Asthma diagnosis (poll)

[SickOfSickness]

I wonder how many doctors have checked for it, and how many have symptoms without having an asthma diagnosis.

 

[merylg]

I have been diagnosed with mild asthma, but have major chemical sensitivity which affects my breathing. Plus there are many other things that impact on breathing. Most tests done by the respiratory physician are completely normal in my case...apart from the "mild asthma".
Connective tissue disorders can affect lung structure & function, plus cardiovascular structure & function.

 

[alex3619]

I have various asthma like symptoms but not asthma. I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma but not tested in the 90s. Running in cold air would set it off. In the last decade or so I developed lung hypersensitivity. Anything sufficiently aggravating the upper airway would shut all my breath down, so fast it is like turning off a switch. I found resveratrol can eliminate this symptom, but I have to take it at least every five days for this symptom to stay away.

 

[MeSci]

There isn't a suitable option for me. I developed asthma in the early 80s (long before getting ME) and was advised to give up smoking, which I did, and after a few years it was gone.

 

[SickOfSickness]

You could answer from since you got ME.

 

[Allyson]

You could answer from since you got ME.

Intersting post as asthma is one of the indicators of EDS, along with migraine, excema, hay fever, vasricose veins, aneurysms, hernias ... all CTD issues apparently .

 

[jonnyboy]

I was diagnosed with a mild form of asthma as a youngster and needed an inhaler from about age 6. It was only really troublesome if I got a cold since it always gave me a chest infection. (although the docs were never convinced it was asthma, but some sort of intermittent breathing problems). At age 20 i began to cough up a lot of phlegm all the time, and was diagnosed with bronchiectasis, basically a CT scan showed the bottom 1/3 of both lungs wasn't working.

However despite being told this was incurable, it cleared up and 4 years later a CT scan showed confirmed this. Now i don't need to take inhalers. Rather than having exercise induced asthma, exercise was probably my saving grace. Papworth Hospital who treated me said the fact I was training so vigourously as a pro athlete probably saved my lungs.

However i did develop ME and autonomic problems, and I wonder how much of all this (asthma/bronchiectasis/ME/autonomic probs) are due to me having eds3 which I only found out I had last autumn.

Edit: I see above the hernias are also a sign of EDS and I had a double inguinal hernia repair 4 years ago.

 

[SOC]

Daughter and I both developed asthma after ME. Mine is more chemical/allergen-induced while hers is exercised-induced.

 

[Allyson]

I was diagnosed with a mild form of asthma as a youngster and needed an inhaler from about age 6. It was only really troublesome if I got a cold since it always gave me a chest infection. (although the docs were never convinced it was asthma, but some sort of intermittent breathing problems). At age 20 i began to cough up a lot of phlegm all the time, and was diagnosed with bronchiectasis, basically a CT scan showed the bottom 1/3 of both lungs wasn't working.

However despite being told this was incurable, it cleared up and 4 years later a CT scan showed confirmed this. Now i don't need to take inhalers. Rather than having exercise induced asthma, exercise was probably my saving grace. Papworth Hospital who treated me said the fact I was training so vigourously as a pro athlete probably saved my lungs.

However i did develop ME and autonomic problems, and I wonder how much of all this (asthma/bronchiectasis/ME/autonomic probs) are due to me having eds3 which I only found out I had last autumn.

Edit: I see above the hernias are also a sign of EDS and I had a double inguinal hernia repair 4 years ago.

Hi Johhnyboy, yes hernias in EDS 3 due to CTD causing weaknesses everywhere i gather

here is afuller symptom list indicative oF EDS if these are in your close family

Symptom check list - you or close family members hava any of these?

migraines, allergies, hay fever, asthma, excema, varicose veins, postive gorlin's sign, IBS, gastric reflux, hernias, diverticulitis, bendy joints or hyperflexibility, soft skin, easy bruising and bleeding, thin translucent skin that you can see the viens through or unusual scarring esp on lower legs. Aneurysms too and i think mitral valve problems. Also POTS/OI and ME of course - fainting dizziness etc

 

[Shell]

I was dx young. Had emergency tonsilectemy when I was 5. I think it must have helped but got another bought of asthma in my early teens. This was couple with chronic bronchitis and put me in hospital at a regular basis. Back in those days I was given IV steroids and antibios.
Things settled down in my later teens.
Kicked off once when I was about 21 and my then boyfriend (now dh) stripped some tiles off a ceiling and I spent 4 days in hospt.
Again it settled until my third pregnancy and it reared it's ugly head and had me in hospt again.

Then I was more or less fine until I got ill with Shambles when I was preg with my 10 year old. Even then the asthma didn't really kick off, but it's gradually got worse over the ten years and then I had over a year of 6 weekly chest infections.

I'm in a really bad way now. Level 5 care but it's not working. Saw a Lung Spec last year who saw the dx of FMS and ME and so became a lollopping great wazzock.

I'm on prednisolone again. No infection this time. Being referred back to see a Lung Spec.
Can't get up the stairs in one go. Can't walk around without becoming breathless.
Renal and bnp bloods came back neg.
I have all the symptoms of heart failure though.
Off to have more bloods taken today - testing for Lupus and other stuff.

I am so utterly knackered.

 

[Allyson]

I was dx young. Had emergency tonsilectemy when I was 5. I think it must have helped but got another bought of asthma in my early teens. This was couple with chronic bronchitis and put me in hospital at a regular basis. Back in those days I was given IV steroids and antibios.
Things settled down in my later teens.
Kicked off once when I was about 21 and my then boyfriend (now dh) stripped some tiles off a ceiling and I spent 4 days in hospt.
Again it settled until my third pregnancy and it reared it's ugly head and had me in hospt again.

