WWYD. Asthma + a-holes (long, vent)

I might have asthma. The pulmonologist I saw was a COMPLETE and total smurf and that's even being nice about how rude he was. He completely brushed off everything I said, with at one point actually telling me, "That isn't what happened." Oh, so you have a smurfing time machine now? You can go back and tell me what really happened in my life? I mean really, let that sink in. Imagine what it feels like to have someone you've never met not even let you finish a sentence before cutting you off and saying something in your life didn't happen.

So he completely wrote off my symptoms but then tells me it could possibly be asthma and I should come in for more testing and then have a follow up appointment with him. (As if.)

I just started having allergies about two years ago and I guess it's pretty common to get asthma along with that, so that's probably all that's happening. I imagine it's some by-product of allergies just because my body's been weird like that but I haven't noticed a correlation where every time by nose runs and eyes get itchy that I have breathing problems. It seems to come at other times- like right now, after I was out and about and running errands and shopping a while ago. I have an inhaler that I use as needed. The nurse practitioner I usually see prescribed it when I initially went in. She did a chest xray because I thought I might have been sick at that point because there was pain with it at that time but the xray was clear so she gave me the inhaler and sent me on my way. That was in September and I could go a week or so at a time without using it, but when I needed it I needed it a lot for days at a time. I figured I'd just bring it up at my next appointment since I started to worry about asthma and what that might mean since I'm pretty clueless about the condition. I had my physical at the beginning of January and that's when she referred me to this other physician. Then he throws it in my face that "It must not be that bad, because you waited four months to see me." Well, I wasn't smurfing dying, if that's what you meant. Smurfing eh! Times are hard. Our son has had a lot of health problems since birth and I had Lyme disease twice so my health hasn't been great and it's lead to debt in medical bills so we are careful about how often we go. It pretty much has to be an emergency and I never even told my husband about this other referral and I still haven't told him anything about it.

I went to that appointment to get more information and get some ideas of what I could do if it ever became an emergency (because at times I felt like it could have) and he literally told me nothing about the disease. NOTHING. Except that he thought I was just imagining it, which is also really smurfing irritating. I see his point that because I can't correlate my symptoms to anything specific and because I can still do moderate exercise or go out in the cold and not die yet on a bad day I can barely go up and down the stairs that it would be hard to pinpoint what's going on. But his overall tone was completely out of line. He cut me off repeatedly. He expected me to describe things the way someone who has been through medical school would. He wanted me to use more descriptive terms for my symptoms but when I did, he told me they were the wrong descriptions (without even letting me fully explain). And not even just by saying that I should use a different description, but by cutting me off and saying it didn't happen (like above) or just denying that my symptom meant anything at all. Nothing I said was possibly good enough for him.

So after all of that, he wants me to go get the methacholine test and have a follow up appointment with him. I never want to see this man again in my life. If I had asthma and he was the only doctor in the area who could treat me, I'd rather go untreated and I don't take my health lightly. I'm very curious how the methacholine challenge would play out but I don't want to spend the money on a what-if scenario. I'm also frightened that I could react to it but he would still sit there and tell me that I'm not having a real reaction or it's not strong enough or something. I live in a small town and I don't have many options for physicians. Even he is only here a couple days a week and his main practice is an hour away. We are going to pay off most of our debt (finally) and I don't want to add more to that. It seems to be my luck that my body does stupid things but tests never show anything. So this is part of my hesitation to have it done.

I wish I had complained to someone about him that day but I just came home and cried. I can't stop thinking about how rude he was. I've had a lot of experience with smurf doctors but that was a whole new level.

So after all that my question is, can someone tells me what asthma is like? What their experiences with it are? When I was in middle school, someone who was my friend at that time explained it like trying to breathe through a tiny straw. It's been hard to get that image out of my mind even though now that I'm older I know that experiences are as individual as people and it's not a universal feeling.

