My reaction to the spirometry test was a lot like yours. After taking it, I needed to sit down because I was so light headed and had a very difficult time catching my breath.Tatooed Lady wrote:I have asthma. Had it since I was about 17. I also smoked from 16-26, now I really pay for it. I KNOW my breathing is restricted to some degree 100% of the time. Anxiety, allergens, weather and activity are 4 things that make it spike. During testing where I used one of those blowy things (cope with my girly terms please), I was told my breathing was fine. F.U. "Fine" for others maybe...but made me want to hit my inhaler. Which after use, made me blow like a Stihl leaf blower. But then I felt able to breathe without resistance. Problem being, inhalers give me the shakes. I HATE the feeling and only use them in emergency situations. Doc once told me that regular use will help build the muscle function or something. Yeah well...
Anyhow, apologies for the "oohhhhh, SHINY!" sidetrack. Basically it's a matter of YOU know your body best. Pay attention to triggers (smoke, pet hair, emotion, exercise etc)...then approach the doc with a better idea of what sets you off.
Thanks for all of the replies. I'm going to try to find a plumonologist who takes my insurance for a second opinion.
I don't feel like I was being particularly insistent or out of line with my doctor. I do a lot of research before going into the Doctor's office because my health is of paramount importance to me, and I also find physiology extremely interesting. I generally really enjoy having conversations with doctors and I always maintain a dr/patient or even teacher/student relationship. I respect them a lot. This was a really strange experience that I've never had before. Even the receiving nurse was in a foul mood and mean to me from the jump, and she hasn't been before.
Interestingly, I learned last night that marijuana is a very effective bronchodilator. When I partake, I use a vaporizer so that no smoke is reaching my lungs. I had a eureka moment, because I've found that when I use marijuana and then exercise, especially doing cardio exercise, my normally shoddy cardiovascular endurance improves drastically. Unfortunately, marijuana is not medically available in my state, and I also wouldn't want to need to be high all the time just to bronchodilate.