Asthma an allergy or something else? Where do I go from here?
I was diagnosed as asthmatic in my teens Im now 53.For the last 20 years Ive been almost symptom free,& not needing any medication e xcept the very ocassional use of a reliever inhaler.
6 years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson's and take 1mg of Pergolide 3xday & 1 mg Rasagiline.
After a general anaesthetic 7 months ago (gall bladder removal) I had a severe chest infection, which left me with a chronic productive cough. 3 courses of antibiotics, a long course of Prenisolone and several different types of inhaled steroids ( currently Symbicort) & I am still coughing.
GP thought I might have Alpha-1 antytrypsin (what??)
I have had a chest xray (clear), 3 sputum samples (all clear), a bronchoscopy (inconclusive -though 1 lung full of mucus & inflammmed) Ive have an echiocardiogram & an ecg both normal. Iam waiting for lung function tests.
I cough & cough until I vomit-its especially bad in the mornings. plus I have a foul taste in my mouth all the time & I wheeze. It doesnt seem to respond to steroids & is not at all like the asthma I am used to.
I thought it might be a reaction to the pergolide (cough a known side effect)- but the consultant says its the wrong sort of cough.
Could it be GERD causing these symptoms?
Does anyone else have any experience of Asthma like this? Its making me feel so low.