chronic sinus congestion, plugged ears, chest congestion, coughing

[yuefie]

Last Oct. I became ill w/ serve chest congestion, cough, excessive mucous, sinus congestion & pressure, headaches, & skin sensitivites. I was dagnosed at the time w/ bronchitis. I went through 3 courses of antibiotics in 2 months with no relief. I was diagnosed w/ asthma. I discovered shortly after, that I had been sleeping against a wall that had black mold growing inside. I moved out immediately, & have been on an albuterol inhaler, as well as QVAR, Nasonex and Caliritin-D. I have had NO relief. My doctor has not been much help & wont refer me to see an allergist. I feel like I am allergic to everything! I react to cats now, which I never did before & now I'm afraid I'm reacting to my dog. I wash all my bedding frequently using a anti-dustmite rinse, phospahte, dye, & scent free detergent and HOT water. My vaccuum has a hepa filter, which I use daily. I use antimicrobial spray on the fabrics & have purchased numerous costly air purifiers (including a Sharper Image one), have eliminated cheese & milk, all mushrooms, red wine, chocolate, bread, refined starches, sugar (except for fresh fruit on a limited basis) & processed foods. I've been taking supplements: oil of oregano, nettles, acidopholous/bifidus, B complex, COQ10, antioxidant complex (vitamin A, C, E, zinc, selenium, copper, maganese, grapeseed extract), green tea & magnesium. I've also switched to using sensitive skin formulas for everything, unscented SLS free shampoo & soap, all to no avail. My mom had lupus, severe asthma & died at 48 from COPD so I am very frightened! Can anyone offer suggestions please?

[Lori1958]

A related discussion, Chest Congestion was started.

[suzzie61]

A related discussion, How Do I get Rid of Chest Congestion was started.

[3543g]

A related discussion, sinus and chest congestion was started.

[Silverman]

I have a problem with mucus running into the throat from the nasal passages and causing coughing, it is generally quite loose, but sometimes have to cough hard to remove.

Breathing from the lungs and nose is quite normal.

Eating something hot or cold tends to increase the deposit and loosens it even more.

Any idea what this is, and a possible remedy.

[littlevicko]

MY 10 YR OLD DAUGHTER HAD A CHRONIC COUGH AND EXCESSIVE MUCUS FOR OVER 5 MONTHS-THEY TREATED HER FOR SINUS AND ASTHMA OVER AND OVER WITH NO RELIEF,FINALLY TOOK HER TO SPECILISTS 3 HRS AWAY AND A 2 WEEK STAY AT LEBONHEUR HOSP.IN MEMPHIS,TESTED HER FOR EVERYTHING,TB,WHOOPING COUGH,CYSTIC FIBR,LUPUS,DONE UPPER AND LOWER GIS BECAUSE SHE WAS HAVING SOME BLOOD IN STOOLS AND COUGHING SOME UP,WIND UP BEING SEVERE ACID REFLUX(GERD)WILL MAKE YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH,SINUS DISEASE,THEY WERE TOTALLY BLOCKED WITH 2 PUS FILLED CISTS ON SINUS AND AN INFECTED ESOPHAGUS,MAINLY FROM ALL THE STEROIDS THEY HAD PUT HER ON AND GAVE HER HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND WAS ALSO TOLD SHE DID NOT HAVE ASTMA,SHE JUST HAD SINUS SURGERY AND IS ON STOMACH MEDS PREVICID AND DOING SO MUCH BETTER-HOPE YOU GET THE ANSWERS YOU WANT AND GOOD LUCK-LITTLEVICK0

[Inanga]

hi
i went through a year of constant infections (a few weeks clear between them) - doc thought it was int eh chest because of chest pain but that was caused from constant coughing. The infections were always in my sinuses. Also had excessive mucous when not infected. FINALLY have cracked it - a wheat/gluten/SOY allergy. Have been breathing 100% since knocking them out of my diet. Have to watch out for SOY - it's slipped into jsut about everything. I had some special wheat&gluten free biscuits but still reacted due to a soy additive. best of luck and if it's a food allergy and you can crack it you'll be amazed how something so simple could cause so much misery.

[celticmom]

Hi - I am not an expert, but I have been going through very similar  problems.  I've had chest infections on and off for months now. Once landing in the hospital because of an asthma attack.  I had never had asthma before and I'm 37.  Anyway after going on and off antibiotics for months, my pulmonologist finally had a CT of my sinuses ordered.  Turns out I have chronic sinusitis and that is probably why I keep getting reinfected.  I had allergy testing done around the same time and I thought I was allergic to everything as well.  Turns out I'm not.  I have no environmental allergies and only two mild food allergies.  Now I'm being told I may not even have asthma.  

My advice - if your GP refuses to refer you (I'm assuming you have an HMO)- get a new GP.  There is no reason for you to have to continue to live this way.  A good internist would know you need to be seen by a specialist.

[National Jewish]

You have done a lot on your own.  Your next step is to see a specialist.  Either a pulmonologist or a board certified allergist.  The allergist could help to confirm whether or not you are indeed allergic to all of these things.