Is there a "Support Thread" for asthma and pregnancy?

[Celticqueen]

If not, I want to start one! I know there are others out there, I just don't know them yet. So please, if you are pregnant and also suffer from asthma, I want to hear from you!

This is my 3rd pregnancy and I am displeased to say that my asthma is completely out of control this time around. I have upped my ventolin dosage to twice a day and will be starting Flovent (steroid inhaler) soon. It's really difficult for me because the first 2 pregnancies I refused to use my inhalers very often to ensure that my baby would get none of it. The difference though is that my asthma virtually went away those times so it was an easy decision. Now though, I am having 2 attacks a day. And it's getting expensive to refill so much!

I know the amount of inhalant meds I'm taking sounds horrifying to many of you natural minded readers (and typically I am very "crunchy" too) but it really comes down to oxygen. My baby needs that and my attacks can be HORRIBLE. The wheezing, the tight chest, the numbness to my hands. As a general rule of thumb, whenever an asthmatic has trouble breathing, the baby feels it even more than you do, so that's not something I'm ever willing to risk.

Not sure if I should go to the ER at some point to be on oxygen?

So, to anyone else here who has asthma during pregnancy, how are YOU managing it?? Do you have it under control or are you suffering too?

I read that 1/3 of asthmatic pregnant patients get worse symptoms during pregnancy. I apparently fall into that 1/3 this time around.

TIA for responding! I'm looking forward to hopefully hearing from other asthmatics out there who have symptoms during pregnancy.

[Celticqueen]

I just read that Flovent is in the "unknown category". At this point though, I really don't know what else I can take steroid-wise. Anyone else here have experience with it during pregnancy?

[jocelyndale]

I take antileukotrienes (accolate/zafirlukast works best for me, singulair is better for BF).  During my first pregnancy, my OB convinced me to go off of it.  I had a really bad attack while hiking.  I was lucky and had an epi inhaler on me.  But from my second trimester onward, my asthma was really worrisome.  Caffeine helped to some extent.

At the time, all other inhalers were off limits.  I used to react severely to the old propellants, but at the time we didn't know if it was the propellant or the med and my asthma pre-pregnancy wasn't severe enough to warrant inhalers.  I was fine with avoidance of cats/perfume and I began taking Accolate once I had enough cat-loving friends.  ;)  Pregnancy was not a good time to test out the new propellants. Epinephrine was strong enough to override my reaction to the propellant, apparently.

Since then, I've found out that the new propellants don't make me react.  I have a rescue inhaler (albuterol), but haven't needed a steroid inhaler.  I still use oral meds, instead.

This time around, I'm staying on my meds.  Oxygen is important.  

If you're having a lot of problems, maybe a nebulizer would help.  

[jenrose]

Just in case you haven't tried this...

I was advair/singulair/zyrtec dependent and still needing breakthrough albuterol inhalers and the occasional bout of predinsone, back in 2002-2003.

I remembered to take my advair on time every day because literally 10 minutes before it was due, my chest would start tightening again. 

One day, I started taking magnesium, 400 mg per day. I took my first dose at 10 am.

And forgot my noon inhalers. Because my chest did not get tight. (Note that if my chest ever did get tight, I would have taken my meds.)

I started taking mag every day. 

And was able to wean off everything but the antihistimine, and eventually off of the antihistimine too. 

I told my dad... and he added mag to his regimen, and was able to drop back to only using his rescue inhaler a couple times *per year* vs. inhalers every day.

When my teenager was diagnosed with mild asthma, we went home and she took mag and her chest relaxed and she never did bother picking up the inhaler prescription. 

The only breakthroughs I've had were during viral illnesses, and indeed, friends who only get asthma during viral illness do not find mag has the benefit... but I've talked to MANY people since who have used mag and been able to drop many of their meds.

My allergist, the last time he ran a lung function test, was skeptical that I'd ever had asthma, despite the fact that three or four different doctors have diagnosed me with asthma over my lifetime before I started magnesium every day.

When I am taking supplemental calcium, I make sure the mag is in balance. Between dairy and supplements, I get 1200 of calcium per day, roughly. And I take 1000 of mag per day. If I take less calcium, I can get away with less mag. I prefer mag citrate  or other easily absorbed forms. I'm not all that impressed with magnesium oxide or magnesium carbonate. 

There's research supporting it, and a very logical mechanism... mag helps relax smooth muscle... like the lungs. 

And it's VERY safe for pregnancy. 

