Having severe coughing spells

I've been having more problems than usual. I've been having severe coughing spells. My doc put me on Symbicort and Nasonex, already have rescue inhaler. A lot of post-nasal drip, until the Nasonex, it's helped a lot. But about every two hours I have a horrible coughing spell in which I do get a lot of stuff up out of my lungs. It seems like the Symbicort makes it worse. Is it supposed to? To help get stuff up maybe? How do you cope with going to work or even to the grocery? People want to call 911, they think I'm choking.

I've been coughing for around 15 days now. My doc gave me Robotusis with Codine in it to help my coughing spells. I have nasonex to. I'm still sick...gurrrrrr

I've been taking Zyrtec to.

HARA

I would contact your doctor and let them know you are having these spells still despite the medications. There is a possibility the meds are enabling you to cough stuff up, but there is also the possibility that the meds are causing more problems. Only your doctor knows your case well enough to help determine what's going on. You may need a mucus thinner such as guaifenison to help...but do talk to your doctor first.
Good luck,

Thank you all so very much for your replies. I have an appointment tomorrow with my doc, so hopefully I'll know more of what's going on. I don't know anyone else who has asthma, and to have you read and answer me means a lot. When I'm coughing and hacking and feel I can't go out in public (but of course I have to and I do), just knowing I'm not the only one makes me feel better. I go a couple of months at a time where my only symptom is shortness of breath, and I don't have coughing or anything else. I'm TRYING to remember that now. lol.

Does anyone have coughing that is so hard you almost black out, and that lasts several minutes? Before this round, I only did this every now and then for a few days during bronchitis or pneumonia. This time it has been going on this hard for 3 weeks, I did have bronchitis for 3 months, but finally kicked the infection part with enough antibiotics and steroids. I don't mean to sound whiny, but I'm so glad to have anyone to talk to about this stuff. Thank You.

I saw a pulmonologist, did PFTs, confirmed asthma. Part of my coughing is coming from post nasal drip, from allergies, added Astepro and kept me on Symbicort and Nasonex. Also taking Zyrtec (stopped Claritin), guifenesin, Sudafed and Chlortabs. Also using neb with albuterol several times a day and rescute Xopenex. And Zoloft and Lisinoprel. Geez. Six months ago, I had a rescue inhaler and Zoloft. Seems like the more drugs I take the sicker I get. But I didn't have access to health care until a couple of months ago.
Coughing is a little better, but lost my voice completely yesterday. I think it's the Symbicort. I'm thinking about stopping the Symbicort for 2 or 3 days to see what happens. Anybody have this effect with Symbicort or do you think it's something else?

I think the reason I'm still sick is because of the pollen. I went out swimming yesterday and then got really stuffed up by the night time.

HARA

I'm getting an allergy shot (Depo Medrol) on Monday at work.

Thank goodness I work in a medical office.

HARA

You know you are getting old when you are in public and have a coughing spell and wet yourself, and then you look around to see if anyone noticed...

HARA

jr09, I have bad asthma and I take symbicort.  When I went to the pulmonologist I had all the lung function tests and I was put on symbicort.  My breathing cleared up the very first day using the symbicort.  I was also given nasonex but it didn't do me any good.  I don't have a lot of coughing but I do always have to cough up phlegm in my throat.  I think that is from the symbicort keeping my lungs open and allowing the fluids to leave my system.  I think you should see your dr. soon as you are on a lot of meds.  I think you may have too many meds.  I hope your dr. is a pulmonologist.  Before I had my tests and had the symbicort I was using albuterol every day, 2 puffs, 4 times a day and my breathing was still bad.  The symbicort has been like a miracle for me.  I also take zyrtec. You might want to ask the dr. about singulair.  It is for allergies and asthma.  Some people like it and others think it doesn't help.  I am helped enough by the zyrtec.  I wish you the best and do post after your appt. so we know how you are doing.

Aurora

Hara, that sounds exactly like me. I still have NO voice, none. I stopped Symbicort for 3 days, voice didn't improve so went back on it. I see the doc on Thursday. I've never been this sick for this long. HOW do you keep a job when you have a cough most of the time, and bronchitis about 50% of the time?
I will move away from this area, we are listed number 3 in the "bad asthma" category, and we're a small mostly rural area, but we have Eastman Chemical company here. (Northeast Tennessee-Johnson City/Kingsport). I don't know where to move to though, does anyone know where the air is clean? I seem to be much more affected by chemicals and pollutants than plants.

I am STILL sick. Have a little bit of a hoarse voice back, after being without a voice at all for almost 3 weeks. Still tons of mucus/post-nasal drip. Still cough, but not the hard cough I had before. Can hear rattling in my chest-is that in my bronchial airways or lungs- I guess it's congestion- with every breath. All the drugs seem to have done nothing or made things worse. I'm at my wits end. I lost my job, can't go job hunting until I can talk and maybe breathe a little better. Doc says stay on the meds, it sometimes takes a while. I've been sick since the first of May, had a cough since February. I've had 2 rounds of Prednisone and 3 different antibiotics, am on Keflex now, in addition to all the above meds I mentioned. This is nuts.
Has anyone been through months of this?

Hara
Can an x-ray be used to detect asthma?

A lot of people with Asthma have no wheezing.