Bad Pulmonologist?

[Ratatosk]

I just don't understand why you're doing albuterol AND Duoneb. Duoneb is a combination of Atrovent and Albuterol.

[kellysmum]

I use the Duoneb three times daily. I use the Albuterol as needed. I have been diagnosed by my allergist and my family doc as having moderate to severe asthma. They collectively think that I need both-one as a longer term fix (the Duoneb) and the other as more of a rescue type fix-the
Albuterol. That's why.

[Titchou]

It's just very unusual for an adult to be on a nebulizer unless they are older - geriatric - or have other issues that hinder using a discus or inhaler. There are other medications which combine the dialator with a preventive - Advair is one such medication. Usually children and older adults have a hard time with an inhaler/discus and that's why the nebulizer. We just all find this a very odd treatment plan.

It's possible the nebulizer use before you went to the clinic could have skewed the test results. Knowing where you went though, they would take that into account.

[Gabby2007]

I use a nebulizer - and I am an adult without geriatric issues! I'm not sure how I got it - I was grumbling to my pulmonologist about my breathing problems (had a rough time getting the asthma under control) and in frustration asked him for a "switch" that I could use to turn the cough off. Next thing I knew, he'd ordered the equipment for me - and yes, it has a "switch", although not what I'd had in mind!

At any rate, I think it might help a bit more than the inhaler form of Xopenex...maybe because it's over a longer duration (the treatment), and I relax more while I'm using it? I have adult friends who say the same thing about their machines. But I still couldn't see using a nebulizer for anything more than a "rescue" treatment.

[Gabby2007]

Oh, to the OP - you really should find a different pulmonologist. I have moderate - severe asthma also; so I also need long term relief. But I use a long acting bronchodialtor (Serevent) and an inhaled steroid (Asmanex). Two long acting controllers. So my symptoms are mostly gone; I still use the rescuer (Xopenex for me), but not nearly as often as you are using the albuterol. There are probably other meds that will control your symptoms, but without the hassle of the nebulizer.