Sinusitis Experience #009
Allergy to Inhaled Steroids Triggers Asthma Attacks and Sinus Infections

Wow…have I had some memorable experiences from sinusitis! I have had allergies and asthma since I was a kid. I have gone through years of shots and am always under the care of an allergist and ENT. I have been suffering chronically with sinusitis since 1989 and have had 3 surgeries. I have had so many antibiotics I can’t EVEN begin to count the infections. I was even diagnosed with osteomyelitis once and my ENT sent me to National Jewish to get evaluated for new allergies – which was not the salvation I was hoping for. They told me what I already new that I was allergic to cats, dogs, trees, grass, pollens and molds. That was an expensive trip. Luckily I had family in Denver so I had a little fun while I was there. My surgeries only made me feel better for a short period of time. As a matter of fact the only really awesome outcome of one of my sinus surgeries was a great nose job, now I have a nose like Sharon Stone – or so I am told.   

Two years ago however after a long bout of illness my culture came back positive for fusarium mold. I was then treated very aggressively with nebulized amphotericin B (more commonly known as “amphoterrible”). The nebulized ampho B triggered asthma. My allergist upped my prednisone dose to 80 mg/day and started me on advair, nebulized atrovent, albuterol. I was supposed to nebulize the amphotericin for 6 weeks but my ENT pulled me off of it after 4 weeks due to the fact that I had been hospitalized 4 times for asthma attacks. I saw an infectious disease specialist and they prescribed Vfend orally for the fungal sinusitis and that seemed to help and I could tolerate it pretty well. However after being pulled on ampho-b, my asthma was still awful. I actually felt I was going to die from it. My allergist kept adding more RX’s to my growing list and every time I would try to taper from the prednisone I would have to go back up to 80 mg, she added pulmicort to everything else as a last resort.

I don’t know what the future holds for me. I can’t hold a job because I take too many sick days and I have 2 little kids that need their mommy healthy. Maybe, just maybe, I am allergic to or have an intolerance to some foods. I am seeing a new allergist at the end of September who specializes in food and drug sensitivities so wish me luck because I have a life to lead, after all this is not a dress rehearsal.

~ L. Rhone

» Sponsor: PariPharma's eFlow

Have an experience you would like to share? Send your sinusitis, allergy, or asthma experience to asa@newsdial.com.

User experiences should not be considered medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician for proper medical diagnosis.

> Subscribe to the Allergy, Sinusitis, and Asthma Ezine
> Return to Sinusitis Reference Section
> Return to Health Main Reference Category
> Return to NEWSdial.com