Conflicting Diagnoses

[Patty001]

When I was a toddler, what was diagnosed as asthma reared its ugly head. We lived in Miami at the time, and the weather just made my symptoms worse. After a dozen or so hospitalizations, my Mom had had it, and we all moved North. I was totally fine after that...for several years. I had been cured, my mother was told. Then when I hit puberty, I started to develop pet and seasonal allergies, and exhibited other symptoms, like shortness of breath. Fits of laughter would lead to incessant productive coughing. The slightest cold would lead to chest tightness, long perioRAB of coughing, and just dizziness from trying to get a full breath. I would get worse in the fall and the winter, and worst of all at night. I was told this was due to mold allergies, and that it was asthma. Again. My spring allergies to pollen just make me sneeze and get itchy eyes, so this is just a cold weather thing for me. The spring allergies are annoying, but I can deal. It's the respiratory stuff that's bothering me the most. This has basically continued...and then things started to get really bad a few years ago. All of a sudden, I started getting eczema. I'm thinking that this was a sign, because it seemed all of my other symptoms stepped up a notch. Oddly enough, when my breathing issues are at their worst, turning on the air conditioner (yes, even in the winter!) REALLY helps.

SO, I went to an allergist/immunologist a few years ago, and was immediately "diagnosed" with asthma again. He put me on Advair, a bronchodilator, and Singulair. I guess it helped. Seeing as I only seem to get these symptoms in the fall & winter, I managed okay. Then one day, I had really bad chest tightening, and I admit, I was panicking. It sucks feeling like you're unable to breathe. I went in to see my allergist and he used a peak flow meter, and determined I didn't have asthma after all, and that what I was possibly having was anxiety. He told me to stop all of my medication, and prescribed Xanax. I acknowledged that I was anxious about my inability to get a full breath, and I went on my merry way.

But I'm still getting these symptoms now, and I don't have any medication aside from OTC Primatene Mist, which helps a bit when I'm at my worst. I figure that if it was only anxiety, would I have to feel anxious...or rather, have to have something to be anxious about in order to have it? I mean, I sometimes wake up, feeling completely calm, and having terrible chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. It's been terrible this week, as I'm getting over being sick (since Wednesday last week), and I've coughed so much. As I sit here and write this, I'm having difficulty breathing, and am just exhausted from the effort.

Some things my allergist told me:

*Laughing or coughing would not trigger asthma (I felt like such a dope when I shared my experiences, because he was adamant that these weren't related. But this has always been my experience. Oh, and I'm assuming that if I'm laughing and enjoying myself, then I shouldn't be anxious, but what do I know?).
*That the dizziness and fatigue I was feeling was from hyperventilation. I'm still not sure I know the difference. :\
*That my coughing and chest tightening were due to anxiety

When he told me all of this, after he himself had diagnosed me with asthma at least a year before, and prescribed all of that apparently needless medication, I was just upset. I just want relief. Again, this doesn't happen to me at all in the spring or in the summer. Only in the winter. So apparently, I'm only anxious in the winter?

So I was diagnosed as a toddler, was apparently "cured" when we moved, was re-diagnosed when I hit puberty, that diagnosis was repeated a few years ago when I developed eczema, and then about a year later, it was rescinded. And now here I am, really reluctant to go see a doctor about it, but finding that it's becoming a major obstacle for these two seasons each and every year. Is there such a thing as a reliable/definitive test to diagnose asthma? I mean, I don't care what they want to call it...allergies, whatever. I just want some relief.

Thanks for making it this far!

 

[Titchou]

I am sorry for your problems! And all that you've been through as a result. That being said, I think you need to do two things:

1) Go to a pulmonologist for an evaluation and testing to see if you truly have asthma. If you do, they can get you regulated. If you don't, they may be able to offer a diagnosis as to what it might be: anxiety, GERD, acid reflux, LPR,etc.

2) Get your allergies under control. Have you considered injections? Are you on a daily antihistamine? That will help no matter whether you have asthma or not.

Good luck getting this sorted out.

 

[Patty001]

Thank you for your response. I'll be making an appointment with a pulmonologist. I just want to know what is wrong once and for all. It's all been incredibly frustrating.

