breathing test

[Zoe Girl]

I got a message from my DR's office about tests I am due for like a pap and a mammogram. I got some advice from a nurse friend about how to handle the mammogram better this time. I am very sensitive and I screamed, they had to stop and re-do the squishing process.

I am also supposed to do a breathing test because I have asthma. That was the last push I needed to stop even an occasional smoke. I have a couple weeks to keep clear and was on retreat this weekend so about 5 days ago I had one cigarette. My stress isn't the results of this test, I am kinda looking forward to a check in since I have not had a breathing test since I was diagnosed almost 15 years ago. But I have a high deductible plan and may end up paying for it. I will call the financial service people tomorrow to at least have an estimate. The other tests are covered under my plan I verified.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I got a message from my DR's office about tests I am due for like a pap and a mammogram. I got some advice from a nurse friend about how to handle the mammogram better this time. I am very sensitive and I screamed, they had to stop and re-do the squishing process.

frankly I'd probably self-medicate (no I won't say what i might use :) - but I'm not an addict). No I don't believe medical procedures should be painful if they can help it.

[Zoe Girl]

frankly I'd probably self-medicate (no I won't say what i might use :) - but I'm not an addict). No I don't believe medical procedures should be painful if they can help it.

Oh yeah, my friend suggested taking some ibuprofen or arnica, I am not sure I can use arnica gel but I can take it orally. I don't have any history of issues with pain meds so I wouldn't want to take anything stronger. Also choosing a time of the month that is less sensitive in my cycle, but my cycle is pretty wonky in perimenopause.

[Tybee]

The breathing test might be extremely expensive, so I would definitely check that if you have a really high deductible-- think the last one I had, about three years ago, was over two thousand dollars.

[Zoe Girl]

The breathing test might be extremely expensive, so I would definitely check that if you have a really high deductible-- think the last one I had, about three years ago, was over two thousand dollars.

OMG! I will check then, It would take me forever to pay that off.

I just checked a few Kaiser sources and it ranges from $25-100. I am still going to check. I also saw that allergy testing, the test at least, is really low. I am not happy with my asthma control right now so I wondered about checking allergies, of course the allergy DR appointment would be on top of that.

[sweetana3]

I have asthma and have been on Advair for probably 15+ years with albuterol as a rescue. Never had a "breathing test". The drugs maintain a clear airway and I have a list of steps to follow if the breathing gets worse. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/lung/asthma_actplan.pdf

I have never smoked but apparently this is a family issue since both my brothers developed the same thing.

If you get to know your own body, it will tell you when to take or increase medication for asthma. The simple to use peak flow meter you should have (until you know your own symptoms) will tell you amount of air you are able to get in your lungs and you should follow the list of when to do what to prevent a hospital visit.

Allergy testing did not work for me. They did the skin test panels on my arms and I blew up across the whole arm. They were actually quite concerned with my sensitivity at that time. There is no simple inexpensive allergy test unless you already know what you are allergic to and they are checking that thing. Best to 1. remove the item or reduce exposure if you suspect something and 2. medicate appropriately.

I don't really think that asthma is a "fixable" disease. We learn what to remove from our environment and what reduces the incidents or severity of incidents.

[Tybee]

OMG! I will check then, It would take me forever to pay that off.

I just checked a few Kaiser sources and it ranges from $25-100. I am still going to check. I also saw that allergy testing, the test at least, is really low. I am not happy with my asthma control right now so I wondered about checking allergies, of course the allergy DR appointment would be on top of that.

The one I had was a complete spirometry, with before and after albuterol, and it look about 45 minutes, maybe? So maybe they were referencing something simpler? That almost does sound like a peak flow meter test. If you don't have a pfm, you can get one on Amazon and they are good to have, as sweetana says.

[Tammy]

I've had asthma since 1984. Been on advair since 1994, as well as various nasal sprays, rescue inhalers, pills, etc. Been seeing an asthma allergy specialist for four years. Been taking allergy shots for three years. To my amazement, after gradually using less and less medications, I've been off almost all asthma medication for about three months now with almost no symptoms. I think I've used Albuterol maybe once every two weeks in these two-three months.

My doctor says that it's allergy mediated asthma rather than primary asthma. I am astounded that this treatment plan actually worked for me. I had tried to get off of medication several times in the last 30 years often with the encouragement of my doctors. But this is the first time that it worked.

[Tammy]

I think it's about $400 once a year when they do the breathing test. I think it's a few hundred to see the specialist once a year. It was about 400 to get the allergy testing done if I remember ... And about 25 for each shot. Weekly at first and now its monthly. My insurance covered the vast majority of it. But at 350 for each month of advair and about 100 per inhaler for the various other ones, I'm saving a lot now when I don't need them.

[freshstart]

I had pretty bad asthma as a kid, saw an allergist in my teens, got allergy shots and by my early 20s, I only had asthma attacks when I had a bad respiratory infection or over-exposure to an allergen. I'm 46 now and experiencing exercise induced asthma because I gained wt and have become deconditioned while ill. Albuterol controls it. I am allergic to my dogs and take allergy medicine for that, they don't give me asthma but sometimes other people's dogs do. I am all for allergy shots, changed my life.

one tip- albuterol shot up in cost again after having been dirt cheap when they took out the stuff that affects the environment. My ins plan charges $120 an inhaler. My doctor wrote a script to get a nebulizer and have albuterol nebulized. The nebulizer had a $30 co-pay and the med came down to $5, plus it works better.

[Tybee]

I had pretty bad asthma as a kid, saw an allergist in my teens, got allergy shots and by my early 20s, I only had asthma attacks when I had a bad respiratory infection or over-exposure to an allergen. I'm 46 now and experiencing exercise induced asthma because I gained wt and have become deconditioned while ill. Albuterol controls it. I am allergic to my dogs and take allergy medicine for that, they don't give me asthma but sometimes other people's dogs do. I am all for allergy shots, changed my life.

one tip- albuterol shot up in cost again after having been dirt cheap when they took out the stuff that affects the environment. My ins plan charges $120 an inhaler. My doctor wrote a script to get a nebulizer and have albuterol nebulized. The nebulizer had a $30 co-pay and the med came down to $5, plus it works better.

What a great tip, freshstart, about getting it in the nebulizer form to save money. I think what they have done with inhaler pricing is truly criminal. Mine are over $450 a month=that's my copay!!

Only problem, I am thinking, is when you are out on the road and something happens and you don't have the nebulizer? I always have a rescue inhaler with me...

[freshstart]

I always carry a rescue inhaler with me. I just get them from an aunt who has a very low co-pay and was never using hers. $450 a month is criminal.

[Zoe Girl]

I only use a rescue inhaler of albuterol, but it has been almost weekly lately. In fall I have some more issues, and if I have exposure to smoke or other things like fragrance. I have had a fragrance free, low allergy household forever. Over the weekend at my retreat my lungs were 'twitchy' due to some dust, but we vacuumed.

Now I am really worried about costs! There is another medication that they gave me for awhile because I really wanted to be able to run consistently, asmanex, but that was $140 a month and I could not afford to keep taking it.

[Tammy]

They sell travel sized battery operated nebulizers. Fits in your purse. Really nice option for me when we go camping in the remote areas with no electricity, or during airplane flights. I rarely need it but I always pack it.

[Zoe Girl]

That sounds cool, I have a large bulky one from when my kids were little, however I would like a new one. Using the nebulizer kicks my lungs into action!