Okay, I apologise for expecting everyone to read an essay before :D I hope this concise version will attract some responses :)

Does anyone think I have a chest infection or could these symptoms be indicative of something else?

* I am constantly aware of a tightness - or even a sensation of pressure - within my chest in the centre just below my throat and sometimes in my throat;
* the tightness makes exertion extremely frustrating (pain isn't exactly the word) and if I do try to exercise I have to stop regularly to take big breaths;
* I am NOT finding any relief from my salbutamol inhaler anymore (I've had my administration technique approved by a nurse);
* I DON'T have a cough;
* I DON'T have any typical hay fever symptoms (such as watery eyes and itching) other than breathlessness.

I am still waiting for the results of my chest x-ray and now some blood tests but I am worried that neither of these will present any signs of a problem because the doctor seems to think there's nothing wrong with me.

Does anyone think I may have a sporting injury? Around the time of this breathlessness first presenting itself I started a new weight lifting regime which put considerable pressure on my chest. Is it possible to cause long-term problems this way? Thanks for reading :)

I would really appreciate it if anyone has ANY ideas that might help me.

I've just come back from the doctor and apparently there is no sign of infection in my chest x-ray (the term "normal" was used to describe the results). Also, the blood tests did not show up any irregularities - my white blood cell count is considered high, so no sign of infection from that point of view, either.

Fortunately, the doctor is going to refer me to a specialist but that will take time, obviously. In the mean time, like I said, I would be incredibly grateful if anyone can offer me some words of advice. Thank you :)

hm.. doesn't sound like an infection to me actually. Though that's not to say a CXR will always show infection, it did not show pneumonia in me last year, however when I couldn't even lay back a fraction of an inch without having coughing attacks until I turned blue & gasped for air & ran a 103 fever.. we were positive it was pneumonia & I responded to the medication for it.
Usually a chest infection will cause a productive cough. Steam usually helps to loosen it up. But if your not coughing, it sounds like it's pretty unlikely you have a chest infection, though every person is different.
The fact you say that the tightness comes from your throat makes me think of 2 things. Mainly Vocal chord Dysfunction. Basically, when you breathe, those are open. However, in VCD, they have "spasms" & seize up shut, cutting off your air. It is diagnosed through a laryngoscopy & treatment involves relaxation exercises & speech therapy. The other thing I think of is acid reflux. Do you get an upset stomach almost instantly after you eat/swallow something? Is the pain worse at nite? Is it more of a burning? Talk to your doctor about that possibility & he can give you a trial of prilosec or aciphex if he thinks it's possible or run tests to determine that.
I think it sounds highly likely it is one of those! Check w/ your doctor though!

I don't get any pain from eating; although, it is making me lethargic because I have a big appetite and I used to make up for that with the exercise. The sensation is definitely not a burning one - more like a constant feeling of pressure on my chest.

I don't respond to steam: I was using a steam room (as opposed to the drier sauna) almost every day up until a month ago and it wasn't helping. I'll be using the steam room tomorrow - but only to relax in; it won't help my breathing.

I asked the doctor this morning if he thought I had done some damage lifting weights but he ruled that out because the problem is ongoing.

The VCD might be something worth looking into, however. There's definitely a feeling that I cannot quite get a full breath sometimes and this often coincides with long conversations (so that I cannot draw as much air as usual) as well as exercise.

Thank you for your reply Blondee :)

EDIT:

Come to think of it, sometimes when I'm running (which is silly in my condition, I know) I do find it impossible to swallow, which subsequently exacerbates the breathing difficulties. I will research in VCD for myself. Thanks again Blondee.

It sounds more like an asthma exacerbation. Usually infections affect the whole respiritory tract(i.e. u might have had a sore throat too) and some form of sputum (green, brown or white) is produced.

I've been taking Do-Do's ChestEze for the last two days and I've noticed a dramatic improvement in my ability to draw breath :) This is probably the best thing that's happened to me for three months and I've graduated from uni and turned 21 in that time! I could run so much faster yesterday that I was sick when I stopped 'cos I was pushing my body more than I've been used to. I'm not claiming to be 100% but I'm sure these tablets have given me at least a 50% improvement.

But here comes the catch: the tablets aren't supposed to be taken by asthmatics. The first pharmacy that I went to wouldn't give them to me after I said I was asthmatic so I didn't mention it in the second one. I don't want to do any long-term damage and I don't want to become dependent on the tablets. Luckily I have an appointment with the chest specialist on Thursday so I will come clean and tell them about the pills. I'm sure I must have an infection but I am afraid they want agree.

Does anybody know why these tablets are bad for asthmatics? I guess it's because they perform a similar function to inhalers in relaxing the airways, so they don't want people to overdose. Am I wrong? Also, does anyone have any advice or tips for talking to a specialist? I will prepare what I want to say before I make the visit so I don't forget all my concerns, but any other ideas would be appreciated. Thank you ;)

I did a search on them and they contain ephedrine. They really shouldn't be taken by anyone, I suppose. I guess they didn't give them to you the first time because that taken with albuterol (ventolin) inhalers can cause hypotension and possibly fainting. I'm not sure, but that's what happened with me when I took pseudoephedrine with albuterol.

Ok, thanks for telling me that. I did feel a bit faint earlier today and I have been feeling light-headed and dizzy for the last couple of days now I come to think of it.

I'm seeing the specialist tomorrow so hopefully I will get some proper medication and not just my own prescription :eek:

Have u been getting any palpitations or noticably faster heart rate with that med combination? The fainting feeling could be linked to the heart.

