Help would be much appreciated regarding getting diagnosis for coughing and wheezing.

[georgietips]

Hi, Im not sure if anyone can help, I know you cant diagnose online. But was wondering how hard people on here have had to push for further diagnostic tests etc at the beginning of a problem.

I have had a cough for the past year and a half nearly but was only a problem initially after exercise when I would cough and get wheezy, I went to the doctor and he suggested it could be adult onset asthma and gave me a ventolin inhaler and said if it helps continue to use and I don't need to see him again. It did help and I went a year using it after exercise, then i progressed to using it before exercise as i was getting restricted on what i could manage without it.

Then about 4 months ago the cough got worse and I was getting it at night and in the morning too, always a wheeze following the cough. It is a dry cough but sometimes I do produce alot of phlegm afterwards and tastes irony after a bad coughing period. It has progressed to coming on at any time of the day (but most frequently at night/exercise) and if i do not have my inhaler to hand becomes very painful and get burning in my chest and doesnt settle until have inhaler. I has since been back to GP (different one as we moved) who thought it could either be GERD or asthma so was prescribed omeprazole and given a spirometry test - spirometry came back normal and omeprazole made no difference. Doctor has now told me to try gaviscon before bed time, which so far has not helped as of yet but it is early days.

I was treated for latent TB 7 years ago and was on AB for 1 year but never showed lesions on xrays. I told doctor this but she said it should not be a problem as was treated with long term AB previously.

I dont know what to do as i dont want to ask for further tests if it turns out to be nothing and look like a pushy client. but I am a bit worried.

Sorry for such a long post, I hope you may be able to give me a hand as I know so many of you go through/have been through so so much worse and have so much knowledge.

[CornishBrian]

I think I would ask the doctor for a refferal to your local Pulmanary team. The nurses there have far more experience of these things than most GPs.

[Hidden]

In your shoes, I'd ask to be referred for a second opinion. I was hospitalised several times last year due to successive bouts of chest infections, including pneumonia & pleurisy. Tests & scans were done, & diagnosis reached when in hospital. I've recently moved, & my new GP is looking at what else she can provide to help me manage my condition. Good luck in your search for a definitive diagnosis Judy x

[Toci]

I would also be asking for a second opinion. Perhaps a referral to see the respiratory consultant at your local hospital? There is also the fact that the TV ad campaign for cancer is advising everyone with an ongoing cough to be tested. Not that many of the coughers will have lung cancer; but some may and early diagnosis means more lives saved.

[georgietips]

Wow what a response,

Thank you so much, it is very kind of you all. I will try and ask for a referral and see what she says. Because I am only 26 and relatively fit otherwise I dont want to take NHS time and money if it is nothing, I know there are alot of people that need this resource more and dont get it.

[peege in reply to georgietips]

Hi Georgietips. Warm welcome to this site.

For starters, please dont think you are using up valuable NHS funds. Think how much you'll be saving them in the long term If they can get you sorted now.

It sounds as though something's amiss so you really must be pro-active and push on with getting help.

You are only 26, you're approaching the time (and prime of your life).

Get a referal, which is your right. If you've been diagnosed with asthma you should be seeing the practice nurse regularly. Usually annually at beginning.

If it is asthma it sounds as though you haven't been treated properly. It may be that you have been given a 'preventer' and the Ventolin to use both before exercise and when you're breathing gets wheezy.

I'm no doctor, all of us would advise you seeing a professional but there is also the BLF helpline: 03000 030 555. They are experts & a mine of information and will guide you.

Yours sounds similar to my start. Dx with adult onset asthma 9 years ago. (GP said "take this Becotide (brown, preventive inhaler), if it works then you've got asthma". !! 4 years down the line several bouts of pneumonia, pleurisy and chronic chest infections........... I'd had many infections, coughing up yellowy green stuff & not going to doc for several years. Just knocked back paracetamol & not taking the asthma medication properly (this is vitally important). Now it's serious and I so wish I knew then what I know now.

Please seek help NOW, the sooner the better. Ifyou're coughing up greeny yellow then it'll probably be an infection.

In the meantime, stop smoking if you do smoke, avoid smoke, pollutants, fumes & people with coughs colds & sneezes.. do drink plenty of fluids to keep the mucous moist and therefore easier to get out.

All the best to you and please let us know how you get on.

peeg (just posted a load of waffle about not getting timely treatment on the 'posts' section).

