suzcgrove
12-27-2007, 03:40 PM
I've had chronic asthma since I was five. I'm now 28 and my asthma has been under control since I was 20. My asthma is definitely affected by my nut allergy which I found out when I was hospitalized and intubated when I was 20. However, it is really not affected by seasonal allergies, which I do have a little of during the summer since I moved to Utah from Seattle, this past July. I'm looking for a new asthma and allergist right now. I saw one recently and she's trying to tell me all about my asthma and she hasn't asked me any questions and she was trying to put me on a bunch of new medications, when I am already on a plan that works for me. I don't have to use a rescue inhaler at all right now and I'm totally enjoying that. She wanted to see me every six months, which I felt was very unnecessary, but she said was part of her policy. I'm not rich, I don't want to spend my money to fund a blood sucking doctor. Once a year is enough for me. I just want my meds....!!! Why is it so difficult to get them? I just want to keep breathing!!! Is that too much to ask? My doctor in Seattle was always very accomodating and helpful, she has since passed away (Gail Shapiro-we will miss you). I'm still in search of a good specialist in the Salt Lake City vicinity. If you know of one, please let me know.
Thank you,
Breathless in SLC
Thank you,
Breathless in SLC
Sponsor
suzcgrove
12-27-2007, 11:48 PM
I was a little angry when I wrote this. I would really appreciate some input and encouragement. My asthma is under control, but it wasn't always this way. It was a long battle of discovering new medications that worked for me, but now that I'm here in this safe place I'm afraid of going back to the way things used to be. Maybe you know how I feel? Now finding this website for the first time there is someone to talk to about it.... hopefully.
Thanks
Thanks
Gabby2007
12-27-2007, 11:52 PM
You mean this thread?
I've heard of Northwest Asthma & Allergy - I think. But not Dr Shapiro. I go to a lung doc in South King County, not an allergy doc since I don't have allergic type asthma.
I don't know any docs in SLC, although if I were in your shoes, I'd look for one connected to one of the med schools there. Seems like the university hospitals/med centers are often good....
I have persistent asthma - kind of a pain and difficult to treat. But I've got it under control now I think (I'm fairly newly diagnosed, although in retrospect, I think I've had this most of my life). I don't have any kind of plan to go back and see my asthma doc unless things get out of control. Otherwise, I guess my family doc can renew my asthma meds - my lung doc sends her updates as necessary. She'll send me back to him if she thinks it's necessary.
I've heard of Northwest Asthma & Allergy - I think. But not Dr Shapiro. I go to a lung doc in South King County, not an allergy doc since I don't have allergic type asthma.
I don't know any docs in SLC, although if I were in your shoes, I'd look for one connected to one of the med schools there. Seems like the university hospitals/med centers are often good....
I have persistent asthma - kind of a pain and difficult to treat. But I've got it under control now I think (I'm fairly newly diagnosed, although in retrospect, I think I've had this most of my life). I don't have any kind of plan to go back and see my asthma doc unless things get out of control. Otherwise, I guess my family doc can renew my asthma meds - my lung doc sends her updates as necessary. She'll send me back to him if she thinks it's necessary.
suzcgrove
12-28-2007, 12:05 AM
What do you mean by persistent asthma?
Gabby2007
12-28-2007, 12:17 AM
"Persistent Asthma" probably wasn't the precise term for what I have (I told you I'm kind of new at this!).
