First and most important. The response of your husband’s lungs to, what I presume to be, high dose steroids is very encouraging; very good news. It indicates that the obstruction to air flow (the prime characteristic of asthma) is, at least in part, reversible. Another way of saying this is that he does not appear to have the fixed, irreversible obstruction to airflow that, fortunately, occurs in a very small percentage of individuals with asthma.
Having said that, the information you have provided suggests that, by most conventional standards, he has severe asthma with a significant allergic component. You make no mention of baseline asthma therapy (in addition to the steroids given by the allergist). Given the severity of his asthma, he should have, at minimum, been taking a combination inhalant drug such as Advair or Symbicort. Were he not on inhalation, prior to the allergist’s prescription of steroids, it might have been prudent to have initiated therapy with such drugs, concurrently with the steroids and it might still might not be too late to do that, if he is still taking the steroids.
In addition, it is very often difficult if not impossible to achieve and maintain good asthma control (e.g. >75%) if the nasal and sinus disease is not treated optimally. That means complete eradication of any and all nasal polyps, followed by the use of an inhaled nasal steroid and nasal washes (irrigation) along with a non-sedating anti-histamine.
In addition to the preceding, should be stringent avoidance of all irritants, dust and all other substances to which he has proven to be allergic, both at home and at work. This is referred to environmental control and requires removal of all animals (including birds) from his home environment.
If his asthma remains uncontrolled, despite strict adherence to the pharmacologic therapy and environmental control, here are two suggestions:
1. Ask his allergist if your husband might be a candidate for anti-IgE therapy.
2. Request consultation at one of two major medical centers, with a focus on severe, difficult-to-control asthma.
a. National Jewish Health in Denver Colorado – The Division of Adult Allergy and Asthma
b. The University of Pittsburgh (PA.) Medical Center – the UPMC Comprehensive Lung Center – Director Dr. Sally Wenzel
I note your mention of being “tight on money.” Given your husband’s young age, the impact of his illness on the two of you and the possibility of permanent irreversible lung damage if his asthma is not well controlled, I strongly recommend that you do whatever is necessary to gain control of his asthma, be it with the assistance of his current allergist or specialists at one of the centers listed above, even should you have to beg or borrow the money to do it. This is no time to procrastinate..
Good luck
I also forgot to mention that he has never smoked, done drugs, or drinks alcohal.
I had to get off steroids because of serious side effects. I substuted 1000 mg. of vitamin B5, mullein extract, and MSM which I take daily. They are anti-inflammatory and the B5 is a very effective mucolytic. It got rid of my sinus headaches. There are no side effects. For the worst of my allergies I was treated by a physician/kinesiologist. Quick and effective. Much better than the usual allergy treatments.