sarah-artist
"Thurs Nov. 3- Started to get sore throat
Fri Nov. 4- Sore throat and swollen neck
Virtual visit diagnosis as Strep throat, start Amoxicillian
Sunday Nov. 6- Bad Cough starts
Monday Nov 7- Go see PA at Fast Med Family practice. Test negative for strep, flu and COVID. Told it is a Upper resp. infection and given Pregnesone and a cough syrup
Sat. Nov. 12- Right side of jaw swells up like a egg. ( I suspect a swollen salavation gland/possibly infection) I go to a local express care who refers me to a ER half a hour away.
PA at ER is concerned about the 'abcess' and orders a head CT scan, that is abrubtly cancelled when he sees I am positive for Influenza A and sends me home with scripts for acetaminophen and ibprofen and benzonatate (cough/vomiting?) HACK. That swelling is twice as big today. I have never in my life had Flu make my head swell up like this.
I have never had any high fever, nothing over 100 this entire time. I have vomited on several occasions as the mucus has blocked my airways and made me cough and choke and then vomit.
"
Oh Sarah!, - what a journey this has been. Today being November 13, it is only 10 days after your 'sore throat' began!
I do have a concern, as I am sure you do, that this swelling due to the 'abscess' has remained undiagnosed and also untreated! (I remember you thought it might be a swollen gland).
What are you planning to do next?
Please do keep us posted as to your progress. We have a genuine concern for your health!
Warmly,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)This is bonkers. I'm so sorry they sent you home after all that. It's hard enough to sit and wait and get your tests done even when you're well. You must have been so miserable! Sending big hugs to you -- how are you doing this week? -Melissa, asthma.net team p.s. I love your profile picture! Did you do it?
"I am currently only being seen by PA's at a clinic. I tried to switch from Wixela, which only partially works with two doses a day vs. Advair that worked better with one dose, but the insurance seems to only pay for generics, and the PA couldn't put in for another brands generic to see if it would work better... So I am still on Wixela. Caught a respiratory infection this weekend, the type that has me full of mucus and choking while I sleep. No one tells you that when you have this, you will repeatedly wet yourself. No combination of nebulizer, cough syrup, pregnesone, Wixela and otc allergy meds are helping control the choking coughs, some so strong you vomit.
"
Hi again, sarah, and thanks for your candor in sharing your experiences with the community. We especially appreciate your comment since we haven't seen you here since August 2021. It's always a good feeling to welcome members back to the community when we see them interacting here again.
You are certainly in the right place! All of us in this community understand exactly how you feel and know just what you are going through.
As it turns out, unexpected urination can be an unwanted side effect of some medications or the 'stress' one is dealing with during an asthma flare-up. Many of us have had this very same experience.
Coughing (and uncontrollable coughing), can also be a challenging side effect of managing asthma, especially when it is not controlled sufficiently.
How do you manage all this? I understand you are working with a physician assistant (PA) - are you able to discuss these concerns with the PA to any satisfaction?
If there is anything we can do to assist you, please let me or any other moderator / team member know. You are always welcome here in our online community.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)hello again. My GYN put me on a drug that is supposed to help with the urinary spasm issue, but is does nothing when you are in the midst of a coughing attack. Not a thing you want to tell your boss as a reason you don't want to return to work early about. I stay with the mild fever and choking part. I am thinking that next year I will pursue a pulmonologist or asthma specialist to talk to and see what can be done, if there is a way to get me on the right med combination. Kinda funny that people think I am a hypochondriac sometimes, doesn't every asthmatic carry thermometer with them? After having a huge fever with a FLU while out of town (2019), and not having anything with me, I try to monitor my temp whenever I start of feel ill. That flu out of the blue is what led to the Asthma diagnosis. Hi sarah - I appreciate your comment. Is there a reason you want to wait until next year to pursue a specialist of some kind? Perhaps you would want to consider starting your search a little earlier. In the end though, this is entirely up to you - I am sure you have valid reasons for doing what you're doing when you're doing it!
I think that is a great idea - keeping track of your temperature, when you are starting to feel sick. Everyone monitors themselves differently so this sounds like this is what works for you based on your own experience. For me, that is the way to proceed. Each of us is different!
Have a good evening!
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
"caught a cold germ from co-worker coughing, wet lungs and no mask a week ago. It was a sinus and throat infection in me, still have lingering cough, not helped with cough drops and using inhaler several times a day as heat, frustration brings on fits. The green mucus makes me think it may be heading into my lower airways. Mucenex? hate it, it comes through my pores with smell.
"
Hi sarah - nice to see you here again! I'm sorry to hear this seems to have caught up to you from your work environment. For many folks with asthma ( me included), all it takes is a simple cold of some type and then, aspects of one's asthma can be triggered. It sounds like, from what you've shared, this may what's happened in your situation.
We usually suggest if symptoms persist or even worsen, it may be time to reach out for one's physician. My concern is the change in color of the mucus. There are times that a change in color can be indicative of an infection. If that's the case, the most prudent action would be to reach out to your physician. The doctor can make an assessment and determine if something more than Mucinex might be indicated for you.
What do you think?
Again - nice to see you again.
Warmly,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
" A bit concerned, I see that either CVS pharmacy or BCBS has switched my Advair 250/50 inhaler to a generic called Wixela... it looks like the cost to me is free, but I don't like the idea of switching someting that works just because it is cheaper for the insurance company. Don't I get a choice? "
Hi Sarah-artist, and thanks for this excellent question.
As it turns out, this can be a fairly common experience when it comes to medications and insurance reimbursement.
In all likelihood, the change was initiated by the insurance company. Many third-party payers, will cover brand name medications until or unless a generic version is available. That is exactly what happened with Advair - once Wixela became available (at a lower cost), many patients found themselves changed to the generic form.
Although it's not true for everyone, the efficacy of the generic medications is generally the same as that of the trade brand.
Are you finding this to be the case for you?
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)