Colds & Asthma(?)

Every time I get a cold the cold itself is not very bad but about 4-5 days into the cold…just when the cold symptoms (stuffy/runny nose, chills, fever, swollen glands, etc) start to get better I start having problems with my chest. My chest gets tight and I cannot cough up phlegm. After a couple of days, with help of Albuterol, I’m finally able to cough up chunks of greenish/grey stuff but my chest remains tight & I have a dry cough & some shortness of breath which will linger another week or two.

I have been taking Advair 250 at the first sign of a cold (but do not take it when I am not symptomatic as I think Advair actually makes me cough when I am asymptomatic). I also take Nasonex and 30-60mg of pseudoephedrine daily. Albuterol as needed. I am also on allergy shots.

My doctor recently replaced the Adviar with Asthmanex and said to use it daily even when not symptomatic. His theory is that I have asthma that is not as controlled as I think and that when I get a cold it's too much for my lungs. I question whether the problem is really asthma. I was on Advair daily for 18 months and my symptoms were worse (both when I had a cold & did not have one) then they are now. Also, since discontinuing the Advair daily (10 months ago) in between colds my peak flow meter readings are great (way above normal).  I run & function great....it is ONLY when I catch a cold that I have trouble. This puzzles my doctor but he won't budge from his diagnosis. My problem is that my two small boys catch colds very frequently so it seems I am always sick.

Can you think of any other explanation for this pattern other than the one suggested by my doctor and/or how I can prevent this pattern when I initially catch a cold?

Thanks!

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Get another opinion.  If your peak flow is normal in between colds, and you feel worse on advair, you may reconsider the diagnosis of asthma.  But find a doc you can trust and stick with their recommendations.