Can your lungs recover from prolonged uncontrolled asthma?

[wannasing]

I'm a 44-yo female.  Still recovering from severe acute bronchitis that lasted 3 months (started mid-October 08), I am now living cat-free and taking all my meds.  For eighteen years I lived in the vicinity of an outdoor cat, smoked periodically (last puff 5.5 years ago) and suffered what I considered to be mild asthma.  I used albuterol about 1/day (usually just one puff) because of feelings of tightness at the top of my bronchi.  While I haven't gone to the hospital for an "attack" since I was seven years old, I had occasional exacerbations when I visited friends with lots of cats.  I used inhaled steroids when I felt it was necessary (to ward off wheezing that might come with head colds), but generally avoided them because I sang a lot and they always made me hoarse.  In my memory, I never had bronchitis until this past year.

I'm currently taking Singulair, Symbicort 160 2/day, Flonase, Zyrtec, and thyroid medicine, as well as albuterol before exercising (although I don't think it makes any difference at all).  I haven't been sick for three months (since we moved into a new cat-free home), but I still cough and occasionally bring up sputum.  My PFTs are normal (on April 10, FEV1 was 95% of predicted), and my peak-flow is 500.  

I know that prolonged inflammation can cause airway remodeling.  My question is,  can I still expect some improvement now that I'm doing all the right things?  I feel like an idiot for not having appreciated the risks of inflammation, and I'm so afraid it's going to be like this for the rest of my life.

[wannasing]

I don't know if my allergies are "acting up."  I think an immunologist is my next stop.  I had a skin test about 4 years ago that showed I was sensitive to numerous California grasses and trees. But I think the more likely problem is SoCal smog, and this point.  For the last 3 years or so I've noticed my voice getting progressively nasal -- my allergist thought I had allergic rhinitis and put me on steroid nasal spray.  There's less drainage, (no congestion as such), but the nasal voice remains.  A sinus CT revealed "thickened mucosa" but no infection.  I think whatever I can fix about allergic inflammation in general will help my asthma.

[Loribop]

I have the same thing as you and are on many of the same meds.  My allergies have been acting up so it makes my breathing tight.  Also, Asthma meds cost so much I try not to use them if I can help it.  Stress really brings out my asthma symptoms.  I do find that black coffee helps ward off an attack if I feel one coming on.  I guess I don't know if this will be for the rest of your life or it will get better.   Do you use allergy free blankets and pillows?  Do you have  a good mattress cover to prevent dust mites?  I know my asthma is worse when my allergies are acting up.  Do you have any food allergies?  Have you considered allergy shots for pets, etc?  Hopefully this helps.  Good luck fellow asthma sufferer!

Lori

[wannasing]

I should add, I had a clear lung xray in January.