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A MyFibroTeam Member asked a question 💭
Dillsburg, PA

Can fibro affect asthma? I was diagnosed with asthma years ago mostly due to seasonal allergies but it rarely got bad until about two months ago. Now I'm at the doctor getting nebulizer treatments and I'm sucking down rescue inhalers like crazy! Any friends here who have dealt with this?

December 10, 2016
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A MyFibroTeam Member

I have breathing problems caused by costocondritis which is part of fibro. It is muscle and cartelige pain around the ribs which restricts the lung capacity because you can't take deep breaths

December 10, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

I have seen several exacerbations of my asthma symptoms since this latest Fibro relapse - which hit me like a train 5 years ago. The asthma treatments didn't seem to help, and I often felt very short of breath without wheezing. WHAT I LEARNED: Iron plays a huge part, not only in the creation of red blood cells (which carry oxygen), but in the actual transportation of oxygen in itself.

I don't know if it's the FM or the CFS that affects my iron levels, but when it drops low I feel like I can't breathe. I'm fortunate in that my doctor, once we discovered this, keeps an eye on it Also, now that I know it's a problem when I start feeling like that, I start taking iron a couple of times a day. It's definitely worth checking out.

December 10, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

I have had asthma since childhood but it has gotten worse since I was diagnosed with fibro and particularly bad in the past two years. A few months ago I was in ICU due to a severe exacerbation that was triggered by a cold that turned into pneumonia. I am an ex-smoker; I quit in 2006.

December 10, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

There is something that can help with asthma and COPD, vaping medical Marijuana. It has been known to help. I'm a medical Marijuana patient here in Delaware. I am on the program because of the fibromyalgia. I make edibles to help ease the pain and make pain salves that truly work with 0 thc effects.

December 10, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

Yes, I have had asthma for years now. And it got worse and worse. I started getting lung infections and the nebulizer and meds didn't work well anymore. I went and saw a lung specialist and he tested my breathing and took an ex ray of my lungs. He diagnosed me with mild COPD. Apparently, many people who have Asthma develop COPD. Which is just damage to your lungs that can get worse with time if you do not take care of yourself. But yes, my asthma is allergy related and breathing anything toxic or otherwise colds etc. Sets it off. It has gotten worse since I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia but idk if it's related or not
Best answer I can give. Still trying to figure it all out too. I hope you are feeling better. My specialist changed my inhaler to Breo, and that seems to work really well. I don't get as many attacks. My breathing has been much better. :)

December 10, 2016

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