new with asthma/allergy question

oscar8 · 10-19-2005, 12:34 PM

I'm new to all of this and just trying to understand what is going on. I started seeing an allergist for allergies within the past year. However this last time I went in (for what I thought was going to be a simple visit) I had a low peak flow meter result. Which, as many of you probabaly already know lead to a series of questions many of which seemed to relate to asthma. Just prior to this office visit I was hiking and did have some trouble catching my breath and tightness, but didn't think much about it (thought I might just be out of shape). I guess I'm kind of confused, b/c I thought what I had going on were allergies on the mild/moderate side of things with the exception of cats and dust which were off the chart. By the end of the appt. Dr. said she was concerned I may have or be heading towards asthma and put me on singular and gave me an inhaler (maxair). I have to take the singular dailiy and zyrtec around animals, inhaler as needed. I usually have a cough on a daily basis(not present when on meds), wake up coughing a maybe a couple of times a month, have some difficulty breathing/winded around certian allergens(but not always bad), swelling around my eyes wtih cats, and other pretty typical allergy symptoms. I can tell a world of difference on the singular. I guess I'm wondering since the singular is working so well is it asthma? Can it just be allergies and if it is, why would I be put on an asthma medication? This newbie need some help understanding all this craziness!

chm060878020880 · 10-19-2005, 04:08 PM

I have a little case of exercise induced asthma, and I take singulair before bedtime for my allergies, and I have an albuterol inhaler to use before I do exercise. My guess is that your doctor thinks you have allergies and asthma, maybe EIA. You may want to talk to your doctor about your questions/concerns on your meds. You could also type in the name of your meds on the net, and that will hopefully help provide you with some info on your meds. Hope this helps.

Titchou · 10-19-2005, 07:02 PM

Sounds like it may be asthma...you should see a pulmonogist.

oscar8 · 10-20-2005, 03:13 PM

Hmmmm?? Pum. doc? I was under the impression that you could get an allergist/asthma doc who could treat both. Am I misdirected? I don't want to take this lightly, b/c what I have read asthma is/can be very serious, but I'm just confused, b/c my symptoms seem so mild in comparrison to some of the other stuff I've read on the web and on the boad. Also, this whole possibility of asthma thing started at my last visit. I'm 29 about 5'1", I think I should be about 475 on a peak flow(but not for sure). At the visit I think I was at 300-320 and I think my spirometry reading was okay/normal. I have done a peak flow since starting the singular at it is around 400. Is it normal to be off by 75? I feel fine(noticable difference in a good way). Hmmm??? Why would I be low on a PF and normal on spirometry? Is that even possible? Also, I was just around cats(after starting the singular on top of zyrtec)- which is a huge trigger for me and had relatively little if any problems breathing and with a reaction(just a few very mild symptoms). just trying to make heads or tails out of all of this. Thanks for any additional input!

Titchou · 10-20-2005, 04:16 PM

Well, I have allergies and asthma. I see an immunologist at a pulmonary and allergy clinic. I'm 59 and have had allergies all my life, asthma is recent - 8-9 years or so. As for peak flow, you can't rely on the charts only. Everyone is different....and yes, the two tests can show differing results.