Question:

I could post the stories because of the way they are written.  But I think it is interesting and I hope you do too.  UM MOM Susan Clean living may be tied to asthma ** Clean living may be tied to asthma ** http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_email.asp?/news/718082.asp ** New vaccine cuts staph infection risk ** An experimental vaccine appears to slash the risk of staph infection — a potentially deadly problem that plagues nearly 200,000 Americans during hospitalization a year, killing 40,000. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_email.asp?/news/706663.asp ** Clean living may be tied to asthma ** New  research offers a surprising explanation for why asthma has become a nationwide epidemic involving 5 million children. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_email.asp?/news/718082.asp

Response:

This is a very interesting topic .I don’t believe it at all.People are also dying from lung disease not only from asthma but other lung and heart conditions in areas with most pollution at a greater rate.In areas in the US , that have more pollution , the number of people getting the diseases are increasing although that study and link have mysteriously disappeared from my collection.I have tried to study, in my won limited non scientific way certain observations about the number of people exercising outdoors and the people who I know in Iowa for example doing the same.Without any doubt in the world , the people in cleaner areas seem to be able to do it for longer periods without the digress in numbers I see on the east coast.I wish I had the means to prove it or  move, because at this point, less govt.policy changing ,this  is the only way for people who have breathing problems related to the quality of air outdoors or indoors to do something positive in my view .By the way I had many of the childhood diseases.This explanation above , while probably  true in some degree,is not the answer in  my estimation in explaining what I have seen.-Rick (Ps  if you have a place to rent in Colorado springs,Northern California, or Washington State area) and would accept someone with gov housing, please email, thanks

Response:

Question:

On Thu, 22 Jun 2000 22:22:40 GMT, "ConnieD" <nom…@tebenet.nl

wrote: Hello one and all, I do hope you will be able to help me with the bombshell that dropped on me yesterday!

I’m sorry.

Firstly my name is Connie, a Brit living in The Netherlands.

Hi Connie the Brit.

I don’t even know how to start this one honestly so forgive me if I seem to jump about a bit, I don’t even understand it yet.

never you mind that – I am the Queen of Rambling.  :)

Foaming urine

Whoosh.  that’s a list.  "Foaming Urine?"  I assume this is due to protein in the urine as proteins do have a tendency to "foam".

I NEED advice on this condition please and also some support if there is any around. It knocked me for 6 with the heart  problems but this has taken the wind out of my sails. I am NOT giving up though, too much to do and too little time to fit it all in but if any of you can supply advice I would be extremely grateful.

Well, the best advice I can give at this moment is to join in the discussion here, read whatever you can that is *within* the last 5 years, check into The Lupus Book by Daniel Wallace (an excellent and easy to read resource) and be prepared to have *no* diagnosis as much as *a* diagnosis. many of us have the textbook symptoms but no diagnosis because of our labs being semi-normal or our doctors being very conservative. Most importantly, Lupus is not a death sentence.  It is not fun to have and yes, about 10% of all cases involve major organ damage and of that 10% about 60% will have a significantly shortened life-span.  But for the majority of lupus patients, life-span is about average though the quality of life can suck at times.

I don’t want sympathy, I have that from my family, I am not even angry just perplexed and ignorant.

You certainly don’t seem ignorant – and the fact that you are actively seeking both support and information says loads about your intelligence IMO.  The support here is wonderful as it is on other lupus forums.  I linger here and the Hamline University Lupus-L mailing list which is an excellent source of support *for me*. Everyone is different. I would highly recommend reading our FAQ  - Section five has a gazillion URLs on the WWW that will give you very up-to-date info as well as various resources for support.  Especially, note the Lupus Foundation of America sites and three "Brit" sites – St. Thomas Lupus Trust, Andy’s Lupus Pages and Joanne’s Lupus pages. there are numerous other excellent sites and many are personal stories that might be of value you to you in understanding the emotions we tend to go through upon diagnosis or non-diagnosis as the case may be. If you do *not* get a diagnosis, understand that this does not mean that there is nothing wrong and that you can just go about your business.  Symptoms still need to be heeded and treated as I imagine your doctor will do.  Sometimes that isn’t the case though so you should be aware of this as well.  I would prefer that nothing be wrong – but you don’t want to ignore potential risks and many people have lupus-like symptoms without every developing a full diagnosis. The faq is located at http://www.ghg.net/schwerpt/aslfaq20.htm or http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/lupus/katfaq.htm Past that, if you have any specific questions feel free to post them here! Someone can usually give you an answer or point you in the right direction. Take care, KCat P’d and e’d by intent

Response:

<<TOGETHER we went through the symptoms of lupus and OK it was reading up from a medical text book, he seems to think I have SLE . We talked at length about the possibilities of this being a diagnosis and he says that as I have the following conditions there is a good chance that I do infact have this condition.

