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Posted 4/2/2017 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
I'm curious if Lyme and/or con-infections and asthma meds might not be playing well together.

I've always had asthma. When it gets really bad and inhalers aren't helping, I take Prednisone. I read a post here that said Prednisone is bad for your immune system. That explains why I often end up feeling pretty bad after more than a few days of Prednisone.

Do corticosteroids cause the same problems? I'm curious because I have tried nearly every long term inhaler available and every time I've used them, I feel worse. My emergency inhaler doesn't work as well and I end up with bronchitis every 2 to 4 months while I'm taking it. The doctors tell me I have to take it long term to see the benefits but I always feel much better when I stop taking them.

I understand Babesia causes something called "air hunger" which totally makes sense to me. The times inhalers don't work it isn't the same as wheezing, it's a low level feeling of not getting enough air vs feeling like something is squeezing my lungs. Hope that makes sense. Could corticosteroids be causing problems like Prednisone?

I'm having another "omg, it finally makes sense!" moment and want to make sure I'm not grabbing at straws or completely misunderstanding things (a very real possibility, I'm in way over my head but trying to learn!) Any help would be wonderful smile
Posted 4/2/2017 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Prednisolone is a corticosteroid so yes, you would expect the same problems and yes they would most likely exasibate the lyme symptoms.
Posted 4/2/2017 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
It's quite possible that you don't have 'actual' asthma, but that you have other infections causing those same symptoms/feelings. Mycoplasma and Babesia can both affect our lungs and make us feel as though we can't get enough air.

And, as Silly Sheep said, the steroids will cause issues with lowering your immune function - thus allowing your infections to not have to fight your immune system in order to stick around.

Do you have a LLMD? I'm NOT suggesting that you go without your inhalers - a good LLMD can still help you find a way through this for treating the infections. A really good herbalist should be able to as well.
Posted 4/2/2017 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Just checked with my mum, she's asthmatic but doesn't have lyme, and she like you takes Prednisolone when it's bad.

After her last real bad attack (ended in ICU stay) a doc recommended that she take a daily dose of zirtec so as to combat the allergic reaction (however mild) that triggers the asthma. This is a preventative measure. Since she started that a year ago her asthma has been greatly reduced in severity and she hasn't needed the Prednisolone.

Not saying that this is your solution but it may be worth discussing with your doc?

The doc who treated my mum wasn't her regular doc (in the uk) but a greek specialist at the hospital in greece. She couldn't understand why my mum wasn't already taking them daily. Apparently it is standard practice in greece.
Posted 4/2/2017 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Silly Sheep and Traveler smile I've had asthma since I was very young, so I think I'm stuck with it (I really hope I'm wrong). It's hard to explain the difference. With asthma there is a fight to get air in, usually with lots of squeaky wheezing and an emergency inhaler works. Then there are times I can't get enough air, but it isn't a fight like with an asthma attack and the inhaler doesn't work. Doctors have told me for years to use long term inhalers, but they make me feel worse overall and I end up with lots of Bronchitis. I think Lyme or a co-infection is responsible for the not getting enough air feeling. When I read Prednisone could cause problems if someone has Lyme, a bunch of light bulbs went off in my head.

I don't have a LLMD. I've been to so many doctors and only one was willing to talk to me about things that could cause all my symptoms, not just throw meds at each symptom. Going to try to condense this. One doctor did think I have Lyme, there was a test that was negative, but she gave me a big prescription for Doxycycline (no idea what test was done). I only lasted a week on Doxycycline, that was a gastronomical nightmare of epic proportions.

That was over a year ago and real life has thrown us several curve balls since then. My dad had prostrate cancer (now doing fine!), both my in laws have had strokes, everything got put on the back burner to take care of them. We're finally back at a point I can look into Lyme again. The one nice doctor is no longer on our insurance and is an hour away. Looking for a new doctor makes me want to cry, it's hard enough to find one that won't argue with me about not taking long term inhalers. When I was looking for supplements for Lyme symptoms, I stumbled on natural treatments. I decided to try natural instead of spending another dozen copays and all the frustration involved. I've had some improvements already, one is that my asthma is a little better...but the feeling of not getting enough air comes and goes, usually when everything else is flaring up which usually involves Prednisone and corticosteroid inhalers, not just the emergency one.

