Chronic asthma and green phlegm; help! - Asthma Message Board

marketp · 09-08-2008, 09:30 AM

I had exercise induced asthma when I was a kid, and a couple of bad bouts of bronchitis. Also seemed to have issues with my sinuses once in a while, but nothing more than that. Then it seemed to go away. Now, I'm 37, and through all these years, up until I was 35 , I had no asthma issues that I knew of. Then i started sneezing all the time. Constant sneezing, which I began to see my Dr. about. Progressed to asthma, sinus infections, then for the last year, green phlegm from my nose and lungs, constant wheezing, etc. I've been on Advair for a year, and a rescue inhaler. Mostly, I just put up with the wheezing and use the Advair. Simply cannot exercise like I used to. Even when I'm "clear" if I try to run, I tighten up. My question: this green phlegm, very thick in the morning in my nose and in my lungs throughout the day, what could it be? I've been treated with several antibiotics, over and over again. It's been a year. What are the consequences of this? I have decided to see new doctors. What's your advice on how to start? THANKS so much for your help.

gcsjr · 09-08-2008, 02:47 PM

Have you been treated for acid reflux?

Acid reflux is a very common trigger of asthma that doesn't usually respond to medications like Advair and can cause wheezing and sinus symptoms. It's fairly common for people with acid-reflux to notice that their symptoms are worse in the morning (because the acid is worse when you're lying down). I'd recommend that you try PrilosecOTC for a couple of weeks to see if your symptoms improve - if they do, you should get on a regular treatment plan for acid reflux.

marketp · 09-08-2008, 10:19 PM

Thanks for the reply. How does that account for my sinuses being full of green puss, and my lungs crackling and me spitting out stringy green mucos? I'm open to any advice, but it seems that possibly I may have something else wrong. Any advice?

gcsjr · 09-09-2008, 05:34 AM

Quote:

How does that account for my sinuses being full of green puss, and my lungs crackling and me spitting out stringy green mucos?

Over the last 5 years researchers have identified a connection between GERD (and a more serious form of acid reflux called Laryngopharyngeal Reflux) and both asthma and chronic sinusitis. The upper and lower respiratory systems (sinuses and lungs) are very closely linked and acid reflux can create irritation in the lungs and lower respiratory system that radiates up into the sinuses. Your body's natural response to the irritation is inflammation and the creation of additional mucus to try and protect those irritated tissues, but the inflammation can keep the mucus from draining correctly, causing it to become discolored, and leading to asthma flare ups, wheezing and sinus infections.

There are three keys to getting the kinds of symptoms you mention under control:

1. Figure out what's causing your initial reactions and get those things under control - for most people it's either allergies or acid reflux that causes the initial inflammation so you probably need to be taking a daily antihistamine and something to control acid reflux.

2. Reduce the inflammation that the triggers have caused so that the tissues in your lungs and sinuses can start to function normally again. Usually this requires antibiotics (which it sounds like you've tried) and possibly a short course of oral steroids.

3. Have an ongoing management plan to keep those tissues healthy and functioning correctly. Usually this includes ongoing anti-inflammatory sprays for the lungs and sinuses, saline nasal irrigation to keep mucus from building up in the sinuses, and ongoing treatment of the allergies and acid reflux.

Unfortunately there's no real silver bullet for this stuff, it requires a lot of trial and error and really good medical support because the causes are complicated and often take multiple adjustments to medication to get them under control.

MountainReader · 09-09-2008, 09:48 PM

Cgsmith's advice is really good. I have found that for me there has been a HUGE connection between sinus infections/ allergies/ asthma and reflux. Anytime one flares up, it throws at least one of the others off too. I usually end up needing to have extra treatment for more than one at a time. I also have a daily treatment regimine for all as well.