Allergies, Asthma or whatever

[OakLeaf]

See an allergist.

Allergy shots (immunotherapy) is homoeoepathic therapy (well, technically homoeotoxic), completely "natural" and works better than any drugs out there, because it trains your immune system not to go crazy when it sees the allergens.

There are other non-drowsy drugs out there - people have already mentioned Singulair and Allegra. Singulair is particularly effective if you do have asthma, but it really doesn't sound like it to me, either. Did your doctor give you a breathing test?

I do take the drugs when I need to, and sometimes irrigate, but nothing's improved the quality of my life more than allergy shots.

[makbike]

If you had asthma you would feel like you were trying to breath through a soda straw that was in your mouth. The end sticking out of your mouth would feel like it was totally pinched closed. Basically, you would be trying to suck air through an opening that no longer exist.

I agree with Oakleaf, see an allergist if your allergies are a reoccurring issue. I went through the tests about 15 years ago and have taken shots since. The shots have made a world of difference for me during my worse seasons (spring and fall). The number of sinus infections I suffer from has also dramatically decreased.

I do take daily medicines - allegra, singulaire and I use two inhalers to control my asthma. It may take trying several medications/combinations before you find what works best for you. What works for one person may not work for you.

[OakLeaf]

If you had asthma you would feel like you were trying to breath through a soda straw that was in your mouth. The end sticking out of your mouth would feel like it was totally pinched closed. Basically, you would be trying to suck air through an opening that no longer exist.

Mild asthma doesn't always feel that way. A person could definitely be unaware of it, and just have the cough because crud was building up in their lungs because of incomplete exhalations; or not even that symptom. Sometimes asthma is very obvious, but the only way to really know you don't have it is to have a breathing test that compares the amount of air you can exhale in one second, against your total lung capacity. Even though asthma feels like you can't get air in, in reality it's that you can't get air out.

[Peanut03]

I agree with the others, that is probably not asthma. I have had bad allergies for the past two years, and last year I finally went to an sinus doctor (otolaryngologist). He prescribed Flonase and sSngulair. The Flonase dried my nose out too much, but it did work. This year I went for my follow up appointment and told him about it. I also said that I had just started using a Neti Pot. He was supportive and told me to discontinue the Flonase but continue the Neti Pot and singulair and see how it works. I recently added Zyrtec to the mix and I have been great. So, I take the Singulair and Zyrtec at night, then do the Neti pot in the morning.

[Eden]

I don't have asthma at all. I was prescribed Singulair this year, because of the amount of breakthrough allergy symptoms I was still getting.

There is of course no way to tell for sure without being tested (I was) if you have asthma or not, but the OP's symptoms sound identical to mine. I get a nasty hacking cough from a lot of post nasal drip.

[Flybye]

You can take 1/2 of a Claritin if it dries you out too much. Singular works on both allergies and asthma and is a great option. Any allergy medication with a "D" after it contains a decongestant, which I'd steer clear from.

[ACG]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I went to whole foods invested in a neti-pot. Bought a saline nasal spray. It works just as well as the over the counter stuff, and I don't have to wait 12 hours. I called my doc who will schedule me for an allergy test, etc. I feel better already. Thanks for the support.