Mr. Asthma

Question:

>Hi >after encouraging response to previous post I’d like to ask another question >…. >I gather that majority of users of this group are from North America, whilst >I am from UK …. my asthma was diagnosed about 15 years ago after being >informed 7 years previously that I had chronic bronchitis. At no time was I >ever tested for allergies, it appears that I live in an industrialised, damp >climate that any respiratory problems are automatically attributed to >bronchitis / asthma (whatever happens to be "fashionable" at the time). I’d >be intersted to hear from anyone who feels they have been given >"off-the-shelf" diagnosis of their condition. The reason I mention my >nationality is that I get the impression that sufferer’s from Northen >America have more pro-active support and a more educated approach to asthma >than their UK counterparts.

I also live in the north of England, and developed asthma 3 years ago after a viral infection which was probably aggravated by my going on holiday – after all it was only a sore throat at the time and the holiday was booked and paid for. I have never been tested for allergies, but since my response to starting Pulmicort was immediate and dramatic I personally don’t see any point in so doing.  Unless I get a chest infection or bad cold I am well and can be as active (or slothful!) as I want.  I went trekking in Nepal last November with few problems, and had none walking back from the supermarket with a rucksack (small) of tins plus a litre of milk & Bottle of wine, and two plastic carrier bags with the light / bulky stuff. En-route I was sent to the local chest clinic (surely a left-over from the days of TB, but a really efficient and useful one) for an x-ray to ensure there were no other major chest problems.  It had to be repeated – the first one is one of the mass x-ray things and showed a shadow, but when they did two full-size plates (front & side-on) the shadow had cleared so it was either an artefact or a bit of infection which had cleared up in the couple of weeks in-between, when I had been on a course of Erythromycin. >Regards >Andrew

– Surfer!

Response:

Hi after encouraging response to previous post I’d like to ask another question …. I gather that majority of users of this group are from North America, whilst I am from UK …. my asthma was diagnosed about 15 years ago after being informed 7 years previously that I had chronic bronchitis. At no time was I ever tested for allergies, it appears that I live in an industrialised, damp climate that any respiratory problems are automatically attributed to bronchitis / asthma (whatever happens to be "fashionable" at the time). I’d be intersted to hear from anyone who feels they have been given "off-the-shelf" diagnosis of their condition. The reason I mention my nationality is that I get the impression that sufferer’s from Northen America have more pro-active support and a more educated approach to asthma than their UK counterparts. Regards Andrew

Response:

I live in the midwest section of the US that is humid and hot in summer and cold in the winter.  Not the best area for an asthmatic.  At any rate, I do not think I was given an "off the self" diagnosis.  I went thru much testing before the diagnosis was established.  There is much emphasis placed on patient education in area I live. the best source of information I have found is the internet and this newsgroup.  Good Luck to you and hang in there as many advances have happened in short period of time.

Response:

There have been a number of advances in asthma treatment in the last few years. The pro-active patient tends to get the best treatment, no matter what the country. Asthma can be allergic or nonallergic or a combination. With allergic asthma there would usually be other manifestations of the allergy like hayfever [rhinitis]. Following are some UK links on asthma treatment guidelines, that not all doctors are familiar with: http://www.lunguk.org/index.htm British Lung Foundation http://www.lunguk.org/blf_foundation.htm British Lung Foundation http://www.lunguk.org/blf_links.htm Useful Medical Links http://www.bmj.com/cgi/collection/asthma Asthma http://www.bmj.com/collections/asthma/ast01.shtml Clinical Practice Guideline, North of England http://www.gpiag-asthma.org/asthma/gpiag/Facts/FactsIndx.htm FACT SHEETS GP’s IN ASTHMA GROUP http://www.gpiag-asthma.org/asthma/gpiag/Facts/FactSheet2.htm    BRITISH GUIDELINES ON ASTHMA MANAGEMENT http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~aair/index.htm Asthma and Allergy Information and Research (AAIR) http://www.srs.org.uk/ Scottish Respiratory Site http://www.omni.ac.uk/ OMNI: Organising Medical Networked Information uk http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/health/allergy/intro.shtml  Health/Allergy http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/health/allergy/prevention.shtml Allergy Prevention Sorry for any broken links. Ellis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I gather that majority of users of this group are from North America, whilst > I am from UK …. my asthma was diagnosed about 15 years ago after being > informed 7 years previously that I had chronic bronchitis. At no time was I > ever tested for allergies, it appears that I live in an industrialised, damp > climate that any respiratory problems are automatically attributed to > bronchitis / asthma (whatever happens to be "fashionable" at the time). I’d > be intersted to hear from anyone who feels they have been given > "off-the-shelf" diagnosis of their condition. The reason I mention my > nationality is that I get the impression that sufferer’s from Northen > America have more pro-active support and a more educated approach to asthma > than their UK counterparts. > Andrew

Response: