Asthma but negative tests...

[sab360]

Hello,

When I was 13-14, I had wheezing in my chest. I went to the doctor and he diagnosed with asthma (no test was performed) and prescribed me blue inhalers (ventolin).

Since then ( I am 20 now), I had occasional wheezing during the winter when I got sick, but I rarely had to use my pump. Since mid-July, I started experiencing shortness of breath: I sometimes can't get enough air with normal breathing so I have to force it and that makes me uncomfortable. I have absolutely no idea about what triggers this. Also, there is NO wheezing or coughing.

I went to the doctor a few weeks ago and he referred me for a PFT and methacoline tests.

Here is the problem, both tests were NEGATIVE

my PFT: 5%, lower than the 12%

required for a positive result

Methacoline:

(0.5 mg/ml: 96%)

(2 mg/ml: 89%)

(4 mg/ml: 84%)

(8 mg/ml: 87%)

(16 mg/ml: 82%)

I scheduled another appointment with my doctor to figure out what is happening.

Have you guys experienced something similar?

[Minushabens]

I think the problem with asthma diagnosis is that the illness itself is so variable. On the best days of my life I could run, play football, etc., on the worst I couldn't get from my chair to the TV.

I think a sensible approach to take might be 2-fold. Firstly, start taking your own PF regularly, & especially on those days you feel bad so that you can show your GP a bigger picture than the 10 minutes you get in surgery. If you're willing to splash out, you can buy a digital PF that will also take FEV-1 readings (I have one, I think it was maybe £50 a couple of years ago) but a fiver will get you a basic one.

Secondly, just be straight with the GP when you're there & say that although it might be sporadic, it happens & although you might have been ok that day, there are many days when you aren't (your readings might validate that). If all those readings continue to point away from asthma, then beg the question what else might it be? That might hopefully trigger some additional tests for you to get to the bottom of it.

[hypercat54]

Hi good advice from Minushabens. I would also add look up breathing exercises online and start doing them. It sounds like you can't fully expel air from your lungs and breathing exercises will help you do this. x