going off at a tangent...

[Youmeddlingkids]

I've been undergoing tests for about 6 months to try to find the cause of repeated chest infections that require my taking antibiotics a couple of times a year and generally impact my life for several months each year. The tests have been quite comprehensive and everything has come up normal. The last consultant concluded that asthma wasn't 'driving my symptoms' and now I've been referred to a voice and speech therapist for a course of voice-physio which I reckon could last for 6 months or more. Problem is, although I think the issue may well be with the upper airways, I'm really having difficulty buying-in to the speech coaching and am not feeling much like committing to the programme...

Any thoughts??

[Taztarr]

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

[WheezyAnne]

Have they checked your antibodies in your blood? On checking they found I don't make many and can't fight infection. Also just been to Ear Nose and throat to check my Larynx again as my voice is very weak. Been told my low lung function, dry mucus, and I am using the wrong muscles are all contributing. If you look up muscles above vocal cord you will read that they are all connected with speech, volume, pitch, and breathing. I too am waiting for appointments with the Speech Therapist. It will be interesting to find out. Any improvement is welcome. I would go along with it. Had Severe Bronchial and Allergic Asthma all my life, now lungs permanently damaged.

[Js706 in reply to WheezyAnne]

These are all great points and worth asking about!

Can I just ask WheezyAnne, are you on any treatment for your immune problem? They’ve found that some of my antibodies are persistently low and so I’m off to immunology later today!

[Youmeddlingkids in reply to WheezyAnne]

Thanks for your reply WheezyAnne. No I haven't done antibody check but it did come up in conversation with the doctor who preferred to try vocal work first. I'd be interested to compare notes with you once you start yours...'mmmm ....mmmm....mum mum mum' (that's what we worked on at my first session yesterday...)

[WheezyAnne in reply to Youmeddlingkids]

I have to wait for my referral, so it maybe sometime. Sounds like I need to practice my Yoga Chanting mmmmmm, ee ee ee, ran out of breath........

[WheezyAnne]

Yes, I have been diagnosed with Hypogammaglobulinemia low IgG and IgM,. Low IgG subclasses, poor responses to Pneumovax and Hib vaccines. I started off with immunoglobulin infusions on hospital ward every 3 weeks. Now I inject myself every week, into my stomach fat, with immunoglobulin Hizentra, after training from the immunology clinic.

[Js706 in reply to WheezyAnne]

Do you find that it has helped? And do you remember roughly how long all the tests needed to start treatment took? Thank you so much for your answers

[WheezyAnne in reply to Js706]

I was diagnosed in February last year by the Immunology Clinic, and the Intravenous Immunoglobulin was started about 2 months later. There was a waiting list for training to do subcutaneous injections myself at home - not enough nurses. I think it maybe starting to work, but it is difficult to tell. They say it takes about a year to work out whether it is working or not.

[Js706 in reply to WheezyAnne]

Ah ok thank you they think mine is primary but need to rule out the steroids as a cause - but that means trying to get me off them! So that’s a fun job for immunology and respiratory to try and work out between them!