Sounds like you’re really going through a lot right now.  You didn’t ask for any sympathy, but you have it nonetheless.   Anyway, you asked for information.  The FAQs to which Kcat referred are great and I do recommend you check them out.  I also wanted to give you a few websites to start with since starting with too many can be overwhelming at first.   Sandra Lupus Foundation of America (Lots of current information and support groups.) http://internet-plaza.net/lupus/ Lupus Around the World (ONE OF MY FAVORITES!  Great search function, Ask a Doc, and support groups.) http://www.mtio.com/lupus North East Lupus Group Homepage (Andy Taylor’s Page)  (One of the best lupus websites around.)    http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/lupus/index.htm About.com (Literally tons of information and links on many other topics as well.) http://lupus.about.com/health/lupus/ Articles (A huge collection of articles on lupus written by rheumatologists.)    http://slc.quik.com/longhair/lupus/articles.html SjSWorld     http://www.msworld.org/sjogrens/sjogrens.htm People with Sjogren’s http://dry.org/community.html

Response:

welcome to our daydream… has anyone seen the following site… http://healingwell.com/lupus/ "SCroyle909" <scroyle…@aol.com

wrote in message

news:20000622235757.13910.00000084@ng-ci1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

<<TOGETHER we went through the symptoms of lupus and OK it was reading up

from

a medical text book, he seems to think I have SLE . We talked at length about the possibilities of this being a diagnosis and he says that as I

have

the following conditions there is a good chance that I do infact have this condition. Sounds like you’re really going through a lot right now.  You didn’t ask

for

any sympathy, but you have it nonetheless. Anyway, you asked for information.  The FAQs to which Kcat referred are

great

and I do recommend you check them out.  I also wanted to give you a few websites to start with since starting with too many can be overwhelming at first. Sandra Lupus Foundation of America (Lots of current information and support

groups.)

http://internet-plaza.net/lupus/ Lupus Around the World (ONE OF MY FAVORITES!  Great search function, Ask a

Doc,

and support groups.) http://www.mtio.com/lupus North East Lupus Group Homepage (Andy Taylor’s Page)  (One of the best

lupus

websites around.)    http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/lupus/index.htm About.com (Literally tons of information and links on many other topics as well.) http://lupus.about.com/health/lupus/ Articles (A huge collection of articles on lupus written by

rheumatologists.)

 http://slc.quik.com/longhair/lupus/articles.html SjSWorld     http://www.msworld.org/sjogrens/sjogrens.htm People with Sjogren’s http://dry.org/community.html

Response:

ConnieD wrote: …if any of you can supply advice… Thanks in advance and apologies if this was long<

If you spend time reading all of the posts in this group for a while, you will learn quite a bit about disease management.  Each of us has been affected by lupus in our own way.  You’ll draw your own conclusions (and strength) from reading this and other resources. My best advice at this time would be for you to be as good to your self as possible by listening to your body – it knows more than your brain does.  Of course the a advice will change as you progress through this diagnosis. Apologies are not necessary for long posts.  THIS is the place for freedom of expression regarding lupus issues.  You’ll find a range of people here who have respect for each other, and a lot of empathy, too. to our health kelly

Response:

Thanks to all who have posted or mailed privately I do appreceiate it very, very much I assure you. I am still working my way through all the info you have kindly forwarded along and at the moment the realization that "IT" may be SLE is still trying to knock it’s way into my acceptance as well as that of my family. Thank heavens they have been through the past 20 years with me and different difficulties otherwise I would have been lost. I don’t know what is worse, the waiting for the results or the reading of what may lay ahead BUT I remain determined that I will do my utmost not to allow this to bring me down to it’s level should the outcome not be what I would like. Two weeks are a long time to wait but I shall be able to employ that time in learning—something I thought I had ended a few years ago but life is full of little surprises isn’t it? I know, I am rambling, I just want to ask so much and don’t know where to begin until I have that diagnosis or with good fortune not, I should imagine that each one on this group knows just what I am feeling at the present time. Keep that smile ready for anyone who asks "How are you then"? Just reply ‘Oh not too bad, cheers" yet feeling that this is something that I have to use to make me put my house in order and I don’t mean by cleaning it either.  Yesterday my DH and I sat reading different articles about the condition together, now that is a first, usually it is me reading them on my own but this is something that we have to go through together and hopefully be able to cope with as we have done with the other medical conditions. The most difficult part for me personally is knowing that my 2 DS’s and my darling grandsons may run the risk of developing something from me which I wouldn’t want them to have. My oldest son, 28 is already arthritic , gone through the removal of his patella and now nursing a dislocated shoulder from lifting one of his babies out of a car seat. Our grandsons were both diagnosed with asthma a couple of weeks ago on the same day, one is aged 5 months the other 16 months and I feel that I have in some part contributed to this and that is hard to accept. Was this from me direct, is my son arthritic because I am, well I have my own conclusions but if nothing else I shall be able to help them through the hard times if any lie ahead, after all come August it will be 20 years since I was first diagnosed with arthritic conditions so I have some experiences to draw upon. I wish you all wellness and may the pain you may have tomorrow be less than what you endured today. Best wishes ConnieD. "MADKELLY" <madke…@aol.com

wrote in message

news:20000624104210.10148.00000054@ng-mf1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

ConnieD wrote: …if any of you can supply advice… Thanks in advance and apologies if this was long< If you spend time reading all of the posts in this group for a while, you

will

learn quite a bit about disease management.  Each of us has been affected

by

lupus in our own way.  You’ll draw your own conclusions (and strength)

from

reading this and other resources. My best advice at this time would be for you to be as good to your self as possible by listening to your body – it knows more than your brain does.

