Allergy, lung infection or something else??

I had double pneumonia, staying in the hospital 21 days. I am on just 2L of oxygen 24/7, although if I am just sitting, I can go without it. I use a nebulizer, when I need it. I never smoked, but was around it (as a child).

I would find myself reacting poorly, wheezing and coughing, once I got home. I narrowed it down to two things, which makes sense (for me, anyway). The only time I coughed and wheezed was when I sat in my recliner and when I went to bed. It was DUST. If you think about it, every time I sat in my chair, I probably poofed dust all over. Same with the bedding and dust around the room. (I had been in the hospital for 21 days, and I'm sure my husband didn't dust, mop or change bedding, and nobody sat in my recliner but me) We installed an Air Scrubber (not hospital grade, but for homes). We bought portable air cleaners (they work!) for the living room and bedroom.

So, I suggest you try these things out. It made a world of difference to me. Hope it helps.

After steam cleaning the chair and dusting/mopping on and UNDER the furniture, my breathing improved quite a bit.

Ah, another thing. Have you used a Neti Pot? It helps, just don't over use it. It's important to use ONLY the water type that is mentioned on the box.

On YouTube, look up Sinus Pressure Points for Sinus Relief. It works. When you breath out through your nose, use small puffs of air, rather than one big blow (pops your ear and not as effective).

I hope by the time you read this you are feeling better. Good suggestion about Singulair. However, it does not work for all people. It used to be an asthma medication but is now taken for allergies. If this doesn't work, try Chlorpheniramine tablets - they are over the counter. While the package says take every 6 hours, 2 times a day is usually enough.
Two suggestions - Check with an ENT who can visualize your sinus system.
Check your cardiac function. Sometimes cardiac issues present as allergy/lung issues. Yes, you should get an xray, as well as Echocardiogram. Good luck and feel better.
Also - if you have indigestion/acid reflux that is not controlled, that can make asthma worse, if that is your diagnosis.

Update on my pulmonary function test:

I have been coughing due to postnatal drip for 10 weeks. ENT says my sinuses are normal (after CT of head). I'm 75 and have allergies as well. I've been on Advair morning and night with Albuterol inhalers as needed. I use guaifenassin (sp?) to thin mucus but the drainage never stops. I can't sleep and have coughing fit to clear my throat. I take Zyrtec and Benadryl. (I also take Losartin for blood pressure and Protonix for GERD.) I live near farming. I use cortisone nose spray with Azalastine.

The ENT said "go back to your primary care care doctor, maybe it's bronchial". I see him tomorrow but I'm losing faith. Any ideas?

dcypherzzz, This is lengthy, but, I hope it helps in some way for you.

I can so relate. This has been the hardest summer, going into fall, I have
ever had with allergies. I am pretty much on the same meds you are, except for Advair, Benadryl and Gauifenesin. I take NAC 500 mg supplement by Thorne (I only take 1/2 as this can be too drying to my eyes) for the drainage and Children's Zyrtec liquid in the a.m. & in the p.m. I also take Thorne Quercitin and Vitamin C & D for my immune system. I am ultra sensitive to meds so I have to do baby doses in everything.

Please ask your doctor before going on anything I mention.

I drink a cup of hot Lemon Ginger tea before I got to bed at night as this helps with the drainage. You could add local honey in it if you like as that is supposed to help with allergies. Celestial Seasonings and Bigelow is good. This also helps your immune system. I know, one more thing to do right?

Is the head of your bed elevated to help with reflux? Do you eat heavy after 6 p.m.?
I try and not eat after 6 p.m. except an apple or Skinny Pop Popcorn to keep reflux down.
I use Gaviscon cherry flavored tablets for breakthrough reflux and they are wonderful per
my primary doctor's office. You can use these even if you are on Protonix. Ask your doctor
before trying please.

I do find that allergy increase makes the GERDS worse and so dose having asthma. They tend
to both get flared up at the same time. Do you hear yourself wheezing? Then you possibly
have asthma. Normally, you hear asthma wheezing when you lie down. A Pulmonologist
can definitely diagnose this for you.

I use Flonase & Azalastine spray. I irrigate my sinuses twice a day with the NeilMed Sinus rinse which comes with saline packets and use Distilled water. I had a CT scan done with my ENT and he said my sinuses look good. Some folks I know that are not allergy prone are being
bothered this year with sneezing and drainage.

If I sit outside on these pretty days, I get a sinus infection. It's been a vicious cycle. I have
hardly been outside for more than 5 minutes since spring due to how it affects me with
asthma, allergies, sinus infection & headaches. The pollen was horrific this spring.

I am on a Nebulizer daily (Albuterol) and a rescue inhaler (Albuterol) as needed.

Here's what I think it is. Our air is different this year outside. So many natural disasters
all around us, floods, hurricanes, fires, etc., I do believe a lot of this stuff gets in the air and
those of us who are allergic to things are more sensitive to the outdoors. I believe
it gets into our homes as well. Also, we had a lot of rain this summer and high humidity which breeds mold outside more than usual. Even my cat has developed allergies and asthma
this year and is on medication.

Do you have an air purifier in your home? If not, I would invest in a good one. I can tell a huge difference in the air quality in our home since we bought one. We keep a clean house, but, this year, it has become dustier.

Have you been allergy tested with a blood test to see if you have developed new allergies? I just had that done at my Pulmonologist's office.

I will also ask this, have you had COVID? My allergies & upper respiratories issues got worse after having COVID twice. I am more prone to sinus infections, asthma & asthmatic bronchitis & pheumonia since COVID. I was diagnosed with Long Covid.

You said you live near farming....do you think that could be the culprit?

Praying for you right now to get relief. I understand how miserable this can be. Blessings & Prayers.....

I would say that your results you showed are very favourable and devoid of any immediate threat, I would opt for a ct scan because of the details it provides and you may possibly need a med or a puffer to open your airways, best wishes.

I would also like to add that I agree with getting an air purifier or filter to help you with breathing problems.

@dcypherzzz I sympathize with the allergies. I have allergic asthma, and occasionally, I get a sinus infection that spreads to my lungs. It causes excess phlegm. What I notice when it's an infection is my resting heart rate goes up a little bit, and I usually get a sore throat from post nasal drip. Sometimes my sinuses hurt too. I've heard that it may be something like a staff infection. What helps me is to use Mupiroicin in each nostril for several days at bedtime when this happens. It's just a pea size amount and I put it as high in my nose as possible. This came from a preventative treatment before I had surgery directed by the doctor. It worked well to fix the lung issues and my doctor lets me have this to keep on hand. When I treat this, usually the next day has a lot of clearing of phlegm and it makes me think I'm getting sick, but a half a day of that, and I'm back to normal. I thin the mucus too with generic Mucinex.

I have issues near farming and harvesting that puts a lot of dust in the air. That could be a source of bacterial lung infection. I also use HEPA filters inside my home and wear a mask or respirator outside when the air is dirty or smoky from distant wild fires.