why is my asthma so sporatic?

[need2breathe2010]

When I was about 3 years old I had really bad asthma and needed to be hospitalized in order to control it. My mom says that the meds the gave me never seemed to work but the asthma eventually calmed down on it's own.  As I grew up the asthma was less noticable. I think that from the time I was about 14 until I was 30 I hardely ever had asthma or needed to use an inhaler. At 31 I noticed I was using my rescue inhaler a little more and then last november (just after my 32 birthday) I suddenly had the worst asthma attack I can remember. It last for weeks even though I was on advair. My blood pressure went way up to around 160/110. Doc took some blood tests and saw that my allergy count was way up so he put me on singulair and clonidine for the blood pressure. It made a huge difference for a while but now I feel it creeping up on me again. I find it difficult to breathe on certain days and it doesn't seem to matter where I am or what I'm doing. I also keep noticing an odd fluttering sound in my head/ ears at night when I lay on my side and have my ear to the pillow.

There is only one thing that has been different since all this started. It was last august that I started taking a birth control called loestrin fe that I was on for a few months. Then suddenly my blood pressure went way up to 160/100 so I stopped taking it and it took 2 weeks for it to come back down to normal range. I was fine for about a month, then my first menstral period off the birth control pills was the day all of these problems with my asthma started, my blood pressure also went way up again starting on that day. It has been a few months now and the doc says that he doesn't think the birth control pills are the cause of all this but they may have triggered something in me for this to be happening.

I've had all kinds of tests and everything is fine except for the allergies. My heart is healthy. Could I be allergic to the weather here? It has been pretty cold and snowing. I just can't figure out what it is.

[need2breathe2010]

Yes, my doctor warned me about the advair raising my blood pressure but she said it shouldn't be too much higher. I am skeptical about that though because everyone is different. I, myself, have been very sensitive to any kind of medicine. Even things like antihistamines make me very jittery and excitable so it makes me wonder about everything else..

[need2breathe2010]

Thank you for the advice. I am actually going to see my doctor tomorrow about maybe changing from advair to symbicort and perhaps getting the allergy panel test done. I am thinking that maybe it is some kind of mold allergy because I had recently cleaned the carpets in my downstairs bedrooms (which don't see alot of sunlight) and I think I may have over-wetted them because I noticed a "musty" smell not long after that and also since then. Perhaps I should have a mold inpector check the carpet and padding?

[Tammy2009]

I think it is possible for some of asthma medications to affect blood pressure.  I'm 90 pounds and only 21 years.  My blood pressure has been 109/83 to 120/94 now that I'm on daily asthma medication when it was 100/70 last year before I was diagnosed.  The higher reading was when I was on max dose of symbicort and prednisone.  I believe the medications have something to do with it.  

Then again, they were done at my chiropactor's office and he has never said anything about them.  And yes I'm bad and haven't told my doctor about the readings.  -cringes-

[Victoireh]

Welcome to the asthma community!

Some women find that their asthma is sensitive to the hormone changes in their body. If you notice that your symptoms start up just around the start of your menstrual cycle, then perhaps you need to up your controller medication (inhaled steroids). Also many children often out grow their asthma during their teens, only to find that it returns frequently in their 20's.

It is very common for  severe asthma exacerbations to take a number of weeks to clear. Certainly no laughing matter. Cold air is also a trigger for asthma. Have you thought of doing allergy testing? For some who have a lot of allergy it is beneficial to do regular allergy shots in order to desensitize the immune system.  You should work with your family doctor or pulmonary specialist, in order to get good control of your asthma symptoms. From there you will feel better and less stressed, which will in turn help your blood pressure. :-)