What Type of Doctor Should My Husband See for This?

An allergist will test you for both allergies and asthma, and treat both conditions if they are present. Out of control allergies can cause asthma to become much worse when left untreated. If the allergist rules out these problems, they can often disgnose things like COPD. Often they will refer to a pulmonologist once they have ruled out the more benign causes. Good luck!

Go to a pulonologist. I had a similar problem earlier this year and my primary doc. sent me to a pulmonologist because she was not finding the cause of the problem.

Please Read this - Very important!! This is EXACTLY what happened to my Dad!! The doctors kept brushing it off to allergies, asthma, etc... also saying they just didn't know. After about 6 months (the point where you are now), he finally he saw a PULMONARY specialist who diagnosed him with "Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis". This is like a hardening and shrinking of the lungs. Within a few months, he needed a lung transplant to save his life!!! If the lung specialist had not have diagnosed it in time, it would have been too late for even that. My Dad was 42 and healthy when this happened. See a PULMONARY DOCTOR!!!!

It's at least gratifying to know he can be honest and say "I don't know".

My suggestion would be to quit wasting time on steroids and stuff that doesn't work and find an alternative practitioner. Bio Energy Medical Clinic in Ann Arbor is one. An acupuncturist could help. Breathing Waters in Plymouth is good. Maybe it's the water you drink that's affecting him. Air in the home could be a factor. Allergies is quite possible but how to counter attack between conventional or alternative treatments. Since it's a big fat "Don't know" I wouldn't take conventional medicines. I mean if it isn't known what to treat, how would anyone know WHAT to use?

Alternative medicine.

You can start with an allergist if it "might" be allergies/asthma, or you can see a pulmonologist. I'd probably make an appointment with BOTH types of specialist and be sure that you have all his bases covered. Good luck!

I havent read the other posts, but the cough thing could be Whooping cough, it has been in the news a lot lately. Change your primary physician to someone else since you havent felt comfortable with your current one.... and be pro-active. Dont sit there like a lump of clay and let the docs tell you that nothing is wrong. Tell them you WANT TO KNOW and you want to get off of the drugs. A lot of docs these days think we all want to be medicated and that's why we are there... it's an uncomfortable feeling. Unfortunately medical insurance do's and dont's have put us in this very horrible condition of having to jump through a zillion hoops before you can get any decent answers. It's frustrating. Ask around to see who recommends good MD's in your area. I'd say a lung xray and maybe a visit to the ear nose and throat doc would be a good start.

Just a question...does your hubby drink a lot of milk?? Sometimes that can cause an excess of mucus.
Just a thought

I agree with the pulmonology statement because it involves his lungs.

Has he had a chest x-ray or anything to determine if there's something else going on?

I personally don't think the internist is giving him the run around, but I can appreciate how you're feeling. Trust your instincts and follow-through. When I had a suspicion something was wrong following the birth of my second child, 90% of the health care providers I spoke with (I was in pharmaceutical sales at the time and saw many each wee) dismissed my symptoms as post-partum because there really wasn't anything glaring to make them think something was wrong.

They're trained to assess and make decisions based upon that training. My instincts led me in the right direction, and to everyone's surprise, it was lymphoma - except for mine.

It's very possible it could be allergies, too, but I would start with pulmonology and ask what they think about possible allergies.

Good luck!

Based on what your internist said, I'd go to an asthma and allergy specialist. The one we go to is Grosse Pointe Allergy & Asthma Center which is actually in Eastpointe on Kelly just above 8 Mile. I'm sure there are others. I had a cough for years till I started taking allergy meds!

pulmonologist/pulmonary doctor

Well first of all have they even done a chest x-ray on him? That is the first thing my doc does when my husband gets sick because he always ends up with Pneumonia at least once a year. This past year she said I want him to have a chest x-ray done and then another one two weeks after he had cleared up to make sure he didn't have tuberculosis I think. Get a chest x-ray done if he hasn't already.

of course you can see an allergist to get him allergy tested, but here is something you can also try...my son had a chronic cough which his doctor could not seem to stop and someone suggested that we take him off milk...I tried it and he was cured...and to make sure I even had him try milk again and his symptoms returned...we started with soy milk but now we go between rice and almond milk...when my son has ice cream or a lot of cheese he has to take a puff of an albuterol inhaler, not because he has the wheezing type of asthma, but he gets really mucousy and the post nasal drip makes him cough which irritates his lungs...my son also seems to have seasonal allergies and we found this thing called "little allergies" which we rub on his nose before he goes outside...it is negatively charged and is supposed to repel the negatively charged allergens in the air....I think it works...but it is definitely better than having him on allergy medicine in my books....

so...try having him go off milk a week...you never know...and get him allergy tested so you know for sure!

I would look for a pulmonologist. My sis had a lot of lung things in her lifetime and these doctors were helpful. He needs a lung expert in my opinion. If you need a referral, just try to find one in your area and then even the incompetent dr you have been seeing should be able to write you a referral. Good luck!!

