Asthma Test Disaster
By Lannielui
@Lannielui (83)
United States
January 20, 2012 9:46pm CST
I was recently tested for asthma. I was given methacholine aerosal in increasing amounts which is designed to trigger a lung spasm. The methacholine at level four triggered the lung spasm. The problem for me, was that the bronchodilator given to me to reverse the effect of the methacholine had no effect. After two doses and my breathing still in distress I was told to go home. I had a hard time breathing for over 12 hours after this test and was quite miserable.
My question is wondering if anyone has experienced similar problems during an asthma test? For those with asthma, does the bronchodilator always work for you? What should someone do when in a severe asthmatic crisis where a bronchodilator does not work?
2 responses
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
21 Jan 12
I have exercise induced asthma. They tested me for asthma like they did you, and didn't get a response. Asthma can be caused by many things, and my trigger isn't that one. However, if an attack is severe enough, you should go to an emergency room and perhaps have been put on inhalation therapy. I cannot believe they sent you home and did nothing about the attack more than they did. Hope you weren't driving. I'd definitely chew someone out over the treatment. I cannot use bronchodilators because they have lactose in them and my body is lactose intolerant. When I had pneumonia, they used them on me and they did no good at all and in fact, helped make it worse. But at that time, they didn't know I was lactose intolerant. For me, in hospital inhalation therapy was the solution. It is pretty scary and I know I'd be angry if they did me the way you were done. 
@Lannielui (83)
• United States
21 Jan 12
I was at the hospital. That is where the test was being conducted. They did two doses of the inhalation treatment with absolutely no effect. They did their best to get my breathing back to normal, but nothing worked. No, I was not driving. I was told not to 'pass out in the snow, because they hate extra paperwork'. This was supposed to be funny, but when you can't breath and are in pain, the joke kind of falls flat.
I am also lactose intolerant. Do all of the bronchial treatments have lactose in them? I'm wondering if the inhalation treatment has lactose or if there are differing variations?
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
21 Jan 12
Don't know if they all have lactose in them, but it was by pure accident I found out about it. I know the powered ones, probably all do or my doctor would have prescribed one. He had given me one as a sample and I read the ingredients. He was flabbergasted. Now I ask and my pharmacist knows. Many of today's pills have binders that are lactose. The treatments they gave me in the hospital were medicinal for pneumonia, so I don't know and it was before they found I was lactose intolerant. I have used Albuterol and it doesn't seem to bother me. Just beware, it may be a problem.
@Lannielui (83)
• United States
22 Jan 12
Thank you for your response and your insightful comments. I'll have something to discuss with the lung specialist when I see him in a few weeks. Hopefully, he may also be able to shed some light in why the affect of the methacholine was unable to be reversed.
@koopharper (7532)
• Canada
22 Jan 12
I was tested for asthma and they never gave me any aerosal or anything else for that matter. Maybe because I came in with a severe chest cold. They tested my lung capacity and then gave me a regular inhaler for asthmatics and tested whether it helped me. It did and they gave me a prescription for inhalers instead of decongestants. Made a big difference. I'm surprised they induced a reaction in you and then left you to yourself. That just doesn't seem right.
@Lannielui (83)
• United States
22 Jan 12
Believe me, I was surprised too. I am currently seeing a lung specialist because of a cough I have had for over two months. I was already coughing and not breathing at full capacity when they started this methacholine test at the end of all the other breathing tests. Guess there is no alternative bronchodilator other than what was given to me. Seems they should have an alternative medicine to reverse the affect, but they did not.
I'm glad that you found a solution for your breathing problem and that inhalers work good for you.
