am I asthmatic

[Lee_vee11]

hi all. I am experiencing shortness of breath after exercise more than usual. Waking up during the night feeling like I can’t get enough air into my lungs. I do a peak flow when I feel like this.. and my peak flow is 800! Top of the charts. I feel like this every summer. Is this asthma symptom? I also suffer with pollen allergies. Thanks

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

Hi Lee_vee, we can't really diagnose anyone on here - have you seen your GP about these symptoms?

With asthma it's actually more that you can't get air out rather than in, though waking at night short of breath is associated with asthma. However, sometimes people may not notice at the time which way it's going and just notice they're having breathing problems. Or sometimes people can describe any breathlessness as 'trouble getting enough air in' even if they actually struggle to get air *out*. It may be worth trying to notice what's going on specifically next time you have symptoms, and to tell the GP what you notice.

It is possible to have a good peak flow with asthma symptoms, but your great peak flow may also suggest that asthma isn't the cause of these symptoms. Your GP should ask you to track it over time, as that can be a better guide to what's going on.

You may also want to call the asthma nurses while you wait for your appointment with the GP. They can't diagnose you either, but they're very knowledgeable, and it may be helpful for you to chat through your symptoms and discuss what the GP will be looking for, including anything you might not have thought is relevant to asthma. 0300 2225800 or WhatsApp [phone] Monday-Friday 0915-5pm

[Lee_vee11 in reply to Lysistrata]

thank you for the reply. I’ve seen my doctor he just gave me an inhaler blue one. I haven’t used it for a year now. I’m thinking is it anxiety/stress more than asthma due to my good peak flow. My asthma nurse said if my peak flow is 800 I haven’t got asthma?

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Lee_vee11]

I mean it isn't really that helpful to say you can't have asthma with a peak flow of whatever - it doesn't work like that! Not sure if she means you can't have asthma with a peak flow of 800 ever, or just when you have these episodes. But even severe asthmatics can have really good peak flow at times - that's not enough by itself to rule it in or out, and it's individual what a good or bad peak flow is. If you're male and tall and have always been active, your best peak flow will probably be pretty high. (I'm guessing you're a man from the 800, but apologies if I'm wrong!)

Having said that, as I mentioned the fact you have good peak flow during these episodes makes it less likely that it's asthma. Have you taken the blue inhaler when this happens, and if so does it help?

I would still go back to the GP - maybe a different one, and point out that you aren't necessarily convinced it is asthma and you are getting these episodes. It could be anxiety yes, but there are other causes of shortness of breath besides asthma and anxiety and they shouldn't just assume it's either of them. This link may help for differences between asthma, anxiety and dysfunctional breathing (which can be caused by asthma and/or anxiety but is NOT the same thing): healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

[Lee_vee11 in reply to Lysistrata]

for instance last night I woke up at 4am felt a little breathless I did my peak flow and it was still 800. My peak flow only changes when I got a cold or had covid.

[Mandevilla]

Go back to the GP if you're not satisfied - ask to see a different one. I spent two years being brushed off and being told it was all in my mind or I was just feeling stressed before seeing a trainee doctor who actually took me seriously, asked a load of questions and said 'have you ever been investigated for asthma'. No, I hadn't, and after investigation, turns out that's what I have.

And asthma had previously been dismissed by the doctors because a)I didn't wheeze and b) I had a high peak flow. I hardly ever wheeze (and never when I'm really bad) and I've always had a peak flow that's way above the average. So looking at 'average' peak flows for someone of your age is a really bad indication of whether or not you have asthma - the only time mine resembles what is 'normal' on the charts is when I'm headed for an asthma attack!