Asthma after pneumonia

I recently had pneumonia, and it exaccerbated my formerly very, very mild asthma (I hardly ever had to use my albuterol inhaler).

Now I just finished a week of oral prednisone and antibiotics, am nebulizing 4-5 times a day with Xopenex 1.25mg, and am on Asthmanex daily now.  My peak flows are still around 300-350 in the mornings, improved to 420-480 post nebs, but am plagued with a frequent horrible cough, day and night.  

How long should it take this to resolve?  I just had a chest xray yesterday, everything looked good.  I still just plain don't feel good.   I have an appt in 10 days to discuss managment, if I'm still not doing well.  

Thank you.  If you can  think of anything else I can or should be doing, let me know.  I hate taking all this medication.  

[peekawho]

I posted that this morning.  I've actually had a pretty good day today, switching from nebs to Proventil inhaler.  

Peaks are 400 prior/460 post inhaler today.  I've only had to use my inhaler a couple of times.  

[whet]

A related discussion, what are medications for children with asthma pneumonia? the child is 2 1/2 y/o was started.