I don't know where to begin! I have asthma ever since I was around 3. I am now 39. Over the years I have had bronchitis too many times to count, taken antibiotics, used inhalers, breathing treatments, tons of steroids. I do have allergies even took 6 shots a week when I was a child for them. But for 6 months now I have kept a cough sometimes really dry and other times with mucus (always clear and foamy) so much at times I throw it up. My Dr. is really concerned that this cough and shortness of breath never goes away.
I had bronchitis again about 2 months ago & was put in the hospital. Where I was given antibiotics , sreroids and steroid shots. Since then I have taken plenty more of each. I continue to still have shortness of breath and this cough.I asked my Dr. could this be from sinus drainage and he said he didn't think so it sounded like it was coming from deep in my lungs. He is talking about sending me to a lung specialist. I was sent for a TB skin test yesterday,have it read tomorrow, but I am sure its negative. The shortness of breath is with me daily as well as the cough. I have never smoked buy my father did when I was living at home. He has black lung,****,emphy.,asthma just to name a few. I have other health problems....rapid heart rate (on med.),...rheumatoid arthritis(on med.)....mild scoliosis (not severe enough to cause breathing problems). Does anyone have any opinions for me? ...all thoughts are appreciated! :angel:

Missy,
I was diagnosed with asthma at age 44. I have always had allergies but never had a problem breathing until an adult. I am on an preventative inhaler that has made a considerable difference in how I feel, but my PFT tests are still below normal. What I mean is my small airways in my lungs aren't functioning normally. I am basically about 50% of normal all of the time in that area of the lung. I am also overweight and my allergy doctor seems to think if I would lose my excess weight (about 60 lbs. or so) my lung function would improve. My father also had lung problems: emphysema at a young age. In fact, I was tested for the Alpha inherited type of emphysems but my test was negative. .... These lung issues are baffling. Two doctors have said that I definitely have asthma. But what bothers me is my inability to have normal lung function even with medication. I also thought people with asthma had asthma attacks, but in between those were normal. My doc says not to worry, that I should be able to function normally at my lung capacity I have now, but it really bugs me. I guess I have damaged my lungs over the years with all the postnasal drip, sinus, and bronchitis. If I had known this, I certainly would have been more aggressive with my allergy treatmenet early in life.

HOWITT...Thanks for your reply. I didn't know you could get emphy. from a parent. I get so tired of huffing and puffing my way around. I know there are others far worse and I shouldn't complain!...Its just I don't have a clue what is doing it. One day this past week I had to use both inhalers (proventil & asthmacort )every 30 mins. I know I should not do this (Dr. was not happy about it)...but I wanted to breathe and didn't have a choice. At times I do have attacks usually when I am laughing I guess this sounds strange but, it happens. When I was taking the allergy shots at age 10 they had to be stopped , I was so allergic to them they could not build the dose up.
After 2 years they called it quits. My mom blames herself for everything I have because she was given a morning sickness medicine while carrying me (Thelidomide?)...or something like that. It caused all kinds of birth defects but I have never heard of it causing lung problems. From what I have read about it, I consider my self blessed even if it was caused by the medicine.I hope you get answers too...GOD BLESS :angel:

Missy,

You may have a form of acid reflux that occurs when acid escapes your stomach, goes up your esophagous, leaves the esophogous and goes into the throat, causing erosions on the larynx, throat and sinus passages. The acid can also get into your lungs, causing strange asthma-like symptoms that never clear up with asthma medications. The acid on the laryx causes chronic cough because your body is trying to get the acid off the laryx by coughing/throat clearing (because the larynx has no natural protection against acid). It's a horrible horrible condition - I know (I have it) and it has a name:

Laryngeal Pharyngeal Reflux (LPR) also known as Laryngeal Reflux. Although it's caused by acid getting out of the stomach, it typically does not cause heartburn and doctors don't know why. The theory is that it's a smaller amount of acid that moves more quickly up and out of the esophogous. People who suffer heartburn have GERD, which is when more acid escapes but tends to stay in the esophogous.

LPR though is treatable and I'm praying that the medications will work for you as well as they worked for me. They are the samed meds that treat GERD, because they all work by reducing acid concentration.

These meds are called Proton-Pump Inhibitors, and the 4 prescription brands in the U.S. are called Nexium, Prevacid, Aciphex and Protonix.

Nexium is the latest to market, and works the best for LPR. It is CRITICAL that you take 2 doses a day. GERD patients can be treated with 1 dose a day, but the standard dosage for LPR patients is 2 doses a day (2 pills). I take the 2x daily Nexium, and have no coughing/asthma as long as I am on it.

There is a way to diagnose LPR. An ENT will scope you - you inhale some numbing spray and they put a thin wire with a teeny camera at one end up your nose and down your throat (a little uncomfortable - but not painful) and view the image on a monitor. Simply, if the larynx is red and swollen, you have LPR -and the redness and swelling is caused by the acid being in the wrong place.

After having bad bronchitis for years and a chronic cough for 6 months coupled with asthma symptoms, I found an ENT who was familiar with LPR and she immediately had me swallow 2 Nexium in her office. I stopped coughing completely within 30 minutes. I wanted to dance in the streets. I will never be cured, but the condition has become very manageable for me and I've been on 2x daily Nexium now for 3.5 years.

So do the following:
1. Schedule an appointment with any local ENT - the fastest appointment you can get. Have her/him scope you. Even in the local yocal never heard of LPR, they usually acknowledge that laryx redness/swelling results from acid reflux. The local ENTs usually don't know the treatment protocol for LPR and will prescribe 1 Nexium a day. Say heck no, and demand 2 pills a day. Remember - you can always try switching down to 1 dose a day AFTER your symptoms are under control. 1 pill a day may or may not provide maintenance. It didn't for me, but everyone is different.

2. Demand Nexium. Some doctors prefer the other pills, but Nexium works the best for LPR, period. If he argues, tell him you'll try the other brand AFTER you've tried Nexium for a week. The goal is to get you stabilized ASAP.

3. Make an appointment with a big-time Gastro for an endoscopy for a later date. You'll need to evaluate any damage that has been done to your esophogous. An endoscopy is outpatient, but involves general anasthesia.

A few things;
-No one knows what causes LPR exactly, but most doctors associate it with a weakening of the upper esophageal spinchter muscle. There is a new theory that is just coming out now - which suggests that the larynx itself has the ability to produce acid and that LPR is a malfunctioning of the larynx. Why the larynx should be able to produce acid is beyond me - it can't protect itself from it!

Finally, go the GERD message board - that's where all the LPR people have to post, and most of the posts relate to LPR. You'll find a lot of information there!

Aswander...Thanks so much!...I will check into this right away.
I had never heard of this before. I have taken previcid in the past for stomach problems.To be able to breathe!...and quit coughing both seems like a dream. I have been huffing and puffing my way along today..I am 5"4 and weigh 138 so I don't think it would in anyway be related to something like being out of shape. I am wheezing as I type....oh well enough complaining I guess. Happy mothers day to all & may GOD bless. :angel: