Asthma Community

If you haven't already, please get tested for food allergies. I found I had a dairy allergy. It wasn't too difficult to cut out dairy and it made a big difference in my seasonal allergy and asthma symptoms.

Thank you. I did years ago and am allergic to various foods; nothing crazy though. Thanks for your input!

All I can tell is how I deal with stuff. If nothing else is working, on and off prednisone with symtpoms reappearing when going off, then I take Levaquin, assuming a bacterial infection. If that doesn't work, I assume a viral infection and go off the prednisone and just use the nebulizer without the immunosuppressants to allow the body to fight the assumed viral infection. Then, it normally clears in about a week. Don't know if it helps you, though.

But, years ago you weren't having much trouble. I think it's worth trying again. Allergies can come and go.

Hi Kim 2123 I understand your frustration, I only had mild asthma for a few years and then 3 years ago turned uncontrollable no idea y, nothing had really changed in my life, maybe increased stress, I am now ony third specialist who is a respirologist who deals with hard to control asthma,she also has no idea why she states sometimes it happens, I switched jobs moved into a different house with no changes, we have played with my asthma medications, do peak flows twice a dayandmonitor triggers. I have on non allergic asthma, my ige levels never rise I. React to scents smokes, weather emotions, smoke the harder to control ones. Do you know what your triggers are, have they changed your medication at all, I do also react to Advil or any non steroidal anti inflammatory medications. Can u get to see a different specialist, have they tried to see if it is a different disease that acts like asthma? I still end up in emergency once every four to six weeks, hope u get some answers Bre

Thank you everyone! I'll ask my allergist to do testing...it has been a long time since I had testing. Nothing else in my life has changed except I got a new job that is WAY better than my last one. There are days were just walking to the kitchen makes me out of breath. I was changed from Advair to Dulera after being hospitalized. My blood pressure has been really high...wonder if that affects asthma?? I feel like I know my triggers: cold weather, laughing too hard, exercise, dust, aspirin, anti-histamines, etc. I'm sick of going to docs and not getting any results. I also worry that I will now get pneumonia every year now since I had it for the first time in March. I guess I shouldn't give up and keep trying to find relief. It has really affected my quality of life...I can barely play outside with my 9 and I don't walk around the neighborhood anymore. I'm afraid to do anything where I have to walk. Thank you all for your suggestions and advice; it is very much appreciated!!

May be time for another pulmo to take a look at things. If you were indeed diagnosed with 'chronic bronchitis' they tend to treat it somewhat differently than just asthma---there are some new meds that treat COPD as well.

High BP should not be causing your asthma reactions, but depending on whether you are taking a BP medication or not that could be a factor. Some blood pressure medications exacerbate asthma (beta blockers I believe at in that group), so that is one thing you might want to ask about.

Chronic bronchitis, as it comes under the umbrella of COPD can progress with time and worsen symptoms. Get a good workup---if you have access to another pulmo it sounds like the place to start. If there is a university hospital with a medical center near you, you might check into that.

I have a friend who was initially diagnosed with asthma and then a great pulmo found it was COPD/chronic bronchitis...your symptoms sound like hers...she was treated at Mayo as she lives near there and they now have her lung function in much better shape. Might be worth a try.

It is frustrating when your quality of luck is being affected...but the key is to track your symptoms daily, figure out what is causing the respiratory issues as best you can, and find a good doctor and be sure you have the right diagnosis. ONCE you get that, things should improve as they can target the diagnosis with the appropriate meds.

Hang in there...

Good luck,

Mattie

Hi Kim,
Hope you have gotten some answers for your lung problems. If not keep on calling the doctor and telling them all of your symptoms even if you do not think they are significant. My story is very similiar to yours. I have had asthma for twenty six years. If i used my rescue inhaler twice a year it was alot. I did have bronchitis every year until i had pneumonia about seven years ago and then had the shot which helped tremendously. About three years ago i developed a cough, i do have allergies and was not concerned, because it was just annoying. March of last year while singing in church i felt a crackle in my right lung and realized i was having an attack. I could not get it under conrtrol and was rushed to the hospital. I was sent home after a treatment and shot of steroids. Long story short this began a long journey of doctors and steroids and hospital stays. My doctor suggested i go to the cleveland clinic and see a specialist. My tests were clear even though during the initial attack my lungs were very tight. The conclusion a viral infection to my lung. I was to let it heal for six months. Almost to the day i was still having problems and called the specialist again who sent me for asthma tests. The dresult i was told i did not have asthma. (I was on a large dose of steroids before all of the tests) I was very determined to get some where and said what about the pain in my right lung, the shortness of breath and many other symptoms. The doctor said why don't we do a biopsy. The doctor really did not think it was anything but decided i could have asperated something, which is very common. Good thing i was persistant, my diagnosis was severe persistant asthma, and my lungs had remodeled. After many monthes of challenges i got into a study for bronchial thermoplasty. After one treatment i can go on a walk, climb steps, and just feel like living again. I feel lousy right at the momment though because i just had treatment number two on monday. I do know that by the end of next week i will be feeling better. One more treatment to go after this.
I don't know if you have the same problem, but do not stop being insistent. If i would have stopped bugging the doctors i would still just be on steroids and other meds, and feeling lousy.
Hoping that you start to feel better