I love baffling the doctors!

[tele-rain]

So I'm finally getting around to starting over and checking up on my allergies/supposed asthma. Went to an ENT, discussed all my history. She agreed on my deviated septum and swollen sinuses, said to continue with nasal rinses if they help (they do), and snuck in some Nasonex prescription as well.

Now onto the allergies. First round of allergy prick shows nothing reacting. Yay! I go back in two weeks for the 2nd round of higher levels to see if those react. Sometimes you can be affected by a higher does of something.

But the mysterious asthma. I did a breathing test, couldn't blow out more than 54/55%, and apparently it's supposed to be up in the 80s. They gave me 3 hits of albuterol, waited a bit, and tried again. Same results. So the doc says, this shows more restrictive lung, not obstructive, which would be asthma. So at least I'm FINALLY proving my point that the albuterol never did anything to help me!!! But, this leaves the question, what else do I have?? She prescribed further testing at the hospital lung function center, or whatever it's called.

Woah, is me!

[BigDaddyLH]

Well, it's good, anyway, that you're getting all these things examined.

EDIT: The alternative, TDPRI, way would just be to ask us what's wrong with you and what to do!

[Markdett]

Sounds like both you and the Doc are hitting the right marks and moving forward.
Unfortunaley, sometimes diagnosis can be a process, rather than an event.
I hope they find out sooner than later what's up, so they can begin to find a treatment that works for you.

[tele-rain]

Yes, thank you! I've been trying to figure this out on and off for years, because my other doc right away just put it down as "mild asthma" but didn't seem to notice the asthma meds had no effect. Clearly it's because it's NOT asthma! So hopefully this time it can be narrowed down and dealt with appropriately.

[Northerntele]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLH

The alternative, TDPRI, way would just be to ask us what's wrong with you and what to do!

Vintage iron lungs have better tone.

I hope you can get some answers and reasonable treatments from the docs.

[tele-rain]

Originally Posted by Northerntele

Vintage iron lungs have better tone.

I hope you can get some answers and reasonable treatments from the docs.

Haha!! Maybe I'll start breathing better and discover my "voice"

[Slow Reflexes]

I'll be interested to know what it turns out to be. My wife has been huffing on albuterol to no discernible effect, too.

[cband7]

Let's hear it for Neti pots!!! Actually, I don't want to baffle my doctor - I'd prefer he roll his eyes and say 'been there, done that, got the t-shirt' for everything I've got.


My septum is so deviated it's classed as a full blown pervert... (snare hit).


.

[tazzboy]

Originally Posted by Slow Reflexes

I'll be interested to know what it turns out to be. My wife has been huffing on albuterol to no discernible effect, too.

That's what my mom takes when here allergy's flares up too is albuterol. They only thing I can suggest is moving to coast or state that has least allergy problems

[garyd5158]

I'm glad to hear your doctor is investigating the situation and staying on top of things. Continue to be persistant and diligent in your welfare.

[Slow Reflexes]

Originally Posted by tazzboy

That's what my mom takes when here allergy's flares up too is albuterol. They only thing I can suggest is moving to coast or state that has least allergy problems

Heh... we came from the coast. I'd be happy to go back, but I'd be going alone.

Interestingly, a quick websearch came up with an article on "The Best Cities for Allergies in the United States"... Portland was listed first.

[tele-rain]

I had the lung function test yesterday, which went okay. Since I had one before, I was more used to it, and the guy was pleasant and chatty, which always makes the experience more bearable. I discussed my issues with him, and said how I've always suspected it wasn't asthma, since the meds never did anything. I went through the few tests, breathing various ways as he monitors things on the screen. Then repeat one of the tests a few times after breathing some oxygen. Then repeat some of them again after an 8 minute Albuterol treatment.

While I know he's "just the tech" and not a doctor, I still asked him questions because I know he's got to know enough of what he's seeing. And I know they're not allowed to give any diagnosis, but I usually ask them what their opinion is, if they're nice enough. So he agreed with the doctor's assumption, that these tests didn't show obstructive lungs, but they DO show a loss in lung capacity which is due to restrictive lungs. I asked the difference of that. He held up his hand in a circle and said, obstructive means your airway should be like this, but it's really like this...and he made the circle much smaller. Restrictive means, something is preventing it from expanding fully, like if you break a rib or something. And he said, most of the time, it's due to being overweight. He gave me the pep talks about taking control, having the "epiphany" that I MUST start to get healthy now while I'm still young enough. He said, you don't want to have to start getting healthy in another 10 years. Also, he said...you probably won't have too many more issues than what you are having now, but if you let it continue, you will end up with high BP, and a slew of other issues that can easily be avoided if I take action now.

This of course is nothing new to me, I keep having these wake up calls. And I'm thankful that's all they are thus far. So, I'm going to really focus this time and walk more, take the stairs more, eat more fruits and veggies, drink more water, and generally just cut the crap and be serious about my life.

