u/DistractedNS

For context, I just started training again a few weeks ago after taking 10 years off (and having three kids). I've got exercise-induced asthma and take Ritilan and Guanfacine for ADHD. When I trained as a teenager, I would have problems with asthma where I would need to use my inhaler, but it's been a lot worse this time around where I get very easily winded for the rest of the 90-minute class after using the inhaler.

I had some people suggest using my inhaler before the class starts and that my issues with hyperventilating after could be related to my heart rate being high. I tried using the inhaler before class Friday (which was life-changingly awesome because I didn't have my normal breathing problems), and I also wore my smart watch to track my heart rate... Which sat at 180 for most of the class and got up to 194 at one point. 😬 And I didn't even feel like it was as intense as I normally train.

My instructor is awesome and keeps things moving the whole class but typically not at insane pace (I'll self-excuse from faster-paced drills if my breathing is having problems). So I'm pretty sure I'm the problem here...

I haven't done much exercise for the last decade, but I wasn't in bad shape because I'm pretty active already just in normal life.

I realize the inhaler is a stimulant and the Ritilan is also a stimulant, but this does seem a bit excessive. I really want to be able to train the whole class without having to sideline myself. I've been working on my breathing and trying to keep that in check, but I'm at a loss when it comes to lowering heart rate. Any thoughts or ideas?

I have exercise-induced asthma, but I think it's fairly mild. I haven't exercised much in about 10 years so I haven't had to think about it much, but I just started back with Jiu-Jitsu a few weeks ago (which has definitely reminded me I still have asthma). Each class is about an hour and a half but varies in intensity. I have the most issues when we're doing pretty constant drills or takedowns.

I use my inhaler when my breathing starts to tighten to the point where it's uncomfortable, but after I've used it, it almost feels like it's working so well that I'm uncontrollably winded every time I really get going again. Like my chest is no longer tight, but my breathing is so fast that I can barely speak until I've let it calm down for a while. Once it's done that in a class, I get winded extremely easily for the rest of the class despite frequent breaks.

I guess I'm just trying to figure out how normal or not normal this reaction is. The inhaler opened my airway, but the rest of my body doesn't appear to have gotten that message or something.

Any experience or advice is appreciated!