Trouble getting diagnosed?

Hi all!

This is my first post.

I am 18 and 3 months ago I started having trouble breathing like even walking to the bus stop etc would make me short of breath.

I went to the doctor who at first thought it was just a cold and said to give it 4 weeks and if it wasn't any better to go back, it didn't get better so I went back and he then suggested that it might be Asthma, he gave me a Salbutamol Sulphate Evohaler and told me to take it when needed and he then made an appointment for me to see a nurse for a lung capacity test.

I had the lung capacity test yesterday and though my breaths came back within normal range for my age etc it was on the lower side.

The nurse said that I don't have Asthma, she thinks that I have a viral infection and that it should clear up on it's own soon, she said to come back in 3 months if i'm no better.

Does that seem crazy to anyone? I am obviously new to all of this but I am so certian that I have Asthma, I told her how the Inhaler has been helping yet she told me to stop using it? I still have it and intend on using it until it runs out as it's the only thing that has helped so far.

A few weeks ago I walked home from town (about a 10 minute walk) and I got to the point where I felt dizzy and thought I was going to pass out because I just couldn't breath, I don't wheeze but I cough and my stomach feels tight when I breath in.

Has anyone else had problems getting diagnosed? Or am I really crazy and just imagining it lol? That is what the nurse made me feel like.

Her advice was to eat healthy and exercise, how am I suppose to excersise when I can't breath?

I am just so frustrated, I don't know what to do, I feel just as confused as I did 3 months ago when it all started happening.

Thanks for reading,

Kirsty xxx

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First off, I'dlieto welcome you to the boards and hope you have a pleasant time and find the support and friendship you need.

Sorry to hear that you've had a frustrating time of it lately. I think your best couse of action is to go and see your GP an explain it all to him, i doubt that this would be a viral infection after 3 months. Keep going, i'm sure you'll get there

Wendy x

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Well come to the Asthma uk forum!

I also would recommend you go back to the doctor and chat it all through.

It is possible a viral infection set it off, but you need to see your doctor as you shouldnt be using the inhaler if they told you to stop it.

If you do what they say and it doesnt get better then it will show them that you need it but if you ignore them, they wont find out you actually need it.

Also if you get really out of breath and dizzy sit down and take some deep breaths and if you feel no better go to a and e and they will help you and probabley tell you if they suspect it an asthma attack or something different, if it is asthma dont worry about causing a fuss you are better to get seem than not get seen to.

hope things start settling down and getting sorted soon

Plumie

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Hi Kirsty

I too had trouble getting diagnosed - my GP actually told me I was making up my symptoms! This was about 7 years ago and I am now severely asthmatic, and I do believe that the delay in getting diagnosed and thus treated had some contribution towards this - maybe if it had been caught in time I wouldn't have been left untreated for so long and I wouldn't be so bad now, who knows.

My advice is, persevere with the doctors - go and see a different doctor if you can, get a second opinion. I did this and got diagnosed straight away. Mind you, my original GP was as much use as a chocolate teapot and missed the fact that I had pneumonia and septicaemia :S

Feel free to PM me if you need to chat

Emz x