How is asthma diagnosed?

 

Hello!

I have a few questions about asthma and how it is diagnosed. I thought someone here could offer a little imput as I don't have alot of knowledge about it.

Three or four years ago (and I'm not exactly sure) my husband ran up to me sounding much like he was choking. I could tell no air was getting into his lungs--he could not talk and all I could do was hear him gasp. Thinking that he may be choking, I got behind him and used Heimlich maneuver. In a minute or so, I got him breathing but neither of us really knew what caused this. He used to chew gum alot and I thought perhaps it was related to that.

Needless to say, these episodes have repeated, but of course I cannot get him to see a doctor. (for this) I make him take allergy medication which I think does help--he seems to have an awful lot of mucus in the morning when he wakes up. He had another episode a couple weeks ago while I was in bed sleeping. He started banging on my back and I jumped up and did the H thing again, which is the only thing I know to do. In the last three to four years, I say he has had at least maybe eight of these "attacks". His opinion (and he has had some basic med ed. as a corpsman in the service) is that it is a spasm. So far though, as long as he takes the allergy medicine, he hasn't had one. It scares me really bad because I wonder what he would do when I'm not home.

How is asthma actually diagnosed? The reason I think it may be asthma is because one, there seems to be a relationship with his congestion. After the initial allergy blast in spring and early summer, he stopped with the allergy med. The day prior to this last event, I thought I could "hear" that chesty sound in his voice, if you understand what I am saying here. I do not know anything about the inhalers that many of you use, so maybe you could answer this question. Do you use it at the first sign of chest congestion and would that help avoid a severe episode where you could not breath? Are there any you think are better than others? I would appreciate any opionions/input. Thanks.

Foggie, I just added a title to your post for more responses.

Post Edited By Moderator (Red_34) : 8/15/2006 5:09:43 PM (GMT-6)

Dear Red,

Thanks for adding the title and for your response. Later on last evening as I was watching TV it dawned on me that I forgot! (quick thinking, right?) To answer some of your questions, yes he does smoke and is 61. He sees several docs regularly for his diabetes. I have been trying to get him to go for quite a while--even got him to see a regular MD which he finally did.(all his others are specialists) Well, he didn't care for the doctor and won't go back. I have been trying to get him to go to another but he is difficult to convince.

There are a couple other things--one is hereditary. He has a small throat (and tonsils) which make it difficult for him to swallow pills. Our granddaughter actually has the same problem. Several times this "choking" has occurred while trying to swallow pills. Right now, crabgrass is bothering him which is one of the things I am sure he has problem with. Ragweed season has already begun (early).

Another thing is when he laughs alot (really hard) he will start coughing bad. Other than these two things, he doesn't appear to get short winded or anything like that--he does exercise. That doesn't make him cough.

He wouldn't use any OTC meds without his endocrinologist approval so I don't have to be concerned over that. I am going to continue to work on him, believe me. I have told him how unfair this was to me if I would be unable to revive him or came home and found him, just because of his stubborness.
Again thanks. I am going to begin bugging him every day, even though I know that's not always the best way do deal with him. He is very good at pretending he is listening sometimes, especially when he doesn't want to hear it. (selective hearing, I think it's called)

That boyfriend sure does need to go to a lung doctor or asthma specialist, you may need to be referred to one by your primary medical physician. 

How to get diagnosed as to whether one has a respiratory condition or not, or what it actually is?  The doctors of course have us breathe in and breathe out to hear of any signs of cough or wheeze.  The nurse takes a oxygen count to make sure you have enough oxygen (that's just a simple thing on your finger).  They ask for any family history.  Ask what your symptoms are, etc.  And yes they always ask if you were/are a heavy smoker.  (I was never a smoker).  Usually they'll give you something like Singular (daily pills) or Albuterol an inhaler or Pulmicort inhaler (preventive), or Advair (preventive) a diskus for the asthma.  (See if you could get some samples to try first, as they cost a lot).  They have you check back with them later.  Sometimes they give a person a nebulizer such as Duo Neb.  And yes to correctly diagnose the asthma or the severity of the breathing problem (could be COP-D or Emphysema so one does need to be sure), the hospital has the Pulmonary Function tests. 

I would definetly bug him to get in to see a SPECIALIST like Allergist/ASthma doctor, or regular doctor. Sounds like he may have Asthma or something more that that...

Tell the doctor all his symptoms know matter how small they are. Mention everything to the doctor.

 

Asthma

Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic Rhinitis

 

Advair Diskus 500/50

Nasonex Nasal Spray

Albuterol p.r.n.

Sudafed  P.r.n.

 

Brandi...

 

Take a look at an article I found on asthma diagnosis at www.allergyfix.isgreat.org and click on Asthma - Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention in the column on the right. I hope it helps.