help

[santos]

Hi,

I'm 36 years old and have had asthma for the about thirty years.  In the past 10 years I had considered my asthma to be minor as I rarely used my ventolin puffer.  This all changed at the end of Nov 2003.  I got some sort of virus that lasted for about a week then I seemed fine for about 2/3 days.  Around this time while cleaning my basement I inhaled some dust (I'm allergic to dust mistes).  The next morning (Dec 1st, 2003) I woke up with a slight wheeze and low grade fever.  For the first time in my life Ventolin didn't help the wheeze at all.  The fever went away but the wheezing along with post nasal symptoms have lasted for over two months.

About 4 weeks ago I saw an allergist who indicated that it may be a combination of things that has caused this "upper airway inflammation" and thought it would go away soon based on my pulmonary test.  My pulmonary function test indicated that my lungs were not too bad.  I don't know the numbers but I was told that my lower lungs appeared fine and that I had barely failed the upper respiatory test (I believe I got a 67 with the norm being 75)

I have been on Flovent for the first month, Advair 250 for the second month, Flonase for about a month and for the past two weeks Singulair.  I have also been doing a nasal wash 3/4 times a day, inhaling steam from a warm mist humidifier and drinking lots of water for the post nasal symptoms

I'm going to see a nose/throat specialist in two weeks.
I have read about RAD and this has put me at ease slightly but the wheezing has not gotten any better.  Any advice?

[National Jewish]

It is probable that a viral infection was the cause of the increase in symptoms you have experienced.  The fact that these symptoms have continued may mean several different things.  It is possible that you are continuing to have a chronic sinus infection.  This is not only producing the postnasal drainage, but is also the cause of your continued wheezing.  It is also possible that the infection has simply increased your lower airway inflammation.  You may need a higher dose of the Advair™ Diskus® (fluticasone/salmeterol) or a course of oral steroids to quiet the inflammation.

It is likely that when you see the nose/throat specialist the issue about the sinus infection will be resolved.  A CT of the sinuses is the best way to do this.  As far as the lower airways, you probably need to continue to be followed by a doctor who will be monitoring your lung function.

[santos]

just to add:

1)I have had a chest Xray which was clear

If it is going to take 3/6 months (as I have read on this board)to clear, will the inflammation slowly get better or will it simply disappear one morning?

I live in Canada - Will going to a warmer climate (vacation) help me?  (bring down the inflamation (inflammation))


thanks,

[santos]

does anyone know if you can have a sinus Infection without any significant amount of nasal discharge?

[Concerned lady]

This is not an easy question to answer, according to Robert S. Ivker, D.O.'s book "SINUS SURVIVAL". He writes that a lot of the mucus produced by a sinus infection, is post nasal drip mucus, (going down the back of the throat--can be seen by a doctor) and this mucus can be swallowed, and may not be noticed very much by the patient, except first thing in the morning.

He writes that a sinus CT scan can sometimes be negative (appear normal), but a person can still have a sinus infection. My husband had the opposite, once. He didn't have an infection, but he had sinus inflammation, that still gave him problems.

He read "SINUS SURVIVAL", and he began to do nasal irrigations, use a warm mist vaporizer, use a non-ozone negative ion generator, and he tried to avoid indoor air pollution. Doing all of these things helped him to get better.

He also found that a root canaled tooth that was still infected, was inflaming his sinuses. Once he had the tooth pulled, his sinus problems lessened.

Dr. Ivker writes that the presence of YELLOW mucus, especially in the form of POST NASAL DRIP that lasts all day long, (not just in the morning) is a big sign of a sinus infection, and he calls this sinus infection "acute sinusitis".

See his helpful book, for more details, about symptoms of acute &/or chronic sinus infections, etc., and see a good ENT/Ear, nose & throat doctor, and see a Pulmonologist.

Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com