21st December 2003
IgE is the immunoglobulin that is most related to allergic reactions and that kind of thing. There are other kinds of immunoglobulins, like IgA and IgM, which are the two other big ones, that are more related to infections than is IgE.
If it comes back low, it means the reactions you are having are not IgE mediated -- they could easily be histamine mediated. Sounds like a waffly technicality, I know, but it's the difference between things like 'anaphylactic' and 'anaphylactoid' reactions. (Even though they sound like the exact same thing. Sigh!)
If it comes back low (which really means normal, since 0 is normal) it just means you would probably not benefit from IgE-blocking therapy like Xolair.
I'm having the darnedest time decoding the british naming scheme, but I know flixotide = flovent, theophyllin = theophylline, seretide = advair, singulair = singulair, and cetirizine = Reactine (in Canada) or Zyrtec in the USA.
I've heard of people becoming tolerant to allergy meds -- have you considered switching from Reactine to something different?
Does the Singulair particularly help you? Have you considered switching to something like Accolate? I know of people who've felt like crap on Singulair but felt like a million bucks when they were on Accolate.
Are you making sure to have your Theophylline levels monitored regularly -- because that could be a reason for your heart rate being so high.
In Europe, have they approved symbicort yet? It's like Advair or seretide except instead of flovent and serevent it's Pulmicort and formoterol. I tried Flovent and found it didn't do jack diddly squat for me -- but the Symbicort's been like manna from heaven.
These are all just alternate suggestions because if any of these drugs are genuinely helping you, why change?
You might want to ask about maybe going to a combivent rescue inhaler from a straight-ventolin one, as some people find it works better than the straight-ventolin without making their heart race as much. (Not everyone, though!)
If you start feeling palpitations or dizzy or the chest pains (!!!) you should be worried, especially at a heart rate of 140. There's a big difference between 140/min with no dizziness and no nervousness and 140/min with palpitations and dizziness.
Your pulse should match your heart rate -- I am assuming you're talking about pulse oximetry, where it was 92% oxygen?
If your heart starts beating super-fast, your blood pressure could drop a bit. If it's stable, that's a good sign, but I'm still a little freaked about the dizziness.
It's also worth it to mention that with the more bronchodilators you're taking and the faster your heart rate is, it has the potential to disrupt your electrolyte balance -- mostly giving you a high potassium (which can have effects on your heart.)
If it comes back low, it means the reactions you are having are not IgE mediated -- they could easily be histamine mediated. Sounds like a waffly technicality, I know, but it's the difference between things like 'anaphylactic' and 'anaphylactoid' reactions. (Even though they sound like the exact same thing. Sigh!)
If it comes back low (which really means normal, since 0 is normal) it just means you would probably not benefit from IgE-blocking therapy like Xolair.
I'm having the darnedest time decoding the british naming scheme, but I know flixotide = flovent, theophyllin = theophylline, seretide = advair, singulair = singulair, and cetirizine = Reactine (in Canada) or Zyrtec in the USA.
I've heard of people becoming tolerant to allergy meds -- have you considered switching from Reactine to something different?
Does the Singulair particularly help you? Have you considered switching to something like Accolate? I know of people who've felt like crap on Singulair but felt like a million bucks when they were on Accolate.
Are you making sure to have your Theophylline levels monitored regularly -- because that could be a reason for your heart rate being so high.
In Europe, have they approved symbicort yet? It's like Advair or seretide except instead of flovent and serevent it's Pulmicort and formoterol. I tried Flovent and found it didn't do jack diddly squat for me -- but the Symbicort's been like manna from heaven.
These are all just alternate suggestions because if any of these drugs are genuinely helping you, why change?
You might want to ask about maybe going to a combivent rescue inhaler from a straight-ventolin one, as some people find it works better than the straight-ventolin without making their heart race as much. (Not everyone, though!)
If you start feeling palpitations or dizzy or the chest pains (!!!) you should be worried, especially at a heart rate of 140. There's a big difference between 140/min with no dizziness and no nervousness and 140/min with palpitations and dizziness.
Your pulse should match your heart rate -- I am assuming you're talking about pulse oximetry, where it was 92% oxygen?
If your heart starts beating super-fast, your blood pressure could drop a bit. If it's stable, that's a good sign, but I'm still a little freaked about the dizziness.
It's also worth it to mention that with the more bronchodilators you're taking and the faster your heart rate is, it has the potential to disrupt your electrolyte balance -- mostly giving you a high potassium (which can have effects on your heart.)