Asthma/Bronchial Probs

[Drarig]

Just wondering if anyone else out there has asthma/bronchial problems.  I get bronchial asthma due to chronic sinusitis/allergies, and my lungs have been pretty bad the past week.  Will prob have to start back up on inhalers (it's been a couple years) but I'm just curious if anyone else here on treatment also has asthma or lung problems and what are your experiences...

[cuteus]

good luck with that project, ugh!
you might want to check these tables at Dr Cecil's site also.
http://www.hepatitisdoctor.com/pegasys.htm
It seems that it might be a matter of dosage rather than effectiveness with the Pegasys. Not sure why once a few standards are set, no one wants to veer off or be flexible with tx.  It gets quite confusing, when there is competition for the HCV market. I read a few articles on a better response with pegintron and then I read as many of the same with Pegasys. Is enough to drive you crazy! If I was a relapser or non responder, I would insist on an individualized plan, even if it means changing the standards set by the drug companies.
Interesting how Americans don't respond as well as European subjects according to the table at that site.

[amirtracy]

Hi bill. glad you're feeling so good first. jim posted a link down below w/ the DDW website etc...Have a great day!  tracy

[Bill1954]

Drarig--I apologize for jumping in here:

I haven

[friole]

In March I had a mega-bronchitis problem.  It scared the fool out of me and because of that I have been trying to do some research on respitory problems and hepatitis C.  I was at 36 weeks when this awful pain came into my chest and I couldn't even bend over.  I never had a cough but the docs said it was bronchitis.  I was walking around stooped and totally dependent on my husband.  When I looked into the mirror, I saw my mother who died of emphysyma when she was 65.  She was on O2 24/7 when she was my age (58).

There was another article in Chest magazine about the correlation between COPD and hapatitis C which indicated that the virus was not only in the blood but caused inflammation in the lungs.  The conclusion of that article was that the treatment for hepatitis C actually helped the COPD condition.

Karay, I remember reading your posts of all the lung problems and they were truly scary.  I am sure that you are right about the tx causing the collapsed lung. I personally have always thought I inherited genetic lung problems from my mom and because of that have always tried to do aerobic excercise -   swimming and walking.  If your lungs - with you being a triathalon athelete - look like a 2-pack a day person, you too must have some genetic markers.  By the way, coughing is a side effect of the nasty ribavirin.

Good day all,
frijole

[Karay]

I sometimes feel like I am the queen of lung problems!  A couple of years ago while on tx, my lung collasped - 9 days in the hospital!  No one could prove it was the tx but I had never had any problems prior to.  I got off the tx immediately.  I started up again after a blood test showed by levels to have increased from 2 million to 34 million - scared the hell out of me so I asked the doctor for strongest tx out there.  I've got 9 more weeks of tx left and have struggled w/lungs problems for the past couple of month.  My lungs have been cloudy (mind you I'm a non-smoker who was in excellent shape, I did my last trialthon a week before starting tx!)but as my doctor says "you have the lungs of a 2 pack a day smoker"! YIKES!  I've had more then 5 chest xrays and cat scans done w/i the last couple of months and been on meds to try and help it.  I was just in the hosptial for plurosy and am now, by my doctors orders, resting for the next 9 weeks - I didn't miss one daily shot nor any RIBA so I'm pleased.  My lungs hurt, I have a nasty cough but I my levels are also undectable - week 12, 24, and 36 - considering I was @ 34 million - its make being uncomfortable ok!  Its all in how you look @ things!  So I firmly believe that this is a link here
between the tx and the lungs for some people - guess I'm one of the lucky ones (ha, ha)  Good luck to you!

[friole]

drarig, I thnk there is a definite connection between hepatitis C and lung problems but I know just enough to get in trouble.  This article from Chest magazine is pretty Greek to me but the conclusion is that "our findings suggest that active HCV infection is associated withincrease brondhodilator reponses to inhaled oxitropium bromide is asthmatic patients.    

http://tinyurl.com/nxjxc

[sindog]

You are right, I'm gone too.

[Drarig]

thx for that article -- you were right --it's pretty scientific, but I agree there is a definite correlation between the two -- noticed probs with my lungs about 10 years ago, & I attributed it to chronic sinusitis/allergies, which I developed right around the same time.  I did have pertussis as in infant right before they came out with vaccination.  (Think I was in hospital in oxygen tent for a month).  My lungs were obviously in a weakened state from an infant, and the hepc has probably just made situation worse.

[cuteus]

Where have you been??? I did not remember you went back on tx again! I hope it works for you once and for all, so you can put hep c behind you.
keep in touch and come here to relieve any tx stress more often
take care

[Drarig]

My levels were low on a reg basis, then went up last week.  That's why I didn't want to take Nup if I didn't have to.  Thx for your help -- I have a little brain fog today, too -- don't know what the heck I'm doing on this computer - absolutely gorgeous outside...

[sindog]

I'm usually better organized, but I can't find my last blood test or my blood levels my doc gave me to monitor wbc's. I do know that when I responded to Nupogen, I started taking half shots. Was also told I could take one a week. Now I am off Nupogen, and I get blood work bi-weekly. So, I can't tell you what to do, today is brain fog day. I,ll look some more for my guidelines.

[Drarig]

I am on Neupogen and my wbc have been averaging about 1.5, w/low neutrophils.  However, the past week, my wbc was 8.5, so not sure if I should take my neupogin today.  Can't reach my dr since friday-- he's impossible on returning calls.  I don't always feel very confident to get calls back from him.  He's GI...  Wish there was a hepatologist around here.

[sindog]

I have had all those problems, but never too serious. Lung problems should be reported to you dr. because of infection risk due to low white blood counts. Also high white blood counts can be an indication of lung infections. I was on Nupogen and my white counts shot up too fast and the doc was worried that I had a lung infection.