Diagnosed with asthma as adult
Hi everyone,
I became very short of breath in 2021 and after a pulmonologist diad PFTs, physical exam and methacoline challenge, said I probably had asthma. I've been on a maintenance inhaler.
My question is, have other people who were diagnosed as adults given this tentative diagnosis, rather than just being told they have asthma.
The few adults I talked to who were diagnosed with asthma as adults said there was never any question they had asthma.
i understand there's no definitive diagnosis but when other doctors see in my chart "probably asthma," they are not sure I have it.
This is a tricky question. There are lots of reasons for shortness of breath, but maybe your test results were borderline? What has your doctor said about your diagnosis since the initial testing?
It may be worth it to ask for some clarification from the doctor. Are they now sure? What can they do to confirm the diagnosis if they're not? And what's the plan moving forward?
If you aren't getting clear answers, it's your right to seek a second opinion from a different doctor. This could give you some peace of mind.
Keep us posted, I hope you can clear up this confusion. -Melissa, team member
Melissa,
Thanks very much. I think it's time to ask for another opinion.
All my results point to asthma. There was nothing showing they were borderline.
I've asked for clarification and I just get the same story about that the results point to asthma but one can never be 100% sure.
There's no talk of confirming a diagnosis because the tests were all done. (the methacholine challenge, CT repeated a month ago, PFTs, etc).
My only question was whether other people were given a (tentative) diagnosis like this. This doctor acted like this was the way to diagnosis in an adult, not that it was something peculiar about me.
Thanks.
