problem for over 8 months now

I started wheezing, coughing, and spitting up phlegm (yellowish in color) about 8 months ago.  Since then I have been on various rounds of antibiotics, prednisone, cough syrups, singular, symbicort, albuterol etc.  I had been treated at the allergy clinic years before for allergies and asthma.  I have had to take about 8 days of 10mg prednisone about 4 -5 times in the last 8 months.  It is about the only thing that helps my coughing and spitting up of phlegm.  I have been to the allergy clinic and am taking weeking allergy shots, also to a pulmonologist and there is nothing wrong that he can find - he thinks I may have a slight case of asthma based on the pulmonary tests done at the hospital with mevacor to induce asthma.  He doesn't thinki that asthma is my main problem.  Every doctor seems to think it is allergies.  I have also recently been to an ear, nose, and throat specialist.  Shows chronic sinus problems but no current infection and no need for surgery at the present time.  I also do the sinus rinse and have veramyst spray.  Ear, nose, and throat specialist said to keep doing what I am doing and contact him in 2 months.  I also have GERD and am currently taking Nexium since last May 2007.  I also just bought an air purifier to put in the bedroom as a last hope.  No one seems to be able to help.  The allergy medicenes such as drixoral, etc. seem to cause a cough.  

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

Asthma, GERD and chronic sinusitis are all known to cause the symptoms that you describe.

Has a chest xray been done? Has a CT scan of the chest been done? What do the reports say? What does the pulmonary function tests reports say?

How long have you been on the medications?

All the treatment you are should benefit with your symptoms. Reconsult your pulmonologist if the symptoms still persist.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Regards.

[d699]

Yes, 2 chest x-rays.  Heart normal, no pneumonia, etc.  Both chest x-rays looked good.  I have been released from the pulmonologist because he doesn't find anything wrong with me for him to treat.  I have not had a catscan of the chest because the pulmonoligist did not see from the x-rays any reason to pursue that avenue.  The pulmonologist test that was done with the mevacor to induce asthma - the pulmonologist said they had to give me a pretty strong dose to induce any kind of affect so he thought if I had asthma it was a slight case.  

None of the medications really work except the prednisone, albuterol and singular.  I have stopped taking everything else.  

I am also going to stop taking Nexium because I have been taking it since last May and I don't think it is good to keep taking it.  What else could I use that is different from Nexium but still might help and doesn't cause another problem?

I am just tired of taking medicenes that seem to cause other problems.  I think I have the GERD from taking Actonel even though I followed the instructions to the letter for taking the Actonel.  No longer take it.  Just take calcium.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

How are you doing now?

There are drugs available which belong to the same family of as Nexium. Your doctor can easily change this drug to another if you want. One may develop some kind of intestinal problems with Actonel and the alternative to that is to not to take drug empty stomach, that is to take it after a meal.

Please let us know if you may have nay other queries and what your doctor says.

Good luck.