I'm new to all of this and just trying to understand what is going on. I started seeing an allergist for allergies within the past year. However this last time I went in (for what I thought was going to be a simple visit) I had a low peak flow meter result. Which, as many of you probabaly already know lead to a series of questions many of which seemed to relate to asthma. Just prior to this office visit I was hiking and did have some trouble catching my breath and tightness, but didn't think much about it (thought I might just be out of shape). I guess I'm kind of confused, b/c I thought what I had going on were allergies on the mild/moderate side of things with the exception of cats and dust which were off the chart. By the end of the appt. Dr. said she was concerned I may have or be heading towards asthma and put me on singular and gave me an inhaler (maxair). I have to take the singular dailiy and zyrtec around animals, inhaler as needed. I usually have a cough on a daily basis(not present when on meds), wake up coughing a maybe a couple of times a month, have some difficulty breathing/winded around certian allergens(but not always bad), swelling around my eyes wtih cats, and other pretty typical allergy symptoms. I can tell a world of difference on the singular. I guess I'm wondering since the singular is working so well is it asthma? Can it just be allergies and if it is, why would I be put on an asthma medication? This newbie need some help understanding all this craziness!

I have a little case of exercise induced asthma, and I take singulair before bedtime for my allergies, and I have an albuterol inhaler to use before I do exercise. My guess is that your doctor thinks you have allergies and asthma, maybe EIA. You may want to talk to your doctor about your questions/concerns on your meds. You could also type in the name of your meds on the net, and that will hopefully help provide you with some info on your meds. Hope this helps.

Sounds like it may be asthma...you should see a pulmonogist.

Hmmmm?? Pum. doc? I was under the impression that you could get an allergist/asthma doc who could treat both. Am I misdirected? I don't want to take this lightly, b/c what I have read asthma is/can be very serious, but I'm just confused, b/c my symptoms seem so mild in comparrison to some of the other stuff I've read on the web and on the boad. Also, this whole possibility of asthma thing started at my last visit. I'm 29 about 5'1", I think I should be about 475 on a peak flow(but not for sure). At the visit I think I was at 300-320 and I think my spirometry reading was okay/normal. I have done a peak flow since starting the singular at it is around 400. Is it normal to be off by 75? I feel fine(noticable difference in a good way). Hmmm??? Why would I be low on a PF and normal on spirometry? Is that even possible? Also, I was just around cats(after starting the singular on top of zyrtec)- which is a huge trigger for me and had relatively little if any problems breathing and with a reaction(just a few very mild symptoms). just trying to make heads or tails out of all of this. Thanks for any additional input!

Well, I have allergies and asthma. I see an immunologist at a pulmonary and allergy clinic. I'm 59 and have had allergies all my life, asthma is recent - 8-9 years or so. As for peak flow, you can't rely on the charts only. Everyone is different....and yes, the two tests can show differing results.

In my opinion you do not need to see a Pumonologist unless you are referred to one. I see an allergist/asthma specialist because most asthma is allergy related.

Well, I'm at an Allergy and Asthma clinic, so it sounds like for the time being I'm at the right place. Since the Dr. didn't say definitively it is asthma, but seemed concerned that it was, does any one have an idea of how long it would take a Dr. to say yes it is or no it's not? I have to go back early Dec. I suppose Dr. wants to see how/if singulair is helping, etc... I guess I'm wanting to know if I should be able to expect more definite answers at my next appt. or if there will be more to come before knowing for sure. Any insight would be great... I'm really pleased and comfortable with Dr. so far, just curious how long it might take before they would give definite diagnosis?

Well, first of all, if you don't actually have asthma, you should not be using a rescue inhaler (bronchial dialator). And Singulair was actually designed as an asthma medication that they found - after the fact - is helpful with allergies. I'd ask for a clear diagnosis.

Asthma is caused by many things....the most common of which are exercise induced and a strain of pneumonia (which mine was caused by at age 50). It can be exacerbated by allergies.

Hmmmmm, I know one should never assume, but wonder if Dr. is further along in her diagnosis than I realize. You nkow when you are sitting in the office listening to all of what they are saying I'm sure I missed something (especially since I was kind of taken off gard). It was my understanding that singulair treated both allergies and asthma, but didn't realize that the allergy benefits were more of a secondary benefit rather than a primary (i.e., that sounds like it is more of an asthma med vs. allergy med). Like I've mentioned before I do have to go back and have already started my list of questions for when I return, but I will definitely try to get a more firm answer. Boy do I have a lot to learn! Thank you for your help, in helping me sort through all of this!

I know...they throw so much at you it's hard to grasp it all. I've just learned to not leave till I understand everything...and then if I have questions, I call back or go back.

One of the main triggers of Asthma is allergies thus controlling the allergies will also cut back on asthma if your asthma is triggered by your allergies. Taking the singulair on a daily basis should help with the # of flare ups you are experiencing from the allergies. It is not uncommon for a person with Asthma to be on Singular (or Accolate which is the same type of drug) and Advair (or any combination of the Flovent/Serevent inhailers that are in Advair). It sounds to me that your doctor does know what they are talking about. I would take their advice to see if it helps and go from there. Singulair can take several weeks to kick in before you see the results but you have to make sure you take it.

Good luck & welcome,
Amanda

Thanks for the info. I've been on the singular for over a month and I do notice that I don't cough as much, so I guess that is a good sign. I also noticed it was overall easier to breath shortly after I started to take the singular- I don't notice as much now, b/c I think I'm getting use to easier breathing. My doctor wants me to think about allergy shots, but I want to take things step by step, so I'm going to wait and see what she says when I go back in December. So far she has been really good at telling me what can be optional and what is a necessitiy. She did mention about getting the allergies under control that it would help if I do indeed have asthma. I guess it is just a waiting game for the moment. I just hope I get some definitive answer when I go back after taking the singular for a couple of months. I guess it is just hard to believe that I may have asthma, because when I think of people (that I know with it) it seems to be more severe than what I'm experiencing.

Allergy shots may be a good idea. I have been getting them for a couple of years, and I think they've helped with some of my allergies, but not all. Plus I have now developed peanut and tree nut allergies - and the thing the peanuts do is worsen my asthma, and make my chest tight. This is a new thing for me - but I feel so much better without eating any nuts or traces of nuts (tree nuts give me more of a lip-swelling, throat itching thing) that I am beginning to feel the value having to give up eating some of my favorite things. I like my allergist, and think the shots are doing something for me.

I have read that sometimes doctors will put you on a trial of asthma medicine and see how one responds prior to diagnoisis. I'm currently on a trial of singulair and my peak flow has increased, would that be a sign of asthma?

I'm no doctor but what you have described sounds like classic allergy induced asthma. many people do not have typical allergy syptoms (like me) of watery eyes, sneezing etc but instead just have astham like attacks from asthma. sounds to me like the singulair is helpign to control the allergies (like it is suppossed to) so that is helping to keep your asthma attacks under control. your friends w/ asthma may have other things that keep theirs constant like allergies to outside environmental things that they are constantly exposed to or have a family history of Asthma which does not depend on allergens...everyones is different.