How to tell the difference?

coltsfan715 · Oct 10, 2006

I have just recently been given the impression by my docs that I may have asthma along with CF .. or as one of my old docs has said .. an asthmatic component to my CF.

I guess my question is for those with known asthma .... how do you tell the difference between an asthma attack or airway restriction caused by asthma versus shortness of breath related to the CF.

Before the doc even mentioned I may have asthma along with CF I was wondering if I could be having brochial spasms ... like asthma attacks when I have random sporadic airway restriction/shortness of breath. I have never been told what an asthma attack is like though, so I don't know. I am just curious if it REALLY is CF related stuff (even though yes all of it is probably ultimately CF related) versus maybe asthma.

Any insight into the difference would be great!

Lindsey

coltsfan715 · Oct 10, 2006

I have just recently been given the impression by my docs that I may have asthma along with CF .. or as one of my old docs has said .. an asthmatic component to my CF.

I guess my question is for those with known asthma .... how do you tell the difference between an asthma attack or airway restriction caused by asthma versus shortness of breath related to the CF.

Before the doc even mentioned I may have asthma along with CF I was wondering if I could be having brochial spasms ... like asthma attacks when I have random sporadic airway restriction/shortness of breath. I have never been told what an asthma attack is like though, so I don't know. I am just curious if it REALLY is CF related stuff (even though yes all of it is probably ultimately CF related) versus maybe asthma.

Any insight into the difference would be great!

Lindsey

coltsfan715 · Oct 10, 2006

I have just recently been given the impression by my docs that I may have asthma along with CF .. or as one of my old docs has said .. an asthmatic component to my CF.

I guess my question is for those with known asthma .... how do you tell the difference between an asthma attack or airway restriction caused by asthma versus shortness of breath related to the CF.

Before the doc even mentioned I may have asthma along with CF I was wondering if I could be having brochial spasms ... like asthma attacks when I have random sporadic airway restriction/shortness of breath. I have never been told what an asthma attack is like though, so I don't know. I am just curious if it REALLY is CF related stuff (even though yes all of it is probably ultimately CF related) versus maybe asthma.

Any insight into the difference would be great!

Lindsey

littletally · Oct 10, 2006

I was always told I had an asthma component too. In fact the first 8 years of my life I was diagnosed with asthma and not cf. It turns out that it's not really asthma for me but that whole ABPA thing. But back to asthma I think it's harder to get control of than a cf shortness of breath. I've seen a couple of people have asthma attacks and it's nothing like being short of breath due to cf. I know I'm probably not helping but like you I'm not all that familiar with asthma. Do you all of the sudden get short of breath or is it when you're doing something and get short of breath? Because when I get run down but not necesarily sick I can get short of breath running up the stairs because my body just doesn't want to do it. As soon as I stop though and give myself a minute I catch my breath. I don't think it's that easy to control if it's asthma. Hope it helps a little.

Nikki
27/f/cf

littletally · Oct 10, 2006

I was always told I had an asthma component too. In fact the first 8 years of my life I was diagnosed with asthma and not cf. It turns out that it's not really asthma for me but that whole ABPA thing. But back to asthma I think it's harder to get control of than a cf shortness of breath. I've seen a couple of people have asthma attacks and it's nothing like being short of breath due to cf. I know I'm probably not helping but like you I'm not all that familiar with asthma. Do you all of the sudden get short of breath or is it when you're doing something and get short of breath? Because when I get run down but not necesarily sick I can get short of breath running up the stairs because my body just doesn't want to do it. As soon as I stop though and give myself a minute I catch my breath. I don't think it's that easy to control if it's asthma. Hope it helps a little.

