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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.