Positive PFT Methacholine challenge-asthma?

[dtharvey]

Hi.I just had PFT's with methacholine done three days ago.The tech said the methacholine test was positive.Does this test always indicate asthma? My recent concern has been PH due to a weight loss med (Fastin) taken seven months ago which caused severe hypertension and sob. Within past 3 months I have had thick yellow sputum production with increased sob-got better for short period (took abx) but is back again. Have also moved 6 mo ago. Can the positive methacholine test be indicative of any other problems? I am going to ask my doctor for echo to make sure I have no cardiac problems. My sob is only with exertion (anything that raises HR)..no wheezing, no tightness, no "attacks", no sob with any other triggers at all-even cigarette smoke. Thank You.

[National Jewish]

A positive methacholine challenge is usually, but not always, indicative of asthma.  It can be seen with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

[dllfo]

The Methacholine Challenge test was as one test to determine I had
Vocal Cord Dysfunction.

I was diagnosed with asthma and treated for it. BUT I had something else wrong with me.  My pulmonary doctor sent me to specialists, but they also said, "We know something is wrong, we just don't know what it is" and so on.

Finally my pulmonary doctor said I needed to find a good pulmonologist, so I did.  After listening to all the things I had already done (about a year earlier), he had me do a PFT, PST and
the M. C. test.

Nothing about the asthma meds seemed to stop my problems.

I have the same expulsion (based on your description) as you do.  I  can try to find the article describing the MC test if you want, but the best advice might be for you to find the website for the Jewish National Hospital in Denver and see if they have a list of pulmonologists in your area.  My doctor works with them a lot.

I hope I have not violated any rules by saying this.  I am also
on Morphine for my bad back, so my memory is pretty weak. My apologies to the moderator if I did anything wrong in my post.

Bottom line is many doctors have never heard of Vocal Cord Dysfunction and related problems.  Quickly, when we breathe in,
our vocal cords open for the air to come in. During an attack, of
which there is NO warning, I cannot inhale and get air. It is like breathing through a SMALL straw.  I pass out within ten seconds.  We used to dial 911 and go to the ER, but I soon learned none of them had heard of VCD, so now my wife pulls my 2
E bottles over, shoves both cannulas in my mouth and turns the oxygen and heliox bottles on.  I am titrated to 2 LPM and she lets me lay there...if I don't come around within a minute she dials 911.  Theory is, your vocal cords open up after you pass out.  BUT no one has told me how long that takes.  Scary.  But I
am still alive.  

I am not sure if this helps you or not, I can look up the article on the MC test if you want...Dave