Nikki
27/f/cf

littletally · Oct 10, 2006

I was always told I had an asthma component too. In fact the first 8 years of my life I was diagnosed with asthma and not cf. It turns out that it's not really asthma for me but that whole ABPA thing. But back to asthma I think it's harder to get control of than a cf shortness of breath. I've seen a couple of people have asthma attacks and it's nothing like being short of breath due to cf. I know I'm probably not helping but like you I'm not all that familiar with asthma. Do you all of the sudden get short of breath or is it when you're doing something and get short of breath? Because when I get run down but not necesarily sick I can get short of breath running up the stairs because my body just doesn't want to do it. As soon as I stop though and give myself a minute I catch my breath. I don't think it's that easy to control if it's asthma. Hope it helps a little.

Nikki
27/f/cf

JazzysMom · Oct 10, 2006

FOR ME the asthma part is much different. When its the CF I can still move the junk around even with a small cough. When its asmtha I just cant get the air. I never had any real asthmatic problems until last year. It hit me so hard & I truly had no idea what was happening. It was scary. When I cant hold a conversation because I cant get enough air then you know something is wrong because NOTHING usually stops me from talking LOL! Seriously tho until last year when it was so bad I might have had subtle problems & chalked it up to the CF only.

JazzysMom · Oct 10, 2006

FOR ME the asthma part is much different. When its the CF I can still move the junk around even with a small cough. When its asmtha I just cant get the air. I never had any real asthmatic problems until last year. It hit me so hard & I truly had no idea what was happening. It was scary. When I cant hold a conversation because I cant get enough air then you know something is wrong because NOTHING usually stops me from talking LOL! Seriously tho until last year when it was so bad I might have had subtle problems & chalked it up to the CF only.

JazzysMom · Oct 10, 2006

FOR ME the asthma part is much different. When its the CF I can still move the junk around even with a small cough. When its asmtha I just cant get the air. I never had any real asthmatic problems until last year. It hit me so hard & I truly had no idea what was happening. It was scary. When I cant hold a conversation because I cant get enough air then you know something is wrong because NOTHING usually stops me from talking LOL! Seriously tho until last year when it was so bad I might have had subtle problems & chalked it up to the CF only.

lightNlife · Oct 10, 2006

I've gotten to the point where I can tell pretty easily which cough is a CF cough and which is from asthma. I was diagnosed with asthma about 12 years ago (in addition to hay fever and other junk).

My asthma cough and the tightness associated with it are more "tingly" than CF. The cough itself sounds whistly, dry and higher pitched--which I assume is the result of the tigher airways. The CF cough, by comparisson, is deeper, wetter, and "junkier". The time of day also helps me determine which type of tightness I'm dealing with.

-Coughing first thing in the morning and can't catch my breath = CF. The mucus has had a chance to "pool" all night and getting my motor started to clear it out takes awhile
-Coughing constantly during my period = asthma
-Coughing after exercise (no wheezing) = CF
-Coughing after exercise (w/wheezing) = asthma
-Tightness that feels higher up and includes an itchy or tight feeling in my neck = asthma
-Tightness across my back = CF

When I have an asthma attack, I cannot catch my breath and it feels just flat out TIGHT, as opposed to CF where I feel like there's something in the way (duh! mucus!) that's keeping me from breathing deeply. With the asthma attack I can feel myself start to hyperventilate, as indicated by a tingling across most of my face, particularly my nose. Also, during asthma attacks I get a cold sweat if I can't bring it under control right away.

I hope that helps! It's sort of hard to describe these things, especially since it could be variable for everyone.

-Lauren
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/2005/11/ranting-about-asthma.html">Ranting about Asthma (from my Breathing Deeply blog site)</a>

lightNlife · Oct 10, 2006

I've gotten to the point where I can tell pretty easily which cough is a CF cough and which is from asthma. I was diagnosed with asthma about 12 years ago (in addition to hay fever and other junk).

My asthma cough and the tightness associated with it are more "tingly" than CF. The cough itself sounds whistly, dry and higher pitched--which I assume is the result of the tigher airways. The CF cough, by comparisson, is deeper, wetter, and "junkier". The time of day also helps me determine which type of tightness I'm dealing with.

