Symbicort problems ?

[Pippit1]

I’ve had a horrible cough for over 3 years now. It’s weird because I cough constantly for 3or 4 weeks and then it calms down and I have 2, 3 or 4 weeks when I’m absolutely fine .

The consultant I spoke to last week ( phone consultation) has told me to stop using Symbicort as he thinks it’s irritating my throat. When the coughing is bad it’s like having pepper in my throat.

I’ve had loads of tests but nothing except “a problem “ with my vocal cords . ( My husband says that the problem is that I never stop using them !!!! ) 😂

Has anyone else had any problems with Symbicort ??

Thanks

[twinkly29]

🤣 to your husband!

Some people do find dry powder inhalers a problem (others find the MDIs, the ones you push, a problem so it's swings and roundabouts).... But if they think it might be vocal cord problems then the symbicort won't help anyway.

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a condition that presents very similarly to asthma so it's often missed. Helpfully (!) it can exist alongside asthma as well. It's usually treated with speech therapy I think. I saw a speech and language therapist when they were investigating VCD and, although they ruled it out, the exercises were good anyway in terms of relaxed breathing etc. A friend was diagnosed after she kept losing her voice (I think it presents differently, so she had that but coughing attacks would be common too) and after a couple of sessions she was largely fixed.

So it might be worth asking someone (the consultant, your GP, whoever you can contact) what happens in terms of that.

[Pippit1 in reply to twinkly29]

Hi there ! The silly thing is that the worse I’ve got the more Symbicort I’ve been taking ! The consultant is going to get the speech therapist to get in touch. They were supposed to get in touch ages ago but never did but I didn’t think about it until the consultant asked me about it. My cough comes and goes but I would give anything to be better. How does your asthma affect you ?

[twinkly29 in reply to Pippit1]

It does sound like the Symbicort maybe isn't helping - sounds like a self-perpetuating cycle as more symptoms meant taking more symbicort which is then aggravating your throat or vocal cords even more (if that's what the consultant is suggesting). Even if it's not making it worse, it doesn't seem to have made it better.

Glad they're sorting the speech therapy. He or she will know more about vocal cord issues so, if it turns out not to be that, they can tell the consultant it's not.

Erm.... it's probably best not to ask as my asthma is a complete nightmare (many meds, multiple hospital admissions etc). VCD was investigated as part of the consultants ruling out other things which is good that they do as all sorts of things can mimic asthma but require different ways of managing them.

[Pippit1 in reply to twinkly29]

Oh no ! That sounds awful. The problem now,of course is that the consultations are all done by phone. I know what you mean about the tests . Because I have cycles of coughing non stop and then being well it always seems to be that the tests are done in the “good times” and therefore don’t show anything. I looked back at the hospital letters and VCD was mentioned 12 months ago but never looked into any further.Thanks for your advice and I hope they can get you sorted out soon

[twinkly29 in reply to Pippit1]

I was going to say that phone appointments can be just as good, sometimes better than face to face....but with the likes of vcd maybe not! If you don't hear anything maybe see if GP can refer you to ENT and SALT speech and language) to investigate it.

Asthma tests can often be normal because it's variable, but equally so is VCD, hence the episodes of symptoms rather than all the time.

Must be so frustrating though when you just want the right answer so you can get it sorted out.