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Sinusitis, Bronchitis...and now Pleuritis? Am I missing something in my diagnosis?

By July 3, 2008 - 3:01pm
 
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Since moving to another state, I have been suffering from seasonal allergies. This is nothing new to me, during the winter time, and now I am wondering if I have year-round seasonal allergies (sounds like an oxymoron!), or if there is something else I am missing/not telling my doctor?

I've been suffering from all the usual symptoms with allergies/cold. My sinusitis met all the signs/symptoms and cleared with antibiotics. I felt better for a month, but still sniffling, etc. I then develop a cold, which turned into bronchitis, which made me extremely tired and (with antibiotics again), was treated effectively. However, since the bronchitis, 4 weeks later, I have not been able to stop coughing. It is now extremely painful to cough, and I now have pleurisy/pleuritis (inflammation of lung cavity wall). So, more drugs, this time cough syrup with codeine for pain/inflammation and steroids for inflammation. I am feeling better, but am wondering: what next?

It was recommended to me to get a complete allergy test workup, as the doctor thinks this is the route cause of all these respiratory illnesses.

My questions are:
1. Am I overlooking anything?
2. Can seasonal allergies really cause all of this, never-ending, mayhem in my body?
3. Have you had allergy testing done? If so, how was it? Do the allergy injections work? What is the effectiveness rate for allergy injections?

thanks!

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Your doctor is probably spot on about getting allergy tests. However, they're not always conclusive. My husband went through a very similar experience as yours, culminating in pneumococcal pneumonia (was probably a result of the chronic bronchitis) and was a hair's breath away from being hospitalized. After a battery of tests ordered by his doctor, the allergist found absolutely no triggers, even though all the initial symptoms seemed to be allergen-induced.

All the same, based on my own experience, it is possible that "seasonal" allergies can cause neverending mayhem. I'm a marathoner, so constantly out in the elements, and we live where we have pollens to deal with all year. Part of my pre-run preparation is to take my loratidine tablet. Fun, eh?

Besides the usual suspects (airborne pollutants, pollen), there could be other allergens causing problems for you, like dust mites, dusty air vents, your carpet, and other sources.

Hopefully this information will be of help while you make that appointment with your allergist. As you can see, this is a popular topic!

Natural Medicne RX--Allergy Season

Spring and Pollen Are in the Air

New Study Suggests Dust Mites Trump Asthma Prevention Guidelines

Can where you live give or exacerbate asthma?

July 3, 2008 - 6:17pm
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