Hi there folks!

It appears I have consumed something lectin-containing, since I have an immediate reaction when I do so. It was most likely gluten and corn. I've been taking Quercetin Plus and Polyflora twice daily on an empty stomach. I also take Deflect and ox bile with meals (because I'm away for the holidays, I added the Deflect just in case.)

Does anyone have any fixes? I've used my rescue inhaler four times already since 10 pm yesterday. I woke up at 12:30 am practically suffocating. My inhaler is not working (I hav even trying not to use it anyway.)

Melissa

Melisa,
I only had a few episodes of real asthma as a child in reaction to a hayfever shot but I feel for you, the memory was awful.  I pinpointed corn flour/starch as the guilty item that gave me mild asthma like feelings about 8 years ago and eliminated it from my diet, now I find I can tolerate it but keep it in very small amounts.

More to your point I saw something on TV that coffee can help when you are having an attack, don't know if that is true or how it works.

Don't let it get too bad before checking in with your doctor.
hope you sort it out soon.
Lin

Avoid wine and beer, Mould, dust, Dairy, Corn, Stress, Pets.

You may also like to look into the following

Don't Over breath generally,

The Butyeko method of breathing. Apple cider vinegar (if compliant) for short term relief.

But finding the cause is the key. My guess would be Dairy something.

perhaps SIBO is an issue too.

I was a long-time sufferer of asthma. I say "was" because I haven't had an attack since 2006, which I find to be completely remarkable. In fact, I don't even consider myself to have asthma anymore...

I credit the Blood Type Diet, and now my SWAMI for keeping my lungs healthy. The biggest triggers for me are wheat, dairy, and corn. When I say "wheat", I include most flours, and the dairy I consume (and not a lot of it) is yogurt and feta cheese (superfoods). I stick to my lists as much as possible, though I do know how difficult this is when away from home.

rub some pure peppermint oil on your chest and under your nose

Take a higher dose of vit. C and NACysteine....the C stimulates and supports the adrenals, which are depleted from trying to breathe,,,,and the NAC strengthens and clears the lungs.
Like Drea, I too had bad asthma back before eating right. Same triggers as she mentions. (zero wheat, all the time!)

Quoted from policychecker

Avoid wine and beer, Mould, dust, Dairy, Corn, Stress, Pets.

You may also like to look into the following

Don't Over breath generally,

The Butyeko method of breathing. Apple cider vinegar (if compliant) for short term relief.

But finding the cause is the key. My guess would be Dairy something.

perhaps SIBO is an issue too.

Hi!

I don't think it's dairy. Dairy doesn't bother me. For me, it's usually wheat or corn. I just wanted a quick fix.

Thanks!

Melissa

Inhale steam from a pan of water with a few drops of oil of Eucalyptus in the water.  Drinking hot Green tea an using the neti pot might help, too.

(I can't believe I spelled Eucalyptus right on the first try).

Good luck!  I'm having a bit of trouble, too.

If you think it might be an allergic reaction, then benadryl might help as "emergency first aid" to keep you breathing while the natural remedies take their time to kick in.

Melisa,
I was just diagnosed this year as having asthma! Never had a symptom all my life...only sinus issues...which is what my doctors think triggered the recent asthma. I just know that cold, dry air and too much exertion set me off by coughing then weezing. I use a preventive long term inhaler each morning then keep the quick acting one in my purse...which I rarely use. Steam and hot tea with mint have helped me before when the coughing is intense and I cannot breathe.
I feel for you!
I am finally  making an appointment to go to an allergist for the first time in my life. I have only been seeing an ENT. Other people I know who suffer say that California and especially the desert harbor a multitude of allergens all year round!

I have been looking at this a bit more today.

Cajun - what foods do you think cause you a problem?

Also stress can be a big factor in any sudden onset of asthma, I would guess especially in blood group A's, also recent change in exercise, becoming more sedentary, environmental change, but stress is always in there somewhere.

gentle exercise will help all of that. plus being especially compliant. try it and see.

I agree with PC about the Buteyko breathing method, it has worked wonders for me!  You can google how to do some of the breathing exercises & with repeated practice, they greatly improve the symptoms.  I've had minor flares over the past year (mostly when I've had colds) and doing the breath holds has reduced my need for my rescue inhaler. November was 1 year since I've used it.  You can pm me if you want the web address for the site.  

My asthma and allergies disappeared until I ended up eating avoids. I have to rebuild my health from scratch and I know that I will not get near certain avoids even with Deflect. I found that wheat and HFCS really do a number on my asthma. Being bedridden for 2-3 days at a time is not worth eating a slice of cake. Ugh!

Quoted from cajun

Melisa,
I was just diagnosed this year as having asthma! Never had a symptom all my life...only sinus issues...which is what my doctors think triggered the recent asthma. I just know that cold, dry air and too much exertion set me off by coughing then weezing. I use a preventive long term inhaler each morning then keep the quick acting one in my purse...which I rarely use. Steam and hot tea with mint have helped me before when the coughing is intense and I cannot breathe.
I feel for you!
I am finally  making an appointment to go to an allergist for the first time in my life. I have only been seeing an ENT. Other people I know who suffer say that California and especially the desert harbor a multitude of allergens all year round!

Hey Cajun!

I'm allergic to dust mites (both the North American and European species) beyind the highest level, dogs and cats, molds, and weeds - all at a level 3, meaning I have to be exposed for three hours in theory before I get sick.

