Been to gp not helping

[Dl98]

Hey. Does this sound like copd or asthma? I thought copd didn't reverse. Mum's been waking up coughing recently

[Lanny_ALUK Partner Asthma Nurse]

Hi,Getting a diagnosis of asthma or COPD can take time. Would you like to call us on the helpline, we can then discuss in more detail and offer advice

😊Our number is 0300 222 5800

[Dl98 in reply to Lanny_ALUK]

I called in but sadly no one avaliable

[Troilus]

Hi D.As the reply above says, I would give the help line a ring. I just replied to say that a person can be given a diagnosis of copd when in fact it is asthma.

My results were a bit like your mums. I was discharged from hospital with a peak flow of 100 and a diagnosis of severe copd. ( No spirometry had been performed at this point) No questions were asked except have you ever smoked (I had stopped 2 years prior to my event) Getting the asthma diagnosis was very difficult so I would take advice from the nurses here at asthma U.K. then if it is asthma you can get your mum on the right track more quickly.

[Dl98 in reply to Troilus]

Yeah she goes from 30 to 64 fev1, I'm also asthmatic and mine move about the place too. She had an ambulance out because she couldn't breath. Took ventolin and she was fine by the time they arrived. She's diagnosed as COPD but I'm honestly not sure.

[Troilus in reply to Dl98]

I was much the same D. After I was discharged I kept having attacks, so I went back to the hospital- I had taken 17 of the blue inhaler so when I got there I could walk and talk. I was seen by a lovely GP in ambulatory care who actually took my history. He said he would put his money on asthma and gave me a Fostair 100/6 - it was like magic to me.He gave me some really good advice which was to take my peak flow twice a day - once before inhalers in the morning and again once they had kicked in and to record them on a graph - one line for pre inhalers and another for post - but on the same axis, and to show them to the consultant.

Got my appointment for the consultant - he was talking about oxygen but noticed my levels were ok at that time. Very definitely very severe copd - emphysema- I showed him my graphs and he said - this is asthma .

That isn’t the end of my story 😁 I still had a long road in front of me - but I tell you because that is something you might want to consider if you are not already doing it.

A similar thing happened when I went to see my GP. He told me I didn’t have asthma. I showed him my charts and the response was similar - this is asthma but your diagnosis clearly say copd.

They seem to like graphs 😁

[Dl98 in reply to Troilus]

I just wonder if they've a) took the orginal reading during a infection or flare b) over 40 smoker boom copd I also know that not every smoker gets it.

She's on trimbow which I believe is the equivalent of fostair 100.

In my experience 100 was terrible but 200 works.

It's the way she gains lung function and peak flows. Being an asthmatic all my life you tune into these things. Essentially jumping from severe to moderate copd. Doesn't sit right with me for some reason. I remember getting Montelukast and that helped a bunch. Sadly gave me nightmares so had to stop it. I believe I messaged you too

[Troilus in reply to Dl98]

Hi, I replied to your message but basically you’ve already said what I have written 😁

Have you looked at the NICE guidance for an asthma diagnosis? I think it is 12% or 200 ml increase in fev1 after 4 puffs of Ventolin.

Of course that is done without any meds, but you get a rough guide before and after am meds, as you know. (Sorry, I keep forgetting you have asthma)

From what you are saying I would get enough graphs to show variability and then go see your GP. Show him the graphs and ask if she could try Fostair 200/6. Worth a shot I would think.

[thegenegenie]

I too have asthma but lastSeptember got a tickly cough that was put down to asthma flare up. It wasn’t as after a spell in hospital it was diagnosed as pulmonary fibrosis (ILD). A CTscan might show why she is coughing.