is anyone struggling to breathe even if the peak flow doesn't drop much? My best is 550 on Symbicort plus Spiriva and I find that the peak flow doesn't drop below 470-500 even if I struggle to breathe with tight and burning chest?
Sometimes even with confirmed chest infection and wheeze across chest as per stethoscope my peak flow sits at 500.
Anyone else knows why? Is it asthma or likely something worse like copd?...
That's a question to ask yr dr re diagnosis.mine drops but as its low anyway,small drop makes a difference.i think everyone's different + pf is justv1 aspect.hope u r well x
Mine sits about 350 -380 and drops if I’m out of breath or wheezy Afraid I can’t answer your question. Hopefully your dr can help with an explanation. Good luck x
Hazel
What inhalers are you on?
I used to be like that too but after starting to use Spiriva (or a LAMA) I find my peak flow is no longer representative of how things are with breathing
I’m on Fostair for the asthma but also have pulmonary fibrosis which I am on anti fibrotic drugs for. X
yes when I was on Fostair my peak flow was more representative of how I felt and was never above 450. Now my best is 550
I have the same issue. My peak flow only drops a little but I can be struggling a lot. I've learnt to take notice and will tell Doctors that my peak flow isn't representative so they use my symptoms to diagnose infections.
Ahh I'm not then only one! Is there any explanation to this, what does you're consultant say?
I never see a consultant. 🙁
Tight and burning chest? I would see your clinician as you may have fluid in the pleural cavity. Providing you lungs are in reasonable order and your ribs and diaphragm are OK then you may well manage a good peak flow but if it hurts that is a different problem.
No it was just inflammation and got better with steroids immediately.
I think it might be worth, as some of the others have suggested, to get another diagnoses. I have had this issue in the past - with Symbicort - and my lung consultant put me on Fostair a few years back, which really helped me in this area. My husband has had the same problem recently, with Symbicort and he switched to Fostair and has been better with it since. It will be different for everyone, I appreciate, but at some point Symbicort just stopped working for me and changing medication helped.
I actually switched from fostair to Symbicort 😃 but maybe I need another inhaler now. Whatever I take it's just not enough, I seem to be wanting a lot of steroids!
Your peak flow is much higher than mine at 310 but you may be a lot younger than me... I've turned 70.I go more by my oxygen sats (with pulsometer on finger)...
If its between 92% and 96% it's OK...
On moving about it often drops below 90% since I had pneumonia last summer.
I use Spiriva (Tiotropium?) which lets me breath better and able to lay flat...
I don't have any side effects from this.
My chest conditions are Asthma, COPD and bronchiectasis.
I wish you a smooth journey with your medication...
Janice...
Aww thank you so much, keep my fingers crossed that all your inhalers keep working as they should x
Yes I'm only 36 and have had asthma for only two years. Been very sports oriented prior.
It's a matter if getting it under control...Do you use Seretide as a preventer?
I'm on Symbicort. Didn't get on with Seretide.
And mine. I have mild emphysema and I can not get mine any higher than 300.
Yep I blow 550-600 ,Yet i get spells where basic tasks leave me breathless. 6 years ago I could walk 10 miles these last few years I get days where going upstairs is to much
I now have AF but many people do it seems very few get breathing issues like me
I have had lung x rays/ echo on the heart / ct scan
And nothing of note
It's really interesting. Have they ever done a laryngoscopy with you? To check upper airways?
I'm planning to do one as consultant suspects ILO but what goes against that idea is that steroids are helping a lot during my breathlessness episodes.
But probably like you say if beta blockers help then it's some weird interaction thing between heart impulses and lungs. How good are you lung function tests?
I had a spirometer and that was on the low side of normal but I was having one of my breathless days
I haven’t had a test in my upper airways just lung x rays
My arteries are good I had a very low score
Do you have emphysema? Are you using a peak flow to get a reading of 550, if so, that is a good reading and your condition must be very mild.
there's no good or bad reading, it's all relative to the individual's normal reading and lung capacity. What's normal for one is bad for the other. And no, my condition is not mild, I'm under severe asthma clinic, suffering from chest infections every 3 weeks or so.
after 1.5 years under severe asthma clinic, countless chest infections, antibiotics and steroids, I've finally qualified for tezspire biologic and starting my treatment soon.
Morning, I don’t know why this happens for you but I have a similar problem. The peak flow is never an indicator of worsening asthma for me, it’s become a waste of time. My average is 375, 400 on a good day and may drop to 350. Recently my PF first thing was 375 by the afternoon I had a very chest, difficult to breathe and oxygen levels dropping. My consultant thinks a lot of my tight chest problems comes from the mucus plugging but obviously I still have enough puff to register a normal PF. I do find it frustrating because obviously I have a PF of concern on my asthma plan, never been anywhere near it!!!! I’m currently on my 3rd steroid course in 2 months after yet another exacerbation. Jo
Hi, I'm sorry to hear that, this highlights the importance of our symptoms,not PFs readings, doesn't it. Plus everyone's best pf is different. It's no use to say to someone 500 pf is a great peak flow if their normal is say 600. In my case I now know why it happens - I get infections non stop. First it goes in the upper airways and then creates mucus plugs. Before someone recommends me breathing techniques - I assure them these techniques do not help in my case at all. I'm already on mucus loosener. Next step will be to trial biologics and possibly regular low dose antibiotics.
It’s been great to discuss this with you as I must confess I do get frustrated when so much emphasis is placed on PF. Like you say everyone presents differently. Keep as well as you can 😊
Likewise! I now have a consultant who seems to explain my symptoms by my breathing pattern disorder including my frequent chest infections 🙈 I am yet to convince him it's mucus plugs not my breathing pattern disorder 😂
Stay well! X
Peak flow reading. 
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Peak Flow
