know exactly how you feel! that is me right now with my cough too.. (I have a cold as well) Are you sure you want to know?

I have a set procedure that the doctor has had me on for the last 2+ years for colds. When I feel a cold coming on.. and it can be just a head cold... I do the following:

1 puffs Foridil Inhailer 2x a day for 2 weeks
2 puffs Pulmicort 2x a day for 2 weeks

If after 3-5 days the asthma kicks in even with this preventative measure, I am to call. If I am bad enough I usually get prednisone: 60 mg for 2 days, 40 mg for 2 days and 20 mg for 2-3 days.

That being said, Usually the Inhailers do it for me. But with this dog irritant I have had prednisone probably 2 times a month now since June. It goes away.. then 2 weeks later it is back.. But mine is all dog related... When I am "normal" the inhailers are usually enough.

Does that help? Are you sorry you asked?

I can't help either of you seeing as I don't have asthma. Both my DD and I were told we had it...but we never seemed to keep needing the inhaler. It's just a cold thing I think (that they misdiagnose??).
Well, tried working out on the stepper. WOW!! I'm either VERY out of shape or that is SUPER hard. Part of it is that I don't know the steps and so I feel like I'm fumbling along. And probably working out hard to keep up than if I had known the steps!! Sure got a good workout for not having finished the whole routine Maybe tomorrow I'll do the WATP instead. Wednesday won't have time to workout I don't think. I was beat (and sweating like a stuck pig---eww!!!! I HATE to sweat!!) when I quit...but I feel like I could do more exercise. Do you all ever feel like that? But it's too late to change back into my workout clothes (shorts and t-shirt) because DH will be coming home too soon . OMG DID YOU JUST HEAR WHAT I SAID?? ME?? WANT to workout??? *faints*

Oh I almost forgot!

The Albuterol inhailers should be taken too if you are at all feeling tight. I happened to ask about this a while ago. While the albuterol wont stop the coughing.. it will give you a relief from the inflamation. Which does end up helping with the cough too. It just isnt a cure! But when I am in the throws of it all, I am supposed to do my xopenex albuterol nebulizer every four hours.

Ok.. I m done!

Karen: Thanks for the info! When I saw my allergist this fall he was shocked that I don't think I have asthma...he kept saying..."you do!" I said "I don't" it is only a problem a few times a year. I think he thought I was a dope! I just didn't want to get into doing all these inhalers everyday. I get it around some dogs too....my mom's dog doesn't bother me thank goodness...she is so cute. I get it around cats too......and other things that fly, swim, walk on 4 legs and live on trees or grow in the ground

He told me at the first sign of a cold to start using the Flovent and then if I have a problem to use the Proventil. Which I did this cold........the Proventil helped to give me a bit more room to breathe so I wouldn't cough quite so hard. It didn't stop the cough...just smoothed it over a bit. I kept thinking that if I could loosen things up I would get better but nothing worked...it was so frustrating. I was ripping muscles I didn't know I had!

I just want to know why is it that EVERYTIME I get a cold this is what happens to me. I get the worse uncontollable cough and NOTHING stops it. There must be something I can do. That is why I called the doctor....guess they could care less. I think when I am better I am going to research this a little with either him or my primary and find out what I can do for the next one. I haven't slept through the night in over a week.......poor hubby too

OH Jane! That is asthma! Some people only get it certain times of the year, or only when they get sick. I used to be that way. Only when I was sick or didnt pre-medicate when I exercised. (Originally I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma. It got worse with my allergies) Then we got a dog.. sheesh!

The uncontrollable cough is part of the asthma. If you can get a hold of your doctor, ask for Pulmicort or another strong steriod inhailer. That is what will reduce the inflamation and get rid of that junk in your lungs! I know how you feel with the not sleeping too. I have been like that on and off since June. I go back to the doctor on the 13th, but I might call later and see if I can get more prednisone now. We have to replace our carpets and that should get me on the road to recovery faster.. Just have to wait a couple more weeks until my hubby gets his bonus!

Jane and Karen:

I, too, didnt' think I had asthma because it only kicked in once or twice a year at best in the throws of a nasty cold. But my doc insists it's a chronic condition and I've been told to do the following if I I get a cold:

• 1st, start on my Flovent inhaler 2x a day
• 2nd, if that doesn't help, add the albuterol inhaler every 4-6 hours
• 3rd, if that still doesn't do the trick, start with the nebulizer
• 4th, if the coughing starts, go immediately to the doctor for Prednisone!

The last time I started having trouble wheezing and didn't follow the directions, I ended up out of work for 10 days and was on Prednisone for --- you're not going to believe this -- almost 2 weeks!

Karen: about the dog at the gym -- paid for or not honey, you're there for your heath and that situation put your health at risk. You wouldn't put up with the same gal smoking in the gym (that would be someone like me who lights up after working out), don't put up with her bringing the pooch. (What IS IT anyway with these people who take their dogs with them everywhere they go? Am I missing something?) Anyway, you know I'm a big mouth to begin with, but I would just walk in with a smile pasted on your face and sugar just dripping off every word (a Southern accent helps here), and tell them how you feel and ask if you can be assured that this is not the policy so you know now before it's too late whether you need to look for another gym that is less dog friendly and more asthma friendly.

Star: Thanks for the reality check. You just can't let anyone get away with deceiving themselves, can you! LOL

Oh Paula! I believe it! Like I said.. I go off and on again and have been since JUNE! They even put prednisone in my IV when I had surgery in October.. sigh..

I am going to mention it when I go in on Wednesday for my workout. I just cant believe that they would allow a dog in a gym. And I am like you Paula.. I cannot figure out these people who take their dogs everywhere!