[saimeiyu]

My asthma isn't too bad, really, overall, I just need a rescue inhaler.  But it always gets worse during pregnancy.

I never heard that about magnesium, so I think I might look into that. 

Right now I use Xopenex HFA (Levalbuterol) and it works nicely.  Much better than the albuterol sulfate I used to use as a rescue inhaler.  I don't get the tachycardia/shakiness side effects I used to get. 

But I do need to go and get a new script, because I noticed that I'm starting to have 3 or 4 attacks a week, when I can go for two or three months without an attack when not-pregnant.

[jenrose]

You need more magnesium than usual in pregnancy anyway. Really wouldn't hurt to try it. 

[Celticqueen]

Originally Posted by jocelyndale 

I take antileukotrienes (accolate/zafirlukast works best for me, singulair is better for BF).  During my first pregnancy, my OB convinced me to go off of it.  I had a really bad attack while hiking.  I was lucky and had an epi inhaler on me.  But from my second trimester onward, my asthma was really worrisome.  Caffeine helped to some extent.

At the time, all other inhalers were off limits.  I used to react severely to the old propellants, but at the time we didn't know if it was the propellant or the med and my asthma pre-pregnancy wasn't severe enough to warrant inhalers.  I was fine with avoidance of cats/perfume and I began taking Accolate once I had enough cat-loving friends.  ;)  Pregnancy was not a good time to test out the new propellants. Epinephrine was strong enough to override my reaction to the propellant, apparently.

Since then, I've found out that the new propellants don't make me react.  I have a rescue inhaler (albuterol), but haven't needed a steroid inhaler.  I still use oral meds, instead.

This time around, I'm staying on my meds.  Oxygen is important.  

If you're having a lot of problems, maybe a nebulizer would help.  

So Accolate works for you then? I have been prescribed that in the past but didn't stay on it for that long (gave up too soon). Maybe I'll consider going back on it- I think it's pregnancy safe. Thanks for mentioning it!

[Celticqueen]

Originally Posted by saimeiyu 

My asthma isn't too bad, really, overall, I just need a rescue inhaler.  But it always gets worse during pregnancy.

I never heard that about magnesium, so I think I might look into that. 

Right now I use Xopenex HFA (Levalbuterol) and it works nicely.  Much better than the albuterol sulfate I used to use as a rescue inhaler.  I don't get the tachycardia/shakiness side effects I used to get. 

But I do need to go and get a new script, because I noticed that I'm starting to have 3 or 4 attacks a week, when I can go for two or three months without an attack when not-pregnant.

3-4 attacks a week! That's where I've been at- glad to know I'm not the only severity here. I too am going to try magnesium. It seems that I've been at the end of my rope trying to find something that works. 

I did start taking a steroid inhaler (flo vent) 2 weeks ago and haven't had an attack since then although I wish I didn't have to take ANY inhalers. As the PP stated though, oxygen is important, so I'll take it if nothing else works.

[jocelyndale]

Originally Posted by Celticqueen 

So Accolate works for you then? I have been prescribed that in the past but didn't stay on it for that long (gave up too soon). Maybe I'll consider going back on it- I think it's pregnancy safe. Thanks for mentioning it!

It works very well for me.  My asthma is primarily triggered by environmental allergies (cats and people who have been around cats, fragrance, mold spores & pollen).  I rarely need the albuterol inhaler when I'm on Accolate. I take the generic these days.

[jenrose]

Magnesium falls under the "can't hurt, might dang near cure" category. It absolutely won't stop any of your meds from working, and if you take it, and still have symptoms, you keep taking your meds. But when it works, in my experience, it works pretty completely. May not even take that much. The only reason I'm on 1000 mg is because I'm taking supplemental calcium. When I'm not pg, I don't take extra calcium, and can get by with as little as 400 mg of mag per day. 

[cameragirl]

I started a thread awhile back for those of us dealing with chronic conditions. I haven't kept up with it, but I should. I have a completely different issue. For me it is a neurological condition that causes muscle rigidity, spasms, and falls. Seeing a perinatologist about my medication really assured me. I don't like taking medication, but I have to. At the worst, I could go into respiratory failure, at the least I could fall and seriously hurt myself or baby. I know that some have strong opinions about medications, but most understand that you have a serious condition that HAS to be treated for your safety and the baby's.

I'll dig up that other thread and update it. I think it does help to have an outlet, even if you aren't sharing the same condition. Good luck with your pregnancy, and I hope you're able to get the asthma under control soon!