It's really not fair to my family to keep going to doctors who have nothing to tell me. I feel like there should be SOMETHING I can do to give me some smurfing clue that doesn't involve a specific test at the doctor. I kind of planned on waiting it out and seeing how I felt before the appointment. It's supposed to be the 31st so if I'm feeling like it's hard to breathe or however the smurf the doctor thinks I should describe it I will go, but if I'm not I will cancel. But that seems dumb because the methacholine test is supposed to be a really good indicator of asthma. I have no idea if the nurse practitioner I see would renew a prescription for albuterol without more testing. I would have a hard time dealing with a negative test knowing what it meant for my family. My husband is really excited to get our debt paid off and think about buying a house and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I had yet another doctor bill that proved nothing.  

Part of me wants to wait until I'm having an actual emergency and just go to the ER at that point. That seems like a dumb plan but my brain is so clouded with doubt now. My marriage is in a good place and I don't want to smurf that up and add more stress. (This isn't the first time I've had stupid health crap so it's not like my husband is just an smurf who doesn't care about my life.)

ugggggh what a douche bucket! I wish I had more advice since I supposedly have "asthma" but I think I was misdiagnosed. I haven't needed my inhaler since before Parker was born. I honestly think they had no f'n idea what was wrong (I had/have a chronic cough) so they randomly picked asthma.  
I DO think you need to call in and complain because that's straight up unacceptable..especially since your paying to be insulted like that! SMH

Quoting infertilemommy:" ugggggh what a douche bucket! I wish I had more advice since I supposedly have "asthma" but I think I ... [snip!] ... to call in and complain because that's straight up unacceptable..especially since your paying to be insulted like that! SMH"

Funny! I didn't even get to talk about my cough, lol.

I think in a perfect world I would call and complain, get reimbursed for that appt, go get a 2nd opinion from a doctor who could accurately diagnose me which would make me feel totally vindicated. But I think I will cancel the appointment with him and just let it go until it's unbearable. Or my inhaler dies. Something like that. I will probably complain, though. I've had doctors who left me feeling less than warm and fuzzy inside, maybe even like I was wasting their time, but I've never felt that low. Ever.

It's frustrating because he admitted that there were types of asthma that could flare up sometimes more than others but it seemed like he dismissed that was what was happening to me, preferring to believe that I was imagining it all. Then telling me to come in for more testing. At least he's attempting to be thorough?

Quoting infertilemommy:" ugggggh what a douche bucket! I wish I had more advice since I supposedly have "asthma" but I think I ... [snip!] ... to call in and complain because that's straight up unacceptable..especially since your paying to be insulted like that! SMH"

They thought my SIL had asthma because of her chronic cough, turns out it was severe reflux that was leaving her throat breathing pathways swollen and causing a tight feeling in her chest that she thought was from lack of air. Got on good antacids and she's ok now.

OP, wish I could be of more help, but all I know is that when the kid I babysat used to have an attack she would say it felt as if someone was trying to "push the air back out of her throat"

Quoting Mommy of a giggler!:" They thought my SIL had asthma because of her chronic cough, turns out it was severe reflux that was ... [snip!] ... kid I babysat used to have an attack she would say it felt as if someone was trying to "push the air back out of her throat""

this is good to know! I will def mention that at my LOs next appt - we have the same dr! lol. Thank you!

Quoting infertilemommy:" this is good to know! I will def mention that at my LOs next appt - we have the same dr! lol. Thank you! "

No problem!  

It took forever for her to get the correct diagnosis because she didn't really think she had heartburn that often, or that bad. Turns out it was like a slow gurgle of acid all the time causing the damage, so she never noticed how bad it was.

Quoting 1234567:" I might have asthma. The pulmonologist I saw was a COMPLETE and total smurf and that's even being nice ... [snip!] ... the first time I've had stupid health crap so it's not like my husband is just an smurf who doesn't care about my life.)"

