Diagnosing PH is a long and complex process. This is the list of tests I had to take in order to get to my COMPLETE diagnosis which includes the causality of the PH:

Bi-Heart Cath
Cat scan with contrast
Right Heart Cath x3 including Fluid Challenge in last one
Pulmonary Function tests
6 minute walks
Sleep Study
Lung Perfusion test
Traditional Echocardiogram
PH Protocol Echocardiogram with contrast
Bubble test

My first cath confirmed I had PH but then I had several of these other tests stretched over time to confirm the causality which in my case is Left Heart Disease.

Hi Heather, I'm a severe acute asthmatic and don't ever remember having that test. I know I've had a few pft's over the years. It's been 35 yrs since actual diagnosis, but had it at least 5 yrs before that. My symptoms were not good at all.

Bev, there are different levels of asthma. Having adthma does not necessarily mean you need O2. I have O2, but had my first asthma attack 40 yrs ago this summer. I've only been on O2 a yr and a half due to hypoxia caused by my PH.

Yes.

Just as Right Heart Catheterization is the definitive test for diagnosing, the Methacholine challenge is the definitive test for Asthma.

So you were given a methacholine challenge? I had one years and years ago when I had a different lung disorder (Bleomycin Pulmonary Toxicity caused by chemotherapy) that was hard to diagnose and too many doctors wanted to label it asthma. The Methacholine Challenge finally convinced them I did NOT have asthma and they had to search harder for an answer.

Suspecting is a matter of recognizing clues, but the confirmation is he results from my right hear catheterization. then it is a sure thing.