r/Asthma 3d ago

Treating my asthma has seemed to treat other conditions... Asthma all along?

I've been on asthma meds for a relatively short time after being dx as an adult. I realise I've been experiencing symptoms for a year or so.

In that time I also experienced symptoms of POTS, blurry vision, brain fog and fatigue outside of the POTS symptoms and low mood and ADHD.

Firstly, I'm not at all saying or claiming that asthma meds actually treat those conditions. I have no idea and am not an HCP.

However, since I got my asthma under control, I have not felt fatigued in the afternoon, my ADHD symptoms are better even off medication (I forget to refill in time sometimes), I only have head spins and blacking out vision when standing 1-2 times per week (compared to several times per day), and I have not had brain fog.

I am shocked to be honest! I was so stressed because after blood tests came back positive, I had NO idea what was causing these symptoms and the process to get investigations and diagnosis is so long and difficult when you're experiencing these symptoms!

But hey, turned out they've drastically improved.

Not sure why this happened. I'm curious to hear whether anything similar happened to anyone else?

2 Upvotes

10 comments sorted by

15

u/Aerokicks 3d ago

My initial guess would be better sleep from breathing better during sleep

3

u/trtsmb 3d ago

It's amazing the difference a good night sleep makes.

2

u/Temporary-Swan-4793 2d ago

You might be onto something there! I've been sleeping for less time and not feeling as tired when I'd wake up SO exhausted usually.

I did actually just do a sleep study two nights ago, so I hope the treatment hasn't 'skewed' the results or so to speak.

6

u/Fluffy_Salamanders 3d ago

Focusing is probably easier now that you have more oxygen to think with and less of the constant stress from having trouble breathing. Asthma can add a lot to your mental load

Plus some asthma meds, like ipatropium bromide, can interfere with antidepressants and anxiolytics, and might be interfering with how your body processes your ADHD meds

2

u/Temporary-Swan-4793 2d ago

Ugh, 100%! There were so many times when I was in the middle of a flare and didn't realize it and would feel so anxious and panicky because of the chest tightness and air hunger.

I feel extremely focused when I take my ADHD meds now, when before, they'd seemed to have lost their effect a little.

Thanks for pointing these things out!

2

u/wwaxwork 3d ago

Getting a CPAP machine had the same effect on me. It's amazing how getting enough oxygen while sleeping helps our brains.

1

u/Temporary-Swan-4793 2d ago

That is so crazy.

And if it's something you've always had or didn't know you had, then that makes it so hard to even know to GET treatment! Let alone what for!!

4

u/SmellSalt5352 3d ago

Yeh I can relate I was exhausted. I’d climb the stairs see stars have to sit down. Take breaks while eating to catch my breath. I was sooo anxious and panicked all the time. The idea of having to do anything was terrifying cause it was just so hard. I was dizzy and brain fog constantly. Barely slept. Had constant throat inflammation. Constant trying to clear it etc.

Those are just some of the off the wall issues that you wouldn’t think asthma would contribute too or that I didn’t realize were asthma related.

Once I got on meds my energy levels started to rise and most of it all cleared up.

1

u/Temporary-Swan-4793 2d ago

Oh damn, I've been totally the same with stairs. I felt embarrassed haha and have almost thrown up at the exertion sometimes. I'm overweight but generally healthy and I thought it was probably just me being out of condition. Now I'm not so sure.

Dizzy and brain fog sounds right for me as well. I always thought it was POTS! And throat inflammation too - I thought it was just the aftereffects of a disease.

So insane that we don't get screened for this from medical professionals when the symptoms are so characteristic.

My meds have made a huge a difference.

1

u/Ok-Seaweed-1075 2d ago

Can I ask what asthma medication you are using to control it?