Of

course the a advice will change as you progress through this diagnosis. Apologies are not necessary for long posts.  THIS is the place for freedom

of

expression regarding lupus issues.  You’ll find a range of people here who

have

respect for each other, and a lot of empathy, too. to our health kelly

Response:

On Sat, 24 Jun 2000 15:08:24 GMT, "ConnieD" <nom…@tebenet.nl

wrote: I know, I am rambling, I just want to ask so much and don’t know where to begin until I have that diagnosis or with good fortune not, I should imagine that each one on this group knows just what I am feeling at the present time.

pretty much, hon.  I was in sort of the opposite situation… I had been sick for several years and had many of the clinical signs (few of them seen by a doctor – several doctors literally *refused* to take my temperature when I sat in their office saying I feel feverish *now*) anyway… so I was struggling to find *some* answer.  I don’t/didn’t want it to be autoimmune disease but I knew it my heart it was.  I usually understand my own body pretty well.  So getting no answer for a long time left me feeling stupid, crazy, etc.  OTOH, I now hope I will never get a full SLE dx.  That would mean by my doc’s POV that my organs have become involved and that would be scary like what you are going through.

Keep that smile ready for anyone who asks "How are you then"? Just reply ‘Oh not too bad, cheers" yet feeling that this is something that I have to use to make me put my house in order and I don’t mean by cleaning it either.

It’s hard to smile all the time when you often feel like crud.  I believe the Brits are better at it than most of us Yanks (okay.. not necessarily *smiling* but not whining.  <G

)    Yesterday my DH and I sat reading different articles about the condition together, now that is a first, usually it is me reading them on my own but this is something that we have to go through together and hopefully be able to cope with as we have done with the other medical conditions.

It is good that he is reading with you and trying to understand.  it will be especially important in times of flares or symptoms that might incapacitate you temporarily or otherwise.  I used to get "You’re just under stress" or "you just need a good hot bath".  After my hubby read a couple of books and URLs he realized that what was going on was simply not that simple.  He still says "maybe a hot bath would help" but he doesn’t blow off my complaints as emotional.  He’s very supportive and is the one that keeps me from coming off all my meds because he worries I’ll flare – and I’m just sick of meds.  

The most difficult part for me personally is knowing that my 2 DS’s and my darling grandsons may run the risk of developing something from me which I wouldn’t want them to have.

well, I understand this fear.  My daughter is having some problems herself and apparently inherited her grandmother’s hypothyroidism at a very early age.  She sleeps a *lot* and has daily low-grade fevers but her ANA is only 1:80 so the docs are just treating her with tylenol or naproxen for now.  I have given her 5 mg Lortab at times (with the doc’s approval) when her pain is beyond tolerance.  But she hates the "fuzzy" feeling they give her.  BUT, the facts are that your grandkids and kids stand only a barely slighter than the normal population’s chance of developing SLE.  The chance of developing *some* autoimmune disease are probably statistically higher but they’re just now really trying to figure all that out.

My oldest son, 28 is already arthritic , gone through the removal of his patella and now nursing a dislocated shoulder from lifting one of his babies out of a car seat. Our grandsons were both diagnosed with asthma a couple of weeks ago on the same day, one is aged 5 months the other 16 months

one thing about this.  My daughter has asthma (as did I, as does my sister, as does my mom but she calls it "a cough").  Other than my sister, the rest of us have atypical asthma – that is attacks rarely include wheezing but instead are characterized by an uncontrollable cough and of course, loss of oxygen.  My daughter seems to have outgrown much of her asthma – she can still get the wind knocked out of her about once a year if she gets complacent (for instance, she cleaned her bathroom closet out last year and I didn’t even think about the mold growing in there and she is very allergic to mold).  So the little ones might be quite able to control their asthma – new inhalants can do wonders and have very little systemic effect so are safe for young people.

shall be able to help them through the hard times if any lie ahead,

Did you read the section on Lupus genetics in the FAQ?  It explains a lot of current thought in this regard.  Also, there are probably quite a few articles availble through Medscape or Pubmed that detail what is known up to this point as well as theories.  

I wish you all wellness and may the pain you may have tomorrow be less than what you endured today. Best wishes ConnieD.

thank you… that is a good "wish".  Take good care of yourself.  I’m glad you are comfortable with sharing this with us. KCat

Response:

I NEED advice on this condition please and also some support if there is any around.