I am so sorry for the TMI overload, I hope I explained things a little better. The point is, I don't feel bad about stopping the long term inhalers, for that a huge thank you! There is a reason they make me feel bad and it isn't "in my head". There are a few doctors I really want to call and give a big old raspberry to for making me feel so stupid for thinking term inhalers were making me sick (not doing so good with the maturity thing today lol)

Silly Sheep, I have zirtec, but only take it when I have allergies. I'm going to start taking it daily and see if that helps. If nothing else, I'll sneeze, itch and drip less smile Thank you so much for checking with your mom to get info!
Posted 4/2/2017 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
I had been using the advair inhaler for some years before I found out any kind of steroid form depressed the immune system and messed with our ability to fight Lyme and co., and right about the same time I learned that steroids also add to the development of osteoporosis, which I also have.

I stopped taking the advair, but not my rescue inhaler which doesn't seem to have any steroid in it.

I have allowed one steroid shot Winter before last when my bronchitis was threatening to give me pneumonia.
But I refuse to use it twice a day.
Posted 4/2/2017 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Niarosa-I don't have Asthma but both of my kids do so I'm pretty familiar with it. I've been experiencing more than usual air hunger lately so I scrounged around the house knowing that there was still a peak flow meter here somewhere as we had lots of them when my kids were growing up. I was able to find one and using it gave me peace of mind that I was getting enough oxygen.

If you don't have one get one. That will let you determine if you are dealing with asthma or air hunger. If it's just air hunger you don't need to use your meds. If it's asthma and your numbers are really low you have to.

The issue with any type of steroid is that it inhibits our immune response. That's great for some things-like bronchial swelling. Awful for fighting disease.
Posted 4/2/2017 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
No probs, I hope it helped a little!! My mum has had asthma all her life, my sister is a sufferer too, as was my grandma and other members of my family - I got lucky there I guess smile

Don't apologise, there's no such thing as TMI here, it helps us to know how to help, and it's good for you to be able to get stuff off your chest ('scuse' the pun!) and also get all the info you need to make a more informed decision. And just remember that it is your decision; many here, myself included, have had 'run ins' with doctors like those you describe, who do not or cannot deal with Lyme and our bodies as a whole. One symptom, one med, one speciality is not always what we require.

That said you must play it safe with asthma as I well know it can be life threatening and fatal if not controlled, so it is important to make informed choices regarding how you choose to medicate for it in both the long and short term.

There are many natural routes as far as Lyme and co are concerned. I am on Buhners protocol, though there are others too. I would recommend looking into them. Buhner has a website with the basic info on it, but he also has a new book out (as of last year) called Healing Lyme which is more upto date and contains protocols for co infections too. I am currently treating Lyme and Bartonella and I have had much success I am happy to say!! I am doing this without an LLMD or other doc. It is feasible to undertake this yourself if you decide to.

As for doxy it can cause gastro problems. I don't know if you will be trying it again but it is important to be aware that many people (myself included) can only tolerate it on a full stomach (I took it during a meal) and with plenty of water. Even then though it can cause problems for some.

Air hunger (as opposed to an asthma attack - even a mild one) isn't like the fight for air - I have experienced air hunger and it was not like my mum's asthma. As you may know it is commonly associated with Babesia, so it could be that you have this as a co-infection?

It certainly isn't 'all in your head' that's a certainty!! We've been there too, lol!!I will join you in raspberry blowing....maturity doesn't suit me any day of the week, LOL!!!

Can I ask what herbals you have taken, since you mention you have had improvements. Also what you are doing by way of detoxing, as that is a vital part of treatment for Lyme and Co too.

