whooping cough (pertusis)-can it cause lung damage and asthma?

[Trudi2258]

I had whooping cough 3 years ago and since then have never stopped coughing.  I have a deep dry hacking cough but more times than not its a productive cough with a lot of thick white secretions.  At times the mucous makes me feel like I am drowning-I just cant seem to get the mucous to totally go away.  My Pulmonologist diagnosised me first with post infectious cough and then cough varient asthma.  My asthma is not at all controlled despite numerous nebulizers, steroids treatments which make me profusely sweat, unable to sleep and essentially a crazy person-(so I refuse to take that daily), inhalers and now allergy shots weekly.  Is it possible that the pertusis left me with scars or other permanent lung damage?  My voice is constantly horse/raspy.  I have seen GI specilaists and had an endosocopy which showed mild reflux disease and take nexium, ENT doctors did complete sinus workup and I have no sinus problems.  I can feel the asthma attacks coming on most of the time and can lessen the symtpoms somewhat with nebulizer, rescue inhaler and cough medicine.  But there are times when I started violently coughing for no apparent reason.  Air travel worsens my symptoms which is difficult since I have to travel frequently for my job.  I have had pulmonary function tests that indicate asthma, CT Scans essentially are normal except for a 4cm lesion that has not changed.  

Does anyone know of adults who were infected with whooping cough that resulted in chronic/ hard to control asthma or other related respiratory problems and sudden onset of significant allergies?  I try like heck to make the best of it, I continue to work, I carry a portable nebulizer with me every where I go (which at times freaks out the TSA security guards in airports because they dont know what it is)  I frequently just start coughing uncontrolably which is very distressful and frightening because I then wonder...am I going to be able to control this attack this time?...which of course then makes matters and breathing  worse not to mention it is embarrasing to have this happen in public places.  
This coughing is really affecting my quality of life!!  I am so frustrated, discouraged and at a loss as to what I can do or try to make this go away or at least be under control?  Does anyone know if there is a hospital or group of doctors that specialize in chronic coughs?  I live in the Northeast section of the USA but at this point will travel anywhere to see any specialist that may have an answer.  I've read some posts discussing brittle asthma.  Do my symptoms sound similar?
HELP please!  

[greenm03]

I was diagnosed with whooping cough 6 years ago.  It was the worse thing I have ever been through with the exception of shingles.  Every since I have bronchitis several times a year.  I have 2 inhalers and Singular on hand at all times.  Last month, November 2012 after having the Tdap immunization in October, I went in to the dr having coughing fits that almost made me throw up.  He said I probably had it again.  This past week, Dec. 27, I went back to the dr since my cough was getting worse instead of better.  I now have a sinus infection and bronchitis added on top of whooping cough.  I am worn out!  Thank goodness I had 2 weeks off work so I can hopefully get over this.  I have also wondered if whooping cough has damaged my lungs making me more likely to get bronchitis and whooping cough again???

[hoski258]

I believe that Pertussis causes scarring to the lungs which leads to asthma I had Pertussis a year ago and have had asthma ever since. I have noticed that my symptoms subside while I am drinking my morning coffee. Unfortunately Decaf does not provide the same relief. I am going to look into drosera at the local herb shop. Thanks Lady Wiz!

[Deepete]

I am the same. I am 43 and was previously healthy. I contracted WC in Jan 13 and have not been  well since. Always coughing and cant breathe. Feel raspy all the time and itchy throat still. It has now been 6 months and I cant even walk up stairs without feeling completely out of breath. I am sure it does permanent damage.

[RonnieGirl62]

I got pertussis 8 years ago. I was 43 at the time. It was misdiagnosed in the ER as adult croup. I was coughing so hard I would vomit and even black out. I finally saw a pulmonologist and Pertussis was confirmed by blood tests. I still cannot laugh without having a coughing fit and sounding like a 10 pack a day smoker. I use rescue inhalers at the rate of 1 a week, daily nebulizer treatments, Singulair, Symbicort, and have become Prednisone dependent as well. The long-term use of Prednisone has caused steroid induced diabetes and cataracts, which can't be removed as long as I am still on steroids. My adrenals have stopped working on their own because of the long term use of steroids, and I go into adrenal failure when my docs try tapering me off.

I was active, thin and healthy before contracting pertussis. I took no medication, now I take 12 medications a day and have to inject myself with insulin as well. This is an insidious disease and awareness of the need for adult vaccination should be more prevalent. I have to get off the Prednisone now though because I am becoming insulin resistant.

I have a great pulmonologist and endocrinologist, both of whom are trying everything they can think of to help me. I even went to Hopkins. They told me the problem is that Pertussis was pretty much wiped out at one point, so there are very few practicing doctors in this country who have actually even seen a case of it, let alone treated it before.

My prayers are with all of you who are still going through this difficult recovery.

[CanadianDweller]

wow,  i can't  believe there are other people out there that feel the exact way I do. I have had the WC now since 2009.  For some reason my cough always started at the end of August,  but throughout the year,  when I laugh or have a glass of wine,  a mysterious cough would arrive,  not to mention the feeling of always trying to clear the flem out of my throat. I've been to specialists,  been through scanners,x-rays, tried every inhaler on the market. In 2010 when it came back for a second time, I tried Chinese medicine (acupuncture). My symptoms calmed a bit but here I am again in 2013 and coughing like a mad man.  Has anybody tried the DPT vaccine ? It's so frustrating,  my wife thinks it's all in my head, like a compulsive coughing disorder. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.  Help !!

[schoolingmama]

I don't know if this post is still active, it's been awhile since someone posted. I have been sick for 2 1/2 years after my second bout with whopping cough. I got my first case in Nov of 2010 and my second case (both confirmed) in Sept of 2011. I never felt like I recovered after the second case and stopped working in Jan of 2012. It's now July 2014. I have had many tests and I am currently on Symbacort and Spiriva both treatments for COPD. I don't have a formal diagnoses yet but I can't even go out of the house without having flare-ups from a number of different triggers, smoke is the worst. I can't tell you how many times I have left my cart full at the grocery store because of a coughing attack. Usually the attack ends with my throwing up (usually in my car) and then going home to have a nebuliser treatment. My lung volumes range between 59% and 71% depending on if I am sick or not at the time, that always makes my numbers worse. Peak flow meter usually measures around 170 to 200 while an average adult my size should be in the 400's. They say that I am hypersensitive and that I have over-reactive airways. They say I am too young to diagnose with COPD but treat me for it which just makes getting disability harder for me. I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, Lung Disease, SOB, Myalgia, Extrinsic Asthma, Cough Variant Asthma, and Vit D deficient. I was just tested for allergies and I am not allergic to anything. I was a functioning adult that had a good job (although I got sick often) prior to the WC. Now it's hard to do daily living and go out of the house. They know there is scar tissue in my lungs but that's about it. I know that WC brought on these problems and although I don't want to hear that other people suffer it's nice to know I am not alone. The doctors know there is a problem but can't seem to label it as anything specific..at least not yet.