Advair HFA and cysts

I have had asthma my whole life, and as a professional opera singer, getting it under control was crucial. After years of singulair, serevent, azmacort, rescue inhalers, and nebulizers......and after a massive attack that put me in the hospital....I was put on Advair. This was about 1 1/2 years ago, and I was thrilled to be able to breathe and sing long phrases and to be able to run and exercise without my rescue inhaler..but slowly side effects began to appear. At first it was weight gain, and then an incredible inability to shed any weight. Then, depression set in, the reflux, and the constant hoarseness and voice issues (not good for business!) But all my doctors were adamant that the Advair was not the cause.

Horrifyingly, I have just been diagnosed with vocal cord cysts that the ENT's believe may have been caused by the Advair and accompanying reflux, since they have ruled out every other possibilty. I have lost my first major opera job, and am unable to sing professionally.....until I can find the money to get the cysts surgically removed, and even then there is no guarantee.

This is a true nightmare! The ENT has urged me to wean off and stop taking the Advair so we can stem any further damage...... and I am so sad about losing my voice...it is who I am and how I communicate and now it is gone.

I never knew that with Advair the choice was either to breathe or sing, the goal was to do both.

If you sing....do NOT take Advair, please.