I'm allergic and I know it!
I've been allergic ever since I was a little boy and I've learned to live with that. My problem is that during the last couple of years, I seem to get more and more sensitive to the allergens that trigger my reactions, as well as more prone to have shortness of breath as a primary reaction!
This year, although spring hadn't affected me so far, I happened to catch a cold (whether it was the flu, a cold or bacterial infection I don't know! I know that I had a sore throat and cough, the latter gradually increasing in intensity and dryness). Now, supposedly recovering from whatever it was I got, I started having this peppery sensation in my lungs and more dry cough that wakes me up at night. Of course, my GP suggested that I take antihestamines for a while. Hayfever got to me after all.
However, I really can't stand jumping out of bed EVERY NIGHT for the last 3 days, coughing and gasping for air. To be honest, the last time I ever checked on my allergies was my first (when I was maybe 8 or something), and I'm sure I've developed new allergies.
I've been diagnosed with cat and dust allergies, but it's practically proven that dogs affect me alike now, and a little bit of hayfever every other year.
Although symptoms include itchy eyes, burning throat and all, the most intense one is shortness of breath that affects me more and more whenever I have an attack.
Could I have asthma?
My GP examined me with a stethoscope and found my lungs to be 'in perfect condition'. No phlegm, not anything. Just the dry cough, hence the levocetirizine perscription.
I also have a Symbicort turbuhaler as an allergologist I visited once last year suggested, but it doesn't always help right away. (I had then an emergency of a different medical nature and neglected my allergies for the time being)
What should I do?
PS My 'old' medicine, suggested by the first and only allergologists that have ever monitored me regularly, was Zyrtec (cetirizine), but of course it isn't enough anymore. My GP prefers levocetirizine because of the reduced drowsiness side effect, but still I'm almost positive I need to have an inhaler, especially one tailored to my needs in case of attacks. This year, after spending the night at a room full of dust and -without my knowledge- cat hair, I went to the hospital because I found it hard to breathe for more than 16 hours (not dying for air but still very tormenting), Zyrtec not working and Symbicort hardly helping. They gave me oxygen and monitored me till the morning of the next day (I stayed the night).