Talk to me about asthma!

[TSandM]

Headsqueeze is right -- a peak flow meter, once you've gotten good at using it, is absolutely the best information you can take to a clinician to help them understand what is going on with your breathing under a variety of conditions.

"Bronchitis" is generally diagnosed when an otherwise healthy young person comes in with a chronic cough, maybe some chest tightness, some mild shortness of breath, no fever, a normal x-ray, and normal lab work. The problem is that you can find the exact same constellation of symptoms in someone with asthma. Not all asthmatics wheeze -- I don't. Some cough instead, and it can take some time before an astute clinician twigs to the fact that the problem is not infectious, but inflammatory.

A steroid inhaler is considered the first-line intervention for moderate asthma in adult patients. I would use it as prescribed and monitor your peak flows before and after exercise. That would be very good information for a diving-savvy MD to help you assess the risks involved in diving with your particular symptoms.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Scott,

To complement the DAN item linked by TSandM, here is a orientation to asthma and diving that appeared in Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine a few years back:

Can I Dive With Asthma?
Doc Vikingo's Diving With Asthma

Dr. Scott's Protocol for Asthmatic Divers can be found in full beginning on page 3 of ----> http://www.scubasciences.com/pdf files/Medical Stuff/ssi-asthmatic information.pdf

And here's the BSAC guidelines referenced in the DAN item ----> Asthma - BSAC

Helpful?

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

 

[Scott M]

Hi Scott,

To complement the DAN item linked by TSandM, here is a orientation to asthma and diving that appeared in Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine a few years back:

Can I Dive With Asthma?
Doc Vikingo's Diving With Asthma

Dr. Scott's Protocol for Asthmatic Divers can be found in full beginning on page 3 of ----> http://www.scubasciences.com/pdf files/Medical Stuff/ssi-asthmatic information.pdf

And here's the BSAC guidelines referenced in the DAN item ----> Asthma - BSAC

Helpful?

Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Doc, The links were very helpful. According to the studies it would seem the level/causes of the asthma I have would not limited my diving.

I did a lot of thinking about when this is at it's worst and what brings it on. Several things come to mind but keep in mind I have never really tried to link anything to the Bronchitis episodes.

Exercise and exertion become an issue for me but not like the studies are defining it. Only after an extended period of such exercise or exersion does it become an issue. I can run, bicycle, ski, dive, swim or anything else I want to for any given time period with out any issues. The test they describe of three minutes on a stepper would barely get my heart rate up at all, it is going to take more than that to get me to 80%. I play softball and can go through a pretty intense game with no issues what so ever. I have more of a problem if I was to do those things for several days in a row. for example, take that same game after spending a few days doing extrememly strenuous work such as 8 to 10 hours a day digging and my body gets down enough that I will start with upper resporitroy issues. I have often tried to start a running routine. I will start with walking to a jog and will go 3 or 4 miles, by the end of a week I can easily get to a good pace for 4-5 miles with out any trouble with my lungs in the least, however at the end of the week going into the next week if I keep that pace up I will start to have upper resporitory problems. My thought is that I am pushing it too much in short period of time and end up letting my defenses get down, this seems to be the time when Bronchitis will start, once it starts it usually goes it's full course. Other things that can bring on the same upper resporitory symptons are mold (probably the worst), dust and other fine particals if I am exposed but typically this will bother my sinus's and I can catch and control this with OTC meds. Sometimes I do not get it quick enough and the drainage will cause the problem. Once it gets to a certain level there is not turning back, it just runs it's course. I usually take a Z-Pak to help but I think it is more in my head as to how much it helps than actually treating the problem but Z-Pak always helps.

The last time I had Bronchitis was this summer after putting in some intense days working my normal job and then coming home and polishing the pontoons on my boat, this turned out to be a two week project. The combination of excessive work and all the dust from the sanding and polishing brought it on.

The problem is that it would be difficult if not impossible for me to stop doing what I do, that is just me and my personality. I see a job and can't let it sit. I have to do it and I have to hammer at it until done so I can get to the next one. I am the true definition of a type A personality.

Does any of this explaination help?

Regards

 

[DocVikingo]

I hear ya, Scotty, as I'm rather energetic myself.

It does seem that you're prone to "overdoing it," but have a decent handle on what precipitates/exacerbates your obstructive airway disease.

Given the advice you've received in this thread from various knowledgeable sources, you and your treating specialist should be able to arrive at a supportable decision regarding SCUBA.

Best of luck.

DocVikingo

 

[Scott M]

I hear ya, Scotty, as I'm rather energetic myself.

It does seem that you're prone to "overdoing it," but have a decent handle on what precipitates/exacerbates your obstructive airway disease.

Given the advice you've received in this thread from various knowledgeable sources, you and your treating specialist should be able to arrive at a supportable decision regarding SCUBA.

Best of luck.

DocVikingo

Thanks to you Doc and to everyone that responded. I was a little upset at hearing the news but after some research (thanks to all for the links)and hearing all the advise it sounds like the best route for me at this time is going to be to continue with the asmenex and see how that effects me over time. I will keep the dives shallow and be extra aware of my breathing while diving. I will also be getting the peak flow meter to get a better handle on the triggers for the Doctors to assess the causes. It might take some time but hopefully we can work at finding the route causes and attack from that angle.

I feel a lot better about this now thanks to the help I have received here in SB.

Best Regards to all.
Scott