I was diagnosed as having asthma about 18 months ago. I have taken many, many tests..PFT (2), PST (2), Methacholine Challenge (1), oximeter thing on my finger and a few others. I rarely wheeze or cough. My peakflowmeter is usually 500-550. Worst score was about 250 when I was really sick with a flu bug.

I just walked out my front door to speak to a friend and was gagging for air within two minutes. I came back in and used my nebulizer. Then I put my respirator (painter's respirator mask) on, it has two 3M HEPA filters on it and went outside for about twenty minutes. I was fine.

I have been prescribed ...wow...between 12-16 meds. I am not any better and I am not really much worse. I apologize for whining, but I am frustrated.

My first two pulmonary doctors gave up and went me to another doctor. I have had about a half dozen severe asthma attacks where I should have went to the ER, but I used my nebulizer with Albuterol Sulphate and 40mg of Prednisone to pull me out of it.

My last attack was in Anacortes, WA and the wife was dialing 911 when I had an idea (after I took 40mg of prednisone), I used my Respironics Auto Bipap machine to help me breathe and it did. I laid down, put the mask on and it seemed to cure it. I have sleep apnea too.

Prednisone is really the only thing that consistently rescues me. 40mg the first day and 20mg for ten days.

I asked one doctor what was wrong with me and he honestly he didn't know, but he thinks my auto immune system is over active and rejecting the air around me. The prednisone shrinks the swollen avioli or something like that.

All I know for sure is that Prednisone rescues me every time.

The only input I can give you is that I do well on my FEV1 but score poorly on my FEF25-75%. Basically what this means is that my large airways are pretty normal, but my small airways are inflamed. So on the PFT, my diagnosis was asthma. The only difference with my symptoms and yours is that I have no asthma attacks. The only symptom I have now is some tightness and especially if I exert myself. I used to cough a lot and get colds twice a year turning into bronchitis, but since I am on a daily preventative, I stay pretty well year round. I hope you get some answers!
\Cindy

Thank you, I am on my fourth doctor, but first PULMONOLOGIST. I am told they are the "best" at diagnosing these things. We will see. I have a PPO med plan, and I think I can go anywhere in the USA, so I may wind up in another city.

Again..I really appreciate your taking your time to share that with me. As I struggle with all these medical problems the one "constant" I find is that I am really lucky. My wife has stood with me since my heart attack in Nov 2002.

Thanks again Howitt44

You said you had a methocholine test, did you react to it? I'm curious because I had one and didn't react so my dr said i don't have asthma even though they thought it was a sure thing that I did. My peak flows vary from visit to visit. My drs are scratching their heads trying to figure out what is wrong with me too. I'm on my 3rd Dr.

I've had a lot of the same symptoms as you and am on 5 different meds, just trying to control my symptoms. I've been wondering if it is possible to not react to the methacholine test and still have asthma.

You said you had a methocholine test, did you react to it? I'm curious because I had one and didn't react so my dr said i don't have asthma even though they thought it was a sure thing that I did. My peak flows vary from visit to visit. My drs are scratching their heads trying to figure out what is wrong with me too. I'm on my 3rd Dr.

I've had a lot of the same symptoms as you and am on 5 different meds, just trying to control my symptoms. I've been wondering if it is possible to not react to the methacholine test and still have asthma.

Unexplained asthma that is does not respond to the methacoline challenge, that is almost untreatable with asthma meds, and also does not respond to allergy meds is typically caused by laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). This is not the same as low-esophogeal heartburn reflux - instead the acid moves all they way to the top of the esophogous and gets reaspirated down the lungs. It's a pH of 2, and is made of hydrochloric acid, so it basically burns the crap out of your lungs.

The only (but very effective) treatment is to treat the reflux with PPIs. LPR patients need 2 doses a day, period. You must use prescription PPIs which fall under the brands Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Aciphex and Protonix. Under no circumstances use Prilosec OTC (different than prescription Prilosec and even made by a different company - it's one of those liscensing deals).

If you don't believe me, do your own research on "laryngopharyngeal reflux" and you will be SURPRISED!

If you're posting here, you're obviously suffering. So don't wait to try to fix it. You'll know if you're on the right track within a week of starting the PPIs. Sometimes the problem gets under control in a day.

Thank you, I am on my fourth doctor, but first PULMONOLOGIST. I am told they are the "best" at diagnosing these things. We will see.

Oh my gosh! Yes, you certainly should be seeing a pulmonolgist! My internist and my husband (Ph D in biological chemistry) diagnosed and treatment my asthma. When I finally saw a pulmonologist, I got better!
Hard to tell the Ph D hubby that his skills were lacking....

Aswander...I was on Prevacid..twice a day for about 2 years. Cardiologist put me on it. Also Nexium, Aciphex and protonix...I have been on those for many years. My formulary has changed several times, so I have changed meds. But thank you for the suggestion. I really appreciate it and will ask my dr. if he thinks there is a chance of it. Stranger things have happened.

Titchou, thank you. Yes, it takes real diplomacy to convince your spouse they might have missed it a tiny bit. When my wife (degree in psychology) misses on something, my favorite retort is ...."It is ok honey, after all, you are just a girl." For about a month after that, every chore around the house is mine. She will smile and say she can't do that because she is just a girl. I never get ahead of her.

Bluedog 139, the meth. challenge test was a waste. I think we are supposed to have less air in our lungs, but I had more. AND when they checked my Blood pressure, etc. I was 80/40. The guy thought his machine was broke.
My doctor has the results, but did not even bother to call. A disappointment.
ALL of my tests rate me as normal, but my day to day living says different.

I am inside every day. All due to not being able to breathe outside. If I don't have asthma, I wish someone could tell me what it is.