"Cough variant" asthma with vocal cord dysfunction

Hi @jko1 and welcome to Connect.

While we wait for others to take part in this discussion, i thought I would share more information about vocal cord dysfunction: https://www.nationaljewish.org/health-insights/health-infographics/understanding-vocal-cord-dysfunction

@jko1 how are your doctor's treating you for these conditions at this time?

Thanks for the vocal cord dysfunction. My doctors sent me to speech therapy, which seems to be the most common treatment for vocal cord dysfunction. (Mine seems to be a variant known as irritable larynx syndrome.) Unfortunately, vocal cord dysfunction seems to be in the domain of ENTs, which asthma is in the domain of Pulmonologists. So far, the two groups aren't working all that well together on thinking through the interplay between the two and the appropriate treatments that best support both conditions.

Hi, @jko1 - If I understand what you are saying by cough variant asthma, that is what I have. My major symptom from asthma is coughing. I understand I wheeze, but it's inaudible.

Tagging a few other members who may have input on coping with cough variant asthma @anna17 @gift440 @lenchiksf @drsharon @hicopd, and also with vocal cord dysfunction @jko1 @jdbarr1 @adkindt @blm1007blm1007. @mth13 also may have some input.

I wanted to see how you are doing lately with the cough variant asthma and the vocal cord dysfunction, jko1?

Yes, at National Jewish they do seem to refer folks to speech therapists for VCD but some ENTs may also be able to help with this.

For cough variant asthma, I believe having the asthma under optimal control and minimizing exposure to triggers should help most.

Optimal control may require trying different combos of treatments as well as getting allergy triggers under optimal control. For me, it included going to National Jewish for RUSH Immunotherapy because my local docs couldn’t safely get me to maintenance dose locally without major risk.

I had allergy shots for 7 years and then stopped. It seems to have helped somewhat to have me less “twitchy” to allergens. I am now under good control for not having allergy flares ups (for the most part).

Agree with above - optimal control for Cough Variant Asthma (i am on advair hfa 230/21 ). and avoiding triggers for vocal cords. I dont have vocal cord dysf as dx, but tend to loose voice with allergins (ie cats)

Have you tried to see allergy md ? - they can address from their angle. They also versed in asthma care