I first developed asthma 17 years ago when I discovered I had become allergic to cats by adopting a kitten.
Smoke, OTOH, I often had a bit of sneezing and coughing too, but never asthma, until now. Hubby and I went to Atlantic City for a couple of days, and by day 2 in the casino (80% smoke-free doesn't work well when the other 20% is mixed in all over), I had a little wheeze that wouldn't go away and it's continued even though I've been home since Friday afternoon. Then I remembered this happened in February when we went (but not any of the previous times, even though there was more smoke in the past).
When this happened in February, my PCP put me on Advair and I stayed on it for a month or two, until it aggravated my acid reflux beyond tolerance. I took a dose of it last night and another one tonight, but I've still got the little wheeze.
So I'm wondering two things. First, is the RA contributing to the asthma, since I didn't have this type of reaction before it? And second, is there any way I can still get my first infusion of Rituxan on Thursday? I know wheezing can be one of the common side effects, so I'm figuring they don't want me to start when I'm already wheezing.
PS - For those wondering about the kitty, he was a stray and unbeknownst to me already had feline leukemia when I adopted him. He passed two weeks later. I had to continue getting useless allergy shots for another year and couldn't return to my bedroom (where I had kept him) for about six months. I grew up with a dog in the family and two cats who lived next door, so it was a shock to me that I could become so allergic.
< =text/>_popupControl(); Ok I think I only have the answer to one of your questions. The asthma can be an offshoot of the RA. If you are flaring...or about to flare...it could trigger it. I know for ME...that my asthma is an offshoot of the RA and when I do flare it does exacerbate my asthma and I am dependent on my fast acting rescue inhaler to be everywhere I am. I wheeze more...have more tightness...and an attack is triggered much more easily.
As far as the Rituxin goes...I have no clue at all. I'm really sorry I do not have the answer for you on that one. I hope someone else comes along that does. I know that when I go for my Remicade infusions...I am given a Claritin in the office when I get there to prevent that type of a reaction. I do not know if they do the same thing for Rituxin. Let us know what they say about your infusion.
I thought there was a connection, especially with the inflammation, and I have been flaring these past couple of weeks...if you could call it a flare. Let's call it an escalation of symptoms, since they were never under control.
As for giving me something to counteract it any infusion reactions, that's what I'm really worried about. Claritin stopped working for me years ago. For my allergies, I take Zyrtec every morning and Singulair every evening (which actually should be preventing any asthma attacks all by itself) and when my allergies get really bad I take Sudafed, but that's not good for my blood pressure. I'm allergic to Benadryl (yes, you read that right). I guess I'm just wondering what the heck they're going to be able to give me that I'm not already taking....
Hi Suzanne, you need to call your RD and ask about getting the infusion. Also, call your primary and get an appt. so he/she can listen to your chest. You may have more than asthma going on. Wheezing is a symptom of not just asthma but other pulmonary problems. Since we're on these drugs that can cause pulmonary problems and RA can exacerbate asthma then you really need to be seen by your doctor. Let us know how you're doing. Lindy
Thanks, Lin. I'll definitely be calling the whole cavalry tomorrow morning, but it's on my mind tonight.Wait, I just had another thought. I've been tapering down the pred, because it wasn't really helping much anyway, and I've just dropped from 1 mg/day to 0.5 mg/day. Could that be triggering some asthma, or maybe I was having the asthma and the pred reduction stopped treating it?