Check out my Lupus homepage, it has links to many helpful Lupus sites that are great for new lupies.  It is http://hometown.aol.com/lbit18/.  I hope this is of some help to you.  God bless! Patricia  :-)

Response:

Hi Sandra, I tried your link : Articles (A huge collection of articles on lupus written by rheumatologists.)  http://slc.quik.com/longhair/lupus/articles.html   and couldn’t get to the site.  The screen displayed the message that the site is down or doesn’t exist or whatever.  I tried the sic.quik.com/ site itself but couldn’t get to the longhair/lupus/articles.html part of it. It sounds great.  Do you think it’s down for updating? Take care, Barbara SCroyle909 <scroyle…@aol.com

wrote in message

news:20000622235757.13910.00000084@ng-ci1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

Anyway, you asked for information.  The FAQs to which Kcat referred are

great

and I do recommend you check them out.  I also wanted to give you a few websites to start with since starting with too many can be overwhelming at first. Sandra Lupus Foundation of America (Lots of current information and support

groups.)

http://internet-plaza.net/lupus/ Lupus Around the World (ONE OF MY FAVORITES!  Great search function, Ask a

Doc,

and support groups.) http://www.mtio.com/lupus North East Lupus Group Homepage (Andy Taylor’s Page)  (One of the best

lupus

websites around.)    http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/lupus/index.htm About.com (Literally tons of information and links on many other topics as well.) http://lupus.about.com/health/lupus/ Articles (A huge collection of articles on lupus written by

rheumatologists.)

 http://slc.quik.com/longhair/lupus/articles.html SjSWorld     http://www.msworld.org/sjogrens/sjogrens.htm People with Sjogren’s http://dry.org/community.html

Response:

Sorry for the problem accessing those articles.  You should still be able to access them through this website though. They may well have updated those articles and changed the format and headings.  I just checked though, and the information is there in the website.    What is Antiphospholipid Syndrome? (THE BEST!!)   http://members.aol.com/AMAmail/Anti.html Sandra

Response:

In article <20000702160922.17214.00000…@ng-fh1.aol.com

, SCroyle909

<scroyle…@aol.com

writes Sorry for the problem accessing those articles.  You should still be able to access them through this website though. They may well have updated those articles and changed the format and headings.  I just checked though, and the information is there in the website.   What is Antiphospholipid Syndrome? (THE BEST!!)   http://members.aol.com/AMAmail/Anti.html

You could also have a look at <URL: http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/lupus/faqshets/faqs14.htm

and <URL: http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/lupus/faqshets/faqs18.htm

— Andy For Austrian philately <URL: http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/austamps/

For Lupus <URL: http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/lupus/

For my other interests <URL: http://www.kitzbuhel.demon.co.uk/

Response:

Hello one and all, I do hope you will be able to help me with the bombshell that dropped on me yesterday! Firstly my name is Connie, a Brit living in The Netherlands. I have a "bit" of a problem and need advice re SLE Lupus. I don’t even know how to start this one honestly so forgive me if I seem to jump about a bit, I don’t even understand it yet. I have been suffering from swollen legs and ankles since about February and put it down to a fall I had in mid January so give it time to settle down again. The legs were really hurting and then I had two heart attacks within a month and was diagnosed with an aortic stenosis, the heart muscle and arteries thickening, cholesterol problems and angina, so I had had enough of doctors for the time being , however I visited my doctor yesterday and we had a long chat about certain concerns, my delight that my BP had dropped considerably and that my cholesterol levels had dropped from high 7 to 4.2. Then comes the whammy. I described certain symptoms to him and asked him outright if I could be tested for Lupus, with no hesitation at all he has done and I have been for the initial blood/urine tests today. TOGETHER we went through the symptoms of lupus and OK it was reading up from a medical text book, he seems to think I have SLE . We talked at length about the possibilities of this being a diagnosis and he says that as I have the following conditions there is a good chance that I do infact have this condition. RA, Plus other forms of arthritis for 20 years Skin disorders, Urticaria, Quinkes Oedema Anaphylaxis Swollen legs and feet, Partial Loss of hair,  Partial Loss of memory, Heart problems, Artery problems, Lung problems, Fatigue, Allergies, Sjorgrens Syndrome. Mouth Ulcers and bleeding gums. Burning and itching legs, Foaming urine I NEED advice on this condition please and also some support if there is any around. It knocked me for 6 with the heart  problems but this has taken the wind out of my sails. I am NOT giving up though, too much to do and too little time to fit it all in but if any of you can supply advice I would be extremely grateful. I don’t want sympathy, I have that from my family, I am not even angry just perplexed and ignorant. I have searched around for info and despite me wanting to see contradictions that this is not a form of Lupus, I don’t seem to be able to find any. If you wish to contact me privately then please do so on siv…@tebenet.NOSPAMnl Remove NOSPAM if responding. Thanks in advance and apologies if this was long. ConnieD. http://www.egroups.com/group/Enschede_Firework_Disaster_Quilt http://pages.about.com/davis51/index.html

Response:

Question:

I don’t know if Plaquenil causes the bruising (I take it too).  My colds seem to never go away and I developed allergies after moving back here from Florida 12 years ago.  I never had them before, so I think it was lupus related.  I have chronic bronchitis so I guess that’s part of it too.  The doctor’s are talking about operating on a finger I injured two months ago. It still hasn’t healed.  I’m wondering how long it will take to get over that. Hugs Cheryl – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -sue ball wrote in message …

I also noticed this longer time for healing.  Do you also notice that allergies are worse than usual?  I’ve been fighting asthma (new to me) and colds last forever.  I also have the bruising…I’m not on prednisone right now, but I do take Plaquenil.  Does that cause easy bruising too? Thanks, Sue — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Exchange ideas on practically anything ™.

