Cough variant asthma.

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Thunderduck

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Does anyone have any experience of this?

I've been told that I may have it, after ending up in the hospital yesterday and again today, having developed shortness of breath and crushing pains in my ribs and back.

I've had an almost constant cough for 3 months, and it's worse at night. Cold air and exercise make it worse.

I've had every test known to man, and have to monitor my peak flow for a week.

Any advice/thoughts on being diagnosed with this or experience of treating it would be much appreciated.
 
My daughter has cough variant asthma. It is hard to diagnose because usually the peak flow meter readings will be normal. Her main symptom was a cough that wouldn't go away, worse at night. Because she is young, the only way to diagnose it was to treat it and see if it got better. I've heard that the gold standard for diagnosing this in adults is a mecholine (sp?) challenge where they try to induce an asthma attack. I would say that you probably need to consult with a pulmunologist or an allergist for a proper diagnosis. Did they give you any medicine for it?
 
I have cough variant asthma. It took me forever to get diagnosed. I agree with the previous poster, unless I am really really bad off, my peak flow is normal, sometimes even high when I'm coughing. I was diagnosed thru a history & trying meRAB, because I was too sick to be tested at the time. It is asthma, it's just that you cough instead of wheeze. I do wheeze ocasionaly, but the cough is the main problem. I am normally worse if I exercise outside. When I am having a flare, I normally don't cough only when I"m sleeping. Talking can be difficult for me, especially on the phone. My asthma is mostly triggered by allergies,smoke, & respiratory infections. Did the dr put you on any meRAB? If your peak flows don't show asthma, don't give up on getting diagnosed. Ask the dr to try you on meRAB, or the methacholine challenge test. Hope you feel better soon!
 
Ty both for the advice.

I haven't been given any meRAB yet, well besides something for possible reflux, which I believe is quite common amongst asthmatics, though I have no symptoms.

They put me on a nebuliser yesterday though, but I am rather worried that the shortness of breath will start again when I have nothing to ease it.

My peak flow reading was low over the past 2 days apparently. I'm hoping I can last the week without making a return trip to hospital.

I know that cold and exercise triggers it, and my chest feels tighter and I cough more when my dog is beside me.:(
 
I have CVA and it was diagnosed by a methacholine challenge test. You may also find that you are increasingly sensitive to irritants like smoke, perfumes, aerosol sprays, cleaning solutions, and a lot of etc.
Once I was diagnosed and given meRAB for it my control is much better. You already know about cold but you also need to be careful when the weather gets very hot. Last July I wound up in the ER due to an attack caused by the excessive heat. I was not alone. The ER nurse told me that they had been swamped all day by folks with respiratory problems having trouble due to the heat.
Good luck with finding an answer. If it is asthma then the medications help a lot.
 
I also have the same symptoms plus the continuous wheezing and the splitting pain on my lungs. As an asthmatic ever since I was a kid, it has never been that bad that I have to go to the hospital but sometimes when the pain is unbearable, I
 
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