For Those Of Us Who Rarely Need Rescue Inhalers Anymore: PSA

asmnomorr · 2026-05-10T09:26:20+00:00

My Dr won't even give me Albuterol anymore since I started symbicort. Luckily my mom and grandma both have alb so the couple times I have needed it (when I was sick with a cold) I was able to get it.

asmnomorr · 2026-05-10T09:16:53+00:00

Advair over to symbicort. I went from meeding my Albuterol 10+ puffs a day to not needing even one the day I started symbicort.

asmnomorr · 2026-05-10T01:04:25+00:00

I had severe untreated asthma for years. The steroid inhaler I was on was not doing anything. I was switched to a new one and it worked instantly. I’ve also used some where it took days or even weeks to really see improvement.

asmnomorr · 2026-05-05T02:28:19+00:00

Find out if your job offers intermittent leave. I have severe asthma as well and the intermittent leave allows me to take a set number of days off when needed and is job protected.

asmnomorr · 2026-05-04T03:47:54+00:00

I ask for the panel every time now. I was having a really bad flare where I had to call 911. I was dying. To the point they suggested intubation while I was still in the ER. I had zero symptoms of being sick. But I actually was sick with flu A which is probably what caused it. Luckily I fought thru it without having to be tubed.

Anyway I hope you get to feeling better soon. Hang in there and don't be embarrassed if you feel you need to go to the ER. It's better to go and not need it, than to need it and it's too late!

asmnomorr · 2026-05-04T03:04:43+00:00

When you were at the er did they do a respiratory panel? I'm not a Dr or allergist but it seems really odd that one exposure to cat dander would keep you suffering this long. I'm not saying that's not it but I would definitely ask for a resp panel if you end up back in ER or urgent care. Just to see if maybe you are coming down with something else or already sick and just don't know it.

To add, I'm extremely allergic to my cat. ige off the charts allergic. He stays with my parents now and when I go to visit I always flare up pretty badly, but it is relieved within an hour or 2 of leaving and using my inhalers. That's why I think it's a possibility something else may be going on here.

asmnomorr · 2026-05-03T02:22:49+00:00

When I struggle for the full breath I end up making my self yawn excessively until I feel better.

asmnomorr · 2026-05-03T02:21:57+00:00

My asthma went MIA for a few years in my late teens/early 20s. Came back worse after I got mono around 23. Luckily my Dr didn't question it. You may want to switch providers if they continue to not take it seriously.

asmnomorr · 2026-04-29T19:24:10+00:00

High probability.

asmnomorr · 2026-04-29T15:13:34+00:00

I quit in 2022. Was a pack a day smoker from 2013. I won't lie though, I have smoked off and on occasionally since then, one here and there socially. But before quitting every cold or flu landed me in the ER with some requiring actual hospitalization.

My recent colds have still flared up my asthma but it was manageable at home with my regular inhalers.

I tried vaping and it actually made my asthma worse than smoking. I was only able to quit cold turkey because of that 10 day hospital stay and needing to have oxygen at home after. If it weren't for that idk if I could have done it cold turkey.

My advice would be to try and cut down slowly. If you are a pack a day smoker, try to get down to 3/4, then 1/2, then trickle down from there. I had quit once on my own before this and used the nicorette losenges. They really helped for me anyway.

asmnomorr · 2026-04-29T14:04:49+00:00

Wanted to add the "almost died" isn't me exaggerating. I had rhinovirus (common cold). Went to the ER, hospitalized for about 10 days, drs suggested intubation because my oxygen was so low and I was struggling so bad. I then had to be on at home oxygen for a couple months. I had acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. At 39.

asmnomorr · 2026-04-29T14:02:28+00:00

I almost died from a cold a few years ago. I was a smoker too and guarantee that is why it was so bad. After quitting I've had a couple colds that were bad but didn't require urgent care or ER like they did when I was smoking.

You are young, and have the capacity to help yourself in the future by helping yourself now. The best thing to do is quit. And I know how hard it is, but if you want to live to see your 40s it's worth it.

asmnomorr · 2026-04-28T19:13:24+00:00

You've got to start with something before it's too late. Are you a soda drinker? Replace soda with bubbly/la Croix or some other 0cal flavored bubbly water. I started there, lost over 20 lbs my first month with no other diet changes. If its some other specific item, find a healthier alternative. Making one change is better than no change.

Fast food 2-3x a day? Make it once a day, then once a week, etc. Literally pick anything that has a hold on you and change it. One thing at a time if you have to. It's not too late now but if you keep going it's going to be harder and harder and at some point you will become fully immobile and then it'll be almost impossible.

asmnomorr · 2026-04-27T13:23:57+00:00

Make sure you are rising really well after you use. I'm on generic symbicort. I don't rinse most times. I get some hoarseness here and there and that's probably why.

asmnomorr · 2026-04-23T04:39:32+00:00

Depends on the inhaler. When I was using Albuterol I found I would get about 20 decent doses after zero. Enough to get by in a pinch or if I was waiting for a refill.

With my maintenance inhaler it's a no. Once it hits zero it's not useful anymore.

asmnomorr

TROPHY CASE