Misdiagnosed due to being labelled "asthmatic!"

For almost 30 years, I had recurrent respiratory infections that doctors always blamed on my asthma. Every year I would have multiple episodes that turned into severe exacerbations, hospitalizations, steroids, antibiotics, and weeks of recovery. CT scans often showed things like interstitial prominence, peribronchial cuffing, and sometimes scattered ground-glass opacities, but I was always told it was “just asthma” or viral infections.

I used controller inhalers faithfully (like Dulera), but nothing ever stopped the cycle.

Recently, an allergist suggested something no other doctor in decades had: getting the Pneumovax 23 vaccine. Since getting it, I haven’t had any recurrent infections, exacerbations, or hospitalizations — which is something I’ve never experienced before. It has completely changed my breathing and overall health.

Now I'm wondering how many of my past “asthma flares” were actually undiagnosed pneumococcal infections or related immune issues.

Has anyone else experienced:

years of recurrent infections blamed on asthma

negative cultures or unclear diagnostic testing

CT findings like ground-glass opacities

finally improving after Pneumovax 23 or another pneumococcal vaccine?

I’m trying to understand how this went undetected for so long. Would love to hear from anyone with a similar history or insights. Thank you.