Newly diagnosed after years of being told I had anxiety.

[Srmeod]

Hi Everyone,

I got diagnosed with Asthma yesterday at the respiratory clinic after years of GPS just telling me I had an anxiety. I put my trust in them and just believed that’s just the way I was. It all started when I was 17 and got diagnosed yesterday at 31. I’ve been suffering with horrible breathlessness all the time. I have a horrible pressure feeling in the left side of my chest constantly. I’ve been prescribed Fostair 200/6 so I was wondering if anyone new if this was an indication as to how mild it is? As the dr was very vague and basically told me I had asthma and sent me out the door. Thanks

[elanaoali]

Welcome Srmeiod it is a bit of adjustment but today is the next day. So here you are with a million questions and not much to go on.

I can understand why the Dr was a bit vague. He needs to see how you get on with your inhaler etc. You have a preventer which indicates your asthma needs treatment every day. It is very important that you do use it. It's like wearing body armour without it you could get hurt.

Best suggestions is to settle down into a routine with using it every day. Look up asthmatic UK website for the gold standard of information. Book yourselves an appointment with your asthma nurse.

Remember asthma is just part of you not refines you.

[Srmeod in reply to elanaoali]

Thank you so much for replying. I’m really hoping the inhaler works as I feel absolutely rotten. I don’t get the prescription until Monday! Will an inhaler only ease the symptoms or can it remove them completely? Thanks

[elanaoali in reply to Srmeod]

Hi Srmeod the inhaler will take about 2 weeks to kick in. The idea of the inhaler to not so much to get rid of the symtoms but to control the inflammation in your airways. To calm everything down so that your body doesn't react to things.

I just re read your post and you are on the same inhaler as me Fostair Nexthaler 200/6. I switch to this for Seretide 250 which is an older inhaler. Fostair has smaller particles and will get down into your smaller airways.

Make sure when you do your inhaler that you wash your mouth out, gargle, brush your teeth to avoid oral thrush.

Any other question please feel free to ask.

[Minushabens]

Hi - elanaoali is right about why the doctor will be cautious, but I can imagine that you must feel incredibly frustrated.

The inhaler you have been given is of a type commonly used these days, in that it contains 2 different drugs. The most important one is beclometasone dipropionate (the 200 part of the 200/6). This is a drug that has been around a very long time & is tried & tested as a preventative medicine (I really like the 'suit of armour' analogy - that's exactly what it is really). The rest of the inhaler is a bronchodilator - that simply means it helps to keep your airways open. Its purpose is to get your symptoms under control but is something you are likely to need long-term.

If you haven't already done so, buy yourself a peak flow monitor (under a tenner from any pharmacist) & familiarise yourself with your own breathing & how it changes over time. If you search online for 'peak flow chart' you will find lots of ways to check your own readings against "normal" adults.

Good luck & ask away anything that you're unsure about.

[Srmeod in reply to Minushabens]

So regarding the peak flow monitor that’s where I find it all quite confusing. My peak flow has been between 400-430 however when I was talking to the women who performed the tests on me she said that was that predicted amount for me with regards to my weight and height. I achieved 118% of what my predicted peak flow should be. It was apparently other areas of the testing that showed I have asthma. One of the numbers should of been around 3.0 I think and I was 2. Something. There was a percentage of 48% mentioned too. Sorry I know that this comes across as complete random info but just trying to establish now should I still be checking peak flow ? Thanks

[Minushabens in reply to Srmeod]

The 3.0 figure might be what's known as a FEV-1 recording. It stands for forced expiry volume; the 1 is 1 second, so it's the amount of air you can exhale in 1 second. I would certainly learn about your peak flow, though. Take readings through the day to start with, then before & after taking your blue inhaler & see if you get a change. The AsthmaUK site has lots of information & a diary chart that you can use.

In terms of what is normal, search online for peak flow charts (there are thousands!); download one that is clear to read & it will give you some guidance as to what your reading should be without the asthma.

If this isn't making sense yet, just keep firing questions!

[Srmeod in reply to Minushabens]

Thank you for taking the time to reply I really do appreciate it. I feel like I’m in a complete limbo. Literally got told “ you don’t have asthma “ by a dr reviewing my results then he double checked with a Senior Dr who said “ you do have asthma “ so it was quite a day! Then sent out the door after and allergy blood test with next to no information. I am going to check with my Dr surgery to see if they run an asthma clinic. You mentioned a blue inhaler, I have only been prescribed a pink one to take in the morning and in the evening. I’m genuinely excited about receiving my inhaler as I’m hoping to get some relief as the constant breathlessness is so difficult to manage. Do the results of the allergy test help in anyway if they come back positive for an allergy? Thanks

[Minushabens in reply to Srmeod]

If they are concluding that you have asthma, then it would be normal (but keep in mind I'm not a doctor - they may have their reasons) to have a blue/rescue inhaler. The purpose of these inhalers is to give quick, but relatively short-acting relief if your breathing is problematic. The general rule of thumb is that the longer-term inhalers stop you needing to take the 'emergency' one other than periodically.

The allergy test ought to help to some degree - especially if it highlights something that is present in your daily environment that you can eliminate. Pets, mould, smoke, etc. are 'usual suspects', but there are all sorts of other things that can be triggers & part of your symptom management will be trying to fathom what they might be & get rid where you can!

Your GP/asthma nurse will be very familiar with the emergency inhalers (the blue one I mention is known as Ventolin & is the one you will often see people using round & about). Now you have a diagnosis, they might be willing to prescribe one for you & talk through using it correctly.

One final thing on the new inhaler - it is really important that you learn the correct technique for taking it. A wrong technique & you might as well not have it. Again, asthma nurses at your surgery should help with this, plus there are loads of YouTube videos - & I think AsthmaUK have been working on a video which they might have published as well.

Good luck & I hope it helps you.

[Srmeod in reply to Minushabens]

Thank you

[Hidden]

yes its horrible.i posted last week about being diagnosed with anxiety I knew different.a person knows their own body.its terrifying.

[Robin77]

Good that you were so persistent in the face of all that. Hope your health will improve with appropriate treatment.

[tegels]

I thought GPs had got over 'blame the patient' by now with regards to asthma symptoms - apparently not! But it looks like you're being taken seriously now. Plenty of good sense on this board too, so worth asking questions. Take care x