Question for doctors and/or people who work in the medical field please. :)?

Question

Hi everyone! I was hoping you might be able to help answer my question... I've been having asthma problems lately (from a sinus infection and unseasonably warm weather). I'm on Prednisone, Flovent, and Albuterol treatments (all from my primary care) for my asthma alone, in addition to about 4 other medications for allergies and my sinus infection. My question is, if I have to go into the ER tonight for asthma symptoms (I had to go in 2 days ago too, but left before I was seen because I had a doctors appointment with my primary early in the morning and there would have been a 6 hour wait, therefore i would have been seen quicker just going to my existing appointment), would the doctors or nurses think I was "faking" or just having an "anxiety attack" (even though I do not suffer from anxiety) given the following information:

-I was not presently wheezing (although I was earlier)
-It feels laborous to breathe and I'm tired from breathing (you can visibly see me struggling)

-Normal oxygen levels, but a high pulse from the albuterol
-Cannot take a full breath in, and trouble talking more than a few words at a time.
-Dry cough with occasional "mucusy sounding" coughs

I'm obviously having real symptoms from real asthma attacks, but I guess that I'm just kind of traumatized from times in the past when doctors have said that back problems that I was having were from "psychological causes," yet it was later discovered that I had slipped discs and nerve damage.

I have a long history of severe asthma allergies sinusitis upper respiratory infections, etc., so my "regular" doctors know this; i'm just concerned about the ER docs that know nothing about me. :(

And moreso I'm worried about if they'll think "you're not presently wheezing and your oxygen is okay, so you're fine" when in fact I haven't been able to breathe normally, despite all the steroids and albuterol. Will the fact that I'm on those medications pretty much tell them that I AM having a problem with my asthma, regardless of my oxygen levels/lack of wheezing at the time?

Answer 1

I know exactly what you are going through! I too have asthma, but I do not wheeze like others. I got a cold a couple of weeks ago that really kicked up my asthma, and I'm on prednisone too, but luckily for me, it's working. I know how hard it is for doctor's not to believe you when you're really sick.

But you know, I would go despite that. Last year I got an attack that sent me to the ER. "Your lungs are clear" the doctor said, "But we'll do a CT Scan just in case" (because I have a history of blood clots in my lungs). They did the scan, and the nurse came to me later with discharge papers, saying, "Boy, I don't know what he'll write down for a diagnosis" (insinuating that they obviously found nothing wrong.)

Well, I did a follow up with my primary care, and she had the CT report, and here, my bronchial tubes WERE inflammed!

Ok, now, back to you.

You need to go to the ER even if you think they will think you're nuts. Ask for a CT scan, and a copy of the report. Unfortunately, medicine these days has less to do with patients, and more with "cost effectiveness" and money. You really need to be aggressive. Tell them that your asthma symptoms don't include wheezing.

Be proactive, and act like you mean busniess. And before you leave, ask for a copy of all lab and test reports.

Oh, by the way, my O2 levels were normal too.

Consider seeing a Pulmonary specialist, if you are on medical insurance.

Good Luck to you

Answer 2

If you can't breathe well, you can't breathe well. Just because you don't hear wheezing doesn't mean they won't when they listen to your lungs. Stop worrying so much about what others think of you- it doesn't matter. If you need to go to get a treatment, just go. Also, I agree that maybe you should find another doctor that can control your symptoms a little better. It's worth a try.

Answer 3

I too am a severe asthmatic and not too long ago I was on steroids and 5 or 6 breathing treatments a day. I was taking my meds and doing all my doc told me.
We found out that my system couldn't process sulfar dioxide I was putting into it. Have you looked at your diet? Do you drink wine, soda? Do you eat dried fruits that have sulfur dioxide? Do you live in a polluted area with lots of car emissions?
Just a thought. I know as soon as we figrured out what caused my problems I cut out all sulfur dioxide and got better within 2 weeks time.
Good luck to you

Answer 4

I hate to break it to you, but what you actually have may be chronic brochitis. My partner has it, and has had it for years. Doctors were always telling him it was Asthma, but finally admitted just recently that it was Brochitis. He is on Salbutamol, which is another name for Albuterol. and also a Combivent.
The doctor made a mistake however, and put him on antibiotics. He was at University hospital here today, and, in talking to the doctors about it, and telling them he felt better not taking the antibiotics, because they weren't working, was told that antibiotics do not work with chronic Brochitis.

Answer 5

You need to make an appointment with a Respiratory Doctor, that specializes the the field of respiratory problems, as your general practitioner has a wide knowledge of all different medical fields but is not a specialist.

Answer 6

First of all you must have had symptoms to have been prescribed those medications. So that doctor knows your history.
As for leaving the ER, don't worry about that and what they thought....it happens all the time anyway...they just mark "pt left"
Second, one answer you got mention its not about health but cost effectiveness.....IF you have insurance, they have to have a supposedly dx to order one on you...you can't just order one for no reason....unless you want to pay for it which most people when told that will decide no, they don't want it. Plus with the "sue happy" world we live in now,they probably overdo on test just to protect themselves from lawsuits....figure that one
Third, I had inhalers, and breathing problems when I moved for a year in Indiana. Went to an Internal medicine doctor for I had to keep going to an ER or Urgent Care office due to not feeling like I could breathe....my O2 was also normal....Anyway, the Internal med doc had me go to cardiologist, xrays, pulmonologist the works then he got all my reports..DX? I was having bronchial spasms that was cutting off my airways causing me to feel like not breathing but keeping my O2 level normal...
Go to an internal medicine doctor and have him do a workup on you and give him your symptoms....take all your meds with you and let him do the rest for you.....Good Luck