Trip less then 3 weeks out and my asthma is out of control =(

[Evi]

I'm so upset right now. My asthma is out of control its been this way for 3 weeks. My trip is less then 3 weeks away.

I normally don't have asthma it is allergy/cold induced. We recently had construction done to the house and all the dust just got my lungs in a frenzy. I don't normally even need my inhaler I can go months without using it. In three weeks I went through 1 proair. I spoke with Dr today and he said I could stop taking my advair because its making me cough every time I use it, just to use the proair. I have an appointment with him tomorrow morning. I wish they had just kept me on a higher dose of pulmicort. I'm completely stressed out because I don't want to feel this way when I'm in the world. I hate taking a zpack but I'm thinking of asking for one to see if I can nip this thing already. I'm also thinking of asking dr to write me a script for a portable nebulizer so I can take one with me. I feel so winded and tired and can't stop coughing. I should be celebrating but instead I'm almost wishing we weren't going so soon. How do other people deal with their Asthma while in the world or while on vacation??

 

[disfan07]

I've been to WDW a week after spending 5 days in the hospital for an asthma attack. I went to WDW on a prednisone taper, nebulizers 3 times a day (xoponex and pulmicort), symbicort 2x day and xoponex inhaler 2x day.

i took my neb before we left the hotel, during our midday break and when we went back at night.


If your asthma is not that severe, i think you should be fine in 3 weeks. I have severe asthma (can be induced just by laughing too much...or being in the cold) and I wouldnt be worried 3 weeks out.


About the portable neb...you might not be able to get it in 3 weeks. We dont have anyone who sells the small portable nebs aroun dhere (they dont sell them at the hospital either....at either cedars-sinai or UCLA) and we had to fax in the prescription to the company and order it online and it took 6 weeks to get here. And they are expensive. ours was over $300...not covered by insurance.

Also, the zpack, if its not an infection or bacterial illness that is causing it your dr. probbaly wont prescribe it. From what my pulmonologist has said, it's not prescribed just for an asthma excacerbation. Its prescribed to combat the underlying infection that would be causing teh asthma if there is an underlying infection.

Good Luck

 

[Evi]

Thank you.. I know I'm overreacting a little its just I'm not used to feeling this way and all the meds have me on the verge of a panic attack. I had such a bad coughing fit this afternoon I could barely catch my breath and I thought I was going to go into the ER. But after 8 puffs of albuterol it calmed down. I haven't been coughing much tonight though I'm really tight. Tomorrow morning I see my Dr. so I'm sure he will have a better plan for me to get this under control. But thank you really for putting it into perspective. Its just been a very long time since I've felt this way. I developed asthma in my late teens and it was really bad for a few years and then it sorta just came and went with viruses and other allergies but never like this. I guess it wanted to remind me that its still around and not something I can ignore.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I was able to get a portable neb at a local medical supply company. I had to have a script faxed over for it. My insurance covered most of it I had to put out $70 for it. My son can't have the inhaled form of duoneb only via neb so we needed it incase we were out and his albuterol inhaler didn't do the trick. He is on singulair and flovent twice a day. When he is in his yellow zone we up the flovent to 3 times a day and alternate between just albuterol and duoneb.

Good luck and I hope you can get things under control!

 

[lovethattink]

We moved to Central Florida because of my son's asthma. We use to live in PA and every winter he would end up in the hospital with status asthmaticus or pneumonia, and his asthma was severe. Since we moved here, he hasn't had any hospitalizations for asthma, but he still has trouble with the cold. He doesn't have seasonal allergies, so the more temperate Florida climate has helped him alot.

Everytime he was in the hospital, we did a Disney trip upon discharge to help him get better. He did have to use a stroller for walking because he was getting exercised induced asthma. Don't hesitate to rent a wheelchair or skooter in Florida if you need it.

Hopefully, the Florida weather will work to your advantage. I know each case is individualized.

 

[lovethattink]

Back in the 90's and early 2000's when my son's asthma was very severe, we would take prednisone, singulair, an inhaler, a portable nebulizer and an electric nebulizer (almost every Walgreens in the Disney area carries nebulizers (electric) regularly and they now sell pulse oximeters for sports not medical reasons, but it would give at least an idea where the 02 sat levels are at, and there is a clinic with a NP or PA at the Walgreens closest to DTD/Cross roads area to write prescriptions).

 

[Evi]

Thank you guys it really helps to know someone else understands. None of my friends or family have asthma so they just don't get it. I'm glad I'm off the advair dr put me on symbicort 2 puffs 2x a day said it should clear things up. Headache and cough are pretty much gone I really think the advair was giving me those symptoms. I'm just a little jittery now from the symbicort but my longs are way more relaxed. I also feel more clear headed and not so sick like. He didn't give me a script for a nebulizer but said he could fax one over if I needed it. Its good to know where I can get one in Fl if I need one. I'm still a bit winded and my spirometer readings were low for me but hopefully I'll be able to keep up when we are there since I will have two little ones with me. Thank you again for all the info I'm glad to know there are clinics close to dtd if I need them. I'm going to look them up so I can have the locations and numbers if I need them. It really takes the stress off I was getting a little panicky about going and not being sure what my resources would be once there.

