Question: I have had a cough, semi dry, some clear to white mucus, and persistent for 5 months. This just kicked in one Sunday morning and wouldn't stop. After about 6 weeks, I went to the doctor, he heard wheezing got a steroid burst, albuterol, and antibiotics, worked for the, length of the prescription, but cough came back (thought it was acute bronchitis, It was a pretty relentless cough, with a little mucus production). Went back to the doctor at 8 weeks, had a chest X-ray, came back negative, lungs, heart, and diagram looked normal. Started to consider allergies or asthma, started to take Claritin also and albuterol when needed.

Went back at 16 weeks, it was better, fewer exercerbations, still wheezing, but not bad, Albuterol helped. I finally moved 2 weeks ago out of the fabrication area at work, and my day time symptoms became better, coughing outbursts during the day stopped, think I was breathing in a lot of welding fumes for 8hrs/day for a year

two weeks ago I saw the doctor, she listen to my lungs she said they sound "really bad", ordered a lung function test, really displaying symptoms of asthma, coughing, wheezing, congestion, hard to breath, get a full breath.

Took the lung function test, everything came out good, except for my TLC. The Pulminologist who looked at the results said no chronic obstructions, but I show signs of hyperinflation and gas trapping (narrative below)...

Narrative

Dercio Araujo Mendonca, MD 1/21/2016 3:36 PM
Spirometry with and without bronchodilator was performed due to
the patient history of chronic cough. In addition, lung volumes
and DlCO were obtained. The study is technically adequate and the
patient's effort is satisfactory. ATS standards criteria were
met.

Spirometry:
Spirometry shows no airflow obstruction. There is no significant
improvement in FEV1 or FVC after bronchodilator.
Flow volume loop: Appears normal

Lung volumes:
Total lung capacity is mildly increased showing hyperinflation
and Residual volume is mildly increased.

DLCO
DLCO is normal.

Conclusion:
There is no obstructive disorder.
There is gas trapping with hyperinflation on lung volume testing.
Clinical correlation is recommended.

No prior studies available for comparison.



The doctor gave me another burst prescription of prednisone. That helped clear things up... They also started me on Symbicort 80/4.5. That has help tremendiously...

About me: male, 42, 6'2, 259lbs. Have been taking only 25mg of atenolol (Beta Blocker) daily for hypertension. Now I take, atenolol, and 4 puffs of symbicort (2 @ 7am, 2 @ 7pm). Smoking: I haven't smoked cigarettes in 20 years. I have been smoking pot from a bong and vaporizer at low tempartures ( no longer partake in either). I have a dog, he now sleeps downstairs, but I seem to have issues when he is in the room with me, but it has been so long since I have been normal, I don't know if he has a contributor. My next appointment is with an allergist tomorrow, to see if I have any triggers.

My questions are:

What is hyperinflation, and what might be causing this?
How does Hyperinflation and gas trapping work, are they related?
Could it still be asthma, or allergy induced asthma? What might be causing this?
What is my outlook, is this something that will stay with me for the rest of my life, will it get worse? What can I do to help my situation?

PS: I can send the PFT results if needed or desired...

Thanks in advance... -XXXX


Thanks in advance, XXXX