Breathing Report
Jan. 23rd, 2012 10:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
susandennisThis morning I went back to the allergist/asthma guy. I really like him and his office less and less. If the guy can't be on time for an 8:30 am appointment, you gotta wonder about his organization skills. He strolled in at 8:50 without a hint of an apology.
He gave me a breathing test and I did good. Last time I was breathing only 51% as well as other women my age and size. Today, I hit 75%! And there was another number I didn't catch that was important to him and was much improved. He wants to get even better numbers so he up the ante on my Advair inhaler.
He told me to use the other inhaler more often and never leave home without it. And he gave me a prescription for prednizone and told me to use it when I needed it. This last kind of surprised me and I questioned him about it but got crap for an answer. Turns out the prescription cost me $3.40 so I had it filled anyway.
I had a list of other questions for him about the muscle cramps and the voice loss and the eye itching and he just ignored them all. I mentioned the muscle cramps again and finally he said to take that to my regular doctor.
Then when I got to the pharmacy, I discovered he'd fucked up the prescription. The pharmacy got it fixed quickly and nicely but still. The guy's a jerk. and I don't like him or his staff.
Happily, I don't have to go back to him for 2 months. At least.
I go see my regular guy in 2 weeks. He is never late and while I can't guarantee he's listening, he sure pretends like he is and answers my questions like he hears them. That will be a nice change.
Having said all that... yeah for 75%!!
He gave me a breathing test and I did good. Last time I was breathing only 51% as well as other women my age and size. Today, I hit 75%! And there was another number I didn't catch that was important to him and was much improved. He wants to get even better numbers so he up the ante on my Advair inhaler.
He told me to use the other inhaler more often and never leave home without it. And he gave me a prescription for prednizone and told me to use it when I needed it. This last kind of surprised me and I questioned him about it but got crap for an answer. Turns out the prescription cost me $3.40 so I had it filled anyway.
I had a list of other questions for him about the muscle cramps and the voice loss and the eye itching and he just ignored them all. I mentioned the muscle cramps again and finally he said to take that to my regular doctor.
Then when I got to the pharmacy, I discovered he'd fucked up the prescription. The pharmacy got it fixed quickly and nicely but still. The guy's a jerk. and I don't like him or his staff.
Happily, I don't have to go back to him for 2 months. At least.
I go see my regular guy in 2 weeks. He is never late and while I can't guarantee he's listening, he sure pretends like he is and answers my questions like he hears them. That will be a nice change.
Having said all that... yeah for 75%!!
(no subject)
Date: 2012-01-23 08:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-01-23 09:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-01-23 11:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-01-24 12:06 am (UTC)Prednisone can knock back a lot of the symptoms, but it does have side effects taken long-term at high dosage. I don't know how often he suggested might be when you needed it or how to tell, or what dose he prescribed, though - I've had an "as needed" 10 mg in the past and no worries about it, but I don't know where the worry line is.
This guy doesn't sound like he's very good at explaining, either what to do or why...I'd be real tempted, in your shoes, to ask the regular doctor if he can recommend another specialist in this area who can actually explain things.
I'd bet the other number he was tracking was your "peak flow" or how hard you can breathe out when doing so as hard as you can, though I'm guessing. My "peak flow" is *crap* due to long-term damage from the childhood asthma, even though I no longer have asthma. But, it's not getting worse, so I'm happy.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-01-24 12:16 am (UTC)My plan is not use it until I've got the skippy from my nice doctor. Him I trust. And, yep, Asshat gets one more shot and then I'm asking for someone else.
I have an inhaler question for you.
My regular (rescue) inhaler - the one I use the spacer for. I'm trying to not use the spacer. I keep hitting the back of my tongue with the spray... is that right? Should I be aiming higher? Or does it matter? None of the how to's on the internet seem to cover this aspect. They say to depress and take a long, slow suck in but they don't tell you about aiming.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-01-24 01:39 am (UTC)As far as the inhaler - if it's on your tongue it's not in your lungs. Some may end up there, but it should be minimal, otherwise you're just getting an icky taste, not an effective spray. I'm not sure if you should aim higher or what...it's been over a decade since I had to use one, and I learned over two decades ago, so I don't rightly remember what I had to learn to do to get it right. But you should not be *primarily* hitting your tongue.
ETA: spray *should* head for the same path air follows as you inhale. If your tongue is getting in the way of that, re-aiming won't help, but if your tongue is below that opening then yes, probably aim higher...but I'm guessing. :/
(no subject)
Date: 2012-01-24 12:57 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-01-25 08:26 pm (UTC).
This guy sounds like a dick. Is he the only option?
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