Asthmatic Bronchitis

It started as a cold, but it has gotten much worse. Early December 2006 I caught a cold or what i thought was a cold. Later it turned into shortness of breath, chest pains, dizzyness, and general feeling horrible.

I went to my regular doctor and he told me I had Asthmatic Bronchitis. At the time I was having a lot of chest pain, so I asked him to check my heart as well. My ECG came back as abnormal. The ECG reading said I was having right ventricular hypertrophy. I went and got an echocardiogram to confirm that it was NOT pulmonary hypertension. So, we went back with Asthmatic bronchitis. It has been 2 months, and the coughing, dizzyness, and general feeling of being sick has not gone away. I have gotten a chest X-ray and it came back "clean".

I went to a pulmologist and he too said it was Asthmatic Bronchitis. He told me that I just needed to be patient, but this was indeed a long time for the wheezing and other symptoms to not go away.

I have been taking antibiotics, prednisone, advair, and pro-air. The pro-air and advair were irritating my throat, so I stopped taking those (and they didn't seem to do much for me). My Pulmologist prescribed Asmanax and foradil instead and they have been less irritating.

My body temp has been on the low side, from 96-98 degrees. My circulation doesn't seem to be great. My hands and feet seem to fall asleep for no apparent reason.

I used to smoke 5-6 cigarettes a day for a couple of years till about 6 years ago. I have had allergies my whole life, but always upper respritory. I have never had asthma till now.

Could I have something else? How long does Asthmatic Bronchitis usually last? Are there things that I can do to make this go away faster? Can I exercise when I am feeling ok?

I have been drinking water, taking vitamins, and my meds. Trying to get rest, but I have to say that the pressure of this is starting to keep me up at night.

thanks for the advice in advance.

[Diane Sistern]

Have you had repeated infections, bronchitus could be as a result of frequent infection, this could be due to low immunity (immunodeficiency) I had frequent infections that led to bronchitus and asthma and was found to have CVID(common variable immunodeficiency) it might be worth getting a referral to an immunologist to get your immunoglobulin levels checked.

[acuann]

Please consider acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. I have treated myself, and many others very successfully with acupuncture and Chinese herbs. It is just brilliant for upper respiratory disorders including asthma, bronchitis, COPD, etc.

I agree with your doc that it will take time to heal, and you are most probably immunocompromised with your antibiotic and steroid use. Please consider an alternative approach to healing your body.

To find a practitioner near you log on to www.acufinder.com and type in your zip code. Acupuncture has been used in China for nearly 3,000 years and it works!
DOM

Did you find an answer? I am going through the same thing right now. Asthmatic bronchitis with no relief. Antibiotics, steriods, nebulizer treatments, etc. I now have thrush from the advair and anitbiotics. When will relief come?

Consider Buteyko

The only symptoms I have is that I can't breathe. I feelike an elephant is sitting on my chest. No coughing None of the symtoms I have with brochitius, yet they tell me I have asthmatic brochitis. I feel like something eles more serious is wrong. Breathing treatments are not helping either...
Any suggiestions??

[h8lyme]

I was the original poster. I am sorry that I have not come back to these boards in such a long time. What I found was that I was positive for Lyme disease and had a co-infection of Babesia. The Babesia is what made me have the "air hunger". The Lyme disease was giving me the headaches and flu like conditions, as well as the tingling in my hands and feet.

I have been on antibiotics for close to 7 months, and am starting to feel normal, but still have a ways to go.

If you suspect Lyme disease, please see what is known as a LLMD, (lyme literate medical doctor). This is a very difficult disease to get rid of, and contrary to common beliefs it takes more than 1 month of antibiotics to get rid of.

Babesia requires months of Mepron and Azithromax.

I wish you all the best of luck in finding what is wrong with you. I truly hope that I helped someone.

I saw close to 20 doctors before getting diagnosed, I hope you don't have to go through a similar thing.

Lyme disease is the fastest spreading vector disease in the United States. Make sure you see a LLMD or you will not be diagnosed.

I am h8lyme on the following board.

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?

to ih8lyme, i hope you get better real soon! y heart goes out to you and I will pray for you.

[BartKBarnes]

How can the doctor tell the difference between asthmatic bronchitis and pnuemonia by listening with a stethascope?

You said you have been taking Antibiotics....what did the doc give you? Usually Zpack will get rid of it...along with steroids....preferrably a shot at time of visit..steroid shot...and inhalers. Amoxicillan will not touch it....I am going thru that now. Steam will help along with Vicks...get a vaporizer and put water and vicks in it and have it running in your bedroom at night. Also...Robitussin Expectorant (not cough suppressant..you want to cough it up). You said you were taking vitamins.....that is a nono....vitamins keep the antibiotics from working...also ...dont take antacids either...or alka seltzer..anything with magnesium.