Finally seem to be improving.

[ldrunner]

I am 55 and have been struggling with a yearlong plus flare up that hasn't resolved despite the usual treatment with inhaled steroids (Qvar). A couple of additional things have really helped and perhaps worth considering.

FIrst, I went on spiriva. Its a copd med also used for asthma as a long-acting bronchodiolator which helped a lot.

Also, at my doctor's advice I got a nebulizer. Using 7% saline and albuterol seems like its done a lot to open me up and help reduce some lingering congestion.

I'm back on montelukast. I went off of it bc I wasn't sure it was working after a couple of weeks on it. A new Dr recommended I try it again and it definitely is helping.

Finally, 100mg/daily of coenzyme q10 liquid also seems to help.

Sometimes you really have to throw the kitchen sink at this to make progress! ICS alone never has been enough alone to do the job...

[Minushabens Asthma Captain]

Just a thought but have you also had any tests to rule out other possibilities/complications?

[ldrunner in reply to Minushabens]

I have asthma and mild bronchiectasis. Fully tested out the wazoo for allergies and other causes. Have been CT scanned and xrayed.

[Minushabens Asthma Captain in reply to ldrunner]

That’s good that all that has been picked up. I’m glad you’re feeling better as well 😀

[Hidden]

Have them check you for Eosinophilic Asthma. I suffered for 20 years, got addicted and ravaged by Prednisone and finally my 11th set of doctors said: "You have eAsthma" and set me up with Nucala. I'm a new person after just the first month. Wasted 20 years, but . . . You have to treat these guys like Auto Mechanics and your the Car!!! No more just going with what the Doc wants to "try". Tell them to stop throwing meds at symptoms and to find and fix the problem.

[ldrunner in reply to Hidden]

Done a decade ago and again this year but thanks.

[Hidden in reply to ldrunner]

Too bad. If only I had. My life would be a whole different ball game!!

[Hanks]

I’ve also had been suffering with asthma and have been hospitalized a few times. I’ve been on Nucela for 4 months now and have not suffered an asthma attack . You might want to get checked for e-asthma

[ldrunner]

To repeat: I have mild bronchiectasis which aggravates the asthma and causes a lot of congestion. But the nebulizer seems to break up the congestion and works well in conjunction with the qvar/spiriva combo. The good news is I'm doing better. My point is that assuming you have gone through all the testing for allergies and eosinophilic asthma, there's still a lot of experimentation to be done since we are all an n of 1.