Allergies, Asthma, or something else??

Hi all it's my first time here.  I am 38, female, and a smoker. I started getting short of breath 1st of February - just happened all at once a few days after a cold. Went to the doctor and he said it was an upper respiratory infection.

Got better after about 3 wks then we slept in the cold on our boat - 2 days later I was wheezing again. Went to a new doctor around 1st of March. He said it was bronchitis and that it sounded like I had a "touch" of asthma (is that like being a "little" pregnant? lol). He gave me an inhaler and cough syrup, but not antiobiotics.

I've seen him a couple of times since then. about 3 wks ago was the last time, because I was still feeling short of breath and wheezing a little. He put me on Clarithromycin 500mg. Also said he thought allergies were making a little asthma worse. He did a series of chest xrays and blood work including cardiovascular tests -- my lungs are normal and all of my blood work was normal.

I don't feel ill, but I still have the cough and sometimes there is still a little yellow or brown flecks in the phlegm and then other times it's just clear or white. I'm coughing mostly because my throat and chest feel ticklish and itchy. I can't say that I really feel short of breath anymore, but my chest just feels 'funny'. A little short of breath maybe sometimes - other days not at all.  Sometimes my chest aches or feels tight when I take a really deep breath.

How do I make this cough stop? I never coughed before this started 1st of Feb. Haven't had bronchitis since I was 24 yrs old, but I just can't seem to get completely over this and am getting afraid and frustrated.  Does this sound like asthma or allergies?

Hi and welcome :) To me, it sounds like a possibility of both, I know, not much help am I? Unfortunately, asthma can occur at any age, when you are an adult it is called adult onset asthma. I recommend you see a pulmonologist or a respitory therapist to see for sure if you're asthmatic. Which inhaler do you use and how often? Do you notice an improvement when you use it? Wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing are all signs of asthma. I'm not sure about asthma, but yellow mucous is typically not seen in allergies. Most times, allergy mucous is white or clear. Yellow indicates that something else is going on. Do you smoke or drink coffee? Coffee or dark colas can turn the sputum a yellow color but yellow can also indicate that you still have infection. My son has coughing asthma with mild wheezing and he uses two different inhalers but for his rough coughing spells, I give him Robitussin Cough. It seems to quiet his cough down a bit. Is it dry in your house? You might also want to try a humidifier to help moisten the air. Good luck and I hope you start feeling better soon.