Well, it's official

[wendyzski]

Yeah, we pretty much knew that, but after another x-ray and a slew of tests, barring anything unexpected from the bloodwork, we can be pretty sure it's actually asthma and not something worse that just looks a lot like it.

As I expected, even with my usual morning chest tightness and coughing, my lung capacity was 98% of what is predicted for me height and weight. After some albuterol (the usual basic "rescue" bronchodialator) and a 10-minute wait it was 116% and "normal" for me is probably closer to 120-125% of predicted.

Why yes, I did start playing Baritone Horn at age 8 and singing at age 9, why do you ask? :)

All the rest of my numbers are normal-ish, and improved markedly after the albuterol. The only thing that was oddly low and stayed low was my oxygen uptake rate. It was 72 when 80 is where they like to see it, and albuterol only took it up to 74. It could be explained by the constant inflammation that we expect is going on, or it could be something wierd that would have a marker show up on the blood tests she ordered.

In an attempt to find a regimen that actually WORKS for me, she gave me a different steroid inhaler (Flovent) plus a Seravent diskus. In effect, we are making our own Adviar, only with a different steroid - since I had a lot of throat irritation from regular Advair. I'm also to use a spacer with the Flovent.

It'll be 1-3 weeks before I see any real improvement even if this stuff DOES work, but it's good to have actual hard numbers for my symptoms. I go back in 4 weeks for follow-up and see if this combo is working.

I really like this doc, just as my doc thought I would. She asked a slew of questions and actually listened to my answers. She didn't try to dumb things down for me - in fact she went over my head on a couple of terms but she explained them pretty soon afterwards. She admits to being slightly puzzled as to *why* I've not responded too well to the usual treatments, which as far as I'm concerned is all good - A doc who is willing to say "wow - that's wierd. I'm not sure what we have here" is generally more willing to actually *look* at the data, as opposed to one who immediately assumes an easy answer.

So, physically I'm no better than I was yesterday but I *feel* so much better because there is stuff I can try and there is someone looking out for me.

Of course, all hell broke loose when I finally hit the office at 12:45. It's nice to be needed but bloody hell people!