Response:

Cheryl, Unfortunately I understand exactly what you mean.  Even a little paper cut becomes an infected wound by the next day and my body is covered in bruises that seem to appear magically over night. Laura Cheryl C. <tekri…@neo.rr.com

wrote in article

<g6bU2.7937$Ya.17…@dustdevil.neo.rr.com

…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

two months ago I injured the index finger of my left hand.  It sort of

bent

the wrong way – sidways.  Anyhow, it is still not healed.  I have it

taped

to my middle finger to keep it from further injury (docs orders).  After

two

months tho, it is still no better.  I have a big lump on the inside of

the

joint and it hurts really bad. Is this Not Healing Fast thingy, normal for lupies?  I still have bruises

on

my legs and arms from a car accident in January. Anyone else experience this type of slow healing? By the way — Thanks to you all, this is the first place I have found

where

anyone will listen. Cheryl

Response:

Christina:   In all my medical books and references I can find nothing on the disease causing delayed healing.  But then again, the medical community has a very limited understanding of SLE.  Isn’t that a shame?  Who hasn’t heard of a man’s disease (e.g., prostate cancer) and all the new screening options, surgeries, and treatments.  But a woman’s illness?  It would almost make you wonder if the message sent is that women are more disposable?  It’s really unfair. — Gillian M. Fife gill…@registerednurses.com

Response:

I also noticed this longer time for healing.  Do you also notice that allergies are worse than usual?  I’ve been fighting asthma (new to me) and colds last forever.  I also have the bruising…I’m not on prednisone right now, but I do take Plaquenil.  Does that cause easy bruising too? Thanks, Sue — Posted via Talkway – http://www.talkway.com Exchange ideas on practically anything ™.

Response:

i’m slow to heal also, and sometimes bruises appear where i do not remember hitting anything.  my doc says can be from lupus, but can also be from other things-have they checked you for diabetes?  just to be sure, i would ask your doc about it.  GOD GIVES US ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Response:

One thing I find helps with blood drawing is hold hard pressure on the spot for at least 1 minute, preferably two after the needle is removed.  The tech drawing the blood will want to put the bandage on after 30 sec. or so. Don’t let them.  I find this really helps – my percentage of hematomas from bloodletting is way down since I started this practice. Can’t do much about all those bumps and bruises – yes they take a long time heal, it’s part of the package. Sandy

Response:

two months ago I injured the index finger of my left hand.  It sort of bent the wrong way – sidways.  Anyhow, it is still not healed.  I have it taped to my middle finger to keep it from further injury (docs orders).  After two months tho, it is still no better.  I have a big lump on the inside of the joint and it hurts really bad. Is this Not Healing Fast thingy, normal for lupies?  I still have bruises on my legs and arms from a car accident in January. Anyone else experience this type of slow healing? By the way — Thanks to you all, this is the first place I have found where anyone will listen. Cheryl

Response:

Actually, one of the first questions I got asked by a doctor was about healing times.  It takes me 5 times as long as anyone else to heal a normal abrasion or whatever and surgeries have been totally changed because of poor healing time and inability for the body to rejuvinate itself. I believe and have been told it is ALL apart of the lupus game.  Good luck and God Bless. Cindy

Response:

I bruise easily and it lasts from 10-14 days.  Sometimes my arms look like a battle zone from bumping things.  Getting blood drawn causes hematomas for about the same amount of time.  I had a wound on my leg where I whacked it against a metal desk corner and it lasted a month and a half. Your finger should be xrayed. Don Inglehart – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Cheryl C. wrote in message …

Is this Not Healing Fast thingy, normal for lupies?  I still have bruises

on

my legs and arms from a car accident in January. Anyone else experience this type of slow healing? By the way — Thanks to you all, this is the first place I have found

where

anyone will listen. Cheryl

Response:

Cheryl:   If you’re taking corticosteroids (e.g., Prednisone), then you must remember that they impair the body’s defense of bringing cellular components to an injured area with inflammation (one of your body’s greatest defenses). Tissue repair and the fight against bacteria will be impaired. I hope this helps- Gillian M. Fife gill…@registerednurses.com Cheryl C. <tekri…@neo.rr.com

wrote in message

news:g6bU2.7937$Ya.17138@dustdevil.neo.rr.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

two months ago I injured the index finger of my left hand.  It sort of

bent

the wrong way – sidways.  Anyhow, it is still not healed.  I have it taped to my middle finger to keep it from further injury (docs orders).  After

two

months tho, it is still no better.  I have a big lump on the inside of the joint and it hurts really bad. Is this Not Healing Fast thingy, normal for lupies?  I still have bruises

on

my legs and arms from a car accident in January. Anyone else experience this type of slow healing? By the way — Thanks to you all, this is the first place I have found

where

anyone will listen. Cheryl

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was diagnosed with cough asthma about 2 months ago.  Three weeks ago I was able to start riding my bike again .   The allergist told me to take 2 puffs of Proventil 20 minutes before I ride.  If I don’t use the Proventil, I get winded faster.  When I get back from my ride, I feel great and my peak flow is awesome (400 — my goal is 440).  Then, about 2 hours after I ride, I start coughing and my chest gets heavy.  So the allergist told me to use another 2 puffs of Proventil.  I did, and I still cough.    Here’s the thing:  Does anyone have any idea why I cough MORE when I use my Proventil when I am "at rest" than I do when I use my Proventil before I ride? I ride for an hour straight at ~12 mph and I have no coughing!  I concentrate more on rhythmic breathing while I’m biking (you know, "in through the nose, out through the mouth…"), but I still find it odd that I have NO coughing while I’m on my bike.  The only thing that bothers me sometimes is my nose and eyes (I ride through the forest).

