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746512 tn?1388807580

Seems like asthma to me but ...

I have been back and forth to the doctors with a couple related symptoms and have got no where.  I have a chronic cough that is the worse in the morning but still present all day.  I have had it for the last 6 months or so and did not come after a cold or anything and has been really bad in the last couple days.  I have never smoked and try to stay away from anyone else who smokes.  I was tested for allergies before christmas and came back positive for cats and mild positive for dust mites (yes I do own 2 cats who aren't going anywhere).  I have put allergy covers on my bed/pillow, vacuum with hepa filter, turned down my humifer (which was helping the cough a bit) and are using allerpet wash on my pets (3rd party scientific studies that the product actually denatures the pet dander), as well as I am addicted to my nasal wash (neilmed squeeze bottle) and use it twice a day.

I tried Flonase (2 sprays twice daily for each nostril) and had no effect.  However if I breathed really deep in, the spray seemed to loosen my chest and made it feel better for 15 minutes or so.  The allergist did peak flow meter and the values were normal, also had full pulmonary function tests done and they came back normal as well.  The problem was both of those appointments were middle of the day and I felt fine during them.  

Does this sound like mild asthma? No cough syrup stops the cough and it's been waking me up during the night for the last couple of days as well as coughing at least 3 times every hour during waking.  The doc did mention that my adenoids and right tonsil were enlarged.  However, since I didn't response to the nasal spray the doctor seems to think that nothing is serious so I should wait and see, however this is what I did before I went to the doctor in the first place.  Oh, and I'm a healthy and fit 20 year old girl.  Thank you.
6 Responses
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366292 tn?1229379007
I've had very similar symptoms..and I'm about to go crazy with this dry cough. I honestly think I'm allergic to work literally because I'm ok outside..but once I walk in i'm all stuffed up and coughing even more. I have not gotten any tests but I was referred to an ENT for my tonsils since they're enlarged. It seems like i always have a sore throat too, but I think its because of the allergies.
Helpful - 0
746512 tn?1388807580
So pulmonary function results came back with 80% predicted on the basic spirometry and 92% after inhaler.  Therefore no 20% improvement and not considered asthma.  

However I did have air trapping.  So as always my results are never cut and dry.  So we are trying advair 250 diskus since I'm waking myself up 3-4 times a night coughing my head off.  

So if anyone has an tips let me know.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've had exactly the same symptoms as you for the past 5 years or so.  Like you I had the Flonase (Flixonase - here in the UK) nasal spray and it did absolutely nothing!

Finally I saw an ENT Doctor at my local surgery who prescribed Flixonase (Flonase) Nasule drops which are much stronger and the relief was unbelievable.  For the first time in years I could actually breathe through my nose and I stopped coughing throughout the night.

I've still got a cat who likes to sleep on the end of my bed now and again but he doesn't seem to affect me so much.  I won't get rid of him either, he's part of the family as far as I'm concerned.
Helpful - 0
563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,

You seem to be having chronic cough. Some common causes of chronic cough include asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus problems (for example sinus infection),post nasal drip and esophageal reflux of stomach contents. In rare occasions, chronic cough may be the result of aspiration of foreign objects into the lungs or due to asthma. Infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia can cause coughing. These infections can be caused by virus, bacteria or fungus.

I will suggest an evaluation by a respiratory medicine specialist.X-ray or CT sinuses,barium meal,upper GI endoscopy and pulmonary function tests may be needed to confirm a diagnosis.

Hope it helps .Take care and pls do keep us posted in case you have any additional queries.Kind regards.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Tammy, I've also had similar issues for several years. Its been hard to tell whether I have allergic reaction or there is something else. The doctors I've visited have not provided  consistent diagnosis. Recently started using iPhone Pollen Journal to keep track how I feel each day. Over time I will be hopefully able to tell what (if any) is there correlation of pollen to my health. Or doctors will be able to give me more definitive diagnosis.
Helpful - 0
681148 tn?1437661591
My short answer is yes.  There are other things that can cause asthma-like problems, too, which my own allergist is investigating with me.  But, what you're describing sounds like what I'm going through myself.  If your doctor decides that it's not asthma, you still need to find out what precautions you can take to prevent this coughing you're describing.  Ask your doctor about something called "Vocal cord dysfunction".  Trust me, that's what my allergist is investigating with me.  It's worth checking out, so you don't end up taking unnecessary asthma medications that don't help in the long run.  Interestingly enough, though, you may still use some albuterol for a short time or on occasion.  This is the asthma rescue inhaler that asthmatics carry around with them for emergencies.  Still, this is better than using this medication all the time, and is certainly better than using the steroid inhalers that I was put on a few times.

I still have to ask my allergist why I have definite symptoms in extremely cold air if he doesn't think it's asthma with me either, but there is at least something we can do to prevent symptoms from the cold air.  Wearing a mask over the nose and mouth really does help when having to go walking out in the cold air.  I use my mask from icanbreathe.com that is a filtration mask meant for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), because I definitely have that.  It's enough to keep my nose and mouth warm enough in the climate in my part of the country.  No, you don't have to have a prescription to use the mask.  Anyone can use the masks, regardless of health status, including healthy young ladies, such as yourself.  They even have one that is meant just for the cold air.  They also have a really good dust mask, although I just use my filtration mask, since it is very good for dust as well.  No sense in spending money I don't have.  These masks are much better quality than any disposable dust mask is and certainly more comfortable and more durable.  I think it's worth checking out, because these masks have really helped improve my life.  You get over what other people think when you realize how much the masks help.
Helpful - 0
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