Breathing/Asthma/Thyroid

[Guest guest]

Regarding the difficulty breathing and asthma. I developed asthma, but had been

seen by all sorts of specialists before seeing one last doctor to appease my

rheumatolgist. Everyone told me my lungs were fine, my heart was fine...no

reason at all to have difficulty breathing. Turns out that I developed a form

of asthma from acid reflux/GERD. Of course, all the meds I take contributed to

this problem The wonderful ENT man who diagnosed me said that his wife has this

same problem and that he has made it his new specialty now. Any of you in the

Seattle area, he is Dr. Kennedy at the NW Asthma and Allergy Center.

I had an awful time trying to sleep since I could not get a deep breath once I

laid down. Yawned constantly trying to pull a breath deep into my lungs. First

thing Dr. Kennedy had me do was raise my headboard 7-8 inches. Very first night,

I was able to lie down, go to sleep and sleep thought the night. Wonderful!

Then he has me using an Advair inhaler, a combivent inhaler if needed for any

" attacks " (which are very, very few), and use astelin nasal spray twice a day.

This has taken care of ALL my breathing problems, shortness of breath, etc.

As for the lady who wrote in about thyroid....please, please see an

endocrinologist. They specialize in thyroid diseases, and will be much more

informed about your treatment plan, and how it relates to your arthritis and any

other immune diseases. Do not just see a general practioner for this. Good luck.

in Poulsbo, Wa.