Quoting from the book ‘The Asthma Sourcebook’, Francis Adams, MD "Research has also shown that exercise-induced asthma may have both  an immediate and a late phase. The late phase may occur several  hours after the patient has ceased activities." Your post exercise asthma may just be the EIA late phase kicking in. Plus the Proventil is only good for 4 hours; peaks at 2 hours and starts wearing off. And could there be something in the forest like pine pollen that’s kicking in later. Nose and eye symptoms could indicate an allergen. http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/jan_96/rupp.htm  Diagnosis  and Management of Exercise-Induced Asthma, Jan 96 Excerpt: "Maximal bronchoconstriction generally occurs 3 to 15 minutes after  exercise ceases (15). Factors that can vary the usual  bronchoconstriction timing include environmental conditions such as  temperature, humidity, air quality, or pollens; the type, duration,  or intensity of the exercise; the time from a previous exercise  session; and the degree of bronchial hyperreactivity.  With a second exercise challenge, less than half of the original  degree of obstruction will occur–this is defined as the refractory  period. Approximately half of patients are refractory within 1 hour,  but nearly everyone loses the effect after 2 to 3 hours. It is  impossible to predict whether a person will be refractory to EIA, and  occurrence of a refractory period may be intermittent in any patient.  Original bronchospasm severity plays no role in a patient’s  refractory status, though certain factors encourage the refractory  period: a warm-up session before exercise; breathing or exercising  in warm, humid air; and prolonged submaximal exercise. Though most patients recover from EIA within 1 hour (2), late  asthmatic responses that occur 3 to 9 hours after exercise have  been reported (16,17). Patients at higher risk for late responses  appear to be children and those with severe early responses (2).  Some investigators have doubted the existence of this late response  or its clinical relevance (19) because bronchoconstriction during  the late response is usually much less severe.  In other words, repeated exercise challenge during the refractory  period may still reduce FEV1 and PEFR, but less than half as much  as with the initial postchallenge reduction (18)." Ellis

Response:

  Here’s the thing:  Does anyone have any idea why I cough MORE when I use my Proventil when I am "at rest" than I do when I use my Proventil before I

ride? Just a wild guess, but maybe it is because of the stuff you inhaled while riding your bike?  Not all asthma triggers function immedeatly.

Response:

Thanks everyone for your comments!

Response:

The natural lung system has a protective surface monolayer on the inner tubes of your lung called surfactant.  With exercise this layer is disturbed making your lungs more sensitive although while the preventer is active you will not be aware of this. When the preventer wears off your lungs are irritated more easily hence the coughing.  The preventer itself will irritate the lung and while you are coughing the surfactant has little chance of re-establishing protection.  Try breathing out slowly and continue to breathe through the nose to retain moisture.  Make sure you are not dehydrated from the exercise as water is an important constituent of surfactant.  Exercise increases the diffusion of blood serum proteins into the lung and these disturb the dynamics of the surfactant monolayer.  Impaired surfactant action (it reduces surface tension by a factor of 20 or more) is also the reason for a heavy chest.  Preventers of the salbutamol type are reported to increase surfactant I am not sure about other types. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was diagnosed with cough asthma about 2 months ago.  Three weeks ago I was able to start riding my bike again .   The allergist told me to take 2 puffs of Proventil 20 minutes before I ride.  If I don’t use the Proventil, I get winded faster.  When I get back from my ride, I feel great and my peak flow is awesome (400 — my goal is 440).  Then, about 2 hours after I ride, I start coughing and my chest gets heavy.  So the allergist told me to use another 2 puffs of Proventil.  I did, and I still cough.    Here’s the thing:  Does anyone have any idea why I cough MORE when I use my Proventil when I am "at rest" than I do when I use my Proventil before I ride? I ride for an hour straight at ~12 mph and I have no coughing!  I concentrate more on rhythmic breathing while I’m biking (you know, "in through the nose, out through the mouth…"), but I still find it odd that I have NO coughing while I’m on my bike.  The only thing that bothers me sometimes is my nose and eyes (I ride through the forest).    Til later …

please remove del from my email address.

