Asthma Or Not

[sherrivet]

Two months ago I went to work on a Thurs., noticed shortness of breath (SOB) while talking plus seemed easily fatigued. This was more pronounced Fri. (plus started getting numbness and tingling in left arm) and Sat., woke up with chest pain, SOB, and felt like I was going to pass out just walking. Went to ER, ECG only intermittent ectopic atrial rhythm, arterial O2 85, CO2 low, lactate high, x-ray clear. Nebulized salbutemal "cleared my head" but still very exercise intolerant and SOB. I elected to return home but the following Wed. passed out at my Dr.'s office, was admitted to Hosp. and when arterial sample was checked a couple of hours later, it was 75. I was evaluated for heart disease, nothing much came up, but being on nitro patch helped with my chest pain and it seemed my exercise intolerance was a little improved. Using  salbutemal not only didn't seem to help much but I started getting very weak and SOB because of the palpitations and muscle tremors. I was discharged on pulmicort, spiriva and some cardiac drugs. Within a couple of weeks the heart meds were stopped but my progression was very slow. I eventually had a PFT with no spiriva the night before. The initial test was normal but when I used the salbutemal, as it sputered to an end I got a sudden blast of palpitations and tremors that rendered me unable to lift a finger. I was given more time to recover but could not perform the breathing tests as well the second time. I tried Advair and Bricanyl at home with similar results so just used Pulmicort. I finally saw a respirologist yesterday who believes I have silent Asthma. He started me on Symbicort which so far I tolerate and he wants to redo the PFT with 48 hrs no drugs (I was told to keep using Pulmicort last time) to see if my first test is abnormal but I am dubious that it will prove anything to give me salbutemal and re-test considering how I have reacted. I still am not sure if I agree with the assessment thus far. Even if nothing shows on x-ray, I feel there is something impairing O2 transfer other than constricted small airways considering bronchodialators make such a small difference. The pulmicort seems more useful and I believe a course of prednisone will set me right. I should mention I have severe gastric reflux and aerophagia, and immune mediated arthritis and used Celibrex for nearly 7 years. So, do I have asthma?  


This discussion is related to Can you have asthma without wheezing?.