Asthma? or Allergy? or Heart?

[wes]

Greetings everyone. Sorry it's been ages since I last posted, but I've been secretly lurking here occasionally to try to keep up with things.

Unfortunately, I'm writing with a question about my health in hopes that other people may have experienced the same thing:

I've been suffering from a slight chronic cough for the last year or so. It mostly occurs at night when lying down, but never really affected my lifestyle. However, over the last few months it seems to have gotten worse and is accompanied by shortness or breath. I do suffer from seasonal allergies (flower pollen) as well as a dust allergy, so thought that maybe it's the onset of asthma.

I had a bought of severe SOB and coughing in early May, so I went to the ER. They gave me some oxygen and eventually it settled down and told me it *might* be asthma.

So....I went to the asthma doctor in early May and started taking medication (advair powder inhaler) and was given an emergency inhaler. I don't have any wheezing, so it's not a typical case of asthma. Anyway, the medicine didn't seem to be very effective.

Last week I had another attack and ended up in the ER again. This time I felt SOB as well as very lightheaded and turned pale. I took a puff of my emergency inhaler which may have helped a little. I felt like crap the entire week and decided to get a second opinion from another respiratory doc. He said I more than likely have cough variant asthma (a type of asthma without any wheezing) and gave me medicine to try. I also told him I wanted to be tested for food allergies as well, because I have a hunch that could be the cause.

During this entire fiasco, I've had numerous chest x-rays, but all of them have shown up negative, eliminating bronchitis, tuberculosis, or pulmonary edema (or has it?). My lungs look completely clean in X-rays.

Anyway, I'm currently awaiting the results of the allergy test and am trying to cut back on work so I can get some rest. I have an appointment with my cardiologist later this month, where I will demand to get an echo to see if the heart may be the cause.

What is your take? Edema would show up on an x-ray, right? Anyone out there with cough variant asthma or food allergies that would like to jump in?

 

[halleyg]

I have absolutely no idea... but I hope your dr. is able to figure out what is going on so you can start feeling better!

 

[Trinityheart8891]

hey wes,

I have asthma, that to me sounds like asthma, whenever I have an attack I dont necessarily wheeze, but I get tired and SOB, and my chest gets tight/starts to hurt, sometimes I get into coughing jags, and often I am told I dont look good (pale, etc) have any of your docs done pulmonary function tests?, can you Identify any "triggers?" my biggest advice is to use your rescue inhaler before you think you need it, dont be afraid to use it! if it is decided that you have asthma make sure you have a doc that will work with you to set up an asthma action plan

anyways, I hope this helps

 

[Pegasus]

It does sound like Asthma. I have mild asthma and I do not get the wheezing either. Just short of breath, coughing, tighness of chest (like an elephant sits on you). I had it the first time right after my husband's surgery - woke up in the night and barely could breathe. thought it was a panic attack but it returned. Went to lung specialist since I have bad allergies and knew I was dancing around asthma and got a diagnosis. All that shallow breathing I did from stress over my husband's surgery just triggered it.

First, you should get to see a lung specialist and do asthma test (pulmunory function) and allergy test which you are waiting for and ruling out your heart as you said.
- keep your sinuses clear (use a neti pot or similiar) it helps greatly with allergies and helps you therefore with asthma
- get rid of your matress, pillows etc. - use allergenic products or at least use allergy-pillow/matress covers if you are allergic to dust mites
- get an air purifier - this really helps a lot. We have two dogs which we are allergic to but with the air purifier it works super

I suggest your read the book: Close your mouth
http://www.amazon.com/Close-Your-Mo...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246717971&sr=8-1

Great info on proper breathing techniques. Deep breathing is important so you can stay calm. Shallow breathing will trigger attacks. I chose do go a holistic route (doc. is fine with it) since my asthma is mild and mosty environmental but even if you don't go that way proper breathing and acupuncture will help you greatly. I have to say acupuncture doesn't cure it but it keeps me stable. I just have to continue going for now. I also got liquid magnesium (mixed with something else) from my allergy doc. so I put this under my tongue if I have an attack and it works (instead of inhaler which I had a hard time weaning myself off). However this all is best discussed with your doc. and you need to find what works for you.

