Suggest Treatment For Asthma And Coughing With Wheezing?

Posted on Fri, 10 Jan 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 10 Jan 2014 Answered on

Mon, 27 Jan 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I've been coughing for three months. Xray was clear. Pain in upper back & ribcage, upper stomach region. Perfume taste in mouth. Cough so hard & deep. Wheeze & feelings of not being able to breathe. Have lupus SLE, asthma, GERD, IBS, Anxiety disorder.Sinus drips are clear. First running nose & then dry. What can be the cause of my continuous coughing? Perfume taste in mouth?

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Bronchial Asthma Detailed Answer: Dear Friend. When you already have asthma , coughing with wheezing is most likely due to that only. More over, your X-ray chest is also clear. So , infection is unlikely. Dry Cough can be because of : 1. Allergic Bronchitis 2. Bronchial Asthma. I suggest you to get a Pulmonary Function Test. Also , discuss with your doctor regarding adding a Asthalin inhaler and a combination of Levocetrizine and Montelukast. If required by clinical evaluation , you may also be prescribed inhaled steroids. Even a bronchodilator like Doxophylline can be given for short term , if you have wheezes. Avoid fumes , pollution. Don't smoke in case you do. Some times , GERD also causes reflux and dry cough , specially in the morning time, which may be associated with bad taste in mouth. I prefer to add combination of Pantoprazole and domperodone once a day in such cases. However , cough of GERD is not the kind of that you are describing. Get in touch with your primary care physician , get evaluated , as clinical examination would help a lot in making your diagnosis. My likely diagnosis is Bronchial Asthma based on history. I hope i am able to solve your query , ask me if you have further queries. Stay Healthy.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anshul Varshney (21 minutes later)

I Use Advair Diskus 250 Twice Daily, Including An Albuterol Inhaler. I've Been Taking Benzonatate Pills For The Cough, Also. My Cough Is Mainly Worse At Bedtime & In The Morning. Sometimes, Uncontrollable...No Matter The Medications. I Use Fluconazle Nasal Spray & Saline Nasal Mist. My Eyes Are Dry, Burning & Itching, Mainly After Sleeping. A Feeling Of "Hair" Like In Esophagus, When Swallowing. The Xray Was Conducted On: (11/01/13) At Hospital. Glands In Neck, Armpit (Left) Swollen & Painful. Could These Be An Allergy Based Cause Of Symptoms? Could This Be COPD? I Have An Appointment With A Pulmonary Specialist On: (01/14/14). I'm Just Concerned & Have Had Many Sleepless Nights, Due To The Ongoing Coughing. My Mother Had COPD. Died Of Cardio/ Pulmonary Arrest. My Aunt (Mother's Sister) Died From COPD. My Uncle ( Mother's & Aunt's Brother) Died Of Asthma/COPD. My Grandmother (Mother's..Mother) Died Of CHF. My Father Died Of Stomach Cancer.

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Details Follows Detailed Answer: Dear XXXX Swollen nodes in arm pit requires evaluation. They can occur in infections , tuberculosis and in some cases in lymphoma and other blood related disorders. An infection can trigger an acute attack of asthma. I suppose , you should be given antibiotics for a week so that , infection can be treated. Enlarged Lymph nodes will disappear once the infection is treated. Still if they persist , a biopsy might be required. You should also get an ECG done. You might require cough suppressants like codeine. Yes , these symptoms can be related to allergy. And also , this could be COPD if you are a smoker , and that is why i have advised you for a pulmonary function test. I am glad you are meeting a pulmonologist , he will make a correct prescription for you following investigations and examination. I wish you a speedy recovery. If you do not have a further query , you may please close the discussion and rate it.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar