I think I've been over-diagnosed....
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- Anonymous poster #1
- Thread Starter
I think I've been over-diagnosed....When I was a few hours old I had a chest infection. Every winter I get bad coughs that last for ages and I spend all of spring and summer coughing with hayfever. I was given a reliever inhaler when I was little due to all the coughing, and the prescription was always renewed when it ran out without me having to see anyone. However, when it ran out a few months ago I was asked to see someone. Long story short I came out with an appointment to see an asthma nurse! Two appointments later and I apparently have asthma and should use a preventer twice a day!
The thing is, I don't think I have asthma. I know there is no definitive test but I was diagnosed on a symptom diary and a peak flow graph. I've always had these symptoms- being short of breath is just normal for me. I've never even come close to having an asthma attack and I've danced for an hour a night since I was 10! Surely if I had asthma someone would have thought about it before? I saw a nurse in November about a cough that had lasted 2 months and she listened to my chest and said I was fine!
My question is, should I go back and see another doctor and explain that I really don't think I have it? I've never even thought of my chest being a problem before-I've just assumed I'm unfit. And anyway, what's the harm in me not taking anything even if I do have it? I'm 18 now and my chest is better than its ever been in terms of.coughing and being short of breath!
Thanks for any help
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Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....Right.
Hayfever is allergic, and is associated with atopy- as is asthma. That's a risk factor.
You have recurrent chest infections in winter- which is a symptom of asthma. That's two risk factors.
Shortness of breath is, clearly, a third item.
I can see how a GP will very quickly form a picture of asthma from this. The peak flow graph will explain a lot- particularly if your PEFR is worse at specific times or drops correlate to time spent in the cold etc. If your inhaler helps then that means it's definitely a reversible inflammatory process in your airways- asthma.
If you're sure you don't fit the picture then do see the GP but it's worth completing your PEFR monitor. Being short of breath, whilst normal for you, isn't normal in general- and could suggest you've had something going on in the background you're just used to having. -
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Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....In addition, asthma can get worse in adulthood, many people who haven't touched their inhaler for decades can suddenly get an asthma attack out of nowhere. The inhalers are pretty good in terms of side effects, being locally acting drugs you can get local side effects...the most common being thrush in the mouth with steroid inhalers, otherwise they are pretty good. Perhaps make an appointment to see the doctor or the asthma nurse and ask about your concerns, they will be better equipped to help you out.
My personal view is that its not a big deal, put it next to your tooth brush to remind you, and its better than having an asthma attack and having to be admitted to hospital , which can be v scary for people. -
- Anonymous poster #1
- Thread Starter
Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....But will it really do me any harm if I just ignore it? Surely if anything serious was going to happen it would have happened by now. The reason I don't want to have to use the inhalers is because I have been getting unpleasant side effects. I did mention them to the nurse but she laughed and just said 'yeah, that happens!' if doctors have had so many opportunities to diagnose me in the past, why didn't someone discuss things years ago? And why would they just renew my reliever prescription if they thought I could have asthma?(Original post by Chiko 1001)
Right.
Hayfever is allergic, and is associated with atopy- as is asthma. That's a risk factor.
You have recurrent chest infections in winter- which is a symptom of asthma. That's two risk factors.
Shortness of breath is, clearly, a third item.
I can see how a GP will very quickly form a picture of asthma from this. The peak flow graph will explain a lot- particularly if your PEFR is worse at specific times or drops correlate to time spent in the cold etc. If your inhaler helps then that means it's definitely a reversible inflammatory process in your airways- asthma.
If you're sure you don't fit the picture then do see the GP but it's worth completing your PEFR monitor. Being short of breath, whilst normal for you, isn't normal in general- and could suggest you've had something going on in the background you're just used to having.
I know it sounds stupid but there's so much in the news about people being over-diagnosed. I think that this has happened to me. Unfortunately there are no book in advance appointments available for the next 3 weeks and then I'm on holiday so it's going to be a while until I can get to a doctor. But thanks for.your help!
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Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....Hve you been given inhalers? if yes then of course its going to get better as you have been taking medication for it!(Original post by Anonymous)
When I was a few hours old I had a chest infection. Every winter I get bad coughs that last for ages and I spend all of spring and summer coughing with hayfever. I was given a reliever inhaler when I was little due to all the coughing, and the prescription was always renewed when it ran out without me having to see anyone. However, when it ran out a few months ago I was asked to see someone. Long story short I came out with an appointment to see an asthma nurse! Two appointments later and I apparently have asthma and should use a preventer twice a day!