[georgietips in reply to peege]

Thank you very much for the welcome and your lovely long response. Your point about getting its sorted now and possibly saving NHS money is very true and that will definately help me to have confidence to ask for refferal

Poor you you really have been through an ordeal. i hope this CT gives you some answers!

Pretty sure its not an infection, and everytime I have been to the doctors they say my chest sounds clear (but my coughing is so intermittent im never bad at the doctors so they never see it.)

I am quite worried about it possibly being TB as have done some internet searching today (i know its always a bad idea because you just scare yourself) and I have quite a few of the symptoms - like extreme night sweats etc but had put them down to glandular fever that i had last year so didnt consider it as a symptom to discuss with GP. Worried as if it is I have been around my newborn Goddaughter the past 2 weeks alot, and really really dont want to have risked making her ill!

Anyway I will stop offloading now will definately keep you up to date. You too!

[peege in reply to georgietips]

do yourself a favour and ring the helpline today xx

ps, my issues are truely nothing compared to many here

[georgietips]

Oh yes forgot to ask, I was wondering why, if it is not asthma, that my cough responds to inhaler?? Does this mean it is only likely to be a few things or do all coughs respond to inhaler?? my doctor said that if it helps I can keep using it even though it is not asthma and gave me another one.

Sorry if this is a stupid question, I just always associated inhaler with just asthma.

[peege in reply to georgietips]

never ever any stupid questions on here.

The Ventolin opens the airways when they've become inflamed.

You do exercise, airways close up a bit, you cough, which in turn close the airways even more.

There are some very useful explanations on YouTube that are helpful.

Honestly, there is so much you can learn in order to help yourself get the right diagnosis and treatment. You did the right thing by coming here & not burying your head in the sand.

At my recent encounter with a lovely registrar she asked me if I'd had the asthma test to prove I had asthma ????? I didn't know there were any! 9 years & I've only ever been asked to do a peak flow! GRRRR ..... keep asking the questions and bravo you for asking them

[Hidden in reply to georgietips]

Hi georgietips, why don't you give the nurses on the BLF helpline a call 03000 030 555, they would be the best option for answering that question, I think.

[georgietips in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I will do x

[katieoxo60]

Hi georgietips, welcome to the site, I use several inhalers but the ventolin in prescribed to help prevent coughs, as it opens the airways as mentioned above.Hope all the replies have helped you understand a little and don't be afraid to ask the NHS or BLF helpline if you are worried.

[Hidden]

Welcome Georgietips

Peta

[sassy59]

You have been given some great advice so I would only echo what has already been said. Please push for further tests and a 2nd opinion. You are so young and early diagnosis could make all the difference to you. Hope things work out well. xxxxxx

[knitter]

Hi I was diagnosed with adult onset asthma when I was 46...much older than you...but I have adult asthmatic daughters too.

You definately need to see your gp again, as Ventolin alone doesn't seem to be enough, I have a brown preventer inhaler as well... my daughters only need to use theirs when they have a cold. I take gaviscon at night to stop acid reflux which can make you cough.

The helpline here will advise you, and there are leaflets as well, they were of great help to me. Don't worry about wasting NHS time at all...thats what its there for..make an appointment as soon as you can ...and tell them your concerns, it might be an idea to write your symptoms down and go through the list with them

[Bealings48]

I developed asthma in my twenties and have had inhalers ever since - good luck with getting proper advice and tests - it is only now in my sixties that I managed to get to see a consultant and even he only prescribed theophylline and hasnt followed me up. I am now so SOB that walking more than 100 yds is a real effort - keep making it so that I dont get worse - use sticks a lot now and feel a right plank. Push push push for proper tests and medication - a rescue pack at home (my gp wont give me one at present) and dont think doctors are infallible because they are not,. the BLF nurses probably know more,

Oh by the way everyone - just had my letter turning me down for a blue badge cos I dont meet the criteria - Do they really think I would apply unless I really thought I needed it, I'm glad they know better than me without even seeing me.

[Lynne1955]

You have had some great advice, so I will just say hello and welcome.

Lynne xx

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Hi and welcome Georgietips.

[Bronch1noGO]

Hello Georgietips you've been given some very sound advice here, a constant cough is most annoying, debilitating and embarrassing to you at such a young age. I've had mine for years sometimes it's not too bad and other times it knocks me for six Push your GP for some proper investigations such as a CT scan which can help with a PROPER diagnosis.

Good luck

Karen X