What happens in an asthma review?

Got to go to my GPs tomorrow for an asthma review - not really sure what that is - its with the asthma nurse & was told it will take at least an hour. Any ideas? It cant be the same as asthma clinic as thats only 5-10 mins - a few questions & peak flow measurements & youre out.

[yaf_user681_32467]

an hour - blimey, I wish i had that with my patients. Its possible they will do spirometry on you - a detailed look at the smaller airways of your lungs - you breath into a spirometer in a few different ways - similar to peak flow and you will be guided through it. Take your blue inhaler with you incase they reverse you (retest you after salbutamol to see if it made a difference to the results). Your nurse will also go through a series of questions, check technique etc. Hope it goes well!

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Thanks for the info - I wondered if it might be that... not had one of them before. Have recently ended up in A&E for the 1st time with an attack & have been having to go backwards & forwards to the GPs since for check ups.

Will make sure I take my Ventolin with me - seem to be using it a lot lately it doesn't seem to work for long at the mo. An hour for an appointment does seem like a long time thats why I thought I'd ask you guys.

Does this test wear you out? - I find after peak flows at asthma clinic that I'm shattered. Its at 3pm tomorrow so I'm wondering whether I should just go home afterwards rather than going back to work for 2 hours - they're pretty good & dont think they'd have a problem if I didn't go back.

Thanks a lot x

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see how you feel afterwards and then decide about work but cud def be tiring. I hate spirometrys but don't let me put you off.

good luck

katharine x

[yaf_user681_26410]

I had my spirometry done just before going into work and ended up going in 45 minutes late. I felt pretty tired afterwards and chest felt very uncomfortable. Didn't manage to do the first attempt so had to take ventolin before 2nd attempt.

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hope you got on ok with your asthma review when i had mine it was for half an hour but the last time i went i was there nearly two hours with it but that was because they had asked another asthma nurse to sugest things but nothing could be altered as i was on the maximum treatment they could give at moment

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Hi everyone.

I've been. It was quite good actually & very helpful & not too dis-smiliar from asthma clinic but just in more depth. She did the usual peak flow which was 340 with ventolin (last time I got 580 without). So they have told me to take 8 puffs of becotide (rather than 4) for 2 weeks & then go back to see her as I might need something else as well. Hate the taste of Becotide - it makes me gip. They didn't do a spirometry thingy. Just loads of questions, listened to my chest, my flu jab & a blood test. Was in there for 50 minutes in the end. & Got 2 PJ Smoothies for being brave! Ah bless she's such a nice nurse!