No one believes anythings wrong...apart from the consultant

[BadPhotographer]

Diagnosed with asthma in 2014. Had a flare up in 2017 which took some time to get under control.

Fast forward to December 2020. Started having difficulties walking (I'd not that long completed a 30 mile race) and spoke to GP. Prescribed steroids which didn't work. sent for x ray which was clear. Told it was anxiety but wasn't given any form of help.

Lost count of the amount of doctors appointments I had last year. One GP finally decided to send me for a spirometry. Consultant cancelled appointment very late because he decided that he wouldn't have enough time to discuss his findings. By this point I'd changed GP surgery. Got an appointment where it was decided that my spirometry was normal?

Finally saw consultant. He said has no idea what's going on, wants to do a blood test and a heart scan. Both were clear so he sent me for a CT scan which was clear.

I'm getting to the stage where I'm getting desperate now. I was told to speak to 111 until consultant can see me. Their response? My breathing's fine (er, I couldn't even walk a mile yesterday; I'm used to walking far more than that) and it's anxiety. But can't explain the abnormal spirometry

Everyone apart from the consultant claims it's anxiety. But no one's offering me help for my "anxiety". Nor can anyone explain why from 2014 until 2020, my lung problems were pretty much fine as long as I took my coloured inhalers. It was only for a bit in 2017 (we'd just been to Malta where it was hot) and then again in 2020.

Every covid test I've done is negative.

[paddytheprang]

You need to direct your own diagnosis by watching when , where and why the flare ups occurred.

Look into your own behavior relating to,diet, , work place occurrences, personal issues, stressors of any kind.

Allow yourself to heal your issues with encouraging thoughts,and a positive approach to the medical people that you communicate with.

I suggest a wonderful self help book by Lissa Rankin MD called Mind over Medicine .

It is so uplifting and will help you understand the ability we possess to heal ourselves

Be well

Patrick

[Poobah]

I think it might help to discuss this with one of the Asthma UK nurses. It can be frustrating to get a diagnosis when some parts of the NHS are not back to normal (whatever that is), thanks to the pandemic. You clearly need better treatment while waiting to see the consultant and having your quality of life so affected should be a red flag that you're really struggling.

The Asthma UK nurses are very helpful and really know their stuff.

[AJP2]

Sorry to hear you are having a difficult time of it. If you aren't already you could try monitoring your peak flows sometimes its helpful for the drs to see the changes as well as you describing your symptoms. I colour code my daughters chart using her asthma plan which makes it clearer visually especially as her personal best is higher than her predicted

Good luck

[MissNyxiie]

Sorry to hear your issues, I understand completely. My own gp often tells im not asthmatic even when i have been for 25 years and had non stop issues. Definitely talk to the asthma uk nurses they have really helped me in the past. As a thought, my asthma has been particularly bad since I had covid in January and yet all my tests were clear apart from bloods which showed inflammation along with other things showing my asthma was worsening. I wasnt bad with covid either. Could you have had covid at any point and not realised? Ive been referred to an immunologist finally after 3 years of infections that don't clear. But intrestingly since January my allergies havent been controlled despite taking 2 different antihistamines a day and my chest is more twitchy than its ever been. Ive also had many people tell me it was anxiety and to a degree it is, I was in a&e so often i get panicky if i cant control it. I have to calm myself down to notice if im winding myself up ir if it is just my chest. But other than that i have recently had therapy and for me my chest isn't being caused by anxiety. Blood tests show its an infection and asthma. Listen to your body if it feels like something is wrong harass them until you get help, sometimes it feels like the only way to get anywhere. Sorry for the long post!

[BadPhotographer]

it can't be covid as I've been ill since the start of 2014 which covid wouldn't explain

No one is willing to treat me as only the consultant believes theres an issue

[BadPhotographer]

Finally saw the consultant. He wants to repeat the test again as he thinks it's asthma. Still no treatment at all. No one seems that concerned that I'm struggling to walk.