About Sue Enlow Expertise I can answer questions about asthma, COPD, and other respiratory diseases. I can also answer questions about breathing treatments and medications, ventilators, life support, aspects of ICU or the critical care environment, and CPR.
Experience I've been a Respiratory Therapist since 1990. I am currently a Supervisor, and I have worked in various hospitals in Southern California including teaching hospitals.
Question Three weeks ago I had Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, I end up needing breathing treatment after producer and end up having breathing difficulties all day long, the two weeks before having this done I had ear infection, and sinus infection with some respiratory effects. I was placed, on prednisone at 40mg for 3 days, and step down 3 to 4 days at each level from there to 10 mg and Tequin to clear up infection.
After that my asthma started to go out of control again, with more frequent attacks, and two weeks ago started prednisone 60mg and 12 days later have been able to step down to 50mg without an attack today. Primary Care and allergy doctors are currently watching, and treating me. Could it all be related, that the surgery cause inflammation being I wasn't given an additional steroids before, during or after the surgery. Did I end up with more inflammation and will not require a long step down. I have now been and currently treated with two different antibiotics - 5 days of Levaquin, 2 days of Ketek started to have some type of reaction, and 10 days of Omnicef. I currently take xopenex 1.25 mg 4 times a day, pulmicort resp. 0.50mg Bid, Theophylline 200 mg, singular 10 mg, and allegra, blood pressure medication.
I have hard to control asthma all year long with multiple oral steriods course since the begining of the year with one hospitization for asthma related difficulities. This was all present to the GI doctor who did the surgery. I am just trying to find the source of this, round of difficulty.
Answer Hello B,
Thank you for your question. I am not completely familiar with an Upper GI Endoscopy. But, if it's a procedure where they place a scope down your throat, then there's a possibility that your throat or airways may have been irritated from the procedure. Anytime a scope or tube is inserted into the esophagus or trachea, it can cause irritation. “Irritable” or sensitive airways are also a form of asthma.
Since I am not a physician, I can't really tell you if this procedure can exacerbate your asthma, and I have not seen anyone else in this same situation. It sounds like you are currently under the care of two or more physicians who are providing you with in depth care and observation. I would have to assume that you have already posed this question to your current doctors. I always recommend that people ask their doctors lots of questions, and if they are not satisfied with their care, to remember that they have a right to a second opinion. It sounds like you have had some difficulties in the past controlling your asthma, even using steroids in the past. You should ask your doctors if this recent exacerbation could just be a coincidence, or if there might be some other trigger to cause this change. You might want to ask your doctor to have a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) done. If you've already had one done in the past, you could repeat it and compare it to the previous test.
I hope this has been helpful to you. If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask.