Then I was more or less fine until I got ill with Shambles when I was preg with my 10 year old. Even then the asthma didn't really kick off, but it's gradually got worse over the ten years and then I had over a year of 6 weekly chest infections.

I'm in a really bad way now. Level 5 care but it's not working. Saw a Lung Spec last year who saw the dx of FMS and ME and so became a lollopping great wazzock.

I'm on prednisolone again. No infection this time. Being referred back to see a Lung Spec.
Can't get up the stairs in one go. Can't walk around without becoming breathless.
Renal and bnp bloods came back neg.
I have all the symptoms of heart failure though.
Off to have more bloods taken today - testing for Lupus and other stuff.

I am so utterly knackered.

so sorry to hear that Shell.

I had bad tonsillitis all my childhood too.

Dr Cheney did say he thought this could be like some kind of early signs of congestive cardiac failure

anoter thin people are testing for here is Myasthenia gravis - thought my doc ruled it out but will check

and MTHRFR gene- the genetic blood test her in aus is free if you have ever had a DVT or a pulmonary embolism interestingly enough - so there must be something valid in it.



Hope things pick up for you

best,
Ally

 

[Allyson]

I have various asthma like symptoms but not asthma. I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma but not tested in the 90s. Running in cold air would set it off. In the last decade or so I developed lung hypersensitivity. Anything sufficiently aggravating the upper airway would shut all my breath down, so fast it is like turning off a switch. I found resveratrol can eliminate this symptom, but I have to take it at least every five days for this symptom to stay away.

Can you actually BE tested for asthma ? and were would you go for tha please?. My GP told me i had it based on symptoms and that a puffer helps but i have never actually been tested for it ; going to an allergy clinic soon - and wonndering it that is their thing too.

I like resveratrol too just in general.

 

[SickOfSickness]

Can you actually BE tested for asthma ? and were would you go for tha please?. My GP told me i had it based on symptoms and that a puffer helps but i have never actually been tested for it ; going to an allergy clinic soon - and wonndering it that is their thing too.

Yes it is a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) and the allergy clinic would refer you or do it themselves.

 

[Allyson]

Thanks for that- i will follow it up Sick.

But if you are tested when you are not having an attack would anythig show?

 

[SickOfSickness]

Thanks for that- i will follow it up Sick.

But if you are tested when you are not having an attack would anythig show?

It might show a reduced lung capacity. Maybe they would do different tests if nothing showed, or order different tests in the first place based on symptoms.

 

[Shell]

Normally a person is dx with asthma during an attack where wheezing and a dry cough are present. I was dx as a child but didn't get "tests" until I was in my teens and the asthma was leading me to spend way too much time in hospital.
It is worth getting it properly dx I suppose but more importantly it needs controlling. There are a lot of asthma meds out there these days but for most of us finding one or two (or more) that can work together to keep us breathing can be trial and error.

I have a pulse oxometer at home now which tells me when my O2 Sats fall below my personal "normal" of 93. Then I know I have to see a doc. Healthy O2 Sats should be 98 to 100. For chronics like me 93 to 94 is considered acceptable (although why it is I don't know) In America, and I guess UK too a patient can only have at-home oxygen therapy if Sats fall below 88. I've had sats at and below 88 and it isn't pretty. Why we have to be that ill before O2 is given I don't know.
Research shows that 2 ltrs and hour at 28% is optimal O2 therapy for asthma as it's enough to raise Sats without the concurrant danger of raising CO2 (breathing out is so much harder than breathing in).

There are a set of treatment levels for asthma. In the UK the NHS has 5 levels for adults although I've seen 6 levels for children. HERE is one pdf doc on asthma management.
I'm on Level 5 treatment: ventolin and seretide inhalers and Montelucast tabs. Regular use of GPs nebuliser and lots of Prednisolone. I am awaiting a new referral to a Lung Spec. Hope I don't get another first-class wazzock like last time.
GP won't prescribe nebiliser at home as he thinks the Lung Spec should do it. My GP is a good man but he is constrained by the culture of don't-step-on-the-toes-of-the-gods.
Hope that info is of some use.

 

[Allyson]

thanks Shell for that; normal range here would be 96 to 100 percent i would say
the reson you have to be careful not to gie too much oxygen or too soon is in some condition giving oxygen cm make things worse - where you brain relies on Co2 level signals - and too much 02 will interfere with them and so exacerbat e the problem. not sure tf that applies to astha or not but id does for COAD (COPD) .

I hvve an appt now with an allerby specialist so will chase up treatments there.
many thanks indeed


Ally

 

[Sherlock]

I once had a very severe cold induced asthma attack, post CFS. Looking back, I always had reduced lung power pre CFS.

I have a sibling with MTHFR C677T. I assume that I have it, too, since I have high histamine symptoms. However, my blood is thin, not hypercoagulable - presumably from heparin via Mast Cells.

 

[Allyson]

Hi Sherlock I just got teted fot he MTHRFKR gene yesterday so awaiting results

I note her in AUs the test is 55 dollars but FREE if you have history of thrombosis which is interesting !

Mens there must be something medically accepted and well known in it

and confirsm a linkd to thromboses.

 

[Sherlock]

Hi Sherlock I just got teted fot he MTHRFKR gene yesterday so awaiting results

I note her in AUs the test is 55 dollars but FREE if you have history of thrombosis which is interesting !

Mens there must be something medically accepted and well known in it

and confirsm a linkd to thromboses.

Yes, e.g.:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15670035
Homocysteine, MTHFR and risk of venous thrombosis: a meta-analysis of published epidemiological studies.
2005

but which also says that " the 677TT genotype had no effect on venous thrombosis in North America, due probably to the higher intake of folate and riboflavin in North America". So, you are what you eat