Pregnancy Changed My Immune System | Hellobee

I don?t remember when I was diagnosed, but my mom and I agree that I?ve had allergies and asthma pretty much my entire life.? My brother and sister have the same issues. All three of us suffered asthma attacks as children and had to get breathing treatments at the doctor?s office when we played sports too hard, or got a really bad cold. Back then, our pediatrician referred to it as ?bronchial asthma? but that?s just a different term used to describe asthma.

As I got older, I kind of grew out of my asthma symptoms. I could really push myself while exercising and not have any wheezing. My allergies were well controlled by taking an over the counter antihistamine, and while I had a rescue inhaler, I honestly couldn?t tell you how often or when I used it. It sat in my medicine cabinet and I never left the house with it.

When women with asthma become pregnant, one-third of the patients improve, one-third worsen, and the last third remain unchanged. I fell into the category of ?worsen.?

We used fertility treatments to get pregnant with Chloe and after my pregnancy was confirmed with a beta test, my RE gave me a list of pregnancy-safe medicines. My rescue inhaler was listed as category C. I couldn?t remember the last time I used my inhaler, let alone refilled the prescription, so I didn?t give this much thought. I filed this information in the back of my mind and went along my way.

I was about 9 weeks along when I got bronchitis. I was sick for weeks and it really took a toll on my body and exacerbated my asthma. My allergies worsened as well, and mid-pregnancy I was prescribed Singular to help with my asthma symptoms. It did absolutely nothing for me in terms of control, and I found my asthma getting worse and worse throughout my pregnancy. We had a heat wave that summer, and I quickly learned that my symptoms were triggered by extreme temperature changes. Going out in the extreme humidity made me have an asthma attack. A quick temperature drop, which isn?t that unusual in Pittsburgh, made me have an attack. I was so hesitant to use my rescue inhaler because it was Category C, but my OB quickly reminded me that if the mother isn?t getting any oxygen then the fetus isn?t getting and either, and she said she wouldn?t hesitate to hospitalize me until I got my asthma under control.? That?s how bad my symptoms were.

?My sister & me on vacation, Summer 2011.? I was about 30 weeks along here!

I figured my symptoms would go back to normal after I delivered Chloe, but they didn?t.? She was born in October, and by March I?d had so many asthma attacks that my primary care physician ordered me a nebulizer to have at home for emergencies. I was diagnosed with Severe Persistent Asthma, and had to see my primary care physician every 3-4 months for asthma checks. I was eventually prescribed Advair, which has made a huge difference in my quality of life, but this really isn?t a cure. My ultimate goal is to be medicine-free.

I addressed this issue with my RE and PCP when we decided to TTC again (is that enough acronyms for you?!).? They both agree that if my symptoms worsened during my first pregnancy to the point where my OB threatened to hospitalize me, then I really shouldn?t get pregnant again until I truly have my asthma and allergies under control.? The likelihood of my asthma worsening during a subsequent pregnancy is very high.

I was referred to an allergist who ran a series of tests, pinpointed my allergens (cats, dogs, dust and dust mites), and helped me come up with a treatment plan tailored to fit my lifestyle needs and our TTC timeline.? He presented me with several options and highly recommended that we replace our carpeting with hardwood flooring.

We?re still weighing all of our options. First and foremost, we?re installing hardwood flooring.? We?ve decided to give the new flooring a three month trial, with our family pets, to see how I feel.? I?m considering getting allergy shots, and we know that the possibility of having to re-home our pets is a sad, but realistic option as well.

Did pregnancy have a lasting effect on your body?? How did you cope?

Source: http://www.hellobee.com/2013/04/12/pregnancy-changed-my-immune-system/

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