COUTRY 65

[Country65]

I HAVE A COUGH ALL THE TIME ,DOCTOR SAYS ITS ASTHMA, WHAT I COUGH UP IS CLEAR IF I BEND DOWN START COUGHING SLIGHTEST THING STARTS ME OFF I HAVE HAD LOADS OF INHALERS AND THEY MAKE NO DIFFERENCE ,I HAVE NEVER SMOKED BUT WORKED ALL MY LIFE IN A BAKERY SEEMS THE FLOUR IS TO BLAME .WHY ARE THEY SO SURE ITS ASTHMA I DONT BRING UP NASTY STUFF

[O2Trees]

Not sure what you mean by "nasty stuff" but people with asthma bring up clear and often frothy sputum, not infected/green/discoloured (unless of course there also is an infection).

Just a thought re bending over and coughing - you could ask your doctor for investigation into acid reflux. Acid reflux is caused by the lower oesophageal sphincter not functioning properly, allowing stomach acid to back up into the oesophagus, and sometimes further. One of the main things we do to help minimise reflux is to stay upright as far as possible so gravity prevents acid getting out of the stomach.

Reflux produces asthma-like symptoms when the refluxate gets aereolized into the lungs causing irritation. About 20% of asthma patients do not have "true" asthma but asthma symptoms secondary to their reflux. One of the ways to tell the difference is with asthma, its hard to breathe OUT, whereas with reflux asthma its hardest to breathe IN.

Also inhalers aren't very helpful if the asthma is caused by reflux, so lots in your post to make this enquiry to your GP relevant.

[Hidden]

I know that ashma is usually relieved by inhalers. Maybe you should ask your doctor for further tests to see if something else is wrong. x

[Offcut]

I had a silly cough that bought up frothy sputum but I then started to bring up a slime as well after major coughing fits mainly in the morning after waking. I was given peptic liquid which made an amazing difference. This was a combination of my lungs and Reflux which I have had for many years.

If you are not feeling improved after your second puff of the inhaler then you should be looking at something else.

Flour is a know lung irritant but most fine dust if exposed for many years will affect you. We cut sheet materials up for a good chunk of my life including Asbestos I later found out. if you are still working in that trade a simple mask might help.

I would try and get a little more checked over with your GP. I have RLD and most of the medicines I used to take is of no use to me now.

Be Well

[katieoxo60]

Hi country65, some people do have only a constant cough with asthma, however I agree with you it should be investigated as there are many causes of constant cough. But be warned most lung and chest problems are treated with inhalers meaning further investigation might be pointless if inhalers don't work for you. Have you tried simple remedies like honey, ginger.? steam inhalers. It could be caused by sinuses or GERD too. It does sound like a problem caused by ongoing inhaling of flour possibly over many years. You obviously want some more definate answers so you need to return to your doctor and persist with your questions, good luck.

[caz180]

Ask your GP to arrange for you to have a lung function test, that will show if it's asthma. GP's are as described General Practitioners and not specialists, mine has learnt a great deal throughout my illness!!

[ennabell]

I have had Asthma all my life and I started to get all the symptoms you describe a few years ago. I eventually got referred to a specialist who arranged a scan and found I had Bronchiectasis. I would suggest you ask GP to send you to a specialist. Hope that helps.

[Country65]

what is Bronchiectasis,wondering what symtons do you get

[lindacolman14 in reply to Country65]

An abnormal widening of the large airways (bronchi) in the lungs that causes a persistent cough accompanied by large amounts of phlegm. It may be a complication of measles, whooping cough, pneumonia or may be part of cystic fibrosis. Although bronchiectasis often begins in childhood, the symptoms may not be apparent until the age of 40. Symptoms gradually worsen over a period of several months or years and include a persistent cough: very large quantities of dark green or yellow phlegm, worse when lying down: coughing up blood: bad breath: wheezing and shortness of breath: enlarged fingertips with abnormal fingernails, known as clubbing: extensive damage to large areas of the lung finally leading to respiratory failure.

Hope you have none of the above.

[ennabell in reply to Country65]

Lindacolman14 has described it well. With me it started very slowly. I first noticed I was coughing a lot even during the summer months and even on holiday in Portugal. I then began producing a lot of thick phelgm that was difficult to get rid of. I was also more breathless on exertion This trapped phelgm resulted in constant infections. I knew these symptoms were very different so I discussed it with my Asthma Nurse who got the GP to refer me to the chest consultant. I have had great support from him and his respiratory physio in learning to manage this condition.

[knitter]

Hi Country65, I hope that your gp knows that you used to work with flour, this would help with a diagnosis