Hi Melissa...Sorry did not come back yesterday. Had to work all day on a presentation I have to give today and babysit the The Demons, too.So no one has done a sputum culture at this time or did they/ (they would have had you cough up a sputum sample...totally non invasive if it was not done yet so don't worry). They may have done one and a culture and sensitivity already if they did ask you "cough in a cup" so to speak.If not, ever so gently, you might ask the doc when you see them "I read in a book that with stuff like this a culture of the mucous from my lungs might help figure out what is going on, and what drugs to use. Would that apply to me?". Also it would be wise, regardless of what happens, to ask about "Since this keeps going on and last time I felt really bad after the treatments, and we are at it again, could I please be referred to a PULMONARY doctor for a look see? Just in case he might see something".Since this is becoming "chronic" I would not think there would be much objection. My feeling is the pulmonologist, not the allergist, is the place to go with this.Keep in touch here...I would like to see you get to the bottom of this.Sometimes it can be helpful when you have that discomfort to be in a high-humidity environment for a while...breath real moist air so you can motivate whatever is in yuor lungs to come out easier, and it is soothing to the airways, to

ne old trick that requirs no equipment purchases is to get a big bowl, fill it with hot water, squeeze some lemon juice into it, then put it in front of you, forearms and hands on the table flat, with your face over the bowl and a towel over your head so as to cover everything completely. You then have a nice little steam room for you to breath in.This can be more efficient than just getting in a hot shower in a small bathroom with no exhaust fan...unless you also want to strip the wallpaper at the same time.
Let me know...MNL