Finally saw the lung specialist..and somewhat disappointed

[PinkBanana]

Well I finally saw a lung specialist today. Today I'm having a great day for asthma, my pf numbers are high, didn't need albuterol at all today, and I feel great!
Of course this showed in my spirometry, my numbers were all in the 80-low 90%.
So this specialist thinks I don't have asthma now, b/c they don't hear wheezing and I was doing great today. I've kept up on all my meds perfectly and I've been done with gymnastics for a few days now. He wanted to take me OFF Advair(!!!!!!) for TEN days while they waited to do a methacholine challenge! Mind you..if I miss taking my advair even once, esp at nite, I start to feel out of breathe and cough more. I told him I didn't think I could make it the 10 days without landing in the hospital. He said I could call if I had any problems but I don't trust that..yall know how doctors are about calling back. So instead he kept me on Advair but lowered it to 100/50, and kept me on Singulair(& the rest of my meds).
I'm so frustrated!! It's like when I'm feeling good no one thinks I have asthma, and it's like it never happened it never existed. But when things are bad..their BAD. I swear there are 2 times in my life where I questioned I would get better without complications or a hospital visit..or even get better at all..and last month when I had that month long flareup/pneumonia was one of them. I've never been so sick! And when it looked like it was happening again 2 weeks ago, thats why my doctor referred me. To get my asthma under control, b/c it seemed like what I was on wasn't helping..and instead my dosage is lowered. I'm just confused with how THAT works.
I'm so frustrated b/c I don't want to not be able to breathe again. I hate the hospital, I'm sick of going to the doctor, I'ms ick of coughing, feeling out of breath..
So I got referred yet again to an allergist who specializes in asthma also. Then I also have to meet with an asthma education person to talk about I don't even know what.
I'm thinkin I should change the lung specialist I see...I didn't like him at ALL..he was rude and he just had this cold aura about him I didn't like. I love my PCP..I hate seeing specialists!! =(

[reader1]

Originally Posted by PinkBanana

Well I finally saw a lung specialist today. Today I'm having a great day for asthma, my pf numbers are high, didn't need albuterol at all today, and I feel great!
Of course this showed in my spirometry, my numbers were all in the 80-low 90%.
So this specialist thinks I don't have asthma now, b/c they don't hear wheezing and I was doing great today. I've kept up on all my meds perfectly and I've been done with gymnastics for a few days now. He wanted to take me OFF Advair(!!!!!!) for TEN days while they waited to do a methacholine challenge! Mind you..if I miss taking my advair even once, esp at nite, I start to feel out of breathe and cough more. I told him I didn't think I could make it the 10 days without landing in the hospital. He said I could call if I had any problems but I don't trust that..yall know how doctors are about calling back. So instead he kept me on Advair but lowered it to 100/50, and kept me on Singulair(& the rest of my meds).
I'm so frustrated!! It's like when I'm feeling good no one thinks I have asthma, and it's like it never happened it never existed. But when things are bad..their BAD. I swear there are 2 times in my life where I questioned I would get better without complications or a hospital visit..or even get better at all..and last month when I had that month long flareup/pneumonia was one of them. I've never been so sick! And when it looked like it was happening again 2 weeks ago, thats why my doctor referred me. To get my asthma under control, b/c it seemed like what I was on wasn't helping..and instead my dosage is lowered. I'm just confused with how THAT works.
I'm so frustrated b/c I don't want to not be able to breathe again. I hate the hospital, I'm sick of going to the doctor, I'ms ick of coughing, feeling out of breath..
So I got referred yet again to an allergist who specializes in asthma also. Then I also have to meet with an asthma education person to talk about I don't even know what.
I'm thinkin I should change the lung specialist I see...I didn't like him at ALL..he was rude and he just had this cold aura about him I didn't like. I love my PCP..I hate seeing specialists!! =(

I have been where you are. I myself switched specialists about 2 and a half years ago. No improvement and my then specialist had a terrible bedside manner.

Seriously, there is a doctor out there who will work with you and listen.

[Nicole-Brittany]

Originally Posted by reader1

I have been where you are. I myself switched specialists about 2 and a half years ago. No improvement and my then specialist had a terrible bedside manner.

Seriously, there is a doctor out there who will work with you and listen.

I know exactly how you feel. I play tennis and I have 3 games this weekend. I dont know what im going to do because i needed a doctor visit before the games. my docs office hasnt been answering the phone all week so now i dont think i can play. i really need an up on my meds...i hate going to the ER...wouldnt want that to happen again

[PinkBanana]

Originally Posted by Nicole-Brittany

I know exactly how you feel. I play tennis and I have 3 games this weekend. I dont know what im going to do because i needed a doctor visit before the games. my docs office hasnt been answering the phone all week so now i dont think i can play. i really need an up on my meds...i hate going to the ER...wouldnt want that to happen again

Thanks it's great to hear some people understand out there that understand!
I can be sustained on Advair 250/50, but I'm really susceptible to illness and I have bad exercise induced asthma. Hopin they could ADD ON to what I'm taking, I don't mind it, and they try to cut back. No one understands that I don't want to compromise my life for asthma anymore..It ruins my life sometimes. I know I can't go without Advair b/c if I miss even one dose, I get outta breath. Now not taking it for 10 days..I don't want to be miserable! I don't want to do my nebulizer and go to the hospital or take prednisone..why can't they understand that. And I'm not sure 100/50 will be enough...I do so well on 250 when I'm not sick. It's just I've had bronchitis 3 times, pneumonia once, and several colds this winter. And each time throws me into a flare up.
Here's what was the real red flag about him, he suggested allergy testing for me..and he said I should have skin testing done. (I have VERY severe eczema).
Question..any of you have a low response to albuterol when your doing really well?? I usually need 3-4 puffs anyway before I respond, my lungs just don't take to albuterol anymore like they used to. Xopenex has replaced it in it's effectiveness.

[hc85]

Ten days is a bit ridiculous to go off your Advair. You should only have to withhold it for 12 hours. Ask about doing the methacholine challenge. As soon as they see how twitchy your lungs are, you'll be treated accordingly. I think skin testing also may be helpful to determine what causes triggers with your asthma AND your eczema. Have you had your immune levels checked? Maybe you are more immunocompromised than you thought. Also, most specialists see REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SEVERE asthmatics. I'm talking 5+ hospitalizations a year, oral steroids, the whole schmear. So don't be offended when they talk with you like you're a light case. I know it undermines you, but to them they've seen so much worse. Remind them that you're a person to and you won't reduce your life because of your asthma.