I received allergy shots for years, but I've been able to keep most of my allergies (pollens, weeRAB, dust/dust mites) under control with just OTC Benadryl. My respiratory issues, however, which I had been told were a direct result of my mold allergies, are still the major problem. I suppose I could try taking an antihistamine for that as well. I never thought to do that, oddly enough.

Thanks!

Patty

 

[Titchou]

It could be that you have allergy induced asthma so controlling the mold allergy is going to be very important. It may be you have to take something every day. I'm sure the pulmonologist can figure it all out. Good luck!

 

[Rain820]

This story sounRAB a lot like mine, though I was only diagnosed a few years ago with allergies, mold being the worst of the bunch. But same thing, on and off again with the asthma symptoms. I also have GERD, which I take Omeprazole for, and I was told it can either trigger, or mimick asthma symptoms. And more recently, as I wrote in my own thread, I finally had the lung function test and was told I have very mild asthma. But, I would like to know ONCE AND FOR ALL what my triggers are, and how to treat them. My allergies seem to be all over the place. I don't sneeze, but sometimes out of nowhere, my eyes will tear. I often feel gunky throat, and dry/sore throat. My nose alternates between stuffy and slightly running. I also know that I have deviated septum.

So I'm not exactly sure what I'm suppossd to be treating and how. The asthma right now is being treated by Syrabicort, as mentioned in my previous thread. But I feel like I want to address these other allergies too, even though I haven't had success on allergy meRAB in the past.

One thing I've been trying lately is a warm mist humidfier in my bedroom. My house has super dry heat, and I thought it would be a good idea. However, I'm not sure if warm or cool is better for me. I do have problems in the summer with HIGH humidity, so should I try a cool mist one instead? I haven't noticed any problems breathing with the warm one yet, but I don't want to do more damage than good in the longrun.

Another factor I need to get serious about is diet. I've read tons of times how dairy directly affects sinsues, and can contribute, if not outright cause nasal drip, mucas, etc. I should try to go w/out dairy for a week and see if that makes a drastic difference.

Anyway, sorry for the long winded post...just sharing some of my experiences. I hope you find some relief with your symptoms soon. It's frustrating because it's probably that everyone responRAB to things differently, but I believe that once we find the right methoRAB, it can work! Best of luck to you

 

[Justsensitive]

You are not the only one that only has asthma during the winter months. I started coughing endlessly -some wheezing, tight chest and shortness of breath in the fall when I turned 50 yrs. It has become a pattern that lasts from October to March. This is the 5th year on meRAB. I am apparently not allergic to anything just sensitive to everything.

Your diagnosis doesn't make sense to me either. That would be like telling me that I am anxious October through March - I'm not an Accountant.

I think I must have an indoor particulate sensitivity.

 

[ahhchoo]

Hi,

Identifying asthma "triggers" can be a bit daunting. It took me a while to figure out my triggers and sometimes I'll start coughing or something and I'll have no clue why.

I take peak flow readings at night and in the morning and record my values. I also record my albuterol usage (when/why/how much) and if I get sick. I know it sounRAB like a pain, but it doesn't take much time at all. This information has been very useful in helping me identifying my triggers.

I have GERD, too, for which I take Nexium and see a GI doctor. I have GERD symptoms and it also triggers asthma symptoms. There's a difference. The GERD causes me to cough, but it's not an asthma cough. I get burning in my throat, urp up food (ewe), etc. Not very fun At night it aggravates my asthma and I wake up more to use my inhaler. My inhaler helps, so I know it's an asthma issue.

You may need to approach your triggers one at a time instead of all at once. Try isolating them.
First try figuring out the allergies...have you been allergy tested? What medications have you tried (have you tried antihistamines and steroid nasal spray together)? Are there different ones you can try still? Are you practicing environmental controls?
Second figure out the GERD...is the medication you're on sufficient? Is it controlling your symptoms?
Third dry vs humid...do what's confortable for you. I can't do hot dry air...I lived in AZ and was sick as a dog...I live in TX and sick here, too.
Fourth sinuses...do sinus rinses, they do wonders. I get sinus infections and my doctor gave me this protocol to do if I start feeling congested to avoid sinus infections. Try to get rid of post-nasal drip, if you have it (steroid nasal spray helps a lot). It can make you start coughing and then you'll have to use your inhaler to stop coughing.

I hope this helps.

Good luck.