Anyone have "cough variant" asthma? Vocal cord dysfunction?

@hopeful33250 so glad to hear it!

@drsharon

I think I had that type of test when I was seen at the pulmonology clinic. They did a 45-minute PFT that included breathing into the machine, and then I had 3-4 puffs of albuterol at different points during the PFT. It showed normal gas exchange, normal lung volumes, and normal arterial oxygen saturation at rest while breathing room air. So, it doesn't look too bad.

I am feeling better with the generic Symbicort and the Aerobika. I'm not constantly coughing or clearing my throat. I am definitely sleeping better and feel clearer-headed during the day.

@hopeful33250 by the way, you may be better off in an asthma clinic, where they measure you with a spirometry test rather than blood oxygen level. They can compare the amount of oxygen you’re actually getting each time with an FEV (you blow into it as hard as you ) and see if you’re getting better or worse with your medication. Good luck!

@lisalucier I don't have vocal cord dysfunction, but I have cough variant asthma with a neurological cough that developed two years ago. Currently attempting nerve block shots in the neck near the vagal nerve. Overall, in the last two years, I have found chewing gum to be helpful and a lozenge in my mouth besides drinking water frequently. I wonder if acupuncture would be helpful to stop and relax the vagal nerve. I have no idea. I haven't tried it yet and don't know where to find a good one. I live in Jupiter, Florida.

I developed cough variant asthma after living in Michigan all of my life, and moving to Florida is when it began. But I am now dealing with a neurological cough for the last two years. I believe that despite different medications for my cough variant asthma. Getting injections near the vagal nerve. Chewing gum has reduced the amount of coughs per day and drinking fluids plus a lozenge in my mouth. Also receiving allergy shots.

@drsharon

That is interesting. Even when I've been to the doctor or walk-in clinic, with noticeable wheezing, my oxygen level (tested on the finger) is usually always in the normal range.

This asthma diagnosis is new to me, and I'm learning a lot. The term "super breather" is quite the title!

@hopeful33250 one possible thought- when I was first evaluated for asthma my spirometry test showed my breathing was 103% of normal so they couldn’t understand why I kept telling them I felt I wasn’t getting enough air. After a lot of treatments my test results went to 150% of “normal “. They now call me a super breather or outlier. I still have pretty nasty asthma but my readings are different from most. Yours may be as well.

@drsharon, I agree about the progress. Since I started using the Symbicort inhaler, I'm now sleeping through the night. In the past, I've had sleep studies because I wasn't breathing during sleep. The sleep studies did not show sleep apnea. Must have been from undiagnosed asthma.

Has anyone else had the feeling that there is not enough air? In the summer, I'm always turning the A/C lower, and it's not because I'm hot; I don't feel there is enough air. Such strange problems!

@hopeful33250 I’m definitely not an expert but I have had sore throat and raspy voice (and awful muscle cramps) from some of the inhalers before I switched to Breo. It could be the meds but it could be other things as well. If the ENT doesn’t find anything they might want to try a different inhaler but given your history, I think it’s smart to double check. Good luck, this disease is so frustrating but there is progress.

@SusanEllen66 Hi Susan. Cough variant asthma is asthma and needs to be treated with meds. In my experience, having low oxygen etc. is definitely worse than meds. I really hated the idea of needing medication as well, but came to realize it was a difference between feeling good and feeling bad. I am now so grateful to have these meds. You really have to rinse well when using Brio and the other inhalers to avoid thrush and maybe one day they’ll come up with different meds. Talk to your doctor about your last experience and good luck!