I would probably start with seeing an allergist to rule out allergies and then move on from there if necessary.

sounds like my husband, and it turned out to be acid reflux.

This doctor may be trying to avoid giving him a difficult title. Often a pre-existing diagnosis may cause insurance coverage problems in the future, but treating that condition and not "diagnosing" it allows for minimal future insurance problems.
As for the congestion/lung problems, I've lived through that (officially diagnosed this year with asthma). It takes a while to learn how to prevent allergy related asthma problems. Your husband will eventually learn to recognizing when the problem starts (simple allergic reactions and not just when he's miserable and can't breath).
Either way, it's your family, your health. Do what works for you and keep your family safe. Best of luck!!

Seek out a new Internist or a General Practitioner/Family Physician.

In the mean time, call his current Internist and request (as in "I want you to give me 2 referrals.") "One for a Pulmonologist and the 2nd referral to an Allergist.

I'm relieved you are in seek and find mode. You've been more than patient with your current Physician.
Best wishes & relief to you and your husband.

I have to agree with Cherylann, I'd forgotten that when my Mother had a chronic cough she saw her Internist and learned the cough was heart related. We were fortunate that she was diagnosed so quickly.
Best wishes.
A. D.

i would see a pulmonary doctor they will get to the bottom of the problem.

An pulmonary doctor would be a good start. 6 months is a long time. Did the doctor he was seeing rule out tuberculosis (TB)? There are a few extremely drug resistant forms out there that are very hard to cure and there are starting to be more cases of it found in the US.
Symptoms include chest pain, coughing up blood, and a productive, prolonged cough for more than three weeks. Systemic symptoms include fever, chills, night sweats, appetite loss, weight loss, pallor, and often a tendency to fatigue very easily.

I would definitely seek out an new internist. You need someone you can trust that will take the time to figure out what is wrong and help with future health problems as well. There is an amazing one in Farmington Hills on Freedom Road between Drake and Farmington. He doesn't take some insurances, but will discuss fees up front. He is very reasonable and will actually spend a lot of time with you to discover what the problem is and refer out if necessary. He comes highly recommended by many people and his name is Cesar Sturla. ###-###-####.

I was a pharma rep before kiddos, so here is my advice. The medication your husband is on maybe causing the cough, but it usually causes a dry cough not with phlegm (at least the general ones that I know of). I would see an allergist, as a first step. I would also switch PCPs, it sounds like he is not addressing your issues and to me this is a deal breaker. HTH, and good luck!

I would go to a pulmonologist. (lung doctor) They can check for asthma, infections, or any other lung conditions. If they find nothing, they will refer you to an allergist, ENT, or even a gastroenterologist (could be symptoms of acid reflux - even if no heartburn is present. Not to be a downer,but I have had a similar cough for over 5 years now. I have been to all the specialists, with still no diagnosis. I have had allergy test, x-rays, 4 CAT scans, and zillions of blood tests. I wish your husband the best of luck.

Any lung doctor will work...........they can tell you if it's asthma, or anything else.........

How long has he been taking medication? That too could be an issue......he might be built up to it and it's not doing any good anymore....

If it was allergies, I wouldn't think it would go on every day unless he is allergic to something he wears or breaths everyday......

Take control on the situation and demand that you get good care....

Good Luck and take care.

There called wayne state physicians there through crititten hospital in rochester and they are awesome. Try someone in the practice. if they can't help than they will help find someone in the hospital.

Ok I'm going to err on the side of caution here but I would tell your internist that you'd like a referral to a cardiologist (unless insurance doesn't require it). My mom went through the same thing for YEARS and it wasn't until she had a heart attack that they found out she had cardiac asthma. ALSO, is he on any kind of medications where the side effects are a cough? My husband has this reaction to certain medications esp. BP meds. BUT INSIST, INSIST, INSIST AND DO NOT STOP until you are satisfied with the answers you are given. Even if you have to go to a pulmonologist, an ENT or whoever. This is your husband and NO ONE will take an interest in his health like you.

I had the same sort of situation going on and my internist was driving me nuts. My sister finally asked me what other meds I was on and pointed out that a dry cough was a side effect of one med. She had had the same problem. I asked my dr. and she changed my meds. Problem was solved...after 18 months. Check the meds.

Lots of questions need to be answered first. Does your husband smoke or has he ever smoked? Does he have other allergies? Does he work around something that may irritate his lungs? Has he ever been exposed to TB, through travel or a family member?
I think he could see either an allergist or pulmonologist, they will direct him elsewhere if needed. I would try to find someone affiliated to a hospital with a good reputation in your area, not just someone with a private clinic in town.
Get him seen as soon as possible.
Good luck!

Check for black mold in your air vents.

Maybe a pulmonary doctor...