If you exercise a lot and live in a highly polluted area you can also those anti-pollution masks - some of the athletes were wearing this at the last summer games.

If your heart checks out (hope so) and exercise doesn't bring on attacks keep exercisisng (unless doc. suggests otherwise) and keep your lungs strong.

Good luck!!

 

[acr]

I have Asthma and I'd have thought you'd get some positives from your inhaler. It should work straight away, mine always does. So I'm a little concerned about you saying that the meds are not great. Have you asked about getting one of the preventers, like Beclomethasone ? I use that morning and night and never have to touch the Salbutamol inhaler. Also worth getting the cardio check you out, just to rule that out.

 

[Maryka]

I have what some people call "coughing asthma". I also have "exercise induced" asthma. I also have Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) induced asthma.

When my aneurysm was first found (early 1990s) I was told to quit my aerobic exercise and, just like that, my exercise induced asthma went away. However, I still got a lot of colds (I was around a lot of young children--germ breeders that they are!). I often had that middle-of-the-night coughing you describe.

Also following the discovery of my aneurysm, I was put on beta blocker and blood pressure medications. My Internist told me that heart-related meds can bring on those coughing fits also--especially during the first year you take them. A change in BP meds can help, or can bring on that nasty dry cough for the first time.

I had an especially long siege of uncontrollable coughing fits in the early 1990s, tried my emergency inhaler which only made it worse, then went to an ER. The doctor there took a chest X-ray which he said was "clear" but mummbled something about my pleural area being "somewhat inflamed". He just sent me home to "relax".

My Internist, who I saw the next day, immediately jumped on the pleural area problem and, after weeks of my being on a variety of antibiotics which did nothing, gave me an antibiotic specific to that area of my lung. Instant end of all that coughing!

I agree you should try the anti-allergy bed routines--covers for mattress and pillows and frequent washing of bed clothes.

I also say, keep looking for the solution! Coughing like that can be terrifying!

 

[deano89]

i to have asthma with no wheezing ,you should be getting relief from the inhaler i have salbutamol which works but not always first time ! sometimes need a second session after a couple of mins after the first but thats usully when exercising or a bad cold (man Flu)

 

[wes]

an update

an update

thanks to everyone for their swift and extremely helpful replies.

this morning I still didn't feel well, so I decided to go to a hospital near my house that has a cardiovascular dept. I met with a cardiologist and got a chest x-ray, ECG, blood test, Echo cardiogram and respiratory function test all in the same day! (How's that for Japanese efficiency!)

anyway, the all of the tests turned out normal (phew), pointing to an asthma issue. (the lesser of 2 evils?) My INR was also in range.

Oh, and I also bought an air purifier yesterday with a negative ion function. I think it's going to make a big difference in how I feel. Luckily I don't have any carpeting, so I don't have to worry about dust mites living in my wood flooring. I also sleep on a futon which I hang outside in the sunshine and bang out the dust. I've been a bit lazy about hanging it out as of late, but that will change tomorrow.

The hospital doesn't have a respiratory specialist, so I'll ask my primary respiratory doctor about getting some salbutamol. the emergency inhaler I have now contains Procaterol, which seems to do more harm than good (only used it twice, but felt worse each time I used it)

Breathing exercises are also a great idea. I'll get on amazon and order that book right away. My wife practices Taichi and has been begging me to try it out. Maybe I should take her advice and start getting in better shape.

 

[COLLEEN S]

Coughing can be a sign of aneurysm.

 

[Bina]

My daughter always had terrible coughing with her asthma....salbutamol worked.
My late Mom coughed in reaction to meds. A switch was made and it stopped.
I have coughed from food allergies....wheat and milk seem to be aggravating.