To seek a second opinion or not?

[manatee]

I was recently retested for allergies after a 5 year stent of allergy shots.  My allergies are worse now and my ENT does not want me to have shots because of my home environment.  The thing that is bugging me is when I went off of my antihistimine/decongstent, I developed a very annoying cough.  I currently take Inderal for IST right now as well and I thought it could be that and the return of the PN Drip.  My ENT heard me coughing and I told him it feels like someone is tickling me inside my chest, not to mention cold air makes the cough worse.  He has now diagnosed me with exercise induced asthma.  I swim competatively and do cough during swimming.  But I haven't ever really been short of breath other than climbing stairs.  And I don't think I have ever had a wheeze, maybe a whistle every once in a while.  I have one maternal aunt with asthma, and one paternal uncle & cousin with asthma.  I am wondering if I should consult someone else on the matter of asthma, cause in all honesty, I don't think I have it.  I am now on clarinex, but still have a bit of a cough that does get aggrevating when I swim, I thought it was Post nasal drip.  The ENT prescribed an inhaler and told me to use it before I swim.  Admittedly, I don't cough as much.  But the whole point is, I don't want to take this stuff if I don't need to.  I also don't want to insult my ENT, I've been seeing him for 5 years.  Should I get a second opinion anyway?

[National Jewish]

Allergy shots are helpful for some people, but not for everyone.  It can take 6 to 12 months of getting these shots before you start to see your symptoms lessen.  If the shots are helping, they are usually continued for 3 to 5 years, until you are symptom-free or until your symptoms can be controlled with mild medicines for one year.  In general, allergy shots should be stopped if they have not helped after 3 years.  Please read our Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots) MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/shots.html for more information.

Postnasal drip is drainage from the nose and sinuses dripping down the back of the throat.  This drainage could be from a number of reasons.  One is an allergic reaction to inhaling something.  A second reason is a nonallergic, noninfectious inflammation.  A third reason is chronic sinusitis.  This can cause irritation of the throat and lungs.  This may explain your very annoying cough and your feeling like the inside of your chest is being tickled.  An antihistamine, like the Clarinex

[manatee]

I forgot to mention that I am only 25.

[starion]

MANY folks have exercise-induced asthma, including MANY Olympic contestants & gold medalists.  Folks can get exercise-induced asthma at any age.  You indicated that it is helping, so that's some evidence which tends to confirm the diagnosis.  It would be reasonable to seek a second opinion by a lung specialist (called a pulmonologist) to confirm and/or refine the diagnosis and treatment.  This is especially since you CONTINUE to cough even after pre-treating with the medication precribed by your ENT.
Best of luck!
Starion