-Coughing first thing in the morning and can't catch my breath = CF. The mucus has had a chance to "pool" all night and getting my motor started to clear it out takes awhile
-Coughing constantly during my period = asthma
-Coughing after exercise (no wheezing) = CF
-Coughing after exercise (w/wheezing) = asthma
-Tightness that feels higher up and includes an itchy or tight feeling in my neck = asthma
-Tightness across my back = CF

When I have an asthma attack, I cannot catch my breath and it feels just flat out TIGHT, as opposed to CF where I feel like there's something in the way (duh! mucus!) that's keeping me from breathing deeply. With the asthma attack I can feel myself start to hyperventilate, as indicated by a tingling across most of my face, particularly my nose. Also, during asthma attacks I get a cold sweat if I can't bring it under control right away.

I hope that helps! It's sort of hard to describe these things, especially since it could be variable for everyone.

-Lauren
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/2005/11/ranting-about-asthma.html">Ranting about Asthma (from my Breathing Deeply blog site)</a>

lightNlife · Oct 10, 2006

I've gotten to the point where I can tell pretty easily which cough is a CF cough and which is from asthma. I was diagnosed with asthma about 12 years ago (in addition to hay fever and other junk).

My asthma cough and the tightness associated with it are more "tingly" than CF. The cough itself sounds whistly, dry and higher pitched--which I assume is the result of the tigher airways. The CF cough, by comparisson, is deeper, wetter, and "junkier". The time of day also helps me determine which type of tightness I'm dealing with.

-Coughing first thing in the morning and can't catch my breath = CF. The mucus has had a chance to "pool" all night and getting my motor started to clear it out takes awhile
-Coughing constantly during my period = asthma
-Coughing after exercise (no wheezing) = CF
-Coughing after exercise (w/wheezing) = asthma
-Tightness that feels higher up and includes an itchy or tight feeling in my neck = asthma
-Tightness across my back = CF

When I have an asthma attack, I cannot catch my breath and it feels just flat out TIGHT, as opposed to CF where I feel like there's something in the way (duh! mucus!) that's keeping me from breathing deeply. With the asthma attack I can feel myself start to hyperventilate, as indicated by a tingling across most of my face, particularly my nose. Also, during asthma attacks I get a cold sweat if I can't bring it under control right away.

I hope that helps! It's sort of hard to describe these things, especially since it could be variable for everyone.

-Lauren
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://livingwellwithcf.blogspot.com/2005/11/ranting-about-asthma.html">Ranting about Asthma (from my Breathing Deeply blog site)</a>

LisaV · Oct 11, 2006

My hsuband had both asthma and bronchiectasis. He said that when he had an asthma attack it felt like he couldn't get air down to his lungs, but when he was having a bronchiectasis exacerbation it felt more like he could get the air DOWN to his lungs but there wasn't any room for it there and like he couldn't get the air out because of the mucus.

The asthma thing is what I experience too, but I don't have the bronchiectasis part so I can't speak to that myself.

LisaV · Oct 11, 2006

My hsuband had both asthma and bronchiectasis. He said that when he had an asthma attack it felt like he couldn't get air down to his lungs, but when he was having a bronchiectasis exacerbation it felt more like he could get the air DOWN to his lungs but there wasn't any room for it there and like he couldn't get the air out because of the mucus.

The asthma thing is what I experience too, but I don't have the bronchiectasis part so I can't speak to that myself.

LisaV · Oct 11, 2006

My hsuband had both asthma and bronchiectasis. He said that when he had an asthma attack it felt like he couldn't get air down to his lungs, but when he was having a bronchiectasis exacerbation it felt more like he could get the air DOWN to his lungs but there wasn't any room for it there and like he couldn't get the air out because of the mucus.

The asthma thing is what I experience too, but I don't have the bronchiectasis part so I can't speak to that myself.

Allisa35 · Oct 11, 2006

Back in August, my doc. again said he thought I might have asthma as well. I'm still not totally convinced; I personally think it is the CF. He put me on Prednisone which I was on for about 3-4 days before I started an oral antibiotic. I noticed no change or help whatsoever while on the Prednisone. It wasn't until I started the antibiotic that I started feeling better.

