Anyone been diagnosed as asthmatic and then re diagnosed with something else?

[giraffescantboogie]

I have brittle asthma but despite increasing inhaled steroids to a very high dose and frequent courses of oral steroids then things don't seem to be improving. Lung function didn't change from the new dose. Plus in respond very well to atrovent,spiriva and magnesium but not so well to ventolin. So tthey are investigating other causes other than asthma.

I feel totally confused now. The next step treatment wise would be daily oral steroids but consultant doesn't want to start that unless tests show a good response to them.

Anyone experienced anything like this?

[giraffescantboogie]

wee evening bump

[MrsHoolie]

Sorry I don't have much experience with asthma but didn't want your post to go unanswered.
My DS (4) has mild asthma and ended up at A&E this week with a flare up. I'm hoping he'll grow out of it.
Hope you get some advice from here and some answers from your health team.

[Boredtitlessagain]

Im a brittle asthmatic too, bloody awful isnt it?!

Im steroid dependant and have to take pred daily.
Is your consultant refering you to one of the asthma specialist centres, ie, brompton or heartlands?
I doubt you will be told its not asthma but more likely something else alongside the asthma, but they should investigate every option to help youget the best treatment for you.

Thats the thing with brittle asthma, what works for one may not be as successful for another, we are a strange breed!

Im on a huge amount of meds, yet still have problems and am frequently in and out of ITU. What other meds are you on? Have you tried theophyallin?

Do you have a nebuliser at home?
Message me if you want, iwill try to help if i can xx

[EagleRay]

Hi - my partner had asthma as a child and then in recent years it came back with a vengeance. He was given the standard asthma treatments but got worse, while I was furiously googling and trying to persuade him to go back to the docs as even with my limited medical knowledge, things didn't seem to be adding up!

Eventually they x-rayed him and did some tests and it turned out he had a mycobacterial infection, caused by the damage done to his lungs from having asthma. After lots of hospital visits and very lengthy treatment he is a lot better and back to full fitness but has to be very careful regarding his lungs and potential infections.

What happened to him is relatively rare and very unlikely to be relevant to your condition, but the moral of the story is to be persistent with getting things checked out if you aren't getting better. Good luck with your treatment!

[lazyhippo]

I don't have asthma, but knew a HCP with brittle asthma who was diagnosed with a latex allergy. Have they thought about allergies in your case?

[giraffescantboogie]

Thanks all.

Have some allergies, yes.

Have been looking at non-eosinophilic asthma and a lot of my symptoms and the treatments that work on me fit.

Spoke to an Asthma UK nurse and she was really helpful and went to my local asthma support group today which was good.