Colds, Cough & Asthma

[JJKVI]

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.

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!