I'm worried I've got mild asthma but don't want to make a fuss

[Kissisforpirate]

I don't know if I'm overthinking things or not. I wheeze quite often. Several times people at work have asked if i have asthma. Sometimes when i exercise it can take me several minutes - 10 plus to stop wheezing and breathe normally. I have an umproductive dry cough and i wake up at night coughing, some nights. I just watched a youtube video of an asthma attack and it sounded like a far more serious version of how i am sometimes.

I feel like I've been to the Dr a lot this year with various issues (allergies, bad knee, cbt, ulcers, anti depressants) and i feel like I'm panicking about lots of things at the moment and being a nuisance.

If i have asthma it is really mild. Does it need to be diagnosed? Can it be diagnosed if I'm not wheezy at the time of the appointment?
I'm 37. Can asthma come on as an adult? Can i go to the drs and say im concerned for the reasons at the start if the post?
My bloody anxiety is not helping me make a decision.

I had a cough for months particularly through the night. Was surprised to be diagnosed with mature onset asthma but honestly, once I accepted that I'd need to use my steroid preventer inhaler I've rarely needed the blue reliever and I feel heaps better. You're better off taking charge of the condition than letting it take charge of you.

Hi
You describe my situation before my diagnosis about 8 years ago.

Today though, you need to call 111 now or get to A&E.
You may have an infection or need some steroids to reduce the inflammation in your lungs.

Good luck!
Get seen asap x

Oh, and generally steroids rock!
You will likely feel so much better so quickly

The Dr checked my chest and I don't have a chest infection. Did the peak flow thing again when i got up, 3 times, and the readings were 150/200/250.
The asthma uk helpline is closed for tge Christmas holidays. :(

Are those readings before or after using your blue inhaler? You can use your blue inhaler 4 times (2 puffs each time) in a day - more if you have an actue asthma attack (but you should seek medical help if you do this afterwards). I think with readings that low you really need to go to a and e. You can have a chest infection lower in your lungs if you have asthma and this wouldn’t necessarily be heard by a gp.

I have a thread here which you might find interesting- not had any replies yet but I’ve covered some of my points earlier - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3119851-Chest-infection-help-Complicated-by-asthma-and-Addison-s

Before using the inhaler.
Thank you for the info about how often to use the inhaler. The gp didn't give me much guidance althpugh im planning to make another appointment once ive done the peak flow test for a week.
I'll go read the link now thank you.

Do you live in an area with bad air? Air pollution? Do you have any food sensitivities that may induce the asthma (I read up on the topic yesterday, milk is one such food. Here's a link to source: www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/food/ )

Sorry if my post sounded like I was playing it down or anything. If your true readings are under about half what you should have, you'd need medical attention. But what I was thinking is that they may not be a true reflection of what your readings are 8f you've only just started to use the meter, especially without much guidance from the GP. Maybe it was just me that took ages to get the hang of the deep breath in and really hard, fast blow out though!
Good advice to try it after using your inhaler too. It should come up then. I'd leave it 10-15 mins after the inhaler to redo the peak flows. Of course, being so new to it, it's impossible to know either way - you might be fab at it - so getting seen at OOH if you're worried would be completely ok I reckon.

Thanks Dotty. I feel a lot better now than I did this morning. You may be right about not using it correctly. When i did it at 2pm today i got 250, 300 and 350. I'll see how it goes.

Ah that's better! Always reassuring when that happens. There might be certain times of day when your readings are better but you'll see patterns over time. Glad you're feeling better though 😃

Update - went back to gp. He has prescribed me a brown inhaler and i have an appt with the asthma nurse for a couple of weeks time. I feel a bit better now (mentally) althpugh i still have to go to the hospital for a chest x ray.

Thank you everyone for your help. I'll talk to the asthma nurse about when to get help if i get low readings using the brown inhaler.