I live in India. I have had Asthma since my childhood. Initial few years were spent consuming Homeo and Ayurveda medicines as my parents were not aware about that this was pseudoscience. In between I would meet actual doctors and get prescribed Asthalin(Salbutamol/Albuterol) syrup for a week or two. Those were terrible years for me. Around when I was 12-13, I finally met a pulmonologist and got prescribed Foracort 200 dry powder inhaler (Budesonide+Formoterol). It worked for the next couple of years but sometime around when I was 14-15, I had to stop the medicine due to lack of money. But luckily for me, by then I did not have any symptoms. From then on till around 21 years, I would get only mild attacks during the weather change period. I would take the Foracort 200 during this period and everything was okay. Then around 22 years, the Asthma started coming back and I started using the inhaler regularly again. Sometime after this, I had a stressful period of life (I believe I was depressed but never went to a doctor) and gained a lot of weight (from around 80-85 kgs to 100-105 kgs, I am just a bit above 6 ft). I finally got a job at 23 and during the medical test, the doctor diagnosed me with high blood pressure. Due to my young age, the doctor sent me to get tests for Heart, kidney and some others I don't remember exactly. But all came back negative and I was put on BP medication - Cilacar 10mg (Cilnidipine). During this period, I managed to lose 20 kgs but gained it back a year later.
A couple of years later, at around 26-27 the Asthma began to get out of control and I visited a famous and top rated pulmonolgist in my city. He intially increased the dosage of my inhaler to Foracort 400(Budesonide+Formoterol). But since it wasn't working, he put me on Forglyn Plus (Budesonide+Formetrol+Glycopyrrolate) alongside Foracort. I was also taking Montelukast and some other tablets. Then he had a sleep study done with an at home device. But it was negative and then I went home with no change in medication and no change in condition. All this took around a year alongside a plethora of other tests.
As I wasn't satisfied, I decided to consult an even more highly regarded Pulmonologist who had a three month long waiting time to get an appointment. After meeting him, he told me the medicines were wrong and I was put on Budamate 400 (Budesonide+Formoterol). I believe this is the same medicine as Foracort, just a different band. The same medicine I have been taking for years. He took some time and helped me improve my inhaling technique. At this time, I happened to take a trip to cleaner city and stayed in a hotel room for 10 days and my symptoms were considerably better and I thought I was cured. But the symptoms were back once I was back. Then for the next few months we tried several nasal sprays until he arrived at Duonase (Fluticasone Propionate (50 mcg) and Azelastine Hydrochloride (140 mcg)). Along with the nasal spray the condition had improved slightly. I again went to a heart specialist, a kidney specialist etc for high BP. All test were negative. I also visited an ENT ro confirm the usage of nasal spray.
But the condition had still not improved. Throughout the last 5-6 years, I would get fever along with difficulty to breath, cough, cold etc at least once every 2 months. This might be because I work a public facing job. I would go to the GP nearest to me and get medicine. But it would be months before I can meet my pulmonologist due to the waiting time. My condition will a bit better hadn't improved.
At this point, I visited a couple of other doctors who all will tell me to keep using the (Budesonide+Formoterol) combo again. Nobody has prescribed me a rescue inhaler despite my worsening condition.
At present, my condition is this - In the morning, I wake up with a dry mouth due to mouth breathing. I wake up wheezing, sometimes I wake a couple of hours early due to this. A large amount of mucus is stuck in my throat. After coughing it all out, my breathing improves significantly. The mucus seems to be less on the days I don't use Duonase nasal spray (I accidentally discovered this after forgetting to take the medicine for a couple of days). I will take the tablet Cilacar for BP followed by Budamate 400 at around 8:30 am. I leave for work at around 9:15 am. I can't run or climb stairs without getting out of breath but it makes me function. By around 4:00 pm, the effects start to decline I start wheezing. Sometimes even earlier. On rare important days at work like once or twice a month, I take an additional dose of Budamate 400 in the afternoon. After somehow struggling through the day, I reach home after work around 8:00 pm and I take Cilacar with Budamate 400 again along with Duonase. The breathing slightly improves but sometimes by 12:00 pm, I am wheezing and unable to get any proper sleep. But most days, I am able to go to sleep and wake up in the morning at 7:00 am in the wheezing condition. But sometimes at 5:00 or 6:00 wheezing. For the last couple of months, I have been going to the gym after 8:00 pm but I have to struggle through the one hour due to wheezing and haven't made much progress. I have been getting sick more frequently and have miss several days every month.
At this point, I have no idea what to do anymore. All doctors keep prescribing me the same medicine for Asthma. What should I do? Is this the only medicine? Should I book a flight and travel to a different city to meet a doctor? At this point, I feel like I have met all the best Pulmonologist my city has to offer. Is a rescue inhaler not needed for me?
Should I once again go for a sleep study? The last couple of doctors I met didn't think I needed one. But my condition isn't improving. I have lost and gained weight several times over the years. Mostly by starving myself along with some walking. So, I decided to do it through proper exercise so as to develop a habit this time but haven't been able to progress due to the wheezing.
I haven't been able to run in over 10 years without wheezing. I feel like I haven't been able to use my full mind and body except for a brief period in high school due to this disability. Is this as good as it gets?
Thanks in advance.