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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Asthma medication not helping breathing problems - Could this be COPD?
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Asthma medication not helping breathing problems - Could this be COPD?
by shoshr, Jan 01, 2007 12:00AM
For the past 2-3 months I've had severe breathing problems & have been in the ER 2 times. O2 levels are normal, except when dyspnea is at its worst, then it goes down to low 80's. Spirometry test was normal, am not wheezing, however PFT test shows sig. obstructive hyperinflation (but normal diffusion).
My doctor (who's my GP & pulmonologist) has concluded therefore that although I'm not wheezing I do have asthma, albeit unusual, & has been treating me as such. Treatment = Pulmicort 4 puffs morning & night, & 2 puffs midday; nebulizer as needed; liberal use of inhaler; now I'm on my 2nd prednisone burst in 1 month, & I'm struggling to make it thro the day. On a bad day I can't climb a flight of stairs, push a shopping cart, sing a song, cook a meal, fold laundry or anything involving moving from my bed or armchair. On a good day, climbing 1 flight of stairs causes dyspnea, & any activity that is more than very gentle leaves me struggling for breath & diving for the nebulizer or inhaler. I cough a lot, but non-productive or barely so; also clearing my throat a lot.
I've NEVER smoked, have had BASIC allergy skin testing all showing -ve, & blood tests show normal IGE, thyroid, iron levels, etc. Echo test was normal. I have PCOS w/high blood pressure & insulin resistance. Plus I have very severe migraine, & GERD (take Nexium). I was diagnosed with EI asthma w/o wheezing as a child, but have never had anything like this before. I also had multiple bouts of bronchitis as a child, & multiple mild respiratory infections as an adult.
Can you help? Any ideas? I'm desperate!
My doctor (who's my GP & pulmonologist) has concluded therefore that although I'm not wheezing I do have asthma, albeit unusual, & has been treating me as such. Treatment = Pulmicort 4 puffs morning & night, & 2 puffs midday; nebulizer as needed; liberal use of inhaler; now I'm on my 2nd prednisone burst in 1 month, & I'm struggling to make it thro the day. On a bad day I can't climb a flight of stairs, push a shopping cart, sing a song, cook a meal, fold laundry or anything involving moving from my bed or armchair. On a good day, climbing 1 flight of stairs causes dyspnea, & any activity that is more than very gentle leaves me struggling for breath & diving for the nebulizer or inhaler. I cough a lot, but non-productive or barely so; also clearing my throat a lot.
I've NEVER smoked, have had BASIC allergy skin testing all showing -ve, & blood tests show normal IGE, thyroid, iron levels, etc. Echo test was normal. I have PCOS w/high blood pressure & insulin resistance. Plus I have very severe migraine, & GERD (take Nexium). I was diagnosed with EI asthma w/o wheezing as a child, but have never had anything like this before. I also had multiple bouts of bronchitis as a child, & multiple mild respiratory infections as an adult.
Can you help? Any ideas? I'm desperate!
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Jan 04, 2007 12:00AM
, Jan 04, 2007 12:00AM
These are symptoms that are consistent with asthma. I would continue to work with your Pulmonologist to make sure that there are no other lung problems that are causing this difficulty breathing. If this is asthma, prednisone should make a difference, although this is not something you should be taking on a regular basis.
Member Comments (3)
by shoshr, Jan 01, 2007 12:00AM
P.S. Forgot to tell you my age! I'm a 41 yr old female. (Also, chest x-rays & CT scan are normal)
by Jabber, Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM
Pulmicort has worked very well for me. I take 2 puffs in the am and 2 in the evening. I also use Serevent which really does the job for me. Although Pulmicort is great to control inflamation (inflammation), it does not keep your lungs open. I am unable to breathe with just Pulmicort alone. For me the combination of the Pulmicort with Serevent has been key to me getting my life back to normal. Although COPD can happen to people who have not smoked, I think it is a long shot and I think they can give you a blood test to tell you if you carry this defective gene as well as give you lung function tests. Good luck.
