Like many of you, I experienced weight gain (all around the middl...

Like many of you, I experienced weight gain (all around the middle); high blood pressure; already had an irregular heart beat; chronic sinusitius with thick thick mucous constantly running down the back of my throat (antibiotics offered no relief); the need to clear my throat many times before I could speak; and the terrible sounding voice. In addition, I had the worst leg crams inaminable in the upper thighs. These cramps completely paralyzed my ability to move and they came on n the middle of the night. Also developed dry skin and break outs on the scalp requiring the use of special shampoos. Two doctors told me they had never heard of any of these symptoms. . .told me that over and over and over and wanted to add drugs for blood pressure, sprays for the sinuses. . .had no idea why the voice even bothered me. Now the clincher is that I was on Advair for 2 years. At the time I started I had a diagnoses of moderate asthma. Two years later - of continuing to faithfully take the medication - I have a diagnoses of emphysema with only 46% capacity for oxygen/carbon dioxide excahnge. I am a non smoker (never smoked) and genetics was ruled out in a test. The doctors STILL want me to continue on Advair. The urrent pulmonologist insistes he, too, has NEVER heard any of these side effects and cannot imagine why I think any of them are connected to Advair. Needless to say, he apparently hasn't ever read the Advair insert as the company now owns up to at least a few. I wonder if . . instead of posting OUR eamil addresses and names (leaving us open to SPAM . .. we start naming the physicians who tell us they have NEVER heard these syptoms before. They can, truthfully, only make that statement one time each . . . after that they are out and out lying and if thier name in here we'll all know who they are. I no longer take Advair . . am very fearful of my lung disease and very inquisitive as to how my condiition could deteriorate so completely while I was following all the medical advice; even allowing myself to be convinced that the doctors are right. And, my blood pressure is now normal and I have lost 20 pounds so far. Everyone wants to know which diet I am following and I just say I have "changed a few habits."