Asthma and/or COPD

I wish I knew! I am in almost exactly the same position as you.

As far as I am concerned I have life long Atopic Asthma, I am using Symbicort 100/6 and Oxis 6 when needed, sometimes when out of doors I use Ventolin but only very seldom.

I am sure I do not have COPD after reading about it on the web..

Hi what your doctor told you is absolute rubbish. It is common to have asthma first then to also get copd. It happened to me and to many others I know.

Having said that I was smoking so maybe the doctor meant it was unlikely to become copd unless you smoked. Around 85% of copders are smokers or ex smokers. The remainder is probably because of second hand smoke or working in certain trades ie the rag trade or construction etc.

A spirometry test is the usual tool to determine if you have copd or not. Have you had one? If not then I would ask your doctor for it. A CT scan will also be used on occasion.

If you have had a spirometry test do you know your lung function (FEV1) x

Ive been reading a lot too lately and according to what I read COPD is a label for a group of diseases and Asthma is one of them. So I think Drs say it wrong. Your asthma can eventually cause you to have permanent damage and making airway obstruction worse. I dont think they ave a term for that really except COPD.

I can only tell you what I'm on as an artistic, firstly duoresp spiromax 2x daily,spirits response 1x daily then montelukast nightly and uniphyllin 2 X daily and my symptoms are controlled hope this helps

That should read asthmatic not artistic

I have late onset asthma and fixed small airways obstruction which, to all intents and purposes, is COPD by any other name. Doctors are reluctant to diagnose COPD if you've not smoked, but smoking simply causes the lungs to deteriorate faster, though there can be other smoking-specific damage. If your lungs started life at a lower than average performance then, like mine, their performance over time will drop to a lower level than those whose lungs started at a higher performance level, and you will start to get symptoms (usually around 53/54% lung function). I can't comment on specific medications, only that I use a dual purpose inhaler which took me 5 attempts to find; there isn't a "one size fits all" medication, which is why there are so many on the market - you may need to try a few before settling on the right one for YOU. I wish you well.

Eosinophillic Asthma has often been wrongly diagnosed as COPD because symptoms and spirometry test results are frequently similar. Respiratory Diseases often overlap, and treatments can be quite similar. The important thing is to get an accurate diagnosis from a qualified Respiratory Disease Consultant, who can then give accurate guidance on the right Meds.

Don’t think you mentioned a Consultant but your GP should be able to refer you to an NHS one at the Hospital if you so request. Failing that you could get a Private Consultation Referral, typically for around £300 to £350, but that’s without the added costs of Tests or follow-up visit to discuss results, both of which will increase costs.

Basically - the 'experts' don't now the answer to this question. I've been asthmatic since 5 years old and a few years ago was told I have COPD as well, and that asthmatics can develop COPD. However, my hospital consultant said I have NOT got COPD and it should be struck from my records. But, my doctor is (I am told) an asthma expert and he still insists I do have COPD. So, as the Americans would say - Go Figure!!

Hi Elaine asthma and copd are 2 different things hope this helps