This is absolutely awful; my doctors aren't listening to me. Urgent: Please help! - Asthma Message Board

Melissa765 · 03-04-2007, 01:42 PM

I have asthma and I have since I've been 4, so about 12 years. I hardly ever wheeze; just dry coughing (sometimes with mucus when I get sinus infections), VERY difficult breathing and a struggle to breathe, and I get absolutely exhausted from breathing. -- This time though, I AM wheezing more than I ever have. I'm also very pale and have dark, sunken-in eyes. My chest aches both from the coughing and from having to physically struggle so hard to take a breath in. I can't even say more than 3 words at a time because I'm so out of breath. You know when your neck like gets sucked into that little divot in your collar bone and your entire stomach and chest are rapidly moving to breathe? Well, I have that happening, and I told the covering physician via the night nurse (this was last night), and the doctor called in Medrol and said to "wait it out at home." WHAT?! Medrol is NOT fast acting, and I can't breathe NOW. After waiting like 2 hours, I went into the ER. They gave me 4 back-to-back neb treatments of Albuterol/Atrovent with oxygen and Prednisone. The only thing that helped was the coughing, but I still felt like I couldn't take a deep breath in and I was tired of breathing. I was extremely disappointed with the fact that they discharged me, even after I explained how I felt, but I think this is why: The doctor that had been treating me (an attending) had her shift end (she said that she might admit me when I first got in there), so a RESIDENT took over. He was the rudest doctor I had ever met in my life, completely unqualified, and told me that I just had a cough, not even asthma. I was completely fed up and exhausted, so I just left without a fight. I'm currently on Allegra-D, Flovent 330 mcg 2X daily, Biaxin 500 mg 2X daily, Xopenex every 4 hrs., and Medrol DosePack. If all this isn't helping, shouldn't I be admitted to the hospital or something? I think I have reached the peak of what I can do at home, right? I have an appointment with my regular doctor tomorrow, and he's very thorough and quick to resolve my asthma problems (i.e. if 2 days of nebs and a higher dose of Flovent are not working, even without wheezing, he puts me on steroids, and tells me to do very frequent nebulizer treatments [every 2.5-3 hrs] before it gets worse). What do you think might happen as far as treatment goes? Thank you very much!

Melissa765 · 03-04-2007, 01:46 PM

I forgot to add that I'm coughing so violently that I'm almost vomiting.

Thank you very much once again for any advice/suggestions/opinions!

MillyMollyMandy · 03-04-2007, 02:21 PM

Melissa, have you seen any improvement at all since you went to the ER? If you think the situation is improving a little after the meds, it may be ok to wait to see your regular Doc, who you know you can trust.

If things are not improving it is essential to go back to the ER. I don't know anything about your personal situation, but if you're parents are around they should be able to talk to the doctors.

It may be that a little anxiety is creeping in as well, which is understandable but won't help the asthma. Some of the symptoms you mention such as the "sinking in" at the neck and being unable to speak a sentence without stopping for breath, suggest that it needs taking seriously. Please don't hesitate for long with this, take care, and let us know how you are. Mandy

sweetheart82359 · 03-07-2007, 02:22 PM

Okay first of all if none of this is happening then please go see an allergest. They can at least see what you may be allergic to and maybe have weekly shots to help you. They can put you on different meds that maybe your family doctor has not thought off. I have had asthma since I was 12 yrs old and I am now 48. And belive me I know how you feel. But see the allergist and when you are having a hard time breathing try this. Always have a brown paper lunch bag and breath in and out until you feel you can catch your breath. It should help you to control some of the breathing. But go see an allergest. Hope this works for you.

p.s. If your doctors are not listening then I think it is time to find one that will.

MountainReader · 03-07-2007, 08:52 PM

When did this last flare up of coughing begin? Are you certain it is just an asthma flare-up? I have asthma and allergies (treated with Allegra, Flonase, Astelin, Singulair, Advair 500/50, and Albuterol), but a year ago, I began having a violent, dry cough. I couldn't catch my breath, talking was hard, walking set off the cough, I pulled stomach muscles, etc... Turned out I had also contracted Pertussis (Whooping cough). I found out after I got it that the incidents of the illness are spreading across the country and my vaccine I had as a child wasn't good any more. In adults main symptom is a regular, virulant cough. It took 3 months to go away and flared up my asthma big time.