1. < Autoimmune Diseases

Chronic Bacterial Infections After Colds

Posted by asthmaorsomethingelse @asthmaorsomethingelse, Sep 22, 2019

Hello - I am new to this forum and seeking advice/help on figuring out what has been going on with my body for the last 8 years. Ever since I had my second child, I have developed bronchitis and/or walking pneumonia at least once or twice a year. I spent about 3 years of not getting referred out to a specialist and finally decided to take things into my own hands and find a new doctor outside the small town we lived in. That doctor referred me to an asthma and allergy clinic where I was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 33.

Since then, I've been on a daily inhaler called Symbicort taking two puffs twice a day, Albuterol as needed, Zyrtec once a day for allergies, Prednisone 1-3x a year when I get sick, and a wide variety of antibiotics. If I get a cold, it immediately turns into a bacterial infection. My doctors have done all the standard autoimmune disease tests and everything comes back okay.

I am an archaeologist, so perhaps I developed this in relation to my job. All I know is that I spend a good part of the year sick, and want to find a solution beyond taking more and more antibiotics. My doctor suggested that it might be a rare/undiagnosed autoimmune disease since everything goes right to my chest/walking pneumonia/bacterial infection.

Thanks in advance for the help and advice.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 22, 2019

Hello @asthmaorsomethingelse, Welcome to Connect. After reading your post I was curious because I have had walking pneumonia quite a few years ago since then I know that I have to take of myself if I get a cold or it will get worse. I found this article that seems like it identifies something similar to what you are going through.

Recurrent Infections May Signal Immunodeficiencies - AAAAI
-- https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/immune-deficiencies-library/recurrent-infections-immunodeficiencies

Have you thought about getting a second opinion? If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, you can contact one of the appointment offices. The
contact information for Minnesota, Arizona and Florida can be found here http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.

REPLY
1 reply
asthmaorsomethingelse | @asthmaorsomethingelse | Sep 22, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @asthmaorsomethingelse, Welcome to Connect. After reading your post I was curious because I have had..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @asthmaorsomethingelse, Welcome to Connect. After reading your post I was curious because I have had walking pneumonia quite a few years ago since then I know that I have to take of myself if I get a cold or it will get worse. I found this article that seems like it identifies something similar to what you are going through.

Recurrent Infections May Signal Immunodeficiencies - AAAAI
-- https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/immune-deficiencies-library/recurrent-infections-immunodeficiencies

Have you thought about getting a second opinion? If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, you can contact one of the appointment offices. The
contact information for Minnesota, Arizona and Florida can be found here http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.

Jump to this post

Hi @johnbishop - Thanks so much for the quick reply. I am so sorry you have had similar symptoms and experiences. It is really no fun.

Yes, my doctor thinks I may have an underlying undiagnosed autoimmune disease. We haven't been able to figure out what it is. We've done allergy and all kinds of blood tests when I'm healthy and when I'm not. When I'm healthy, everything looks normal. When I get sick, however, everything drops. I've seen around 7 different physicians and asthma/allergy doctors and no one has figured anything out beyond my asthma. My asthma is well controlled when I am healthy and I'm able to lead a normal life - I run and do hot yoga 7 days a week when I'm not sick and have no issues.

I just sent in a request to the Mayo Clinic. Do you think it is worth my time and energy going there?

Thanks so much. The quick response means a lot.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 22, 2019
In reply to @asthmaorsomethingelse "Hi @johnbishop - Thanks so much for the quick reply. I am so sorry you have..." + (show)
@asthmaorsomethingelse

Hi @johnbishop - Thanks so much for the quick reply. I am so sorry you have had similar symptoms and experiences. It is really no fun.

Yes, my doctor thinks I may have an underlying undiagnosed autoimmune disease. We haven't been able to figure out what it is. We've done allergy and all kinds of blood tests when I'm healthy and when I'm not. When I'm healthy, everything looks normal. When I get sick, however, everything drops. I've seen around 7 different physicians and asthma/allergy doctors and no one has figured anything out beyond my asthma. My asthma is well controlled when I am healthy and I'm able to lead a normal life - I run and do hot yoga 7 days a week when I'm not sick and have no issues.

I just sent in a request to the Mayo Clinic. Do you think it is worth my time and energy going there?

Thanks so much. The quick response means a lot.

Jump to this post

Hi @asthmaorsomethingelse, I do think Mayo Clinic is one of the better if not the best places to go when you need answers. I like that the doctors work together to help you. A little over a year ago I went to Rochester Mayo Clinic for a swelling problem with my right leg and had tests done for lymphedema. The cardiologist talked to me during one of early exams and I had told him I snore a lot and sometimes toss and turn a little but thought that I slept OK. He setup an appointment with sleep medicine for me and I did a home oximeter study which showed I wasn't getting enough oxygen. They setup an overnight study which showed I had severe obstructive sleep apnea which wasn't even on my charts of things to worry about.

I'm not sure if you've heard or seen this story but thought it might be helpful -- What happens when you have a disease doctors can't diagnose TED talk by TED Fellow Jennifer Brea who became progressively ill with myalgic encephalomyelitis, commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome.
https://www.ted.com/talks/jen_brea_what_happens_when_you_have_a_disease_doctors_can_t_diagnose

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