ExRx.net

Just curious (oh, I'm so curious, aren't I?), do you pre-treat your asthma? If it tends to be triggered by exercise, or by anything in the gym (dust, cleaning products, your trainers cologne, whatever) it would be wise to use your inhaler before you start the workout, maybe 15 minutes before. I'm talking about a fast-acting, sometimes called "rescue" inhaler (albureral, metaproteranol, etc.). The long-acting inhalers ("preventive") can be very important too, but have to be in regular use.

If you have not been, this could help your performance in the workout. Bronchospasm affects you before you become aware of it, especially if you have had asthma for a long time.

I should, and I used to, but I haven't taken meds for my asthma in a long time.

Right now, no job so no health insurance, so getting a doctor visit and then a scrip for albuteral paid for will cost too much.

Sorry. I've got a couple laying around that I'd be happy to give you if you stop by sometime.

Might be cheaper to go to the doctor...

I'll have to see if my old doc here gives student discounts, discounts for paying by cash so they can skip all the insurance forms, etc. and has some albuterol samples laying around. It would be nice to have a rescue inhaler if I really need it.

I made sure to tell my trainer I've got asthma, so he knows to keep checking with me to see if I'm okay. "Yes" means "Yes." "Maybe" means "No, but I want to keep going so just keep an eye on me." If I get to "no" I can't actually speak, I need to go sit down and concentrate on breathing. :D

There used to be an over-the-counter inhaler. I can't even remember what they were called. They were terrible, and lots of docs hated them. They might not be on the market anymore (I don't keep track of such things as well as I did when I lived in the US). They work very fast, have very short duration of action, and affect the heart rate and cause shaking way worse than albuteral. People who use them, tend to get used to the really fast onset of action, and later don't think albuteral is doing anything for them. It's hard to get people who are used to them to stop using them. I'm saying all of that to say that I don't really recommend them, but if you had one in your gym bag, it would be better than losing consciousness, having them call 911 and haul you to the ER (which, I'm betting, still costs more than a doctor visit in the US!).

Clenbuterol??

I don't know that brand name. There are probably several. It's active ingredient was epinephrine.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/catclen.htm

It's not a brand name, it's the name of the accual chemical.

I'll check this out next time I'm in a pharmacy.

Thanks for the link.

I thought you were suggesting the name of the product that I couldn't (and still can't) think of.

As far as I know, it's not in any product that is approved for human use in the US. If it is, it's only been in the last couple of years.

Nope its not, used on horses and thats pretty much it. It's not illegal but you can't find it in any pharmacy.

Spelling note (you English teacher, you! You of all people should know this!):

GUNZ

Universally accepted by grammarians and spellarians everywhere.

It's true, but I think since I wasn't kissing my biceps at the top of each rep or checkin' out da ladies it doesn't really count.

I'm loving reading about Defranco's. Also makes me feel good about my own training - a lot posterior chain work, basically. I can really relate to the paragraph above! Quads? Who needs 'em! And you're lower back never being tired, despite all the box squats etc! - I can relate to that, too. I do a lot of PC work, but my lower back always feels good, whether it's DL's or Squats I've been doing. Only time it feels a bit 'off' is when i've grinded out one or two - what i call - 'disc bulgers' (as in LUMBAR discs). It's never intentional but happens from time to time.

I think it's amazing how much the PC can take. It makes sense if you think about it terms of just how much muscle mass is in the PC compared to the rest of the body.

Anyway, keep up what looks like very hard work!

KPj

ps keep pumping them gunz, too. Do you imagine youe biceps growing and filling up the whole room when you're working them. Mine grew 0.25 of an inch when I started doing this

Peter, if you'd rather, I can start a thread somewhere about this, or take it to my journal discussion, but the subject of low back soreness is now dear to my heart, or to my back or something. My low back soreness is bothering me again. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I noticed that if I keep lifting, it doesn't really make a big difference, but it is increasing gradually. It seems to relate to my rack pulls, and I'm wondering if I'm doing too much, as in too much volume. I was glad to discover that I could lift heavier than I have before, so maybe I've gone overboard? I've had DOMS elsewhere, but this is lasting for several days at a time.