question for people with asthma

I've had asthma for about 9-10 years. It's well controlled with daily medication. The worst (but not the only) trigger for me is riding my bike up steep hills.

Every year I get a pulmonary function test before my annual checkup with my pulmonologist. Every year the results are very good, and I don't think there's much variation over time. I'll be going for my next PFT in a couple of weeks.

All the talk about health care reform and costs has got me thinking about whether I really need to do this test annually. I could see it being important if there were a change in my condition. But as long as things are basically the same as they are now, I think it might be a waste.

I'm planning to ask my doctor about it, but I was wondering what others with asthma do regarding PFTs. Do you have them annually, less often, never...?

I don't have them annually. Had one earlier this year because I spent about 3 months with some issues. But before that, was probably 4-5 years ago when I had one. I'd at least ask your doctor why they are doing it annually, what are they looking for/hoping to catch early and do they think it is needed yearly without any changing symptoms.

My asthma symptoms mostly abated after adolescence -- I think change in lifestyle (going away for college, becoming more active, better stress management, etc) helped me to manage most of my triggers. As an adult I've only done them "as needed," which in my case has been due to a flare-up which lands me in the doctor's office, which is usually a new doctor because I move so much. On average it's only been every few years or so.

I'm lucky (if you call blowing into that little machine until you're close to passing out - lucky). We have one at work. I work with enzymes so I have to have a yearly enzyme screening along with a PFT.

The nurse on staff also told me I could use the machine whenever I wanted to if I was feeling short of breath. Last year, I took her up on that offer the day after a really crappy mtb race and low and behold my values were down. In fact, out of the last three PFT's I have steadily gone down in function. :(

I'm on advair and singulair for my allergy/asthma symptoms and race bikes (mtn and cross) about nine months out of the year so I guess my asthma is in "check" as well as it's going to be.

If you don't feel any performance issues, maybe you're right. Maybe just get them every other year or so....

Luckily, my asthma has abated since I moved to a place without carpets. Apparently, for me, carpets and the nasties that live in them, were my trigger. I had some very scary attacks before I figured it out. I haven't even needed to use my inhaler in a few years.

I hope you find relief on those hills!

My old pulmonologist didn't do any follow up PFT after my initial tests. It's worth asking why your doc does it anually. My guess is it may be to check up on folks and make sure their function hasn't declined. Testing is more sensitive than personal reference. If you go long enough not being able to breathe well, you don't notice it as much.

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Originally Posted by TrekJeni

I'm on advair and singulair for my allergy/asthma symptoms and race bikes (mtn and cross) about nine months out of the year so I guess my asthma is in "check" as well as it's going to be.

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I feel you there... My asthma doc is wanting me to try Xolair because it's the only thing left to try... Not a fan of that idea personally but that's because of other health issues.

Do you use a peak flow meter at home? Have the results correlated well with your PFTs?

Off topic - there was a write-up last week about the Buteyko method - which is pretty interesting. My asthma is extremely mild, but I definitely plan to look into this.

I've had the pulmonary function tests about every 5 years. And only because there was actually a need for it. Not as a routine thing.

I think the main thing, if your asthma is well controlled, is to have that well documented, and for that, a regular check up with your doc is ok. No need for a yearly test. The reason that it needs to be regularly documented is that insurance companies always like to fall back on 'preexisting condition' to deny you claims. And you need to prove that although you have asthma, a chronic disease, it was well controlled.

I have had asthma for 31 years...I have not had a PFT in years. I have to go in every 6 months and get refils on my meds if I need them. My asthma is so well controlled that I just have to get the advair refilled......

My 17 year old son has had asthma since toddler-hood. His pediatrician avoided doing anything that would create a preexisting condition status on our insurance for years. He had his first and only PFT when he was 15.
His asthma is fairly mild and mainly exercise induced. He has had some pretty scary cat episodes but those are easy to avoid.
He did gymnastics from 2 1/2 to 11 and the chalk was pretty rough on him. He is very tall so he switched to figure skating and the chemicals they use to chill the ice were worse than the chalk. He was finally sent to the Pulmonologist.
Now he is 6'4" and he only skates for fun. He rows with his big brother. The ERG training has done wonders for him.

It would seem to me that a yearly test is either excessive or your doctor has not done a very good job communicating why your specific condition warrants the yearly test. You may want to question them about it before they set up the next test.

I can relate sooo much to the cat thing...I love cats BUT I can start wheezing within a few min if I am around them..and I get some huge hives if I touch them. It is the one thing besides horses that really trigger me!