Response:

Surfactant is a lipid emulsion that coats the airways and has many functions. Without it all the airways would collapse. There is no evidence to suggest that excersize or anti-inflammatory meds disturbs surfactant. There is also no reason to believe that altering your breathing patterns will affect surfactant structure or function. They may work (I don’t know of any evidence either way), especially the breathing through the nose part, but not for the reasons stated. — Good Luck, CBI, M.D. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The natural lung system has a protective surface monolayer on the inner tubes of your lung called surfactant.  With exercise this layer is disturbed making your lungs more sensitive although while the preventer is active you will not be aware of this. When the preventer wears off your lungs are irritated more easily hence the coughing.  The preventer itself will irritate the lung and while you are coughing the surfactant has little chance of re-establishing protection.  Try breathing out slowly and continue to breathe through the nose to retain moisture.  Make sure you are not dehydrated from the exercise as water is an important constituent of surfactant.  Exercise increases the diffusion of blood serum proteins into the lung and these disturb the dynamics of the surfactant monolayer.  Impaired surfactant action (it reduces surface tension by a factor of 20 or more) is also the reason for a heavy chest.  Preventers of the salbutamol type are reported to increase surfactant I am not sure about other types. I was diagnosed with cough asthma about 2 months ago.  Three weeks ago I was able to start riding my bike again .   The allergist told me to take 2 puffs of Proventil 20 minutes before I ride.  If I don’t use the Proventil, I get winded faster.  When I get back from my ride, I feel great and my peak flow is awesome (400 — my goal is 440).  Then, about 2 hours after I ride, I start coughing and my chest gets heavy.  So the allergist told me to use another 2 puffs of Proventil.  I did, and I still cough.    Here’s the thing:  Does anyone have any idea why I cough MORE when I use my Proventil when I am "at rest" than I do when I use my Proventil before I ride? I ride for an hour straight at ~12 mph and I have no coughing!  I concentrate more on rhythmic breathing while I’m biking (you know, "in through the nose, out through the mouth…"), but I still find it odd that I have NO coughing while I’m on my bike.  The only thing that bothers me sometimes is my nose and eyes (I ride through the forest).    Til later … please remove del from my email address.

Response:

Could simply be the effects of breathing hard (with your mouth open) and causing the airways to dry some. The irritation alone could cause a cough. Further, excess mucus could build up causing a condition of wanting to clear the airways… a cough. Probably nothing to worry about. jimi

Response:

Dear All: Re: ASTHMA NEW PROCESS ON AZ TV NEWS!!!! Details in:  www.inneroutpost.com/asthma An Arizona TV station will soon air the story about the Dr. Koder

Question:

My 6 year old shorthair has recently experienced an unusual
health problem. Over the past few months, she developed the
habit of sitting flat against the floor (chest to floor) and more
recently began coughing and having an unusual noise (a sort
of raspiness) when she purrs.  She is a strictly indoor cat with
no history of health problems and regular vaccines and checkups.
I’ve had her to a Vet who took x-rays and detailed blood tests.  
Lungs on x-ray showed small infiltrates and a single visible lymph node.  Heart was normal in size.  Blood work came back normal.  
Vet diagnosed asthma.
She was put on 5 mg prednisolone per day for 10 days then
tapered off.  While on medication she improved only marginally.
Off medication she has reverted to sitting funny and coughing.
I’m reluctant to keep her on the steriods.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  
Thank you, Mark

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Over the past few months, she developed the habit of sitting flat against the floor (chest to floor) and more recently began coughing and having an unusual noise (a sort of raspiness) when she purrs.  She is a strictly indoor cat with no history of health problems and regular vaccines and checkups. Vet diagnosed asthma. She was put on 5 mg prednisolone per day for 10 days then tapered off.  While on medication she improved only marginally. Off medication she has reverted to sitting funny and coughing.

Mark-         Can you identify what’s provoking her asthma, and eliminate that? Possibilities are household cleaners, food, plants, perfumes, etc. Is there a place in the house she seems particularly prone? Has something happened recently that may have triggered the asthma (new carpet, clothes, bedding, etc.)         It’s something you might discuss with your vet as well. Regards, — http://home.att.net/~konengro

Response:

My 6 year old shorthair has recently experienced an unusual
health problem. Over the past few months, she developed the
habit of sitting flat against the floor (chest to floor) and more
recently began coughing and having an unusual noise (a sort
of raspiness) when she purrs.  She is a strictly indoor cat with
no history of health problems and regular vaccines and checkups.
I’ve had her to a Vet who took x-rays and detailed blood tests.  
Lungs on x-ray showed small infiltrates and a single visible lymph node.  Heart was normal in size.  Blood work came back normal.  
Vet diagnosed asthma.
She was put on 5 mg prednisolone per day for 10 days then
tapered off.  While on medication she improved only marginally.
Off medication she has reverted to sitting funny and coughing.
I’m reluctant to keep her on the steriods.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  
Thank you, Mark

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Over the past few months, she developed the habit of sitting flat against the floor (chest to floor) and more recently began coughing and having an unusual noise (a sort of raspiness) when she purrs.  She is a strictly indoor cat with no history of health problems and regular vaccines and checkups. Vet diagnosed asthma. She was put on 5 mg prednisolone per day for 10 days then tapered off.  While on medication she improved only marginally. Off medication she has reverted to sitting funny and coughing.

