My doctor just recently diagnosed me with Asthma (I'm 30).
I have a family history of it (maternal grandma and an uncle on my mom's side) but haven't had ay symptoms until within the past 3-4 moths.

I know no one here can diagnose me but I'd like to know your opinions of whether or not my doctor seems on the right track with this.

Here's a little history:
In the past 4 months I've had an upper respiritory infection and pneumonia. It seems like my lungs haven't recovered yet. I get tightness in my chest and shortness of breath. It feels like my lungs just get tired of breathing. I've been on an albutoral inhaler for about 2 months now, which doesn't seem to be working. At my doctors appointment last week, the doctor told me suddenly that I have asthma and gave me a perscription for Pulmicort (which doesn't seem to be working yet, either).

The reason I'm asking for your opinion is because my doctor never gave me any lung function tests or anything like that. I'm a little curious as to how she came to that conclusion. Can it be diagnosed just by the symptoms presented and by listening to the lungs?

I don't feel like I'm getting any relief for this. Even as I'm typing this my chest feels tight and I feel short of breath and I've just taken both of my asthma meds.

I would appreciate any feedback on this. Thank you ~Amelia

Well i've heard about a bacterial infection of the lungs called Chlamydia pneumoniae (different than the sexually transmitted disease strand of bacteria). Apparently it can cause asthma if one is to get infected with it through a cold or pneumoniae. It's a touchy subject that is just starting to be investigated but i'm to understand that if one takes the right antibiotics he/she may be able to do away with their supposed asthma. I may self never tried it because I have has asthma since i was born, rather than getting it after any type of illness. Google Asthma Story and i site will come up which is all about a guy who cured his asthma by getting rid of the bacteria. Good Luck, and I wouldn't be so quick to listen to your doctor they are often misinformed in my opinion.

Lung function tests aren't always accurate - maybe your doctor decided to diagnose you based on other factors? Especially for nonallergic asthma - I've been told that those tests only work for allergic asthma.

How often are you using the albuterol? It is only a rescue drug, you know - you may need a long term preventative medication in addition to a rescue medication.

Are you seeing a family doc or an asthma specialist?

It is true about the pneumonia strain causing asthma. That's how I ended up with it. However, antibiotocs won't help if you are over the infection. The damage will have already been done. Go see a pulmonologist, get tested and get on the appropriate meds for you. I was a lot better once I did that.

Well, it isn't a common practice to do away with asthma using antibiotics. One must use extremely high doses of antibiotics for a long period of time to do it. The reason being is that even though one may feel better, with the exception of the asthma, there is still bacteria that remains in one's lungs causing the asthma. This is just one theory and as i said it is only now being tested, but researchers have found higher amounts of chlamadyia in asthmatics than non asthmatics. So if one has gotten asthma from some sort of illness i would suggest looking into this. As i said before, i was born with asthma so it probly wouldn't do much for me.

Gabby2007- Well I have allergies, does that mean that this would be allergic asthma or not necesarily?
I'm using the albutoral at least once a day, sometimes twice. My doctor has me taking Pulmicort as well. She just put me on it during last week's appointment but so far it doesn't seem to make a differance. But I think maybe it takes a week or so before you feel the effects?

And I'm just seeing my regular family doctor right now. I've never even heard of a pulmonologist until now lol.

Thanks everyone for all of your help. I appreciate it.
My next appointment with the doc in on Dec 3rd and I'm sure I'll have a ton of questions for her.
Thanks again. ~Amelia

It depends on whether or not your allergies cause asthma syptoms. For example if your allergic to dust mites but only get itchy watery eyes and no form of chest tightness, shortness of breathe, etc. Than i'd say it's not allergic asthma. Don't take my word as law though i'm not a doctor but i have had asthma my entire life.

Since you have a family history of asthma, it's more likely that you have allergic asthma. Of course, it is possible to have both allergic and non allergic asthma. Childhood onset tends to be allergic, while adult onset is more often non allergic. Of course, there are exceptions...

You could go see an allergy/asthma doctor - s/he would probably be better at the allergic form, could give skin tests, etc for allergies. I see a pulmonologist, since I don't have allergies.

One of my triggers is talking - really, using my voice at all (singing, laughing, etc). I used to sing in church services (not special music - just with everyone else) - not any more. Even after I've used my rescuer, I still wind up coughing. The rescuer does let me talk normally, though, which is nice.

Thanks for all your replies. You've been a big help. ~Amelia