hormones and repiratory allergies

[INEEDHELPPLEASE]

I'VE HAD NUMEROUS 'EPISODES' OF ALLERGIC 'ANAPHYLAXIS' REQUIRING
HOSPITALIZATION AS WELL AS INTUBATION. THESE EPISODES SEEM TO OCCURE AROUND THE TIME OF MENSUS OR OVULATION. I PRESENT WITH SHORTNESS OF BREATH, DIFFICULTY BREATHING(ASTHMA-LIKE), AS WELL AS FAINTING OR LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. I DO HAVE A RAPID HEART RATE AS WELL AS INSUFFICIENT RESPIRATORY EFFORT NAMELY SILENT CHEST 9DIMINISHED LUNG SOUNDS). THE ONLY TREATMENT THAT WORKS IS IV SOLUMEDROL. WHAT IS ENIGMATIC IS THAT MY BP DOESNT FALL NOR DO MY O2 SATS. THEY BELIEVE HYPERINSULINEMIA PLAYS A ROLE AS WELL AS OTHER HORMONAL IMBALANCES. I ALSO HAVE JOINT PAIN AND GLAND PAIN SINCE DISCONTINUING TAKING CORTISONE. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AND HAS ANYONE HEARD OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS. I AM FRIGHTENED ABOUT MY LIFE AND HEALTH.

[jagracer]

Wow, I am sorry to hear that your reactions are so severe. I have had very similar experiences but have not had to be hospitalized. I am the proud owner of an Epipen now. I cannot use Prednisone and there for it takes longer for the symptoms to go away. I did finally have a hysterectomy but they couldn't get my ovaries out. After two years of being on a progesterin based birth control pill I felt I would try life without it. It didn't take a full week before I was having shortness of breath and hives popping out everywhere. It took another week of being back on progesterin before the symptoms finally subsided. All I know is as long as I stay on progesterin and keep my ovaries inactive I seem to be fine. I haven't heard much about this problem and have finally started looking into it. The comforting thing is that I'm not alone but the sad thing is that I haven't found an allergist, GP or GYN who seems to know anything about this or have had other patients with the same thing so you get the attitude of "I don't know what to do with you. Take this pill and see if it helps." Best of luck to you and I hope you are able to find a way to control these episodes.

[LdyBug]

I just wanted you to know INEEDHELP, that we have been in the process of finding out what is wrong with our 22 year old daughter for almost three years.  We have gone to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan and we are now preparing to go to Cleveland Clinic in Ohio to find out just what her problem is.  She has had the same symptoms as you have and has been intubated once (and hopefully never again -- that was a horrible experience for both her and us!!!)  She does not have joint pain or gland pain.  I have been telling the doctors that it happens anywhere from the time of ovulation to two days after her periods, but they have never listened.  The last time we were in the emergency room, finally a doctor did listen to me and he seems to think that it might be hormone related.  At the time of her attack, they pump every kind of asthma medicine in her and nothing has helped.  They finally put her on a machine called a Bi-Pap machine which forces air into her lungs and she finally came out of the attack.  It is so scarey because no one can lead a normal life.  We are always afraid something is going to happen when and if we are out of town.  

My heart goes out to you -- if you find out what it is that you have, please advise and we will do the same.  We are scheduling a time to go to Cleveland Clinic sometime in March or April.  Hang in there -- hopefully sometime soon we will find out what this problem is.

[Rhyn_Essence]

From England.
Being 47XXY as opposed to 46XY as a male and since starting HRT in March 2002 at the age of 47, I have noticed some positive improvement. My anxiety levels have dropped drastically and in turn my breathlessness has improved somewhat though this seems to be hormonal as its not constant.  I was misdiagnosed as having Asthma, originally back in 1978 and it has taken me years of protesting that the inhalers didn't work before I was given another referal, I first complained in 1981 after the GP insisted that I needed to give the inhalers yet more time to work. Having looked at my medical records it seems that my lack relief was being blamed on my alleged inability to use the inhalers correctly.

My so called Asthma is now being identified as OSA and I'm awaiting my sleep over, due in March 04. I have also complained of violent burping and indigestion since 1990 and an endoscopy back in 1995 found no problems in my lower bowel but my problem was not investigated any further. The diagnosis of 47XXY was not offically recognised until 2001 so its hardly likely to be a major factor in highlighting the abysmal medical "care" that I've had on this side of the pond.

[National Jewish]

There have been reports from women that their asthma worsens just prior to their menses.  Of course the goal is to avoid these episodes.  Generally this means using preventative medicines just prior to the time when an episode is most likely to occur.  You would need to get IV Solu-Medrol

[blondeviolin]

Have you been tested for asthma?  It sounds like it could play a role.  ESPECIALLY because you present with difficulty breathing around your mensus.  I would ask for pulmonary functions testing to rule it out.  Because you have allergies, you are more likely to develop asthma.

[INEEDHELPPLEASE]

IT MIMICS ASTHMA AND I AM TREATED WITH ASTHMA MEDS, HOWEVER IT IS NOT ASTHMA. I'VE BEEN EXAMINED BY A PULMONOLOGIST AND HAVE HAD 'BREATHING TESTS'.