I have often wondered about the difference between the two myself. They had mentioned it to me years ago that they thought I might have asthma and put me on Advair, which again did nothing for me.

I think there was a thread on here a while back about an article about some breathing test that you could do to see what kind of breathing ailment you had (if it wasn't on here, I read it on the internet somewhere). I don't remember what the topic title was though. It would be interesting to know for sure if it is just the CF or both CF & asthma.

Hope you get the answers you need.

Allisa35 · Oct 11, 2006

Back in August, my doc. again said he thought I might have asthma as well. I'm still not totally convinced; I personally think it is the CF. He put me on Prednisone which I was on for about 3-4 days before I started an oral antibiotic. I noticed no change or help whatsoever while on the Prednisone. It wasn't until I started the antibiotic that I started feeling better.

I have often wondered about the difference between the two myself. They had mentioned it to me years ago that they thought I might have asthma and put me on Advair, which again did nothing for me.

I think there was a thread on here a while back about an article about some breathing test that you could do to see what kind of breathing ailment you had (if it wasn't on here, I read it on the internet somewhere). I don't remember what the topic title was though. It would be interesting to know for sure if it is just the CF or both CF & asthma.

Hope you get the answers you need.

Allisa35 · Oct 11, 2006

Back in August, my doc. again said he thought I might have asthma as well. I'm still not totally convinced; I personally think it is the CF. He put me on Prednisone which I was on for about 3-4 days before I started an oral antibiotic. I noticed no change or help whatsoever while on the Prednisone. It wasn't until I started the antibiotic that I started feeling better.

I have often wondered about the difference between the two myself. They had mentioned it to me years ago that they thought I might have asthma and put me on Advair, which again did nothing for me.

I think there was a thread on here a while back about an article about some breathing test that you could do to see what kind of breathing ailment you had (if it wasn't on here, I read it on the internet somewhere). I don't remember what the topic title was though. It would be interesting to know for sure if it is just the CF or both CF & asthma.

Hope you get the answers you need.

ladybug · Oct 11, 2006

I also have asthma component, though have no idea what is from CF and what is from asthma. The only thing I THINK I know is that when I wheeze and "sqeak" when I breath, I chalk it up to asthma.

I also wanted to mention that I intiailly took a test when doing my pfts to indicate asthma. You breath something in and they see if it makes you breath bad enough to sort of trigger an asthma attack. Well, I was only about 5 points away from being labeled "asthma" from that test, but I didn't have a full-fledged attack. Then, when I went to a new center, they just started me on Advair for SOB and since it seemed to help at the time, they say I have an asthmatic component. Its all very confusing.

So, if you can, maybe do that test that should trigger an asthma attack and not only will you know how it feels, but they'll have an actual diagnosis for you. Just something to mention to your doc if you really want to know more.... although, i wouldn't tell the doc you want to experience an asthma attack... that's just weird... lol! j/k... I wanted to do it to know what it felt like, but since it didn't trigger one, I still won't know when/if I have them. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Good luck.

ladybug · Oct 11, 2006

I also have asthma component, though have no idea what is from CF and what is from asthma. The only thing I THINK I know is that when I wheeze and "sqeak" when I breath, I chalk it up to asthma.

I also wanted to mention that I intiailly took a test when doing my pfts to indicate asthma. You breath something in and they see if it makes you breath bad enough to sort of trigger an asthma attack. Well, I was only about 5 points away from being labeled "asthma" from that test, but I didn't have a full-fledged attack. Then, when I went to a new center, they just started me on Advair for SOB and since it seemed to help at the time, they say I have an asthmatic component. Its all very confusing.

So, if you can, maybe do that test that should trigger an asthma attack and not only will you know how it feels, but they'll have an actual diagnosis for you. Just something to mention to your doc if you really want to know more.... although, i wouldn't tell the doc you want to experience an asthma attack... that's just weird... lol! j/k... I wanted to do it to know what it felt like, but since it didn't trigger one, I still won't know when/if I have them. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Good luck.

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