Marshall,

Get a referral from your doctor to see a respiratory specialist if you don't already have one. You don't say how bad your asthma is, but a good degree of lung capacity is required and there are tests that can be done to determine that. There are parts of the track that are quite strenuous and require quite deep, diaphragmatic breathing. If you cannot do that successfully, you may need to rethink.

The best judge of your own ability is you. Be completely honest with yourself. It may be a case of needing some prolonged cardio/endurance training, as well as taking your medication. But if you have severe asthma, you should be having a serious and honest discussion with your doctor as to your fitness and potential for problems.

Good luck.

Eve

Marshall – apologies in advance for the lengthy post, but this is an important issue. As previous posts have suggested, yes, it certainly is a matter of life and death. Literally. I am asthmatic. To make matters worse, I have E.I.A – Exercise Induced Asthma.

I have been training for my Kokoda trip (which is just under 2 weeks now) for 18 months. Yes, 18 months. The reason why I have been training for so long is because I know I am asthmatic. I have been working on a lot of cardio work (stepper, treadmill, bike & X-trainer) at the gym. I am not a runner. I hate running. But I have started to jog for just 30 seconds. Then I walk for 2 mins. Then I jog for another 30 seconds.

I have had numerous appointments with my GP (who happens to be a respiratory specialist) and also (at my request) done what's called a 'Beep-Test' which is a basic fitness test. You run in time with the beeps until you can't run anymore.

It is VERY VERY important to keep up your PREVENTER medication. It's hard because at times it feels like taking pain killers when you are not in pain. But it crucial that you do this and is very much a nessesity to do so.

Your local hospital may also be able to help with a fitness test (step-tests etc) and your GP – preferably a lung specialist will be able to help with a spirometer test (lung function test) and may even provide you with a peak flow meter. If you have a peak flow meter, use it in your training to get an idea of what your lung capacity is when you are exercising. As MTV has stated, this is not cheap, but what is the cost of your life in comparison? Priceless.

A cardio clinic (heart clinic/rehab etc) will also be able to help or refer you to other professionals who can help you with increasing your heart/lung capacity.

I have done quite a few walks now (I am in Brisbane-ish area) and it has been a long hard slog with my asthma. I have also reduced how much I use my reliever (Ventolin) as if I needed it all the time, then what am I going to do when I REALLY REALLY need it in the middle of a jungle with no medical access and a million miles from home? But make sure you consult your GP before doing this.

Humidity will play an absolute HUGE role in managing your asthma – as it will literally suck the life out of you if you are not accustomed to it. To help me, I have utilised the steam room at our local gym and sit in there for a good 30 mins. I made it to 32 mins the other day This has also helped with managing my asthma.

Only you will know your limits. Find a hill. Find some stairs. Walk up and down these on a hot day 10 times. How do you feel? Walk up and down 20 times. Now how do you feel?

Ok? Start jogging up them. How long can you do this for?

Skipping. Buy yourself a skipping rope. If you can't skip, learn how to. Excellent cardio work which is also excellent lung capacity work. Start off small. Set yourself achieveable goals. Say, 20 skips. Then 30. Then 50. *pause – have a drink* Skip some more. I am now up to 100 skips in a row with a quick drink and then another 100 skips before I have to stop. This is a HUGE improvement for me who 18 months ago could only manage 15 skips before I nearly passed out.

Check your diet. Dairy products can contribute to symptoms of asthma and making it worse. For 18 months now I have been off a lot of dairy products as this exacerbated my asthma greatly. Milk in particular. I buy lactose-free milk now and the difference has been incredible. Cheese in my diet is almost non-existent and yogurt only as a rare treat.

Check your breathing technique. Do you shallow breathe? Learn to breathe deeper. Do you breathe from your chest? Learn to breathe from your stomach. Relaxation exercises can help with this. I am fortunate that I have a martial arts background and have learnt how to breathe properly from this.

I cannot stress how serious you need to be in making your decision whether or not to trek Kokoda.
It is not like you will be able to bring a nebuliser and plug it into a tree, so undertake your decision to trek Kokoda with the utmost care and attention.

Having said all that, if it is your heart's desire to trek Kokoda, then hold onto that dream and work hard at it to make it come true.

I leave on the 18th of October and return on the 30th of October/1st November (depending on timezone). I will be sure to post how I went once I have recuperated. But even so, it will be from my experience. I am not you, you are not me. My asthma does not = your asthma nor will my ability to cope = your ability to cope. Do your research, get to know your body and seek out the professional advice you need in order to do so.

Best wishes,

fluppy

Hi Brooke.

The lady on the phone has probably never done the track herself and has no idea. Just take it one day at a time.
My son suffers from asthma, he has been to Iraq with the military and was also asked to try out for the Ozz Olympic swim team a numbers of years ago. Have faith in your Dr and yourself and you will be ok.
"Take litttle steps" is what our guide Dudley told us.

Brooke,

You've prepared yourself mentally and physically and you're smart enough to recognise your own limitations. I'm sure you'll use common sense and look after yourself on the track – just keep your trek leader updated along the way. It's not a race, so there's no need to push yourself past where you're comfortable. Just take your time, practice and concentrate on controlled breathing. I think I mentioned in an email a while back, use the flat sections as your 'recovery' – long, deep breaths to slow your heart rate down etc.

(And yes, lots of little steps. Bigger steps use more energy. It's better to take lots of small steps, so you're not having to use those bigger leg muscles to keep lifting your weight longer distances.)

Incidentally, I signed up a new client yesterday who has exercise induced asthma. I agreed to take her on, on the understanding that she first get clearance from her doctor, so I know what HE thinks her limitations are, how her medication might affect her, and what she shouldn't be doing (or what she can), but also that SHE be responsible for telling me when she is having any kind of difficulty. The communication needs to flow in both directions.

Eve