Am I the only one with Asthma who scores normal on the tests? - Asthma Message Board

mergatroy · 07-19-2006, 07:15 PM

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.

Howitt44 · 07-19-2006, 10:17 PM

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

mergatroy · 07-19-2006, 11:02 PM

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

bluedog139 · 07-20-2006, 09:10 AM

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.

bluedog139 · 07-20-2006, 09:11 AM

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.