Hello, I am a 26 year old female who never smoked and has no history of asthma in the family.
For the past 9 months, I've been experiencing a mild shortness of breath, sometimes accompanied by a sharp (and sometimes dull) pain on the left side of my chest just above the breast. I've noticed the sharp pains from time to time when I inhale deeply or when I exhale fast and hard. Other than that, I don't wheeze or cough like many asthmatics do. Coincidentally, coffee has been making me nauseous ever since about 9 months ago. I believe that coupled with being in a moving car, taking coffee, and having shortness of breath, I started hyperventilating so much one day that my hands, feet, and face got very tingly and numb, and my muscles started to cramp. I thought I was having a stroke! So I was taken to the emergency room, just in case. After hours of testing (x-rays, ekg, cat scan, blood tests), they found nothing wrong and dismissed it as an anxiety attack due to hyperventilation.
So I took a pulmonary function test and the results were:
"Baseline FEV1 is 2.71 or 80% predicted, FVC is 3.71, 94% predicted, giving a ratio of 73%. However she does have a pronounced bronchodilator response and FEV1 of 16%. She has no diffusion abnormalities; however, she does have an increased residual volume of 187%".
They said that I likely have asthma and prescribed me with Advair 100/50 for a year. During the one month that I took Advair for, I had concerns of drug dependency, side effects, the high costs of the drug ($180 per month), and the necessity for it. I've read that Advair is a long-term drug used to prevent asthma attacks over the long run. However, I have NEVER had an asthma attack. During the month of using Advair, I noticed my shortness of breath a little less than before, but the difference was so mild that I couldn't really tell if Advair was making a difference or not. Before Advair, I would say that I felt that I was breathing 75% normally...and with Advair 85%. I informed my pulmonologist who then prescribed me Advair 250/50, saying that the only reason why he prescribed Advair in the first place is because I have been admitted to the ER before. However, pharmacists were saying that Advair didn't seem necessary. Instead they recommended a scheduled dose of albuterol everyday. I have stopped Advair after the first month and my breathing or rather, shortness of breath neither improved or worsened for the two weeks. However, another two weeks later, I feel that my breathing is worsenening a little...perhaps I would rate it at 80% to normal. I have been taking measurements with a peak flow meter for the past 4 weeks and it ranges from 450L/min - 700L/min. It is 95% of the time in the green zone and it doesn't seem to coincide with my feelings of shortness of breath.
I apologize for the long post, but I would really appreciate a second opinion. Do I sound like I indeed do have asthma? Are there other tests I should take to rule other possibilites out? Shall I start taking Advair again? If so, shall I start right away with the 250/50? My shortness of breath does not stop me from doing the things I normally do, but it is uncomfortable and frustrating. I'm hoping to be back to 100% again soon so that may consider taking a dream diving trip in the near future.
Thank you so much again for your time!