Roxanne, I haven't taken prednisone in over five years, and probably taken it only four times in the last 18 years. I avoid the stuff like the plague, if I can. It sounds like your biggest problem is your doc. Both daliresp and azithromycin taken three times a week have been shown in clinical trials to reduce the inflammation an d therefore exacerbations. If he's not willing to at least try you on one or the other, I would find a new pulmo. The meds you're on aren't completely consistent either: Dulera is an anti-muscarinic and so is Combivent. I'm surprised you're not on one of the Long Acting Beta Agonists that are available, along with the Combivent.

I take one prednisone every day. The side effects are not any worst than coughing up a lung. (Feels.like)

you need a reflux medication like Toprozole. The coughing is caused by the reflux and the coughing cases flair ups.
I went through the same thing until my pulmonologist treated my reflux!

I was given a very modest dose (blast) for about 5 days and then a long 20 or 30 day smaller and smaller dose off of it. If you get off Prednisone quickly ..symptoms come right back...sometimes even stronger. And at the time I was getting off the prednisone..smaller and smaller doses I started to use Advair 500/50 inhaler and spiriva....and then monthly laster switched to the lower 250 dose of Advair.. That treatment course worked for me. I haven't haven't had another exacerbation for at least 18 months....now switching off the (inhaled sterioid) Advair and to Anoro very soon.

I use Daliresp and LOVE IT! I am down to 7mg of Prednisone a day now. Was at 60mg! I find the lower the dosage of Prednisone the better my breathing.