Anyone else feel like their colds always turn into bronchitis?

[ptrbryant]

It seems that ever since moving south (to Kentucky) about 8 years ago, I've developed horrible allergies (currently take shots) and feel like my whole respiratory system is somewhat fragile. It seems that whenever I catch a bad cold or--even worse--a sinus infection, within days it turns into bronchitis.

I have to admit, since starting allergy shots, it's gotten better (one year, I was on antibiotics every 8 weeks! --and I can only take one family of antibiotics!) and it's been a year since I last had problems. But, now I have bronchitis again--following a cold that turned into a sinus infection--and our WDW is in less than 2 weeks.

Anyone relate to this?

Karla B.

 

[PixiePop]

Hello~

I can totally relate. Ever since we moved to Virginia I developed allergies and now it seems everytime I get a cold I get bronchitis. In fact, I have it right now! UGH!

 

[MickeysMommy]

I had my first bout with bronchitis when I was in 2nd grade (I'm 30 now) and every single time I get a cold it turns into bronchitis (maybe just a touch of it but nonetheless...)

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

sorry to hear you all aren't feeling well- yuck - hope your better soon.

After I had bronchitis for the first time, I heard that once you have it, you are likely to keep getting it...the scar tissue maybe...not sure, hopefully someone else can come along and shed more light on it!!!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I'm the same way. I cough like an 80 year old man who has been smoking for 60 years long after I get a cold.

My colds themselves don't last too long, but the cough that comes after my colds are so nasty.

I had a cough for over a month now (I know....I should head to the doctor) and I started taking Claritin again. My cough is getting much better. I don't know if that's because it's "just getting better anyway" or if getting a grip on my allergies is helping it disappear.

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[arminnie]

I strongly suggest that you visit a pulmonary specialist. You could easily have undiagnosed asthma.

I had that same problems with horrible bronchitis for several years and years (got worse after a move to Houston). Once I was even hospitalized for two weeks. Every time I had a cold I would cough for weeks if not months afterwards.

No one ever thought to check for asthma. I finally got a decent doctor in CA who referred me to a pulmonary specialist. It's been 11 years and I have not had bronchitis ONCE since I got proper treatment.
It is not uncommon to develop asthma as an adult.

 

[ptrbryant]

Actually, I did a pulmonary function test a couple of years ago and was fine. My doctor said the test isn't always accurate, though. When I had bronchitis last year, it was officially called "asthmatic bronchitis"...I do have Albuterol (inhaler) that I use when I have bronchitis, but haven't gone beyond that. Of course, with my allergies, I take Benedryl at night and Claritin in the morning (along with my shots).
I was so surprised at how severe my allergies became here! I feel like Eva Gabor in Green Acres "I get allergic smelling hay..."

Thanks for your responses and well wishes...I'm confident that I'll be fine in time for the trip, but maybe this will force us to better pace ourselves---not a bad thing!

Karla B.

 

[tnkbl]

I too would have a cold turn into broncittis. I went to the allergist thinking I had bad allergies and it was asthma. The breating test test that they do to test your lung function was fine, but I did have minor symptoms of asthma, staretd the medicine along wiht seasonal allergy medicine for non-allergic rhinitus and I am doing great! I really don't even get a cold very often. Life is grand with my daily asthma medicine!!!!

 

[CheshireVal]

Mine always turn into sinus infections.

 

[anewvance]

Yup, I feel for ya because i'm the same way. I end up with Bronchitis 4 or 5 times a year and it is almost every time I have a cold. It moves so quick into my chest it's crazy.

 

[arminnie]

I really don't even get a cold very often. Life is grand with my daily asthma medicine!!!!

Isn't it a great change! I'm on Advair - one puff twice a day - moved down to the lower dose one a couple of years ago. It's so easy to use.

