Question:
over the last few months I have on and off felt as though I am
encountering asthma attacks but when I check out me peak flow readings
it says I should be virtually be running marathons!!!!!!!!!!
I also have a "full" tight feeling in my chest and quickly get out of
breath... my doctor listens to my chest and says it sounds very
healthy... and doesn't really explain or indeed know what the problem
is. Other days with the same peak flow readings I can be perfectly ok..
Can any one offer any suggestions what it could be or what to do as I am
rather fed up with it.
Answer:
The peakflow meter is not always a perfect predictive tool. It only
measures the performance of the large airways but not the performance of the
small airways. If this is the case than it might be a good idea to ask your doctor for a
referral to an asthma specalist for a diagnostic workup.
It doesn't sound like the peak flow readings are always a valid indicator.
It might be helpful to explore other ways to address your difficulties in
breathing and chest tightness if the dr has nothing hlepful to suggest. I have been sick and thought it was my asthma getting worse and worse BUT it
turns out that I have serious infiltration in my lungs and a sinus infection
(x-rays confirm). I also have leg edema but on the x-rays my heart looked
fine. Anyway the point of this is my peak flows were normal if a "little" low (10-20
pts) also with no effect after meds.
I am on antibiotics and prednisone for ten days. We will see after that. I
also talked to the PA about Farmer's Lung and that being the cause of my
asthma. He had no comment.
I had blood drawn to check kidney and liver function and wbc (and a few others
that I have forgotten).
