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Breathing and swallowing

Hi, I have been being treated for asthma for 8 months. I was having regular attacks and labored breathing most days but that "seems" to be getting better. However I have been having new problems my doctors cant explain. Lately it has been very difficult to swallow solids and liquids, even my own saliva. My mouth feels sort of dry and sticky all the time. My current medications are Q var and Singular. Also I smoke, but not more than 4 a day (no less than 2). Could it be a side effect of the medications? Or another element of asthma and allergies? What do I need to do? and are there any home remedies anyone would recommend trying? Please don't just tell me to quit smoking...I'm working on that.
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242516 tn?1368223905
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
i looked up vocal cord dysfunction in up to date

it's also called paradoxical vocal cord motion (PVCM) where the vocal cords block air flow and treatments for asthma don't help.

most commonly in women between the ages of 20 and 40 but can occur in others.

often in patients with anxiety and other psychological illness

pulmonary function tests (flow-volume curves) can show extrathoracic airway obstruction, with flattening of the inspiratory loop and an increased ratio of forced expiratory flow to forced inspiratory flow at 50 percent vital capacity

An ENT using direct visualization using nasolaryngoscopy can diagnose this by seeing the movement of the vocal cords directly.
Helpful - 0
242516 tn?1368223905
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
i know you asked not to but i'm saying it anyways:  stop smoking and that will help the most.

asthma is diagnosed by pulmonary function testing showing improvement in lung function after treatment with bronchodilator inhalations

a peak flow is one of these tests to see how fast you can blow, which decreases with asthma's bronchoconstriction

never heard of VCD.
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Avatar universal
I am not a Doctor just a person that has done over a year of research on Ops I mean respiratory problems trying to find the answers to my own. I would not exclude VCD as the cause or as a contributing factor.

I have done a lot of research on asthma and VCD and found many people may be misdiagnosed with asthma when they have VCD and it’s not uncommon to have both. People with asthma often times will have low peak flow readings and you peak flow numbers can be measured at home with a peak flow meter. I would ask the doctor about a peak flow meter.  

If your doctor has not done so already you should request a pulmonary function test to be done its quick and easy and used as primary way in identifying problems such as asthma. A chest x-ray may be helpful in ruling out other serious condition. Other problems can causes breathing troubles such as acid reflux and heart.

Things to think about with VCD you may have trouble breathing in rather than exhaling you may experience other symptoms such as throat clearing, cough, changes in the pitch in you voice and the feeling something is stuck in you throat. With asthma more often than not people experience nighttime symptoms that may wake you. If it is asthma it should respond to asthma medication if its not I would defiantly see you Dr about that. I would say if you have concerns about diagnosis you have the right to get the correct answers. Good luck.
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Avatar universal
When I was initially being diagnosed and seeing specialists, an allergy specialist suggested VCD. Another thought it might be anxiety. I'm not entirely sure why they settled on asthma/allergies. I have asked for further testing, but doctors often seem pretty certain of what they are doing (maybe its a group health thing). Is there any way I could do some sort of home testing to bring to a doctor? For instance some people do weeks of food journals for weight conditions before going in.
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Avatar universal
Ask your doctor about VCD (vocal cord dysfunction). Many people are incorrectly diagnosed with primary asthma and meds do not address this. VCD has many symptoms of asthma with additional difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) as another diagnostic feature.

It can be treated, but your doctor will need to address the differences, as many asthma meds can exacerbate the symptoms of VCD. Go see an allergist/asthma specialist and ask them to do a laryngoscopy.

Some medications can cause your mouth to be dry, which can eventually cause dysphagia with foods and liquids, but I would want to rule out VCD as a primary problem.

Good Luck!
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