Untreatable Asthma?

Most asthmatics I know use a daily inhaler and rescue when exercising and are okay.

I use a daily max and Albuterol in between every day even though I don't exercise.

I think I have something more sinister going on. I just can't move around much, because breathing so bad.

I think it's something nuerological, heart related or restrictive/interstitial lung.

I'm 29. An echo said I had diastolic dysfunction. And chest ct show lung nodules.

I also been having limb weakness and dysphagia (trouble swallowing foods).

I've been home 6 months, not been able to work.

I have so many health problems, it's hard to get diagnosis.

[twinkly29]

I don't know about any of the other conditions you suspect but even if it is just asthma many asthmatics need more than just their preventer and reliever inhalers - there are plenty of other treatment options. I say "just" asthma but while for many asthma is easy to manage (and that's kind of how it's often portrayed or thought of), another many need more help to manage it. For some of those, they still find it difficult. But for most, they are controlled on the extra medication.

Do you have a specialist for any of your conditions? If not a primary care doctor? I assume you're not from the UK from your terminology so I'm not sure who you would see first for health questions. But telling them all of what you said in your post sounds a good start.

[Troilus]

Hi ab91

I think it would be a good idea to book an appointment to have your asthma reviewed. As twinkly says there are other things you can take on top of your preventer inhaler to get proper control over your asthma.

You could also discuss your other concerns at the same time.

I don’t know if there is a link between difficulty swallowing and asthma, but I am asked if I have any problems with swallowing at every review.

The BFL have a very active site on health unlocked, if you hit the home button you can search for it, and I have there are people there who have lung nodules, and a range of other lung problems. It would be worth posting there as they might be able to help.

[twinkly29 in reply to Troilus]

Difficulty swallowing can be linked to acid reflux and silent reflux which can both mimic asthma and trigger it - which you may know of course! Maybe that's why they're asking, in case it's a trigger they can deal with to make things easier? Can't think of any other reason though!

[Troilus in reply to twinkly29]

Thank twinkly. That is likely to be it. I don’t know why they don’t just ask if I get acid reflux, which might illicit the information they are after!

[twinkly29 in reply to Troilus]

Indeed it would!

[Poobah]

Your heart and asthma doctors should be working together to treat your asthma and diastolic dysfunction as some of the symptoms overlap.

Asthma meds won't help the breathlessness if caused by the diastolic dysfunction, but the specialist doctor should be able to discuss your symptoms with you in order to understand and treat your symptoms. The key is to communicate what you are experiencing, how often and any particular time of day things are worse, and don't leave out the trouble swallowing when you speak to the heart doctor.

But I wouldn't wait, so try and make an appointment with both the heart and asthma doctors in order to better manage your health.

[Klau80]

Hi,

I have something similar, very similar really. I've been born with mytral valve prolapse, where one of the valvees in my heart doesn't close properly. I never had issues with it though. I also was diagnosed with asthma as a child, never had issues with it either.

For months now I get breathless often, just pottering around the house but I can still exercise?? And there are some days, weeks where I feel fine.

I get palpitations often too. I had a lot of stress in the past years and I am thinking it is partially because of that. Also I am thinking that it might be silent reflux as often I feel kind of burning or stretching from the bottom of my throat to the middle of my chest. Burp a lot too (sorry). I've just recently been sent to cardiology too, waiting for answers. If results are ok will ask for reflux test and respiratory test.

[robert1957]

If it is reflux look at drinking celery juice first thing in the morning