Newly Diagnosed: I was given a working... - Asthma Community ...

Asthma Community Forum

21,540 members24,419 posts

Newly Diagnosed

Carriejen profile image
4 Replies

I was given a working diagnosis of asthma last week after 3 weeks of very varied peak flow readings (done at home as requested by my doctor) and a prescription of salbutamol for use if needed. I am grateful for a diagnosis as I've been having these same issues for around 7 years but they never got bad enough for me to feel I needed a doctor.

Last Thursday (22.2.17) my doctor prescribed me the brown preventer inhaler. I have read about people being misdiagnosed and am very worried about this. My symptoms cause me bother on an almost daily basis but I've never had a bad 'asthma attack'. On Tuesday I was woken up through the night feeling like someone was crushing my chest, my reliever inhaler did not help at all, and over the rest of the day I felt like someone had tied a belt around my chest and was constantly tightening and loosening it. It was scary and uncomfortable. I used my relived inhaler a few times and it didn't make a huge amount of difference. I returned to the doctors yesterday and was told my temperature was normal and my chest was clear. I've been given a 5 day course of prenidsalone and told to double my daily dose of my preventer inhaler (from one puff twice a day, to 2 puffs twice a day).

I am grateful for the diagnosis and for the medication (which does seem to be helping a lot). I'm just wondering, does it definitely seem like I have asthma? I'm just worried due to hearing about misdiagnosis plus having had symptoms for so many years without any really serious effects. And also I read somewhere that if the blue inhaler doesn't help (which is does most of the time) then it's unlikely to be asthma.

Written by
Carriejen profile image
Carriejen
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
4 Replies
lakelover profile image
lakelover

Before diagnosis the doctor put me on ventolin to see how it would help. My peak flow dropped like a stone. Then the nurse put me on Pulmicort & prescribed Bricanyl as a reliever. My peak flow rose. I think the propellant in mdis upsets me & I need the dry powder inhalers. I would say you probably have asthma.

Carriejen profile image
Carriejen

The salbutamol nearly always helps but the doctor thinks that maybe the preventer inhaler will make things a little worse whilst my body gets used to it, and thinks that the reliever inhaler wasn't working properly because I was panicking slightly as well. Thank you

trefaldwyn profile image
trefaldwyn

Hi...I am late onset atypical. Salbutamol (the "blue") has no effect on me at all and I am now sensitive to various/allergic steroids since this kicked off a handful of years ago - including (at least) hypersensitive to pred (not so keen on a trial of allergy in hospital on that one!). Symbicort (turbohaler) does the job and I am really lucky to have an excellent consultant. So yes it is asthma even when the blue does nothing ever.

Carriejen profile image
Carriejen in reply to trefaldwyn

Thank you for your response 😊 I suppose it's now just a waiting game for me to get used to whatever medications we find work for time. Thank you again!

You may also like...

Queries as newly diagnosed

Covidy, I'm not sure what to expect with asthma. I have chest and back tenderness, breathlessness,...

Newly diagnosed with adult onset asthma - yawning a lot?

my family. I am now on two puffs morning and two puffs night of my preventer. So far I have not had...

Newly discovered allergies and link to asthma

flare of allergy-induced asthma. I was already taking Fostair twice daily, plus more lately...

recently diagnosed asthma

coughing and have a pain in my chest from the over use of the inhaler. I feel so unwell I am at my...

Post covid asthma diagnoses

severe chest infections which always require antibiotics and steroids. I’ve check my inhaler...