Your wife clearly has severe asthma. However I would be very reluctant to use the term "end stage". I trust that you have also made every effort to eliminate environmental factors that could worsen her asthma. She might be a candidate for clinical trials to test new drugs at a university medical center in your area.
Since it has been 6 years since your wife was seen at National Jewish Medical and Research Center, I recommend that she consider coming back for reevaluation. New treatments have become available since 1998. One example is Xolair
I agree that another thorough eval would be helpful. I have been on Xolair for 4 months. I understand it can take up to a year for Xolair to take full effect. However, I have not taken any steroids, antibiotics or albuterol since January 1. I know of a number of people who have been able to decrease their steroid use significantly since starting Xolair, which has only been available since July or August of last year.
I have been steiroid dependent asthmatic since l988, I have been on Methotrexate 7 yrs, it has gotten me off cortisone other
than the need for sinus infection/asthma during the winter months. I take zurtec, singulair, Advair 2xday, 25mg of Methotrexate injected weekly, and Xolair 2 shots once a mo, for nine months now, just stopped daily maintance of combivent, next will decrease singulair. Xolair is amazing, whenever I walk any distance, I felt so much fatigue in my thighs, since Xolair that has improved greatly, much more oxygen than before. I also take PROTONEX for acid reflex, that caused so much morning asthma, this med is exceptional! I doctor with North West Asthma and Allergy in Seattle. 206-527-1200. Many of the doctors are on the faculty of the University of Washington School of Medicine, also Children's Hospital. Exceptional clinic!! After a doctor told me there was nothing more that could be done,I did amazing amount of research looking for the clinic that was most aggressive, it has been 10 yrs now, I am im much better control than ever dreamed of! So very gtateful for my doctors there! Other medical issues I deal with are Gaves Disease, Synthroid, Diabetes, Metforman 5/l00mg a day and /Glyberid 10 mg 2/2 x day, Arthritis,Celebrex 100 mg daily,
Stasis Dermatisis/compression stockings 20/30. HRT Esterderm Patch. Colesteral, zocor l0 mg daily. Severe headaches, Nortriptoline 50 mg's at bedtime. I am very faithful with my meds, it keeps me in exceptional control. When I was 5 I had polio, left me with minimal effects. Good Luck, take it a day at a time!