Mark-         Can you identify what’s provoking her asthma, and eliminate that? Possibilities are household cleaners, food, plants, perfumes, etc. Is there a place in the house she seems particularly prone? Has something happened recently that may have triggered the asthma (new carpet, clothes, bedding, etc.)         It’s something you might discuss with your vet as well. Regards, — http://home.att.net/~konengro

Response:

My 6 year old shorthair has recently experienced an unusual
health problem. Over the past few months, she developed the
habit of sitting flat against the floor (chest to floor) and more
recently began coughing and having an unusual noise (a sort
of raspiness) when she purrs.  She is a strictly indoor cat with
no history of health problems and regular vaccines and checkups.
I’ve had her to a Vet who took x-rays and detailed blood tests.  
Lungs on x-ray showed small infiltrates and a single visible lymph node.  Heart was normal in size.  Blood work came back normal.  
Vet diagnosed asthma.
She was put on 5 mg prednisolone per day for 10 days then
tapered off.  While on medication she improved only marginally.
Off medication she has reverted to sitting funny and coughing.
I’m reluctant to keep her on the steriods.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  
Thank you, Mark

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Over the past few months, she developed the habit of sitting flat against the floor (chest to floor) and more recently began coughing and having an unusual noise (a sort of raspiness) when she purrs.  She is a strictly indoor cat with no history of health problems and regular vaccines and checkups. Vet diagnosed asthma. She was put on 5 mg prednisolone per day for 10 days then tapered off.  While on medication she improved only marginally. Off medication she has reverted to sitting funny and coughing.

Mark-         Can you identify what’s provoking her asthma, and eliminate that? Possibilities are household cleaners, food, plants, perfumes, etc. Is there a place in the house she seems particularly prone? Has something happened recently that may have triggered the asthma (new carpet, clothes, bedding, etc.)         It’s something you might discuss with your vet as well. Regards, — http://home.att.net/~konengro

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I didn’t see the original posting, but I hope that isn’t who I think it is. I’ve asked Dave Kendrick to re-post the Joetov FAQ as a precaution. For the newbies in this group, please check out the following URL before even thinking about posting to Pat Carroll: http://www.kendrick.org/joetov.htm I looked up the FAQ, and it appears that Joe is back.  From the attachment to his origional posting I get the impression that he has simply changed the product (same doctor name, and same reported results).  It seems he saved his old advertising stuff and is recycling it for his new product.

    At least on this go-around we’ve been spared the "Check my post under… you may be happy" routine.

Response:

Now officially,you can get information about the new process. Everyone will receive the information. Thank you. A message is attached. Why don’t you post the details of your ‘treatment’ so we can determine it is worth our time?

Oh sh1t! Here we go again! Pete

Response:

I didn’t see the original posting, but I hope that isn’t who I think it is. I’ve asked Dave Kendrick to re-post the Joetov FAQ as a precaution. For the newbies in this group, please check out the following URL before even thinking about posting to Pat Carroll: http://www.kendrick.org/joetov.htm

I looked up the FAQ, and it appears that Joe is back.  From the attachment to his origional posting I get the impression that he has simply changed the product (same doctor name, and same reported results).  It seems he saved his old advertising stuff and is recycling it for his new product.

Response:

Now officially,you can get information about the new process. Everyone will receive the information. Thank you. A message is attached. Why don’t you post the details of your ‘treatment’ so we can determine it is worth our time?

I didn’t see the original posting, but I hope that isn’t who I think it is. I’ve asked Dave Kendrick to re-post the Joetov FAQ as a precaution. For the newbies in this group, please check out the following URL before even thinking about posting to Pat Carroll: http://www.kendrick.org/joetov.htm And Joe Goodman’s nomination for Usenet Kook Of The Month: http://www.dannyland.org/~daemons/home/history/daem.nov96 (If you’re reading this, Mr Tsiyoni, Caroll, Goodman or whatever your real name is, we haven’t forgotten your Prodigy and AOL incarnations, or the abuse you heaped upon this group last time… This time, we’re ready for you…) Chris — Chris King http://www.csking.demon.co.uk

Response:

Now officially,you can get information about the new process. Everyone will receive the information. Thank you. A message is attached.

Why don’t you post the details of your ‘treatment’ so we can determine it is worth our time?

Response:

Question:

A warning: the new cars are more highly insulated (sealed) against the outside than old ones. Be cautious in closing the outside vent (recirculate air within) because the resulting oxygen loss over time may result in drowsiness. Many people do this to cut down the massive intake of filth and smell from the road…

If I’m not mistaken, the usual drill on RECIRC is that the air from the vents is 80% recirc, 20% fresh. This is something that was factored in long ago… Michael

Response:

A warning: the new cars are more highly insulated (sealed) against the outside than old ones. Be cautious in closing the outside vent (recirculate air within) because the resulting oxygen loss over time may result in drowsiness. Many people do this to cut down the massive intake of filth and smell from the road (estimated at 20 times what you would experience outside of the car), particularly people with allergies/asthma. New cars may refer (e.g., Buick) to triple-sealing, et al. Hopefully, they are equipped with the new micron (or other) dust and pollen filters.

Response: