Consultant wants to take me off inhalers

[Lilmix03]

I had an appointment with my Respiratory Consultant and he's questioning my asthma diagnosis because my last set of breathing tests were normal. He said that you would expect to see something on the tests that indicates asthma and that even though I have a formal asthma diagnosis on my GP records he needs to prove my diagnosis. I'm scheduled for more breathing tests on the 16th and he said that if these are normal then he wants to reduce my asthma medication because I don't need it. And apparently I could have had asthma as a child and grown out it, I got the letter from the appointment through today and he's basically made me and my mum out to be liars, he's written that my mum questioned my asthma diagnosis because I had it as a child so could I have grown out of it when she didn't say this, she actually asked him That how was it possible for me to grow out of my asthma when I have had it since I was a baby and it's also a family thing, my sister has it and my Nan has it. Can I challenge this?

[fraid]

Yes you can challenge it by asking for a 2 nd opinion or referral to a specialist. Do you actually get asthma attacks atm? I got it aged 4 but there were many years I didn't have it all, then met a major allergy that triggered it briefly, more years with none atall etc. Now I'm 67 it has come back only this year, still mild unless a trigger hits me. Maybe you could try cutting back your inhaler use see if it flares then wheeze all over him next time or maybe you're lucky and it won't come back for a long time? Good luck. 🤞

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to fraid]

I don't think anyone should be trying to cut back their inhaler use by themselves, without a decent period of stability/no symptoms and without competent medical supervision. Which I wouldn't class this doctor as since he doesn't seem to understand how asthma works...

Would be more inclined to go for the second opinion. Lilmix03, did you do the tests on all your medication/feeling ok? Because surely that's the point of the medication, plus this seems to be YET ANOTHER doctor who doesn't understand variability in asthma!! Totally possible to have normal spirometry in asthma sometimes.

I would definitely try to find someone else to see - and perhaps contact PALS meanwhile to address the letter being inaccurate and your concerns about his approach. Is it possible to ask to see a different consultant in the same clinic? I used to find I could just ask at the front desk for a specific doctor, though not everywhere lets you.

[Homely2 Administrator]

I think the key question is, how is your asthma.

If it is well under control, then a supervised attempt to reduce your inhaler use is sensible, as who wants to be on loads of steroids.

However to just say you no longer have it, based on a one off test appears excessive.

[ChrissieMons]

You can 'grow out of asthma' in the sense that it ceases to trouble you and you can manage without any regular inhalers. However, stopping it all at once is, in my opinion, unwise. You could try gradually reducing the dose over some months, to see how you get on. There are so many triggers for athma, and they change: allergies develop and grow less, and there are factors like stress. I also think it is important that you have control of your own condition, as you know your body and your condition best. It would be great not to have asthma! I'd love it if I was told I don't have it and that was right! Unlikely, in my case, tho.