Now I am apologising for the long post, LOL! Please ignore anything that isn't relevant, lol!! And keep asking questions - the folks here will be more than happy to help in any way they can smile
Posted 4/3/2017 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
I have been asthmatic since I was a child and I'm now 59. I think I took every med available for asthma that came out along with years of allergy shots. I took Advair when it first came out and for the first ten years, it was a miracle drug. It was like I didn't have asthma. Then the upper respiratory infections came one right after another. I was on abx and prednisone for almost a year. Then I kept ending up in the ER and finally the hospital. My pulmonologist said that upper respiratory infections were a side effect of long term use of Advair. He also said I should expect to be hospitalized at least once a year from now on. I was 50 years old. I thought if that were true I would be dead by 55 if I was lucky.

That's when I sought out different types of medical care. I'm not sure how I found him, but I lucked out. I found an acupuncturist who trained in Russia. I went twice a week for 4 months and by the end of it, my asthma was almost completely gone. I still have to use my fast-acting inhaler in the spring in fall on top of allergy medicine but for the most part, I'm asthma free. Two years ago, I got pneumonia and didn't end up in the hospital which was the first time that ever happened. I'm not sure where to find acupuncturist trained in Russia, but he was a godsend. He didn't have the ambiance that other acupuncturists I've been to had and it hurt like hell but it was worth it. It was a shot in the dark and one that paid off.

I have no doubt that all the prednisone I've taken over the years ruined my immune system and that's how a dormant Lyme infection surfaced among my hypothyroidism and other health issues. But when you can't breathe there isn't much else you can do. I just thought I would let you know about my experience.

Best of luck to you.
Posted 4/7/2017 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
Thank all of you so much! I just did my "I'M NOT CRAZY!" happy dance again, it's just flailing in my chair, but the dogs enjoy it lol. Sorry this is a few days late, one of the improvements is sleep, beautiful, glorious sleep. I've had insomnia for over twenty years, the last ten it's gotten so bad I rarely get more than an hour or two at a time. The last three days, I haven't lasted more than a few hours without falling asleep, it is wonderful.

jrpsf - a peak flow meter is now on my shopping list. Thank you so much for the suggestion. Using inhalers is such a habit for me, I don't even think about it until it doesn't work. This should help me stop habit puffing when it's not going to help.

Laker7491 - I'm so sorry you've had to go through so much. The relief knowing it isn't just me is making such a huge different. I've felt so hopeless for so long, the relief is indescribable. I've never tried acupuncture, but my horizons are quickly becoming much broader!

Silly Sheep - I've been reading a lot on Buhner's website and just got his book "Healing Lyme" (2015 version). His book on co-infections is on my shopping list as well. I'm pretty sure Babesia is part of my problems, sweaty hot or cold especially when I try to sleep is a big issue, my husband says my thermostat is broken lol. That is one of the things that has improved, it's not gone, but even a 10% improvement is huge for me and I think that's at least partly why I'm actually getting some sleep.

On my ever growing shopping list is the C.S.A. combination formula from woodland essence. Otherwise what I'm doing now is Monolaurin, Cat's Claw, Milk Thistle, just added Japanese Knotweed and Magnesium oil. Have felt like the flu when I started Monolaurin and when I upped it to 2 caps a day. I was already taking Ashwagandha, Maca root, omega 3, garlic, probiotics.

I also started methyl versions of B12 and Folate a few weeks before I started Monolaurin etc. I know those are helping too, less brain fog and just feeling more human. Hoping they will help my immune system and detox in general. I freaked out when I read a sign of MTHFR was tongue tie, had to have that piece of skin cut when I was in high school (they finally figured out why I mumbled).

For detoxing I just started with dry brushing, it's a little rough so there's going to be a break in period (or I got a really pokey brush). I'm doing Epsom salt foot soaks since we only have showers, something I've whined about since we moved here lol. I'm doing every 3rd day, working up to daily. I read Magnesium helps, so added that as oil to spray on. I read Milk Thistle is good for helping the liver and detoxing.
Lots of drinking water. If I need to do more things for detox, please let me know!

And Silly Sheep, please don't apologize for a long post. Information, kind words, ideas, all of it is so helpful! And I'm hugging my monitor again.
Posted 4/7/2017 7:01 AM (GMT 0)
See www.cpnhelp.org...cpn attacks the lungs
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