scared all the time

[Shannon97]

hello ive recently had a spirometry test done which i blew 110% and it says on my results ling age 25 but im 22 what does this mean please ☹️

[twinkly29]

Looked at as a raw, standalone result, I think it means your lung function is good and above what would be predicted for you. (Others may know more about this!)

However, with asthma and spirometry, the result alone doesn't mean a huge amount as, when well, an asthmatic can still have normal spirometry and indeed some people do have a much greater than average lung function anyway.

Do you have a follow up appointment with anyone where you can discuss your results/situation?

[Shannon97 in reply to twinkly29]

what does this mean sorry ☹️ they have said its really good i just cant stop worrying xxxx

[twinkly29 in reply to Shannon97]

The simple result is good because it means your lungs worked more than they expected them to for your age/size.

So in that respect you don't need to worry at all.

However, you need to talk to someone (nurse, GP, specialist....who have you been seeing?) as that simple result isn't always the full picture. That doesn't mean you need to worry either but you do need to discuss it because either your symptoms don't match the good result and so need further investigation, or it's all good but you need support for your level of anxiety.

[twinkly29 in reply to Shannon97]

It's difficult for us to advise as we only have that 1 result. It's often not as simple as one test.

[Shannon97 in reply to twinkly29]

its tightness feeling ive been feeling and thinking the worst all the time ive had a chest xray waiting for results ☹️

[twinkly29 in reply to Shannon97]

Anxiety can cause tightness so, whatever the original reason for it, it could be exacerbating it at the moment.

Do you have a reliever inhaler/other asthma meds? Do they help at all? Do you do peak flows at home?

The spirometry result shouldn't be used to rule out asthma alone but, at the same time, if various things lead them to say it's not asthma, that doesn't necessarily mean it's something terrible. I know you can't just switch off the worry (and people saying try not to worry is pointless and annoying!) but can you distract yourself in some way for a little while? Whatever the cause, worry is horrible x

[Shannon97 in reply to twinkly29]

ive got a brown one which ive been told to take everyday (which im scared of) i got told i had it when i was small but never had problems (ive got a blue which ive used just to see but dont really notice a difference is that bad ☹️ yeah i have a peakflow meter x

[twinkly29 in reply to Shannon97]

Doing your peak flow before using the blue inhaler and again 15-20 mins after it could potentially be useful.

Don't be scared of the brown inhaler. They should work brilliantly and eliminate the tight chest/other symptoms in most people with asthma. BUT they have to be used regularly, twice a day, even when you feel ok. What is it you don't like, the steroid element? If so, inhaled steroids work differently to oral ones so it's not the same as those.

[Shannon97 in reply to twinkly29]

im on the inhaled steriod and im scared because i see people saying that the are steriod independent or that shoudnt be on it all the time so if i took my blue and ot didnt make a difference would that be bad ☹️ xx

[twinkly29 in reply to Shannon97]

Steroid dependency is related to having to have lots of high dose tablets over time (not short courses every now and then). For those people, myself included, who are stuck on them, no it's not great but needs must.

The inhaled ones work differently. But they don't work if they're not taken regularly. Plenty of people on them can eventually be stepped down from them so taking them isn't necessarily going to mean you're on them forever. But equally, if you need them and don't take them then the symptoms aren't going to improve.

It's not necessarily bad if the blue inhaler doesn't make a difference - there could be all sorts of reasons for that.

- maybe it is making a difference (hence checking peak flow before and 20 mins after) but anxiety is masking that difference

- maybe it's not asthma that's causing the tightness (other things can do it as well and some conditions mimic asthma but asthma meds don't help)

- maybe it's "just" anxiety causing the issues. I say "just" but it can be incredibly debilitating and warrants help just as much as other problems.

Please see your GP or a nurse or someone. Or phone Asthma UK nurses? Medical people will be able to give better help than I can.

[Shannon97 in reply to twinkly29]

i constantly keep looking online thinking the worst all the time that its this and that literally everything ☹️ xx

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Shannon97]

Shannon I’m going to be blunt cause you keep looking for something that’s unlikely to be there

All physical conditions come with multiple signs and symptoms, so the fact that you only have 1 symptom (chest tightness) with no other, and the fact so far all tests have come back negative (BTs and spiro, waiting on X-ray) suggests that this is more likely to be a mental health issue like anxiety and health anxiety than an organic respiratory condition.

With asthma you would have at least 5 of these S+S: tightness, SoB, wheeze, cough, PF variation, reversibility, triggers to worsen condition (exercise, allergies etc), worse at night, improvement post medication, a reduced spiro if doing when symptomatic. Just having 1 symptom (tightness) is not indicative of asthma. Similarly the other resp diseases would show a multitude of issues either with more symptoms or in the BT/spiro. Usually what gets shown on a chest X-ray would also have more S+S too.

You may have a touch of mild asthma if you do find that salbutamol and the preventive helps when in use, however asthma is not the end of the world. As someone with severe asthma, in and out of hospital a lot, multiple daily symptoms etc etc I still work and live life to the full as much as I can, just giving myself more leeway with certain activities.

Chest tightness is often seen in anxiety and health anxiety, but Dr Google is only going to worsen your health anxiety. I suggest you look at the anxiety forum as there are a few with health anxiety there, as they may have more support and advice for what is going on and give you coping mechanisms to deal with the situation. On the AUK page you’ll mostly only see asthmatics who are struggling and seeking advice not the thousands who can live normal lives with no issues. You’ll also find that those oddities (😉) who don’t have reliable PFs etc do suffer from a multitude of other symptoms (meeting the criteria above) showing the diagnosis. I do hope you find the answers you are looking for

[HowNowWhatNow]

Shannon97 - hi!

Don’t fear the brown inhaler. It is your friend! It is the long-term solution to your problems and the blue is only a very short-term solution.

If you are having symptoms and have been prescribed it, should take it as the GP suggests. My daughter who is 2 takes it, and I researched it thoroughly before she started on it.