The docs have a scale for symptoms: mild intermittant, mild persistent, moderate persistent, severe persistent. It refers to how often you have symptoms. I have moderate persistent, which means I have daily symptoms and kind of frequent exacerbations. So - getting it under control was a pain - took some experiments with meds and dose amounts...I have a good asthma doc, though - finally. My family doc sent me to a different pulmonologist originally; he turned out to be a loser (told me that I just had frequent bouts of extended post viral cough! Never mind that my "post viral cough" had lasted over a year at that point! snort!). We fired that doc and found my current doc - he was really thorough in looking for the right dx and treatments...and he tolerates my wierd sense of humor and kick b*tt approach to life/medical hassles! :jester:
The docs have a scale for symptoms: mild intermittant, mild persistent, moderate persistent, severe persistent. It refers to how often you have symptoms. I have moderate persistent, which means I have daily symptoms and kind of frequent exacerbations. So - getting it under control was a pain - took some experiments with meds and dose amounts...I have a good asthma doc, though - finally. My family doc sent me to a different pulmonologist originally; he turned out to be a loser (told me that I just had frequent bouts of extended post viral cough! Never mind that my "post viral cough" had lasted over a year at that point! snort!). We fired that doc and found my current doc - he was really thorough in looking for the right dx and treatments...and he tolerates my wierd sense of humor and kick b*tt approach to life/medical hassles! :jester:
suzcgrove
12-28-2007, 12:26 AM
I didn't know about the rating system. My asthma was severe, but intermittant. Now that my asthma is under control with the medications that my doctor, who has since passed away, put me on -I have no symptoms whatsoever... I am very lucky, but also afraid. I saw her all my life, she was a friend. I don't know what to do.
Gabby2007
12-28-2007, 12:29 AM
The Mayo clinic has has info about the rating system (look up persistent asthma in your favorite search engine). Some docs use it as a guideline as to what types of meds you need - if you had mild intermittant, for instance, you'd probably be fine with just a rescuer. But other types will need controllers, plus rescuers...and I think the rating system has suggestions about the type of controllers, etc. I think it's a fairly new thing, maybe since you were originally dx'd.
You might just have to shop around for a new doc, as I did. Although hopefully it won't take too much work. You have your records from Seattle, don't you? Or get them faxed to any new doc that you "audition."
You might just have to shop around for a new doc, as I did. Although hopefully it won't take too much work. You have your records from Seattle, don't you? Or get them faxed to any new doc that you "audition."
suzcgrove
12-28-2007, 12:36 AM
How do I audition doctors without paying them?
Do you think they would let me meet with them before actually setting up a regular appointment? I don't know what protocol is on that...
Do you think they would let me meet with them before actually setting up a regular appointment? I don't know what protocol is on that...
Gabby2007
12-28-2007, 12:40 AM
You might be able to call and ask a few questions - talk to their nurse or something. But otherwise you might just have to talk to people and get a personal recommendation.
You must be on limited insurance or something? I had to go to a bunch of docs to get dx'd - the fired lung doc, plus about three different specialists to rule out other possible causes for my chronic cough before I landed with the final pulmonologist and asthma dx. But our insurance covered it all.
You must be on limited insurance or something? I had to go to a bunch of docs to get dx'd - the fired lung doc, plus about three different specialists to rule out other possible causes for my chronic cough before I landed with the final pulmonologist and asthma dx. But our insurance covered it all.
suzcgrove
12-28-2007, 12:51 AM
what is dx'd? I have uhc so I can only see certain docs...
i'm just curious how old are you and how long have you had your symptoms?
that's good your insurance covered all that... you must have really good ins.
i'm just curious how old are you and how long have you had your symptoms?
that's good your insurance covered all that... you must have really good ins.
Gabby2007
12-28-2007, 12:57 AM
Sorry. Dx'd = diagnosed. Sx = symptoms.
I'm almost 45. Have routinely gotten "chest colds" that last 2-3 months several times a year. I almost failed a term in high school because I missed so much school from my "cough" and the collapsed lung that was a part of it. The last few years I had a nonstop chronic cough...I always thought that I just had bad colds until a few years ago I happened to have my annual physical during another "bad cold". My family doc heard me wheezing and the unusual chest sounds, started grumbling and ordering bizaare medical tests. It took about a year of medical tests before we eliminated other causes...the docs kept going back to the asthma dx, which is what I now have as a final dx, I guess.
