My first thought would also have been gastric reflux (GERD). The absence of symptoms does not rule it out. An effective trial of therapy for GERD, with a proton pump inhibit, must be for at least six weeks. Please read more about GERD at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/asthma/about/relate-other/gastro-reflux.aspx
Excessive mucous production can be a symptom of asthma but can also originate in the sinuses. It is important to know if the mucous is coming from your lungs or your sinuses. If it originates in the lung, you should have a Chest CT Scan to rule out bronchiectasis and other lung diseases that might not be seen on a plain Chest X-ray. Bronchiectasis, for example, could develop at your age secondary to a condition called ABPA. This is an allergic condition associated with asthma or secondary to chronic infection with an atypical type of tuberculosis.
Since, however, your underlying asthma could be the cause, it is important to be sure that your asthma therapy is adequate. Your doctors might even consider a trial of a drug called Spiriva. It is usually used for COPD, but might result in decreased mucous production.
Good luck.
Hello
I have been through the same thing. At its worst I got about 2 pr 3 hours sleep a night. I was waking up choking every few minutes until about 2am when it seemed to go away. After a long process of elimination it has come down to an allergy to corn/maize. When I avoid all things corn I am 100% normal. But a bite of bread containing 1% corn start sets me off. The amount of reaction is related to the amount of corn I consume. I find when I took antihistamine for hay fever it controlled this allergy too. I prefer to avoid the stuff rather than medicate as it feels so good to feel normal after all these years. I first went to the doctor with a persistant cough. It was from all the mucous from the allergy. They treated it like hayfever where avoidance is not really viable. I wish it had been diagnosed years ago - the last few years have been hell. I initally made some prgress avoiding wheat, but the bread we had contained corn too. I can eat bread without corn without problems.
I really hope your problem is an "simple" as an allergy that you can avoid once the cause is identified. I frankly had negligible help from doctors who didn't think food allergy could cause this symptom even after I told them I was better after avoiding wheat. The funny thing s I have no other discenrable problems like hives etc. Trust me to have the oddball stuff.
At one time I had debilitating migranes every day after eating a cereal with some form of corn. I also had so much trouble breathing that I couldn't walk 50 years without chest pains. I also had chronic fatigue type symptoms and was tentatively dianosed with fibromyalgia - a symptom that seems to be disgnosed when nothing else can be thought of. I hope you can get over this pronto, I know it's a real nightmare - literally - when you get jolter awake choking all the time. GOOD LUCK!
Cut out rice and dairy products. Water will help thin the mucous. A drug called spiriva will help cut down the mucous if it coming from your lungs, if it is coming from your sinus's you will need a CT of the sinus to get to the bottom of this.
GERD can cause these problems also as you know. My question for your doc would be is there any way the asthma has progressed into maybe asthmatic bronchitis?