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A big surprise (non) diagnosis

March 18th, 2013 at 07:01 pm

OK, so today was my follow-up visit to the ENT doc to learn the results of my wholly unpleasant pH test. He told me that my acid levels were COMPLETELY normal and not a trace of acid reflux.

He seemed as surprised as I was. So he's referred me on to a pulmonologist. He said maybe I have something called "reactive lung disease," which is basically a condition where your airway is irritated by air pollution or sometimes by ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals, like on the job. The latter certainly wouldn't be me. The treatment is an inhaler.

Of course in a case like this, your first worry is, do i have cancer or a tumor somewhere that's causing my chronic cough? He said he didn't think i had that becus if so, i'd be dead already. (And besides, I've already had 2 normal chest x-rays.)

So I'm going to celebrate with a big steaming cup of strong black and yes, acid tea with a square of acid dark chocolate!! Yeah, baby.

I made the appointment with the pulmonologist, but earliest appointment I could get is a month away. I'm going to see if I can return the acid reflux book I just got from Amazon, and possibly even return some of the supplements I bought from Puritans Pride.

I guess this is good news, and am certainly relieved I don't have to give up on garlic, tomatoes, onions, strawberries or citrus fruits, but my chronic dry cough, which I've had for several years (at least 3) is somewhat troubling. I don't want to go on a wild goose chase to figure out what it is as i can't afford that in my current underemployed state. (Although I just checked to see what that pH test cost and of the total $1,000 bill, I only have to pay $23, not including the $45 for the office visit. I was afraid it was going to be a lot more becus I have a $1500 deductible and for some reason, going to an ENT (a specialty doctor) didn't require me to pay toward that deductible. I just don't get that..... but not complaining.

From what I've read online, reactive lung disease doesn't quite fit me. My cough is not triggered by exercise, and the doctor already had me do an asthma test, which was negative. So at this point, not really sure what this is.

I can say the air in my house is very dry in the winter. Years ago, when I had a new furnace put in, they guys persuaded me to disconnect the built-in air humidifier becus they said mold and stuff can grow in there and cause lots of problems. As a result of doing that, I have a VVERY dry house every winter, to the point of, if i don't run a humidifier in my bedroom, I wake up in the a.m. with a sore throat.

I'll go back to using that humidifier, but the fact is, my cough is year-round, so i don't think that's what it is.

6 Responses to “A big surprise (non) diagnosis”

  1. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1363635396

    Well .. sorry to hear that you're no closer to figuring out what's going on. But I am glad you don't have to give up chocolate! Smile

  2. MonkeyMama Says:
    1363635886

    Amen to FT. No chocolate!?! Big Grin
    But I know - it sucks to not be any closer to figuring it out.

  3. Suzanne Says:
    1363638070

    This is a long shot - but some blood pressure meds cause a persistent cough. My mom and my neighbor both had this happen.

  4. snafu Says:
    1363642834

    On the positive side the tests have eliminated a plethora of illnesses. The Pulmonologist will be able to eliminate COD, COPD and those difficult to diagnosis problems. Meanwhile you can relax, not fear dreadful problems, nor give up that long list of foods including dear, deep, dark chocolate.

    With the millions who use the humidifiers on their furnace, you might reconsider functioning it to see if there are any benefits. They do add one more maintenance task to avoid long term problems.

  5. Merilu Says:
    1363692269

    Have you checked for side effects of all the drugs you are taking? An aunt had every test they could think of for her chronic cough and when they finally changed one of her drugs, the cough disappeared almost overnight. Glad you don't have to give up the chocolate!

  6. CB in the City Says:
    1363706064

    This is mostly good news, but too bad you had to go through the uncomfortable procedure to rule out acid reflux! I would hate to give up all the foods you mentioned.

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