I'm almost 45. Have routinely gotten "chest colds" that last 2-3 months several times a year. I almost failed a term in high school because I missed so much school from my "cough" and the collapsed lung that was a part of it. The last few years I had a nonstop chronic cough...I always thought that I just had bad colds until a few years ago I happened to have my annual physical during another "bad cold". My family doc heard me wheezing and the unusual chest sounds, started grumbling and ordering bizaare medical tests. It took about a year of medical tests before we eliminated other causes...the docs kept going back to the asthma dx, which is what I now have as a final dx, I guess.
suzcgrove
12-28-2007, 01:06 AM
I'm glad you got dx'd. I know what its like to struggle. I was the kid in highschool who was puffing away on the inhaler, they knew what it was since I was five, but couldn't really do much about it until more recently, the new drugs... ie singulair, advair, they gave me a normal life, of course my lungs had to collapse and I had to be intubated for three days unconscious first. Now, I have a normal life, its like nothing happened to me at all. Asthma sucks and I feel like its looming over me like a scary monster that's gonna kill me someday. I should already be dead. I'm sorry, I'm totally venting. Thank you for listening. I don't really have anyone else to talk to about this.
Gabby2007
12-28-2007, 01:12 AM
I don't think asthma is bad, especially compared to the hassles that some of my friends have (one is a heart transplant survivor *and* cancer survivor!). You just get aggressive about maintaining a good treatment plan - and you go out and live a wonderful life. If you wind up in ER - hey, at least the docs can help you (although I recommend bringing good magazines for you and your spouse/friend that takes you there!). It really isn't a big deal.
suzcgrove
12-28-2007, 01:14 AM
It's a big deal to me.
Titchou
12-28-2007, 09:29 AM
Suz: There are new asthma guidelines out within the last 6 months. One of them is a check up every six months. Another is a written plan for how to control your asthma. It was put out by (I think!) the National Institutes of Health. It's a good thing to go every six months for a check up. I just have to pay a co-pay so it doesn't cost that much.
As for all the questions the new doc asked, if you didn't bring your files, they have to start somewhere! And you should be glad she asked a lot of questions. She eveidently is really interested in you...otherwise she's have just written the scrip and sent you on your way. When my allergy doc retired, it took me two tries to find a good replacement. And I had to start from scratch with him - all new allergy testing, breathing test, etc.
If you have a general physician, ask him for a rec on a pulmonologist....who he would send his family to. Or ask around with friends, co-workers, etc. That's how i found mine.
Good luck!
As for all the questions the new doc asked, if you didn't bring your files, they have to start somewhere! And you should be glad she asked a lot of questions. She eveidently is really interested in you...otherwise she's have just written the scrip and sent you on your way. When my allergy doc retired, it took me two tries to find a good replacement. And I had to start from scratch with him - all new allergy testing, breathing test, etc.
If you have a general physician, ask him for a rec on a pulmonologist....who he would send his family to. Or ask around with friends, co-workers, etc. That's how i found mine.
Good luck!
MountainReader
12-31-2007, 01:59 AM
I moved to your area about 12 years ago. I developed allergies and asthma after moving here. You might look into the Intermountain Allergy and Asthma Clinic in South Ogden. They obviously specialize in this area. I went to them for about 8 years. I am currently using Dr. Douglas Anderson, ENT in South Ogden. I also have many friends who go to Dr. Vicky Lyons (Ogden) who specializes in allergies and asthma. The last two have affiliations with different hospitals. Hopefully one of these would work for you.
If you are new here, be vigilant this time of year. We get some pretty severe inversions after the first snow falls. When this happens, all of the pollution gets trapped in the valleys. The extreme cold air that comes with these and the pollution that sets in are both triggers for my asthma. You can watch for air quaility allerts when this happens, but it is pretty obvious when you look outside.
Hope this helps.
If you are new here, be vigilant this time of year. We get some pretty severe inversions after the first snow falls. When this happens, all of the pollution gets trapped in the valleys. The extreme cold air that comes with these and the pollution that sets in are both triggers for my asthma. You can watch for air quaility allerts when this happens, but it is pretty obvious when you look outside.
Hope this helps.