asthma?

I cough day and night and also have acid reflux. I saw 2 specialist, the first doc. said I did not have asthma but the second doc. said I did. I have had a history of allergies,bronical trouble and coughing all my life. My Grandmother, my daughter and her son all have asthma. With this history, the second doctor seems to feel this history  and the acid reflux is causing asthma. Have tried all the medicines for the reflux and nothing seems to help that much. My chest feels tight and I hurt all the way through to my back. My concerns is, do I have asthma and  if I do not have asthma, will the medicine I am using cause me any harm (Asmanex)?

Thank you for any thoughts and suggestions you can provide.

[National Jewish Health]

The information you provide suggests that you probably have both gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and asthma.  GERD can aggravate asthma.  For the reflux, you and your doctor should try a strong proton pump inhibitor in the highest recommended dose.  You should embrace all reflux precautions, such as:  
• Limit citrus and tomato products, strong spices, caffeinated drinks, carbonated drinks, fatty foods, chocolate, mint, alcohol or nicotine;
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals rather than three large ones;
• Avoid food or liquids for 2-3 hours before bedtime;
• Elevate the head of the bed 6 to 8 inches, by placing blocks under the legs of the head of the bed;
• Avoid lifting heavy objects;
• Avoid bending forward at the waist;
• Avoid wearing tight fitting clothing.

You should also continue with the Asmanex® Twisthaler® 220 mcg (mometasone furoate inhalation powder) and an inhaled long-acting beta agonist drug, such as Serevent® Diskus® (salmeterol xinafoate inhalation powder) or Foradil® Aerolizer™ (formoterol fumarate inhalation powder).

If you have not had a pH probe to assess reflux you should have this done; first while off medicines and then while on the reflux medicines.

Asmanex® Twisthaler® 220 mcg (mometasone furoate inhalation powder) is a safe, effective medicine.  In very high doses it can cause mostly minimal "steroid side effects", but if you have asthma and it and your cough are controlled by this medicine, the trade-off is worth it.

[Texheart]

Very interesting conversation.  I am a female heart patient post menopausal.  I am on small amount of Beta Blocker,small amount of Ace and Plavix, Crestor and Zetia and Plavix.  I am not sure if any of these meds can cause havoc on my breahting. I also have two right sided thyroid adonomas.   I have terrible gerd and wheeze in my throat all the time (past 2 years) and have sinus drainage also.  Told I must have asthma and was given advair and albuterol.  I take them to just take them but they have not helped in the least.  Cardio said today he wants to do sleep apnea study and wants GI doctor to re-evaulate the constant reflux.  He is not up on what meds work best for my wheezing problems.  He said it is not my heart but my lungs and stomach as I am not in heart failure. What meds seem to work good for heart patients..meaning less side effects of fast heart rates.  You mentioned some above...Are these good?  I am tired of feeling so poorly and not being able to breathe right and fatiqued and a catch in my throat when I try to take a deep breath.   The other night I woke at 3:00AM and could not catch my breath. Took 20 minutes of walking around and a big swig of Maalox to stabilize me. Thank You for any help.

[meme1261]

My husband was taking plaix. It caused him to have shortness of breath. He also had hives and would run a fever...which this was all allergic reactions to the plavix.