Peak flow readings?

Is anybody else asthmatic but has high peak flows? My personal best is well above what my average should be and even when I'm feeling really bad asthma wise my peak flows are still near my personal best. I don't understand how I can feel so lousy but my results prove otherwise??

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Me too. My peak flow according to the book should be 410 but when I am well it is generally 490 and I can hit 500 on a good day.

I have just had a bad do and have been referred back to the resp consultant so am keeping a peak flow diary to show them what is happening.

I also have a problem with having asthma that makes me cough more than wheeze which some medics don't seem to understand.

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That could actually be me who wrote that reply! My personal best is 510 and I'm usually in the high 400s. I also too cough more than I wheeze, the only way they diagnosed me is I have a ""morning dip"" in my peak flows.

[Moose1]

I too have a peak flow much higher than what I should have for my height/age and also doesn't really react when I'm unwell - although with the last cold and the one i currently have there has been a slight dip.

I also don't tend to wheeze but cough and I have to tell any dr's or nurse's that I see for asthma this.

A few years ago when I last saw an asthma nurse it was established that I seem to be the opposite to most asthmatics in that I am good in the morning and go down hill as the day goes on, evenings and night's are the worst for me and living on my own that can be a little bit scary at times.

Christine

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Seems to be a common thread here - if your asthma tends to make you cough rather than wheeze your peak flow does not react when you have a flare up. Seems like common sense really but the medics don't always get it. One of the best GPs I have seen understood this because she has really low peak flow but is not asthmatic, she put more weight on how I sounded and what I was telling her than on my peak flow reading.

Going back to resp clinic before xmas so hoping to get a better understanding of how to control my asthma. Fingers crossed and will pass on any useful info.

Anguilla

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ive had this loads of time and was always quite dodgy about going to hospital as a decent peak flow reading surely means breaths getting in- but recently i was told it isnt an accurate way to judge asthma and that if i feel rubbish and have other symptoms then get help even if my peak flow is ok for me.

p.s: my peak flows are now ranging daily from 350 on a good day or after having nebs etc to 160ish morning and night.

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I am so glad that it isn't just me who has this. When my asthma is well controlled my peak flow is usually about 400-500. When I am ill and having asthma problems even though my peak flow is 250 I find it very difficult to function, even though my doctor would be saying my peak flow isn't that bad compared to other asthmatics. Funny some of you should mention this but my main symptom is coughing and I can't remember wheezing as an adult.

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Peak flow

My peak flow is usually around 400 to,450. My asthma can be bad at this, and I don't have a wheeze which confuses the drs. I present with little or no voice

Peak flow can still be good but I can't talk. I rarely have a wheeze, and always have to explain the voice.I be only been asthmatic 3 years and am finding it difficult as for months I an fine and then since oct its been arollercoaster. Im in work for 3weeks and go back and get bad again. This latest bout has lasted2 months and im still not out of the woods.

My peak flow is still on the 400 and thats with a chest infection and masses of medication. Everybody serena to have their own unique set of symptoms

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thankyou

it has been so good to read this. Like all of you I don't wheeze and have high peakflow readings but sometimes feel awful. for me this only happens in summer with high pollen counts (and not every year). I have just spent a very frustrating 4 weeks trying to get the asthma nurse to listen to what I was saying. First it was psychological and now aparently it is about me not understanding what asthma is. I should just believe the peakflow and get on with my life. Incredible. has anyone ever phoned the asthma nurse from this website? what was the experience with him/her? it would be nice if there was someone in the medical profession who actually gets it.

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I have a best of 761 and that's way above what's predicted, but when I went for the review few months back my pf was down around the mid 500's, and normally that wouldn't be a problem but because I have a complete record of my PF readings it's good evidence my lungs were not great, thankfully they're now back up where I want.

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It has been good for me to read this as well.

My best peak flow is 410 and even when admitted to hospital had only gone down to 350 (have never tried to take it when having a full blown attack though). It also often doesn't correspond with how I feel, although if I've been active and got really short of breath it has dropped down to 320ish for a short period. I also tend to cough more than wheeze.

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haha this post could be me! Except for the actually being properly asthmatic as opposed to possessor of Oscar-winning asthma-impersonating lungs. My personal best 660, though consultant will not accept this as she thinks it was a fluke and is going with 600 as best and 540 as usual - did say there was a lot of variability which I always thought was a better indicator). Mind you, last year it was all between 450-500 and breathing was way better then!

Usually the first things I say when seeing someone about lungs is 'I have been singing and playing the oboe since ages 6/7' - followed by 'I don't wheeze'. Sometimes this is noted, other times not.

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My pf usually 500 and drops to 250 and sometimes doesnt drop but asthma is as bad when drops to 250.