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Asthma

Posted , 2 users are following.

allie64648
allie64648

About a 6 weeks ago I noticed that occasionally I felt wheezy - I am learning to drive at the moment (at 50!) and it seemed to tie in with when I was about to go out in the car, though it once happened in the middle of the night and woke me up. It only happened 4 or 5 times.

I rarely go to the Dr's, but thought I would see her about another matter, so mentioned this and the fact that I had had a mild cough occasionally for a couple of months.

She sent me for a chest x ray which was clear and gave me a peak flow meter. My readings were v low, about 200- 250 so after 2 weeks she gave me a brown inhaler to use in morning and night and blue if I needed it.

She said that it would help with my breathlessness - but I am never breathless and haven't coughed or been wheezy since I saw here (maybe driving is less stressful now!)

Basically I do not feel as if I am asthmatic and inhaler had made no difference - was it just stress?

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • helen36974
    helen36974 allie64648

    Posted

    With a low pak flow reading I would keep an eye on the situation.

    Do not dismiss it as directly/indirectly connected to any stress re:driving.

    Asthma is a serious condition and can affect people of all ages, so I suggest you keep the inhalers with you and carefully monitor your progress.

    Good luck with your driving...

    • allie64648
      allie64648 helen36974

      Posted

      Thank you for that.

      My mum always had a very low reading for peak flow, and I can remember in the physics lab at school we had to do an experiment by blowing down a u tube to displace water, and everyone's levels were marked on wall - even 37yrs ago mine was the lowest!

      I am just concerned that low peak flow is just normal for me, but I have never had a base line assessment before.

      I walk for miles and am quite fit, running up & down stairs doesn't make me breathless!

    • helen36974
      helen36974 allie64648

      Posted

      Hi Allie

      Your last line is very encouraging, as an asthmatic I can sadly share with you that I no longer can run and I get very breathless climbing stairs.

      I didn't suffer from Asthma until I was in my forties? Why I do not know, although my theory at the time-I was under a huge amount of stress?!

      I come from a family of marathon runners..my brother has even run the New York/London Marathons as well as countless other well known running challenges eg:The Great North Run..and so on.

      Basically we are all unique and if you had a low peak flow many years ago and still function very well...sounds good.x

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