I am one of the small percentage of people who have their allergies exacerbated by lectins in food - I discovered is after straying from a gluten free diet prescribed by the naturopath. Within 15 minutes, I was sick. I also ate corn. I've discovered that these two items make me sick.

I've gotten myself off of all my rX meds. I suffered through it with hot showers and eucalyptus.

Melissa

yup go for natural antihistaminicum like largest doses of vit C and even NAC as described between 4-600mg's a dosage once a day in the morning.....
Often vit.C might be combined with rutin and citrus bioflavonoides; I don't know if you might have reactions on those as well But normally the combo is fine in such circumstances... larch arabinogalactan... a beautiful aid as well I wish you all the best, a very quick recovery for a happy new years eve .....

IF I WENT to a allergist .. HE/SHE better be BTD versed.. they will stuff you with pills and sprays, instead of addressing them with food issues..

but if one has a chocking episode which by now should be long gone.. then emergency care is important..

keeping track of all one eats that might trigger future episodes is most important, as even small airborne stuff can cause issues.. imagine what a mouthful of a TRIGGER food might do..  

It takes so little.. the size of a baby aspirin can make you ill ... almost anything can be a trigger..
Keeping a specific food diary is more important for the person to LEARN what might be triggering each person.  

IT pays to become hyper about it and be HYPER about discerning differences, like how you pee or not, how you sleep or not, how you itch or scratch or not, break out in fear or not, have episodes in 5 minutes 10 minutes or 24 hours or not..  there is much one can learn .. giving each item a chance to be ingested alone and away from other foods would help.. Elimination diet.. look for info in Google..  

Melisa.....one of the few people???? Um....Wheat, gluten grains, corn.....eat them not! Zip! For my money they cause asthma. Others have their theories. I have totally cured my asthma (and it was bad!) by avoiding those.

Quoted from Melisa

-snip-
I am one of the small percentage of people who have their allergies exacerbated by lectins in food - I discovered is after straying from a gluten free diet prescribed by the naturopath. Within 15 minutes, I was sick. I also ate corn. I've discovered that these two items make me sick.

I've gotten myself off of all my rX meds. I suffered through it with hot showers and eucalyptus.

Melissa

I'm definitely part of the small percentage.  I just wonder how small it really is.  When someone consumes / inhales a "perfect storm" of lectins and allergens and reacts, he or she might just assume it's a bad cold.  So all these episodes may go unreported.

I used to be unable to tolerate cats.  But now I live with four of them.  And when I combine wheat and dairy, I get hammered with symptoms.

Anyway, glad you got over it!

Thanks to all for the suggestions and great advice.
PC, I know that wheat/gluten and cow dairy bother my sinuses, I've been exercising more in the last year, and there always seems to be stress in my life.

Goldie,I changed ENT's 3 times this year because I would not take the steroids the
first 2 tried to push on me! Not to worry. I did the elimination diet when I started BTD and it was great but did not take care of my sinus issues completely.
                                              I need to see an allergist about the
environmental side of this coin. I am better when I am very compliant with my swami but I still sneeze/ cannot breathe through my nose during certain times of the year, especially when I go outside. The ENT took care of my polyps but I need to do something to prevent their return. I have been experiencing ear squeaking/vertigo and have now been "stuffed up" for 3 weeks. My sinuses are swollen and I am tired of mouth breathing....so obviously sleeping is difficult.
Anyway, enough of my "wah-wah", I know whatever natural relief I can find is the best.
  

Melisa, if you've never cut out dairy, it might behoove you to try it once and see if it does make an impact.  It could very well be that one.  And yeah, wheat and corn, chicken.  All the stuff you probably know.

We have used Stinging nettles on my son and it has helped.  Along with many of the other suggestions.  Another one I didn't see mentioned is digestive enzymes sometimes help my son.  As his asthma has in the past seemed to coincide with not digesting foods well.  And still does at times.  Although the weather seems to be the biggest contributor.  Or animals.  Actually, he's allergic to so many things, it's hard to tell sometimes.  Ugh.

I didn't read all the posts carefully, so if this was already mentioned, my apologies - My first thought with any chronic condition is to go full out on all diamonds/superfoods with absolutely no avoid/toxins, even black dots.  It's my own approach when some condition or another seems complex/mysterious/stubborn.

Some recent research is linking BHT to asthma. although I'm pretty sure they are illegal in the uk, perhaps not in other countries.

BHT is an antioxidant used as a food additive in the likes of gum (E319, E 320 or E321) or perhaps gallates.

BHA, BHT and TBHQ are in things like cakes mixes, dry yeast, flavorings, cereal based food, glazed fruit, fish oil, milk powder, any dehydrated foods, ready meals, dry mixes, essential oils, snack food, processed foods.

citric acid, phosphoric acid, lecithin and methione are increasing agent in the causes related to some conditions. so if you spot them in a food it may have BHA, BHT etc..

Victoria, you are spot on...it just seems logical to do that, no?

PC, thanks for the info, I will be checking for that!

Quoted from mikeo

rub some pure peppermint oil on your chest and under your nose

Gotta agree with Mike on this.  Peppermint oil really helped me when my lungs filled up with crud.

Quoted from KimonoKat

Gotta agree with Mike on this.  Peppermint oil really helped me when my lungs filled up with crud.

I've done this when I was stuffy in the head.  Just rubbed a little under my nose and it helped quite a bit.  Breathe better and clear sinuses.  Peppermint oil specifically.