 

[kaygela]

I have asthma and take singular every day as a maintenance med and it has changed my daily living. I rarely have to use inhalers now. But, I, too get bronchitus every time I get a cold. It takes over very quickly and goes right to my chest. If I'm not careful, I end up with pneumonia. I was at Disney a couple of weeks ago and had a sore throat just prior to going. My internist gave me a prescription for antibiotic to fill if I needed it. It turned out I didn't which was remarkable.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

It seems that ever since moving south (to Kentucky) about 8 years ago, I've developed horrible allergies (currently take shots) and feel like my whole respiratory system is somewhat fragile. It seems that whenever I catch a bad cold or--even worse--a sinus infection, within days it turns into bronchitis.

I have to admit, since starting allergy shots, it's gotten better (one year, I was on antibiotics every 8 weeks! --and I can only take one family of antibiotics!) and it's been a year since I last had problems. But, now I have bronchitis again--following a cold that turned into a sinus infection--and our WDW is in less than 2 weeks.

Anyone relate to this?

Karla B.

Yep, the same thing happens to me every winter. Cold/sinus infection leads to horrible bronchitis. I even have to use an Albuterol inhaler just to function. AND, I also live in Kentucky.

 

[Aidensmom]

I strongly suggest that you visit a pulmonary specialist. You could easily have undiagnosed asthma.

I had that same problems with horrible bronchitis for several years and years (got worse after a move to Houston). Once I was even hospitalized for two weeks. Every time I had a cold I would cough for weeks if not months afterwards.

No one ever thought to check for asthma. I finally got a decent doctor in CA who referred me to a pulmonary specialist. It's been 11 years and I have not had bronchitis ONCE since I got proper treatment.
It is not uncommon to develop asthma as an adult.

Exactly what I was going to say.

Even after I was diagnosed with asthma, and treated with albuterol, I still got bronchitis a couple of times a year. I finally in the last couple of months been put on a medication regimen that has really worked. I am actually happy to say, I had my first cold that just stayed a cold, in my entire 38 years of life, just last month!

 

[golfgal]

I was going to say asthma too. I would go to an asthma specialist and get tested again. My DD always had bronchitis and since she started her asthma meds, hasn't had it again. Allergies and asthma are a very common combination.

 

[ptrbryant]

Hmm, going further on the asthma route sounds like it could be very beneficial. I have to say, since this is my first bout with any respiratory problems for 12 months (it was last year, the same week!!!), I feel that the allergy shots I'd started made a huge difference. DS10 has asthma and his triggers are allergies and viral infections...it's making me wonder if viral infections aren't my triggers and that's why I don't have problems at other times?

Thanks for the support and suggestions!

Karla B.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I finally saw the doctor about my Nasty Cough That Won't Go Away.

I had a chest x-ray but did not get the results yet. I was tested for asthma and that came back OK. She said that it could be allergies and she gave me a new nasal spray to use in addition to the Claritin I'm already taking.

She said it could also be acid reflux. I do have some heartburn issues, but I pop a few Tums when that happens and that has been the extent of my treatment. Now I have to take an acid reflux med for 2 months plus modify my diet to acid friendly food and see if that makes a difference in my cough. If you have a bad cough and heartburn, those two things might be related. I didn't know that until the doctor told me about it.

I hope my cough goes away OK within 2 months. I've already been coughing for too long and I'm worried about it.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have a friend who is like that.

A simple cold always turns into some big brouhaha with her...bronchitis, pneumonia or something.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Add this Canuck to the list of those "with the cough that won't go away." My body seems to live on a completely different calendar than my life operates as it seems to happen every 10 months -- a cold sets in and the cough stays. Last June I was prescribed Clarithromycin and a bronchial dilator turboinhaler. The antibiotics worked wonders at kicking down the bronchitis/pneumonia/respiratory tract infection. The inhaler helps with the chronic shortness of breath.

Fast forward to late April. Cold settles in, cough follows -- I finally get in to the urgent care clinic (just one of several thousand in the region without a doctor to call my own.) I show the doctor the prescription I had in June and she happily prescribed it for me again. That was Wednesday and the only cough remaining is due to a tickle in the throat and certainly is nothing like the body wracking cough like before.