My husband mentioned to me that he spoke with someone struggling with an asthma/chronic cough issue, so I wanted to go ahead and share some of my medical history here. Hopefully, it will help someone who is going through the same kind of thing.
1985-1996
I have chronic cough, chronic sore throat, rash, febrile illnesses, bronchitis.
June 1996
Pregnant, I complain to my ob of sinus problems, prescribed Nasonex.
September 1996
Shortness of breath. Sent to ER to check for pulmonary embolism. Doctor says I am perfectly healthy and sends me home.
October 1996
Complain of shortness of breath, coughing. Given pulmonary function test. Test shows perfect lung function. Prescribed albuterol for "asthma."
June 1997
Full work-up with allergy doctor. Found to be mildly allergic to dust, mold, pollen, trees, grass, etc. Pulmonary function test shows perfect lung function.
Prescribed Azmacort, Pulmicort, Rhinocort, Flonase, Singulair. None of the drugs are effective. Prescribed Zithromax for "throat infections" when I complain of shortness of breath and excessive need for Albuterol.
Decide I am an attention-seeking hypochrodriac. Self-esteem plummets to all time low.
Spring 1998
See ear, nose, throat doctor. Treated for "sinus infection" for four months with Zithromax, Augmentin. Sinus xrays show no evidence of infection.
By this time, I am having night sweats, low-grade fever, fatigue and unexplained rash.
Winter 2001
Sore throat, hoarse voice. See new primary care doctor who diagnoses GERD. Try Axid and Prilosec. Voice comes back but cough continues. Try Advair, Flovent, Serevent.
Fall 2004
Coughing up blood. Prescribed Augmentin, Zithromax, Biaxin. Chest xray shows an abnormality it the right upper lobe. CT scan shows lung tumor in the right upper lobe.
Even with diagnosis, no doctor can hear any abnormal sounds when they listen to my lungs with a stethoscope.
Spring 2005
Thoracotomy with right upper lobe lung resection to remove pulmonary mycetoma, or "fungus ball." Surgeon believes the fungus has been growing in a cavity in my lung since childhood.
Today
I use Asmanex, Nasonex, Singulair, Albuterol, Prilosec and Foradil. I still have episodes of shortness of breath and coughing, but they usually resolve quickly.
I will continue to update this as I remember any pertinent details. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
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My own experience with a chronic sore throat is detailed here:
ReplyDeletehttp://chronicsorethroat.wordpress.com/
Hope this helps.