Methacholine challenge test

[Kl50]

Hi Just wondering if anyone has done a methacholine challenge test to determine extent of asthma. If so what is the test like? Does the test cause you to be gasping for air or much milder test

Thanks

[Js706]

Hi

I had one around 18 months ago and I wrote up what my experience was like on my blog:

ainteasybeingwheezy.blogspo...

Hope its helpful! I'll try and answer any questions about it if you have them

[Kl50 in reply to Js706]

Thankyou for sharing your experience. I am an anxious person and am concerned I will be unable to breath and have a panic attack during the test. When you hit the threshold in which they determine it was time to stop how difficult would you say it was to breath at that point?

[Js706 in reply to Kl50]

No worries That's completely understandable - not being able to breath properly is always scary so its never nice when they send you for a test that sounds like it is designed to bring that on!

I could tell that I had symptoms, I was mildly short of breath and had quite a bad cough but that was about it. It definitely was no-where near as bad as any of the times I have had to go to A&E or hospital with my breathing (they stop the test at a 30% drop, whereas they normally send you to hospital at 50%).

Also when I had mine they always made sure I was comfortable and ready before moving on to the next stage of the test, so if you're starting to panic but haven't hit threshold yet just ask them for a break and I'm sure they'd be more than happy to give you some time! They understand it isn't the nicest test to have

[Kl50 in reply to Js706]

Thanks that eases my mind. I was picturing a much scarier scenario.

[Js706 in reply to Kl50]

I'm glad I wouldn't say it was enjoyable but it was no-where near as bad as I was expecting. As it happened I reacted so early on that my test didn't take very long but there was lots of time scheduled for it so we could have gone much slower if I'd needed it.

In fact, I found the worst thing was the tiredness from doing repeat spirometry tests, rather than the symptoms from the metacholine.

[Kl50 in reply to Js706]

That is tiring. I feel better knowing more of what to expect.

[Js706 in reply to Kl50]

Yeah, I’d recommend planning a very chilled out day after if possible!