All: I finally got my asthma under control after a year of complaining to my allergist by seeking another medical opinion; i.e., a pulmonologist. To my current daily med regimen of advair, flovent, singulair, theophylin, and albuterol (if needed), he added Intal and combivent and I've had two full weeks with no symptoms, sleeping like a baby.

My advice is: find out what the meds are (I suggested singulair to my allergist, and she agreed); find out if both your big and small airways are affected, then take those meds created for that particular (or both) condition(s). You have to experiment. I should add that I've been taking shots for ten years for my allergies (it takes two years for the "juice" to kick in) and I had sinus surgery to remove polyps, which were contributing to my constant sinus infections and exacerbating the asthma. Get a flu shot every year and if you're "older," get a pneumonia shot--I think you only have to take the latter once in your life. Above all, don't smoke. Just don't. Easy to say, but I finally quit after the tenth try.

Good luck to all of you. This is a very limiting disease until you finally get it under control.

Mary