Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Ok, I need answers or advice please.

Support Forums
>
Allergies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
Beachmom
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2008
Posts : 49
Posted 5/29/2008 9:30 AM (GMT -7)
I went to get a methocholine test and it came up negative. So now I really feel frustrated because I am having shortness of breath alot of the day and wheezing off and on and mucus. It all gets worse when I am sick. I'm so tired of this and I feel like my docs are going to have no idea what to do now. ANY suggestions?

Can a normal pulmonary function test and a normal methocholine test rule out asthma and chronic bronchitis or COPD? I'm only in my thirties and smoked for about 8 years in my teens and early twenties but off and on, 1/3-1 pack a day, sometimes a break of a month or two. Not for over ten years.
I want to know what to do to feel better. Any ideas what might be going on or who to see next? The pulmonolgist here gave me a quick visit and said to his staff he doesn't need to see me unless the methocholine test is positive.

Thanks.

I wonder if I should just stop taking my advair.  

profile picture
Another Day
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 1055
Posted 5/31/2008 9:58 AM (GMT -7)

Beachmom,

Do you have an allergist?  If not, I would find a good one in your area.  Stats show that asthma patients treated by allergists do much better.

I think in the beginning I had a methocholine challenge that was normal.  My allergist sent me up to see the pulmonologist in the same building.

Please don't give up, you are definitely sick.  You just need to get started on the right treatment by the right doctor.

Hugs!

Carla

profile picture
Beachmom
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2008
Posts : 49
Posted 6/1/2008 8:21 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks Carla. I appreciate the response. It gets confusing. I went to an allergist in another county because we have no allergists here much less a good one. I can go back but it's four hours away. But I can make the drive a few times a year.
profile picture
Another Day
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 1055
Posted 6/1/2008 7:25 PM (GMT -7)

Beachmom,

Did you like that allergist that you saw before?  I can certainly understand how frustrating your situation is.

If you liked the allergist, you might only have to go a few times in the beginning and explain to this doctor your situation.

You have to get better, but I don't want to see you go back to this allergist if you didn't like him/her.

My allergist, Dr. Patricia Mercer, is the president of Graves-Gilbert Clinic, which is a very large clinic.  She is pretty savvy.  I do not mind to ask her if she can do a little research and find a good allergist in your area, that is if you want to tell me what city you live in.  I feel that she would do it for me.  You can think about it.  I see her again on June 9th.

hugs and Prayers,

Carla

profile picture
Beachmom
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2008
Posts : 49
Posted 6/4/2008 10:16 AM (GMT -7)
My allergist was kind of interesting, he did alot of talking about rhinitis and brang out charts and stuff, but it was kind of hard to have a real conversation and I wasn't left sure about his diagnosis of vasamotor rhinitis and how to treat it, because he recommended oral steroids but I have taken oral steroids twice in the past and they haven't relieved my symptoms completely and I have really bad emotional side effects to them. It's hard to understand what is going on because my skin tests came back negative and I was sure they were going to show alot of allergens, especially because when I was in my early twenties skin tests showed allergies to dogs, cats, trees, grass, and mites, now in my mid thirties I reacted to nothing. But my symptoms got so much worse since moving to the country. Also, because of my negative methacholine tests the pulmonolgist says he doesn't need to see me again because it's not asthma, I swear I think they think it's anxiety related even though the symtoms don't coincide at all with anxiety (which I have had and know what it feels like). All I know is sickness is the worst trigger, I got a bug, not even a chest bug, and now I am back in bed with terrible breathing and rasping, wheezing, and coughing up mucus. I think also changes in temperature are triggering it, like going from sun to rain. And I still feel there is an allergic component. Other doctors have commented on my ears and nose seeming like allergies and I always have post nasal drip and acid reflux, even though I am on prilosec. But still not sure why the shortness of breath is so constant.

Yes, any help is appreciated if you have any referrals. I live in rural Northern California so sometimes I travel for help. Anything in Humboldt County, Mendocino County (including Ukiah, Mendocino) or Sonoma County (Santa Rosa), even possibly down to Marin or the city (San Francisco) if I need to.

Thank you alot for all of your help.

profile picture
Razzle
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 4415
Posted 6/4/2008 10:39 AM (GMT -7)
Have you been tested for Lyme Disease? I'm asking because Lyme bacteria can mess with the immune system and the result may be negative or inconclusive allergy test results.

Also, vasomotor rhinitis usually responds to antihistamine nasal sprays...I'm surprised they didn't give you a sample to try.

Take care,
profile picture
Beachmom
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2008
Posts : 49
Posted 6/5/2008 11:28 AM (GMT -7)
I haven't been tested for Lyme in over ten years. I'll mention it to my doctor.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Allergies

It's Springtime!  Hello Seasonal Allergies

It's Springtime! Hello Seasonal Allergies

6 Health Tips For People With Asthma

6 Health Tips For People With Asthma


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2022 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.