Spirometry completed!

[Ami40]

Hi All, I've had my spirometry! Received the good news that my issues are not smoking related COPD! So now have to work out of its Asthma or not and what's the next step, I thought the spirometry would have been able to tell me if it's Asthma or not too, but apparently not? What tests do they use for asthma please? If its not Asthma causing this breathlessness, then what could it be etc? Would lv to hear thoughts? I'm seeing a homeopathic nurse at the moment, but feel like these tablets are just making my breathing it bit worse, don't know if that's because it's helping in the long run but not sure?

[Maggie_Mae]

Hi Ami40 .... I’m in same boat as you just now , re results after waiting a year & various inhalersre Covid restrictions etcResults not COPD .... ‘Not ruling out Asthma’

But received phone call 2 weeks later after re reviewing results and now going down route of ‘ Long Covid’. Which I personally think myself is route of various health problems.

Just awaiting blood tests , chest X-ray, & another inhaler

Hope you are keeping well yourself x

[Ami40 in reply to Maggie_Mae]

Hi Maggie,

Great to hear that too! I'm just really glad to get the results and glad it's not COPD related 😉 as was on the combi inhalers and used so many as they weren't agreeing with me, but now just taking a steroid clenil for asthma, yes it could well be long covid... but I haven't had a bout of sickness really, just what they called suspected pneumonia and I wonder if it was that but they just didn't know what it was? I'm just breathless doing things really, no mucus no cough, what are your symptoms please? I've had a few chest x- rays but nothing showed up I think or something that they thought were COPD but its not... so need a test to see if its asthma what tests do they use for this, do you know at all please?

Hope you are keeping well too and let's keep liaising with each other as seem to be in same boat x

[knitter in reply to Ami40]

A single preventer works for me ..the combination ones don’t suit me at all.To help diagnose asthma they use a reversibility test .

[Maggie_Mae in reply to Ami40]

Good Morning Ami 💐Bkin has given you a great full reply there ,

I would just add a handy hint , write your symptoms & any questions on a notepad .

I’m guessing your nurse may have said they will phone you in 3 or 4 weeks time for a chat regarding your new inhaler?.. if your caught on the hop with phone call , you will kick yourself later for not asking certain things applicable to your individual needs.

Myself, I believe I had an underlying lung condition, & also Covid before it was divulged or apparent in the Community. Being a Community Health Care worker also been in the midst of Covid constantly , so been a struggle. Obviously with break in lockdowns

I’m hoping to get to bottom of ‘ previous & new

Ever changing Symptoms’ which are exhausting mentally & physically .

Both our paths will probably differ long term but I’d love to stay in touch & swap our journey,

( without intruding on your privacy)

Ok to PM you ?

[Bkin]

Hi Ami

Congratulations you don't have any indication you have smoke related COPD.

If you are still smoking or vaping it would be highly advantageous to your health and wellbeing if you discontinued the habit

Spirometry is a simple test used to help diagnose and monitor certain lung conditions by measuring how much air you can breathe out in one forced breath.

nhs.uk/conditions/spirometry/

Peak flow often used for asthma..

Peak flow is a simple measurement of how quickly you can blow air out of your lungs. It's often used to help diagnose and monitor asthma. Picture of a man using a ...

nhs.uk/conditions/peak-flow...

Have you actually tried taking an anti histamine to be sure its not an allergy to pollen this time of year that is causing you problems.

Shortness of breathe is caused by many health conditions;

medicinenet.com/shortness_o...

It really depends what other symptoms you are presenting, how often you are experiencing dyspnea - all these should be communicated to your doctor who really is the only one who can diagnose whatever it is that is causing your symptoms.

Anxiety for instance causes shortness of breathe periodically and goes along with other symptoms.

Heart, asthma, allergic response all have other symptoms.

No one here can know for sure what ails you but your doctor can certainly help find the cause.

[Patk1]

Do u do yr peak flow?

[john35thorn]

I too, found combination inhalers none too successful. A paramedic suggested Trelegy -a once a day inhaler. Certainly works for me although I still need salbutamol to control my brochiectatis.