The thing is, I don't think I have asthma. I know there is no definitive test but I was diagnosed on a symptom diary and a peak flow graph. I've always had these symptoms- being short of breath is just normal for me. I've never even come close to having an asthma attack and I've danced for an hour a night since I was 10! Surely if I had asthma someone would have thought about it before? I saw a nurse in November about a cough that had lasted 2 months and she listened to my chest and said I was fine!
My question is, should I go back and see another doctor and explain that I really don't think I have it? I've never even thought of my chest being a problem before-I've just assumed I'm unfit. And anyway, what's the harm in me not taking anything even if I do have it? I'm 18 now and my chest is better than its ever been in terms of.coughing and being short of breath!Thanks for any help
There are many different forms of asthma mild to severe then they can vary within themselves! ........ -
- Anonymous poster #1
- Thread Starter
Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....I meant that my chest is better now and has been all year, before I started to use the inhalers. Other than less night time symptoms the inhalers haven't made any difference. The nurse said this was normal, but why would I need to take something that isn't doing anything?!(Original post by RAPSTER)
Hve you been given inhalers? if yes then of course its going to get better as you have been taking medication for it!
There are many different forms of asthma mild to severe then they can vary within themselves! ........ -
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Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....Reliever (salbutamol) inhalers are the first step in asthma management anyway. You prescribe salbutamol as required, and if you're using the spray often then you add a LABA inhaler. Many people with an asthma diagnosis only have the reliever anyway because it's enough to control their asthma. It could well be that you've been asthmatic but that relievers PRN was enough to control your airway inflammation all this time.(Original post by Anonymous)
But will it really do me any harm if I just ignore it? Surely if anything serious was going to happen it would have happened by now. The reason I don't want to have to use the inhalers is because I have been getting unpleasant side effects. I did mention them to the nurse but she laughed and just said 'yeah, that happens!' if doctors have had so many opportunities to diagnose me in the past, why didn't someone discuss things years ago? And why would they just renew my reliever prescription if they thought I could have asthma?
I know it sounds stupid but there's so much in the news about people being over-diagnosed. I think that this has happened to me. Unfortunately there are no book in advance appointments available for the next 3 weeks and then I'm on holiday so it's going to be a while until I can get to a doctor. But thanks for.your help!
Ignore 90% of what you read in the news. I've seen so much over the years that I now know as bull**** it's unbelievable. -
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Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....I think you've posted a few threads about your asthma before, haven't you? Your asthma nurse sounds REALLY unhelpful. I mean you say that you don't think the preventative inhalers have helped except for lessening your night time symptoms; have you told your asthma nurse or GP this? It might just be that you need the dose of your inhaler increasing or you're just not on a preventative that you're best suited to. I would try and make an appointment to see your GP to discuss the problems you're having if your asthma nurse is not being any good; and if you still find it's unhelpful it may be worth considering changing GP/surgery (if you can). It's not magic, they can't just throw an inhaler at you and go 'ta da, all better'(Original post by Anonymous)
But will it really do me any harm if I just ignore it? Surely if anything serious was going to happen it would have happened by now. The reason I don't want to have to use the inhalers is because I have been getting unpleasant side effects. I did mention them to the nurse but she laughed and just said 'yeah, that happens!' if doctors have had so many opportunities to diagnose me in the past, why didn't someone discuss things years ago? And why would they just renew my reliever prescription if they thought I could have asthma?
I know it sounds stupid but there's so much in the news about people being over-diagnosed. I think that this has happened to me. Unfortunately there are no book in advance appointments available for the next 3 weeks and then I'm on holiday so it's going to be a while until I can get to a doctor. But thanks for.your help!
It takes you working with them to find what's right and works for you, but they also have to uphold that and if your GP/asthma nurse isn't doing that, no wonder you're not feeling much of a difference!
What you've said rings a lot of bells with me though. I've had problems since school (so for a long time) but never had it picked up. I just assumed I was chronically unfit; I didn't realise until I got put on a preventative inhaler and I felt so much better, that it wasn't normal to not be able to breathe! It took until 23 before I was diagnosed with asthma (it got worse when I came to uni), so it most definitely can get worse with you getting older so it doesn't make sense to think of it in terms of 'if it was going to be anything serious it would have done it already'.
