Glad to get health in gear

[MareZbelle]

Finally receiving better professional care with a pulmonary specialist. Learned that my allergies and infected sinuses could be the culprit to all the recent exasperation and hospital stays. Glad to get the tests in progress!

[LORBIC]

Hi mareZbelle; Glad to hear that you are getting good care finally and the doctor is getting to the bottom of your problem, it always helps in a lot of ways when we get good care. I have allergies also so I understand the infected sinuses, that is what will put me into a flare almost every time. Did the doctor give you anything for allergies??

[MareZbelle in reply to LORBIC]

Currently I am scheduled to have a CT Scan of my sinuses (this Friday). If this proves the doctor's suspicions I will be referred to an allergist for further testing. I am taking Singulair , first prescribed in mid-October during a hospital stay. Since taking it I have had some noticeable relief but not complete. I can't recall when I didn't have allergies and asthma... And I wonder why it has taken since 2014 to earlier this month that I was told these health problems can directly effect COPD.

[LORBIC in reply to MareZbelle]

Are you seeing a pulmonary doctor? My doctor doesn't like Singular and won't give it to me. He is big on doing nasal washes. I use Zytrex which is over the counter and does work some. Over the years I have tried Nasacort spray, Nasonex spray and I even did a try at allergy shots which I don't recommend. Your doctor wasn't doing you justice if he/she didn't combine your allergies into your breathing problem. It's all one package.

I hope the CT Scan answers questions for you and they can find the right meds to make you breath easier,

[MareZbelle]

Yes, I am seeing a pulmonary doctor, and she has approved of my response to Singular. I have tried all the OTC allergy medications - none have worked as well as Singular. Saline nasal rinses are soothing and help some, especially for the O2 dryness.

It has been my regular doctors - over many decades who have not addressed allergy problems in regard to asthma and now COPD. It was a hospital staff doctor, who tended to my father during his last journey, who validated my complaints and began treatment. She also did the paper work for me to see a pulmonary doctor as well as get me in line to switch to an internist doctor. I will probably need to see an allergist. I will take allergy shots if need be.

I am on steroids until I go back to the pulmonary doctor in December. This is helping me breathe and stay out of the hospital. However it is messing with my blood glucose level - UGH!I am managing the Type 2 diabetes with insulin - I look forward to not needing to do so!

Each day has been better, I am starting to see the light at the end of this very long tunnel... And so it rolls.