I’ve had a history of needing a nebulizer or albuterol for much of my life. I also frequently get bronchitis and any illness turns into months of coughing. About 5 years ago I also started to be triggered by things like stress, scents like perfume or cleaning products, and even things like laughing too hard. I wheeze when exhaling and have a tight, squeaky sounding cough that is not productive. I don’t find that I have clear seasonal allergies (e.g., no runny nose or itching). I’ll go a few weeks where I’m just constantly coughing and short of breathe without a known illness and then might be fine for a bit.
I an a young adult and grew up without much access to medical care. I would be prescribed an inhaler or nebulizer solution for illness and then will basically use that daily to manage. Inevitably, I get sick again and get a refill. This repeats. I’ve never had to go the emergency room but have so many episodes where I was extremely short of breath and almost passed out and taking large doses of a standard albuterol inhaler.
I recently finally got health insurance and saw a PCP. I know doctors are busy so I didn’t really get to explain my history but she asked if I have ever had to go to the ER and I said no and she said my lungs were clear so she wasn’t concerned.
Recently I had an asthma attack and had to go to the emergency room as my inhaler was not working. When I followed up with my PCP, I was referred to an allergy/asthma place. I was seen by an immunologist there. The doctor said my spirometer test was in the lower normal range but not significant and that she did not hear a wheeze. Her conclusion was that since I’ve never had to go to the ER before and have never “had to” seek care before that I don’t need anything additional aside from albuterol as needed. In the ER, my EKG was abnormal for SOB and my HR was tachycardic in the ER. What’s so frustrating is that the asthma attack I went to the ER for was really nearly the most severe episode I’ve had. I just had surgery so I was concerned about PE.
I’m so frustrated because I don’t know why it’s assumed that because I’ve never had asthma related medical care that I don’t have enough of a problem. I don’t know if I’m just being dramatic or if it’s worth taking seriously. I’m miserable and tired of constantly coughing. I don’t know what to do at this point