GERD-Asthma- severe mold allergies

Help! I had the wrap this last Sept in hopes that I would have one winter w/o asthma - I'm very allergic to Alternaria - I used to have numerous allergies including dust, cat dander, weeds, crops and have been on shots, antihistamine, nasal steroid spray for the last 12 years. The only time of year that the allergies are very severe is in winter - as soon as we close up the house when the weather gets very cold. We clean the vents/ducts, change the filters. I also use a humidifier as we live in Colo where the winters are cold and dry typically. We have had an especially dry winter. Last winter was extremely bad and I thought my lungs got burned due to Advair. This year I was determined not to get asthma but I took nearly 2 weeks off at Christmas and have had splitting sinus headaches and last week the asthma started with a vengeance. I've gotten permission from the Dr. to get my allergy shots done at home again as my husband is an EMT. I had to start taking Zyflo again as can't risk the steroid inhalers burning my lungs as get thrush very easily even with rinsing my mouth immediately. The allergist thinks the GERD is what is stirring up my asthma but everything was fine after the surgery and no acid reflux at all in the past month until allergy season started again. I'm certain it's the other way around - is there any way to prove this? I know the acid from GERD can inflame asthma but I had no problems until I was exposed for a longer period of time to the allergens - our house is older and try as we might, I can't completely escape the mold - At this point, I'm tempted to start wearing a mask at night too! I'm so frustrated and it's costing me time at work and have backed down on the dosage of my antigen due to my symptoms. Any suggestions?

Catlady, just wondering if you still around? I didn't spot this thread when you posted but wanted to say I also have mould allergies, and am unusually allergic to Cladosporium.

I reduced my asthma medication (successfully - didn't need the dose I was on of steroids it turned out) after reading up on the side effects of asthma medication. However, the steroids weren't the main concern - there is evidence that the long acting ventolin type inhalers (salbutamol) relaxes the LES. I don't take that any more - just use Ventolin when I need it.

The chest physicians say that GERD aggravates asthma, which is true and Dencha will vouch for just how bad that can get. But I think the asthma can annoy the GERD too - after all it affects the diaphragm. And if you have an asthma flare up and use extra doses of inhaler, perhaps that relaxes the LES.

Just wondering how you went on and if you found any further correlation between your mould allergies and your GERD.

MMM

Hi Denise,

Yes it's interesting isn't it. Shame we both missed the thread at the time!

MMM

Thanks Kitt - good to hear from you.

MMM x