new to forum

Hi my name is Tricia...I am 34 year old mother of 2. I was "diagnosed" with asthma 3 years ago. I have had bad control ever since. I have also been hospitalized 3 times since then. I have been on "every" asthma med, pretty much. My pulmunlogist has sent me to another hospital 3 hours away and they are sure I DON'T have asthma, so they have scheduled a methocholine challenge for the 25th of January (this is the 2nd time it has been scheduled, due to getting "bad" every time I come off my meds). The new doctor was so sure I don't have asthma that he took me off my theophyline, vospire, zyflo, advair..he let me stay on zrytec, flonase, calcium, vit D, nexium, predinisone, and my duoneb. Well 5 days off my medicine and I was in the hospital. They ended up just putting me back on Advair, and still keeping me off the other meds. This was not good enough for him to prove I have asthma, he still wants the methocholine challenge. I was suppose to get it done the 11th of Jan but 3 days off Advair and I had to go back on a higher dose of steroids again. I am back down to my daily steroids today, but on Monday have to come off the Advair again for the test. FYI they are sure I also have an underlying lung disease that is has yet to be diagnosed. Any suggestions... I have had "allergies and sinus problems my whole life", but was sent to an allergist a few months ago and tested negative for everything they checked me for??

Sorry it seems so long...let me know if you need to need more

Thanks

Tricia

Do you have GERD? Sometimes GERD can affect your lungs by acid overflowing into your lungs causing asthma problems. That's what was happening to me.

Joy

ok Well I had my follow up and it didn't show any specifics. My CT was unchanged from 2006, great news. The labs that were back didn't show anything. The doctor gave me the ok to come of Advair on Monday, well Tuesday I couldn't breath and ended up going back to see pulmy. They upped my steroids and restarted Advair. Also I they put me on oxygen at home. And I am now waiting for my pulmy from the University to call and see what to do about the methocholine challenge that was scheduled on Monday..

Tricia

Thank you so much! I probably do have stress being a divorced mom of 2 and a daughter with her own medical issues that took 7 years to diagnose. I have great support of family and friends!! and think my stress is handled well, but I can ask them about it, next appointment.

Tricia

Tricia - I'm new to this forum and I hope you find answers; never give up looking! My 14 yr old daughter is a severe persistent asthmatic for past 6 years (first diagnosed at age 3). She cannot be off her rescue meds and takes them several times every day; she can't breathe without them. She had to take the Methacholine test and even WITH the meds (Flovent, Pulmicort, Xopenex, Atrovent) she had a severe reaction to the Methacholine. Tech gave her half the usual amountof drug and only had nebulizer on for 45 seconds (which is less than half the time). It may not be necessary for you to stop your meds before this test if your asthma is severe -- ask your doctor. Good luck.
Mary

You can call your doctor to find out cost and billing codes for insurance company, then call your insurance provider. They should be able to tell you what you'll have to pay. So much depends on in-network, out-of-network, allowable charge, etc. The Methacholine challenge is supposed to be a definitive test for asthma -- this should tell you the answer. Good luck!

Hey Tricia,

Welcome to the Forum and I'm sorry to hear about your condition. I am suffering from asthma for last 2 years and it's a terrible disease anyone could have on this earth. I started taking advair a little over a week ago and I didn't like it at all. It made me feel dizzy and I have anxiety disorder with panic attacks so when I heard about advair causing sudden death in some asthmatics it made me very nervous. My doctor gave me singular and I don't start it until tonight. Is anyone else taking singular? Just wanting to know if others have taken advair or singular and what side effects it gave them.

Hey Jessi,

My friends used to take Advair and they don't have problems with it.


Angeni

Hey All,


Thank you so much for the info. Now I think I can take advair without much worries.

Jessi