You said you've been diagnosed by a symptom diary and a peak flow chart-these are good measures of whether you have asthma or not. The fact that you've always had the symptoms doesn't change how much they are an indication of asthma-it just means you've gone a long time without being diagnosed (which does happen, so again it doesn't make sense to think that it can't be asthma just because you haven't been diagnosed thus far).
To be honest, you sound like you're just fed up because it doesn't seem like it's doing any good to have an asthma diagnosis, rather than you don't actually have it. I know it's probably easy to think of it as 'well, it's just normal for me and I'm used to it', but really if you can find the right treatment for you, you may well discover it can make a big difference and you'll realise it's not normal and how much better you can feel!
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Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....Whilst I don't have much of an idea what to suggest to your post all I want to add is that PLEASE ignore 99.99999% of any medical or scientific propaganda in the media it is usually over-hyped mis-informed cr*p which journalists are told in order to sell a particular product, or just un-reliable or incorrect information.
If you think you've been mis-diagnosed then go back to the doctor, but it sounds like although you've lived with your problems and got used to them to a medical professional, or the rest of us, it seems like you need a bit of extra help with it from the medication. -
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Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....Sounds like you have asthma.(Original post by Anonymous)
When I was a few hours old I had a chest infection. Every winter I get bad coughs that last for ages and I spend all of spring and summer coughing with hayfever. I was given a reliever inhaler when I was little due to all the coughing, and the prescription was always renewed when it ran out without me having to see anyone. However, when it ran out a few months ago I was asked to see someone. Long story short I came out with an appointment to see an asthma nurse! Two appointments later and I apparently have asthma and should use a preventer twice a day!
The thing is, I don't think I have asthma. I know there is no definitive test but I was diagnosed on a symptom diary and a peak flow graph. I've always had these symptoms- being short of breath is just normal for me. I've never even come close to having an asthma attack and I've danced for an hour a night since I was 10! Surely if I had asthma someone would have thought about it before? I saw a nurse in November about a cough that had lasted 2 months and she listened to my chest and said I was fine!
My question is, should I go back and see another doctor and explain that I really don't think I have it? I've never even thought of my chest being a problem before-I've just assumed I'm unfit. And anyway, what's the harm in me not taking anything even if I do have it? I'm 18 now and my chest is better than its ever been in terms of.coughing and being short of breath!
Thanks for any help
Quite a few people start to doubt their diagnosis and stop all their treatments and are often fine.
Untill they catch a cold and come in via ambulance at 3am feeling like they are about to die wheezing like a muscial instrument.
I then heal them, tell them they have asthma and send them on their way. -
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Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....What was in your reliever? Sounds like a salbutamol inhaler, or something I haven't come across, but salbutamol is an asthma medication. I.e. you've always had the diagnosis of asthma.(Original post by Anonymous)
But will it really do me any harm if I just ignore it? Surely if anything serious was going to happen it would have happened by now. The reason I don't want to have to use the inhalers is because I have been getting unpleasant side effects. I did mention them to the nurse but she laughed and just said 'yeah, that happens!' if doctors have had so many opportunities to diagnose me in the past, why didn't someone discuss things years ago? And why would they just renew my reliever prescription if they thought I could have asthma?
The fact that you say that your reliever inhaler is effective supports a diagnosis of asthma. You probably didn't have long lasting chest infections as a kid - more likely you had asthma - this is how asthma presents.
Also the history you gave at the beginning is quite typical of asthma - asthmatics rarely have asthma attacks, and when they do they probably (or perhaps by definition) have poorly controlled asthma. Asthma attacks are life threatening events so best to avoid them.
Since you have doubts feel free to go back to the doctor, but if they've done a peak flow etc and it's all ruled in favor of asthma expect them to disregard your opinion that you don't have it. There are further tests that could be done, you could always ask the doctor about them.
