Pregnant with asthma

riogirl71 · Post by **riogirl71** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:18 pm

I was wondering how many of you girls have asthma and to what degree, and what meds are you on?

I had very light asthma (1x or 2x a year) until last year when it became all the time. It is probably allergies. I am taking Pulmicort 2x a day and I also have Provair as a rescue inhaler. This has been a little frustrating...

Thank you!

CroElla · Post by **CroElla** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:31 pm

I am not speaking from my own experience, but I remember a friend of mine that have quite heavy version of asthma, telling me that during her pregnancy she did not have one single attack! Doctors told her that it is common for a pregnant body to take care of it self

She had her inhaler with her all the time, and I'm unsure if she was on medication or not, but the fact that she went through the pregnancy without attacks is a miracle for it self

I hope you'll have a same experience

Good luck!

riogirl71 · Post by **riogirl71** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:37 pm

that is a wonderful story - thank you for sharing! I hope I can miss the asthma attacks while pregnant!

Mellie_1233 · Post by **Mellie_1233** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:47 pm

Hi Rio! I have asthma, too. It used to be a real problem. I ended up in the ER once and twice I had to be put on prednizone for bad attacks. I also cracked a rib 1x from coughing so much due to asthma. Sometimes it would get so bad I would throw up or dry heave and that usually calmed things down.

Before we started trying to conceive I asked to be sent to a really good allergist. She did a bunch of tests and put me on meds that were tolerable during pregnancy. I do 2 puffs of pulmicort, two sprays of rhinocort, and a singular tablet every day. I haven't had a problem since. I can't even remember the last time I used my rescue inhaler and, honestly, I'm not even sure where they are!

I should've taken better care of my health from the start. It was once we started trying to conceive that I got more aggressive about my care and asked to be sent to an allergist. I can't imagine why my GP didn't do that years ago. My lungs feel great now!

caligirl · Post by **caligirl** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:05 pm

Hello riogirl and Mellie_1233,
I have asthma too, but before I got pregnant I was well controlled and had no problems with it. But the day I found out about my pregnancy, I started noticing wheezing and chest tightness, I used pulmicort too but the powder irritated my throat even more and made me cough terribly. Now I'm using flovent and albuterol rescue (which I probably use twice a week). My triggering sources are cold weather, cold beverages...anything cold. When I exercise I start coughing, but respond well to albuterol. Anyways, waiting for summer to have some relief. I guess asthma can get better or worse during pregnancy.

riogirl71 · Post by **riogirl71** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:35 pm

I am glad not to be the only one battling asthma! I went to an allergist and basically I am allergic to all grasses, weeds and trees around where I live

The pulmicort is helping a bit, but I still use provair 2 or 3 times a week. Is singular safe for pregnancy? I know pulmicort and albuterol are safe and have been studied a lot. I was hoping it was going to get better!!

Mellie_1233 · Post by **Mellie_1233** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:55 pm

Hi Rio, It sounds like we have similar allergies. I can't remember how drugs are classified but I think singulair isn't in the "safest" category. Actually, now you've got me curious, let me look this up...ok......here's what I found:
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http://www.drugs.com/singulair.html

FDA pregnancy category B. Singulair is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Singulair passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Singulair without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
------------------

I don't know if this is a good site or not but this actually fits w/what I remember. I've been to 3 RE's and 1 obgyn and they've all said the same thing: oxygen for you and your baby is too important not to take your meds.

Probably best to ask your doc, though, if you think you might need additional meds. As we all know, different docs sometimes have different ideas.

riogirl71 · Post by **riogirl71** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:06 pm

Mellie - I agree - you need to breathe and you can't be stressed out because it is worse for the baby. I think I will stick to Pulmicort and provair since it is mild right now and I will ask my doctor about adding singulair at some point. I am new to this since my asthma was once a year and the past year it has become chronic, very frustrating. Are you going to do allergy shots? I am looking at that option after the baby is born...

Mellie_1233 · Post by **Mellie_1233** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:58 am

Rio: Nope. No allergy shots for me. I've never had them. I actually never had allergies or asthma until I was about 25. I've found a protocol that works for me and I don't expect to change it unless it stops working. I've always heard (don't know if it's true, though) that asthma gets worse for some people during pregnancy but for others it gets better. Strange, huh?

Pregnant with asthma

Pregnant with asthma

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