Yikes, Im sorry that happened. That seriously gave me flashbacks to a teacher, well group of teachers, that told my parents I was making up being bullied. One teacher belittled me when I said I had asthma problems... people of power can be so sick.

Quoting Mommy of a giggler!:" They thought my SIL had asthma because of her chronic cough, turns out it was severe reflux that was ... [snip!] ... kid I babysat used to have an attack she would say it felt as if someone was trying to "push the air back out of her throat""

Interesting. I knew reflux could be a culprit, too, but I don't have typical heartburn, either. So I didn't really consider that as a cause.

Honestly I would report the doctor to the state board. He is licensed through the state and will be reprimanded based on how many complaints/the severity of the complaints he gets. How far are you from a bigger city? It might be worth a little bit of a drive to see a doctor that would be willing to assist you. Secondly if financially you are struggling have you looked into financial assistance, like a medicaid or medicaid type program. In Texas we have 2 types medicaid (for those in severe need) and Chip (for those who are in need but make to much money for medicaid). I would look into that for medical issues especially if you have health issues. As for the asthma - I have something called seasonal asthma also known as allergy related asthma. I would have really bad chest pain where it felt like i had something wrapped around my chest not allowing it to expand all the way. I wouldn't have traditional allergy symptoms like itchy eyes or runny nose but the allergens in the air would irritate by bronchial tubes and they would swell causing less air to be able to get in. I would use and emergency inhaler for a couple days plus allergy medication and would feel better. Some friends of mine have asthma related to exercise (they literally can't breath and are gasping for breath when they work out) so there are def different types. Hope this was helpful

Quoting @rmy Mom:" Honestly I would report the doctor to the state board. He is licensed through the state and will be reprimanded ... [snip!] ... literally can't breath and are gasping for breath when they work out) so there are def different types. Hope this was helpful"

Thanks for the reply! I'm an hour away from a bigger city. I haven't looked into my options for a second opinion yet. Not sure if I could see someone through a different medical system closer to home or not. I don't drive in the bigger cities too much and I'd be more comfortable with my husband driving. So I'll probably have to let him in on it at some point. lol

Did you do a methacholine challenge or breathe into tubes at all? How did they diagnose your seasonal asthma?

I had a breathing test, can't remember the name but I sat in like a space capsule and had to breath into a tube they took those result which were borderline and looked at my symptoms and when/where the problem occured. My doctor had me write down what I was doing and where I was when the symptoms hit for like a month. We noticed a pattern. I am highly allergic to mold and ragweed. And my chest pain spiked on the days that those two things spiked in the environment (the weather channel actually tells you the level for the day). If you live in a small town and doctors are limited I would def drive the hour. You can also search for doctors on some websites (not sure you will have to google) where patients share their opinions of the doctor and you can see if they "seem" good. I would research some doctors close to you and find one that way. No matter what do not go back to a doctor that will not listen to you - that can be deadly. My father had a boss a couple of years ago you had an asthma attack, his inhaler was empty, and he died. Not trying to scare you but just letting you know that anything health related needs to be taken seriously and if you end up having to go to the ER later it will cost more in the long run. On a side note I once saw a doctor before I was diagnosed who told me that I was swallowing to much air and to drink less soda - in the next second he stated he had just barely passed medical school. Needless to say I left his office as fast as I could and never went back.

Quoting @rmy Mom:" I had a breathing test, can't remember the name but I sat in like a space capsule and had to breath into ... [snip!] ... he stated he had just barely passed medical school. Needless to say I left his office as fast as I could and never went back. "

Yikes!

See, my older brother always had asthma but it was never really controlled... just as in I never heard of him going to the doctor or what happened when he had attacks or anything. I mean, we were never close and he was never around growing up so that could be why. I always thought of asthma as something less serious because of that. But recently I've been paying more attention to the things people say about asthma and I an realizing I don't know much about it. I never really grasped how serious it was and probably still don't.