Is it wrong to self-diagnose/medicate (asthma/rhinitis)?

[WilfSell]

Right, I went to see the GP recently with intermittent wheeze/cough and she sent me away with Ventolin. Made a bit of a difference but carried on happening.

I had a brainwave after talking to my mum, who had late onset asthma, 'caused' - according to her GP - by mouthbreathing loads of crap, because of rhinitis.

I had suffered a LOT this last year with congestion in my head; and realised I couldn't remember - pretty much EVER - being able breathe clearly through my nose. I could never blow my nose clear, it always seemed blocked 'higher up'. So I went off and bought an over the counter hayfever nose spray which I think has a steroid in it. Within days, I could suddenly breathe properly - and it was so dramatically different from my usual single nostril breathing!

The cough/wheeze episodes seemed to stop too, which may have been a coincidence but perhaps not.

The issue here is twofold: 1. the spray says do not use continuously without consulting your GP, but do I need to bother them with it really? Would there be any harm in using this spray on an ongoing basis?

1. Perhaps the more serious issue is my son was also diagnosed with asthma some years ago, and I've only just realised (after my own epiphany) that he is a permanent mouth-breather too, and snores badly. Could my self-diagnosis also be what is going on with him - ie a blocked nose/chronic sinus problem is the REAL root of things? I'm not planning to medicate him, of course, but I'd be interested if anyone else has a similar story.

I'm a bit paranoid about wasting my GP's time about minor things...

dh takes a daily anti-histamine (loratidine) and nasal spray (nasacort) due to perennial rhinitis but it is prescribed by his gp. Could you speak to your doctor about your findings?

Definitely talk to your gp about it but beconase is cheaper than the prescription version. I've been taking it for years, and my gp is more than happy.

I find the vitD info very interesting though. What would be the signs of a deficiency?

Could you go back to the gp about your nasal symptoms. If the gp cannot get your nose functioning better ask for referral to local ENT? If you have struggled r years you may just have slowly adapted and not pointed the difficulty out to the GP

Thanks - I think I do need to take DS in as well to get his nose looked at in any case so I guess I could just book a double appt.

I am also interested in the idea of nutritional issues but ted, your post sounds somewhat like a personal crusade and I don't especially trust nutrionists over GPs!

nutritionists d'oh

Yeah magso, I think that's exactly it - I had no idea there was any other way of breathing!

Oh and thanks ted about the information steroids causing vit d deficiency. I guess that applies to high dose oral steroids rather more than topical sprays.

I had exactly this problem, and also have asthma. I used the sprays you describe for ages before eventually going to the doctor, who immediately said it was very common for asthmatics to develop this condition - can't acually remember what it's called but a sort of variant of rhinitis I think. She prescribed Nasonex nasal spray and said try that, if it doesn't help we will get you an ENT referral. It has really made a difference. I wouldn't say I never use the over the counter sprays anymore but it is completely different to the way I used to, which was all the time. Go and ask your GP about this asap.

I don't know about the mouth breathing thing, but my GP didn't mention it. She did immediately make the connection with asthma.

I have exactly same as you wilf!
I have been taking antihistamines for last 5 months or so, and seen a slight improvement, but that seems to be wearing off now.
I take a multivit with 100% RDA of all major vitamins and iron in daily.

I did have my tonsils removed at an early age... have terrible sinusitis frequently too.