Asthma symtoms and further test denied

[Adjhind]

Hi all, this is the first time I post here. I want to share my first experience with (Asthma?) symptoms. Since one year I started to experience episodes of breathless mainly at work, cought and sudden awakenings in the night with suffocation feeling. I always thought it was for anxiety and stress. But since the past winter they started to became a bit more severe and persistent. Sometimes they interfere with my daily activity or cannot do taichi classes for example. Furthermore I start to feel chest tight or pain when I have these 'mild attaks' and the cough became even more sibling, so scary.... I decided to see nurse for the peak flow test and if it was necessary starting with a preventor too. She prescribed me that and salbutamol in case I need it, telling me I should go for a spyrometry test, and she also made me a flu vaccination. Before starting with preventor my peak flow was more fluctuating between 340 and 370 and often having troubling breathing. I do nor reach 400 without preventor. My best is 420 reached after taking salbutamol following a crisis. Now with preventer is always around 390-410 with less symptoms, I am better. Yesterday I went to my GP and she told me I don't need further exams as my previous peak flow (without preventer) is not too much concerning although I have experienced very bad symptoms and need ambulance in some cases. Hospital took chest X ray and it was clear, despite chest infection. Gp prescribed me another chest X ray despite tell her it was done already. Now I keep taking my preventor (4 puffs per day) for one month more. It's really frustrating not to know what's going on on me and not allowed to go for further exams. I know my mother is asthmatic as well and I think is is important to carry on further investigation in it. Sorry it's long post but I feel very sad and concerned about this issue now.

[Poobah]

Peak flow results have to be read by considering your gender, age, height and weight. Therefore there's a wide range of "normal" for an adult, 400 to 600.

Current NHS guidelines indicate that the reliever inhaler is only to be used around 3 times a week. In order to bring this use down a preventer inhaler is prescribed and taken daily even if patient feels well - the aim is to have no symptoms.

I think you should talk to one of the Asthma UK nurses about your situation in order to get a clear plan on how to address this matter with your GP. If you go to your GP and explain Asthma UK have recommended such & such, your GP may be more open to pursuing a better course of treatment for you.

Phone tel:[phone]

Good luck.

[Superzob]

I'm not clear whether you have actually had spirometry and a reversibility test to show whether you have asthma and/or fixed small airways obstruction..

As Poobah indicates, salbutemol is a reliever, not a preventer, and an asthma sufferer should have both (the preventer for normal use, and the reliever for an exacerbation). It actually doesn't matter if your peak flow is "normal" because this is an average and may not be your "normal", particularly as it improves with Salbutemol.

Under NHS rules, you are always entitled to ask for a second opinion, and that might lead to further tests to bottom this out. Good luck!

[Adjhind in reply to Superzob]

Hi Superzob, thanks for your reply

Yes, I am taking preventer as well 4 puff per day as indicated by the nurse and feel better, my peak flow is higher (390- 410)and more stable since I started it. I asked a second opinion to a pulmonologist specialist and he said I am probably asmatic and need spirometry test. Nurse too said I should go for it as my peak flow was low before started taking clenil. I will beed to do it abroat as here my GP doesn't allow me to have one

[Wheezycat in reply to Adjhind]

An asthma nurse can do it easily in a gp practice. Though hospitals have big equipment, there are small ones used in gp practices.