Some what off topic has anyone gone to the salt room in Orlando? I'm a little curious about halotherapy even though my dr just laughed when I asked his opinion about it.

 

[Evi]

Just thought I'd update this. I just found out today I was having a reaction to the laba medication. It was causing me to become more constricted and have increased wheezing. If your meds ever feel like they are not working don't hesitate to contact your dr. Dr that saw me said that the Laba's are not for everyone and can cause damage to some patients. I'm still tight but I'm not wheezing or coughing as much.

 

[ccgirl]

I just did a search on nebulizer as my DS3 has asthma and a portable nebulizer. We would like to bring this to WDW when we fly in December. Do we have to do anything special to get this thru the TSA carry on screeners?

Thanks.

 

[disfan07]

I just did a search on nebulizer as my DS3 has asthma and a portable nebulizer. We would like to bring this to WDW when we fly in December. Do we have to do anything special to get this thru the TSA carry on screeners?

You will have to open up the bag it is in and place it in its own bucket to go trhough the scanner. Do NOT take it out of the bag to go through the scanner. They have always told me not to do that because they dont want anything to get damaged when it goes out of sight.

They SHOULD do an explosives test on it afte rit goes through the scanner. I say should because there have been a couple of times where they havent done it (mainly at Dulles airport) but they have always done it in LA, MCO, Palm Beach ,etc so be prepared for that. It literally takes like less than a minute for them to do. That is when they will ask you to take it out of the bag so they can do teh test but they should do it in front of you so you make sure that nothing gets damaged. I have been traveling with a regular nebulizer for 5 years now and the biggest inconveience for me has been just that it is something extra to keep track of. But with the portable nebs, that should not be as much of a problem.

 

[ccgirl]

You will have to open up the bag it is in and place it in its own bucket to go trhough the scanner. Do NOT take it out of the bag to go through the scanner. They have always told me not to do that because they dont want anything to get damaged when it goes out of sight.

They SHOULD do an explosives test on it afte rit goes through the scanner. I say should because there have been a couple of times where they havent done it (mainly at Dulles airport) but they have always done it in LA, MCO, Palm Beach ,etc so be prepared for that. It literally takes like less than a minute for them to do. That is when they will ask you to take it out of the bag so they can do teh test but they should do it in front of you so you make sure that nothing gets damaged. I have been traveling with a regular nebulizer for 5 years now and the biggest inconveience for me has been just that it is something extra to keep track of. But with the portable nebs, that should not be as much of a problem.

Awesome! Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it. Do I have to bring a prescription for it? There is a prescription label on the box of pulmicort nebules for my son. I'm nervous travelling with it so want to make sure I have everything I need. Thanks again.

 

[happymommy]

My DS has asthma, and sometimes it has gotten bad in the heat and humidity of Orlando (when we've gone in hot months). I got a portable nebulizer (we've had a full size one forever) finally after one trip when he got really sick (and I didn't have one). I didn't need a prescription, and I remember I got it online somewhere (it's been a while). Now I don't go anywhere with him without it, and some extra zopinex (sp?).

When we fly, I put all his meds in one extra carry-on bag (full unopened liquid benedryl, epipens, inhalers, neb, plus antibiotics or whatever). Occasionally they want to look at the neb, since it's got a battery I think, but that's rare. Also, that bag does NOT count as a carry-on, since it's medical.

Hope you're feeling better now!

 

[disfan07]

Awesome! Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it. Do I have to bring a prescription for it? There is a prescription label on the box of pulmicort nebules for my son. I'm nervous travelling with it so want to make sure I have everything I need. Thanks again.

You dont need a prescription for the neb. But I would take the box of pulmicort that has the prescription label on it. I usually keep extra xoponex and pulmicort nebs in the pocket of my neb. case and I always forget they are in there. USUALLY, its not a problem but I have been stopped before becaus ethey are liquid adn they are not in the box/no label etc. Once they take them out and inspect them and compare them to the nebs that are in teh box, they clear me but its just one of those extra things that you can avoid. From my experience, I would advise you to carry any liquid prescription meds IN the box with the prescription on it. You never know what type of TSA agent you will get that day.

HTH

 

[ccgirl]

You dont need a prescription for the neb. But I would take the box of pulmicort that has the prescription label on it. I usually keep extra xoponex and pulmicort nebs in the pocket of my neb. case and I always forget they are in there. USUALLY, its not a problem but I have been stopped before becaus ethey are liquid adn they are not in the box/no label etc. Once they take them out and inspect them and compare them to the nebs that are in teh box, they clear me but its just one of those extra things that you can avoid. From my experience, I would advise you to carry any liquid prescription meds IN the box with the prescription on it. You never know what type of TSA agent you will get that day.

HTH

Perfect. Thanks again. I keep extras in the neb back too so I will make sure they are in the box with the prescription label. Thanks again for all your help.