He also suggested I do the sleep study again (I had one years ago and determined I have "slight" sleep apnea, but never went for the follow up to get the machine). Again, this is nothing new to me, I've heard tons of success stories from people who suffer from apnea and who are instantly transformed even after just one solid night of good sleep. So I'm going to call my insurance and see if that's covered, and how to go about it if it is.

I go back April 4th for the 2nd round of allergy testing. Not sure if the doc will call me before then with the results of the breathing test, but hopefully not because apparently that's when something is wrong. So until then, I'm getting back on track. For real this time!

Stay tuned.

[BigDaddyLH]

Originally Posted by tele-rain

This of course is nothing new to me, I keep having these wake up calls. And I'm thankful that's all they are thus far. So, I'm going to really focus this time and walk more, take the stairs more, eat more fruits and veggies, drink more water, and generally just cut the crap and be serious about my life.

That's great! Even if it doesn't help your lungs, it will help your heart. I've had a wake up call of my own and I've set some weight goals that, if I get there, will make my username (LH = LoveHandles ) ironic instead of descriptive.

[tele-rain]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLH

That's great! Even if it doesn't help your lungs, it will help your heart. I've had a wake up call of my own and I've set some weight goals that, if I get there, will make my username (LH = LoveHandles ) ironic instead of descriptive.

Exactly, he indicated not taking care of this now, COULD and probably WOULD lead to heart issues. I have diabetes in my family too, and one of my sisters has been struck with it, along with high blood pressure, etc. She and I are were always the overweight ones. I'm the youngest of the three so this is definitely warning signs all over the place.

I've always done the compare thing when it comes to my weight. "Oh, I know I'm overweight, but I'm not as bad as THAT person..." and I'd imagine, if I feel bad, how must that person feel? But now i see it differently too. If with only a "little overweight" I'm having issues, why would I want to let it get worse?

And good for you too, ironic is better than descriptive! You've probably done what I have done all the time too, joke about it all. Say it's just more to love, but I feel good, I'm just living life the way I want, why should I deny myself such and such, etc. But obviously the consequences are getting greater and greater. Good luck to your with your goals!!

I can't for the life of me figure out why it's so hard to stick to a healthy routine. I've proven to myself that I DO feel better when I'm practicing healthy things, it's just too easy to fall off the wagon.

[BigDaddyLH]

Originally Posted by tele-rain

And good for you too, ironic is better than descriptive! You've probably done what I have done all the time too, joke about it all. Say it's just more to love, but I feel good, I'm just living life the way I want, why should I deny myself such and such, etc. But obviously the consequences are getting greater and greater. Good luck to your with your goals!!

I can't for the life of me figure out why it's so hard to stick to a healthy routine. I've proven to myself that I DO feel better when I'm practicing healthy things, it's just too easy to fall off the wagon.

I like to say life gave me lemons and so I made a lemon meringue pie. (<-- I'm going to wear that smilie out.)

And my wife informs me that there's actually too much of me to love.

I know why I overeat:
1. I medicate with food when I'm depressed or anxious. And when you do that, you don't reach for the celery.
2. I fall into bad food routines, like I pick up two muffins on the way to work and I stock a "snack drawer" in my desk with club-sized packs of chocolate-covered peanuts.
3. When I drink I lose all self-control with food. So where did that pizza go to?

[Post Toastie]

Have they tested you for Hiatal Hernia? My wife had all your symtoms and asthma and was taking the meds you are. One night she asperated stomach fluids into her lungs while sleeping and almost died. She spent 4 days in the hospital and they told her she had a Hiatal hernia.She started taking meds for that and raised the head part of the bed a few inches. Guess what? Her asthma is gone and so is the need for all the breathing treatments and meds.

[Abu Twangy]

Maybe you have interstitial lung disease.

That creates a "stiff" lung and is one of the many things that causes restrictive lung problems.

[tele-rain]

Originally Posted by Post Toastie

Have they tested you for Hiatal Hernia? My wife had all your symtoms and asthma and was taking the meds you are. One night she asperated stomach fluids into her lungs while sleeping and almost died. She spent 4 days in the hospital and they told her she had a Hiatal hernia.She started taking meds for that and raised the head part of the bed a few inches. Guess what? Her asthma is gone and so is the need for all the breathing treatments and meds.

I actually suspected this too, and going to suggest getting it looked at as well. Thanks for the heads up, and I'm glad your wife is doing better!

[bendecaster]

tele-rain, do you smoke? Anything?
Also, you mentioned that you did a sleep study. How long ago and did they want you to return for CPAP then?

[Kyluckyman]

Be glad you have found a good doctor and I hope they find the root cause of the problem and are able to take positive corrective actions. In my expereience 8 out of 10 doctors are in the business for just the money and can be very dangerous to your health. 1 in 30 might actually be outstanding. If you ever find yourself qustioning your doctor, find another. I say this from personal experience that put me in ICU for several days.