It is your choice to accept medication though, and even more so your choice to pay for a prescription and use the medication - just don't end up in A&E in front of me trying to explain why you haven't used your inhaler
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- Anonymous poster #1
- Thread Starter
Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....Yeah, I have posted before, I don't know anyone with asthma, my mum and dad don't seem to care and the asthma nurse won't answer any of my questions so this seems like one of the few places that I can get answers! You have been really helpful btw, thanks(Original post by heidigirl)
x
I did tell the asthma nurse that the only help at night but she said that I should give it up to 6 months (this was after I'd been using it for 6 weeks) and if it doesn't start helping by then to go back. At least by then I'll be at uni so hopefully the asthma nurse there will be better! I saw the GP a week later and he told me that I should only see the nurse for asthma unless it's really bad and then he just stuck up for her when I explained that I didn't find her very helpful
I'm just going to wait till I get to uni as I'll have to change surgeries then anyway. Atm I live in the middle of nowhere so I'm not ever sure I could register with another surgery because of the area I'm in since I'm like a 10 minute walk from this one.
After this past week I'm less starting to think that maybe I do have asthma but I think you're probably right in saying that the diagnosis itself doesn't really help. It's like I've just been told I have asthma but don't feel any different. I guess that before I would just put up with the symptoms and now I do kind of expect that something can be done about them.
Thanks
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- Anonymous poster #1
- Thread Starter
Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....(Original post by Jamie)
xhslt-x
Yeah, it's a salbutamol inhaler. Surely if I've always had the diagnosis of asthma someone would have wanted to see me at some point given that I got the inhaler when I was 6 (the doctor then didn't even examine me he just gave it me, the whole consultation lasted 2 minutes according to my mum) and I'm 18 now?
I would never stop using the inhalers without first talking to a doctor and getting their permission (since it says this in big letters on the side of the box!) I suppose I just found it strange since the whole thing kind of came out of the blue and it was hard having unhelpful doctors and nurses and no one I could talk to.
After this past week I am more accepting of the diagnosis. I suppose I should stop listening to the media when they go on about people being overdiagnosed all the time!
Thanks
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Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....As an asthmatic I can assure you that you can be very active and still have asthma.
There's no point moaning about not wanting to have it - why don't you actually use your inhaler and see if it works? It's not really a massive deal and it might actually (shock horror) help you.
Really isn't a big deal having asthma... I'm facing another 60+ years with it.
(also, the asthma nurse isn't really doing her job if she's not being helpful. She's supposed to be dedicated to cases such as yours and be on hand to answer any patient concerns, hence her being different to a GP who's primary job is to cure and move you along)Last edited by megan.c; 08-07-2012 at 12:20. -
- Anonymous poster #1
- Thread Starter
Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....I do use my inhaler - i use the preventer 2 time in a morning and 2 times in an evening with a spacer as directed and I use the reliever when I need it, again like I was told to do. It's not that I don't want to have asthma, I have it or I don't, that's out of my control, it's that I don't want to be labelled as asthmatic if I'm not, though I now accept that I probably am. I though I was overdiagnosed because the inhalers didn't, and still don't, make a difference other than at night but all I'm told to do is stop wasting their time (yes, that was said to me!) and give then chance to work. I know the nurse said 6 months until they fully work but it's been 3 so surely I should have felt some improvement.(Original post by megan.c)
As an asthmatic I can assure you that you can be very active and still have asthma.
There's no point moaning about not wanting to have it - why don't you actually use your inhaler and see if it works? It's not really a massive deal and it might actually (shock horror) help you.
Really isn't a big deal having asthma... I'm facing another 60+ years with it.
(also, the asthma nurse isn't really doing her job if she's not being helpful. She's supposed to be dedicated to cases such as yours and be on hand to answer any patient concerns, hence her being different to a GP who's primary job is to cure and move you along) -
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Re: I think I've been over-diagnosed....That's the fault of the asthma nurse - generally they are lovely and know what they are talking about. You could look at registering at a different doctors as they will have a different set of asthma staff(Original post by Anonymous)
I do use my inhaler - i use the preventer 2 time in a morning and 2 times in an evening with a spacer as directed and I use the reliever when I need it, again like I was told to do. It's not that I don't want to have asthma, I have it or I don't, that's out of my control, it's that I don't want to be labelled as asthmatic if I'm not, though I now accept that I probably am. I though I was overdiagnosed because the inhalers didn't, and still don't, make a difference other than at night but all I'm told to do is stop wasting their time (yes, that was said to me!) and give then chance to work. I know the nurse said 6 months until they fully work but it's been 3 so surely I should have felt some improvement.
I'm just going to wait till I get to uni as I'll have to change surgeries then anyway. Atm I live in the middle of nowhere so I'm not ever sure I could register with another surgery because of the area I'm in since I'm like a 10 minute walk from this one.
