u/lankyjoints0411

I am a 29(F) with “asthma” on my medical records.

TLDR - peak flow never drops during intense SOB, true asthma?

My problems started when I was 13 or 14 years old after two back to back severe chest infections. I developed asthma like symptoms that required daily flixotide and salbutamol when needed. After a year or so the need for both medications stopped.

I have experienced breathlessness to an extent my entire adult life due to a concurrent heart condition but this breathlessness feels different to my “asthma” breathless. In terms of the asthma feeling, I had almost no issues until I had a bad bout of Covid in 2023. After waiting over a year to be seen I was put on Flixotide 2x daily again and my symptoms eased somewhat. No longer short of breath in daily conservation.

Fast forward to the past 12 months and I am having increasing use of my salbutamol.

My GP referred me to respiratory as my tests show asthma is unlikely, however I have a positive response to salbutamol in stopping my chest tightness (although for the rest of the day afterwards I cough up a lot of phlegm)

Because of this the consultant said he thinks it is asthma and to keep it on my records and for me to continue to take the Flixotide and salbutamol when needed but I have a nagging question…

- my peak flow NEVER drops, when I am so out of breath and tight chested I feel nauseous (sitting down with no activity) my peak flow remains at my regular level. Which is low for my height but not dreadful. A lot of the information I can find says that peak flow drops with an asthma exacerbation but mine never does.

Has anyone experienced similar and still had an asthma diagnosis? My symptoms are very real but I’m worried something else may be going on and unsure what tests to push for. I am in the UK so somewhat at the mercy of the NHS and their protocols.