asthma diagnosis? - Asthma Message Board

tattoocat · 09-08-2003, 06:31 PM

Hi,

I've recently been diagnosed by my gp with "cough variant asthma". However, he didn't run any tests, he just put me on Advair to see what would happen. It did help, but I'm still not feeling quite right, and I don't like the hoarseness I get with it, so he took me off that and put me on Singulair, which seemed to severly aggrivate my rhinitis.

I have allergies (dust, mold, seasonal), but never asthma. The violent coughing and shortness of breath came along during a cold I had almost 2 months ago. The cold went away, but the cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath stayed behind.

I'd like to get fully tested to see if this is really asthma. Could someone recommend what kind of doctor I should seek out to do this (allergist, pulmonologist, etc.)? I'd rather have a definitive answer than just to keep trying different medicines hoping one will work.

Thanks.

scb411 · 09-08-2003, 06:50 PM

A pulmonologist would be the best bet, it is sometimes easier to get in with a board-certified allergist. They deal with asthma a lot as well. You need a spirometry testing. This tests your lung functions. If you have symptoms of asthma and you have low functions and then respond well with a bronchodilator (like albuterol) and then get a higher function, it is almost definite you have asthma. A methacholine challenge is the gold definitive for asthma, but those are sometimes hard to get into/do, so spiros help the diagnosis.

tattoocat · 09-09-2003, 07:26 PM

Thanks. I'm going to start with the allergist, since I already have an appointment with him. If that doesn't work I'll look for a pulmonologist.

scb411 · 09-10-2003, 12:45 AM

Most allergists handle asthma very well. Good luck and hope you stick around.

wrin · 09-11-2003, 07:35 PM

when I was on Flovent (an ingredient in Advair) it made me very hoarse. My doctor switched me to Pulmicort, a similar drug. It hasn't made me hoarse and works wonderfully.

If you don't live in the united states, there's an advair-like combination including pulmicort that might be available for you to try.