Ok, thanks for telling me that. I did feel a bit faint earlier today and I have been feeling light-headed and dizzy for the last couple of days now I come to think of it.

I'm seeing the specialist tomorrow so hopefully I will get some proper medication and not just my own prescription :eek:

Good idea. If you haven't already, stop the Do-Do's ChestEze.

I haven't experienced any palpatations or an increase in heart rate, but thank you looking out for me. I keep feeling faint now and again, though.

Unfortunately, however, the specialist wasn't exactly worth £90. He didn't ask any more questions than any of the GPs I've seen. He did listen to my chest thoroughly and got me to breathe into some kind of apparatus that recorded the intake and outflow of air from my lungs. But according to that I've got an exceptional lung capacity and a clear tubes. He reckons I don't even suffer from asthma anymore. I am inclined to agree, since the medication no longer seems to be helping.

He said that the condition might all be psychological (if another doctor says that to me I might flip), but conceded that it might not be. He recommended that I book another appointment within 6-8 weeks if I don't improve, whereby he will get me to perform exercise so he can get a better idea of what's going on. If I'm still feeling this way by then though I might have jumped off a tall building - it's like having my whole life redefined because I just *cannot* run like I used to and it makes me so depressed :(

I told the specialist about the ChestEze and he chuckled to himself saying that they've been around forever. He said any improvement I've noticed is probably psychological (good at knowing your own brain better than you, aren't they, doctors?!) and that it would do no harm to try them. He also said I should carry on exercising to whatever level I can because my all-round fitness is obviously still important.

The flax seed oil is obviously not going to make any difference. But I went to the doctor again today with a view to getting some kind of medicine. I told him I felt like I had been fobbed off repeatedly by the various professionals I'd seen. He seemed offended but I think it did the trick 'cos I only had to mention antibiotics and he said he would prescribe me a course.

He's put me on a week's worth of Erythromycin which I see is used to treat infections such as bronchitis, so I am hopeful of improvement. I am going to stay inactive to give my body a chance. Does anyone have any experience of this drug? Do you think it will help? I really hope so: Paula Radcliffe might have found it tough seizing up in the marathon, but she should try not being able to run at all :(

Okay, I am not a doctor, I am a fellow sufferer, so do read on with an open mind. I too have experienced similar simptoms while excellent pulmonary fuction tests. I have real, diagnosed asthma, but it is pretty mild. Still, I feel incredible tightness in my chest sometimes, and the more I think about it, the worse it gets, until I am dizzy. After fuming at my doctor for suggesting that it was psychological, I sat back and thought about it a bit. I started doing yoga at a reputable yoga center, which focuses on expanding the breath and relaxing not only my muscles and tissues, but also my mind. I still have problems from time to time, but it is much, much, better. Whether you want to call that psychological, or you want to credit yoga for being able to positively affect your physical body, try it, it might help. You have nothing to lose.

Thank you looksee. * am not totally opposed to *** not*on that my cond*t*on m*ght part*ally be psycholog*cal. Obv*ously when one *s *ll ***y tend to labour on *t and *t's proven that *** negat*ve att*tude alone can hamper *** body's *mmune system. But * refuse to accept that *** cond*t*on *s purely psycholog*cal. L*ke * sa*d to *** doctor - th*s t*me last year * could run 5km *n 15 m*nutes no problem. Now *'d be hard pushed to make 19 m*nutes.

That's a b*g d*fference and *t's brought on by *** fact that my a*rway *s phys*cal narrower than *t was before. ***re's no doubt about *t whatsoever. And no matter how hard *'ve tr*ed to conv*nce myself that *t's all *n my m*nd ***re *s def*n*tely a phys*cal barr*er to my runn*ng at *** moment. But maybe some form of relax*ng exerc*se would be good *dea for me *n *** future. * am *** k*nd of person to bottle th*ngs up and that *s clearly not a good th*ng from a phys*cal po*nt of v*ew as well as a mental one.

* tr*ed yoga many years ago to help me sleep. When * was a ch*ld * never wanted to go to bed before m*dn*ght and my Mum d*dn't l*ke *t so she bought me a tape and a book. But * d*dn't get on w*th *t at all. However, * am a far more relaxed *nd*v*dual ***se days so maybe * could benef*t from try*ng *t aga*n. Thanks ;)

Hmm, * know for a fact * have PC v*rus r*ght now - how *s do*ng that, though?!!

I have noticed in each person chest infections show different symptoms but usually you do cough up green or brown sputum. However you can cough up white sputum (which is considered normal medically) and still have an infection.
Here are some of the symptoms I have come across relating to chect infections.
- Coughing
-Coughing up sputum (green or brown especially)
-Tightness in your chest
- Chest pain
- Hot flushes (you may or may not get these)
- Using your inhaler more often
- Having Asthma attacks or needing your inhaler more frequently

You can also just feel generally unwell. The above symptoms on not apparent in everyone. I, myself, have the above symptoms whenever I have a chest infection.

Also its quite common for chest infections to follow a bad bout with a cold or flu.

I agree with the previous poster. Not all chest infections show up on a chest Xray though they can usually be identified, if blood tests are not needed, by having the doctor listen to your chest.

An asthma exacerbation could be true. But have your throat checked out to rule out VCD or anything like that.

Thanks for the reply, -T- :) I am approaching the end of my week's course of Eythromycin and I feel like things have been improving. I wasn't sure to begin with if the antibiotics were going to make a difference but something's definitely happening now.

My breathing has eased, although not to a great extent. The main difference is that I seem to find it easier to cough up sputum and I have a sore throat. The sore throat is a welcome distraction but I don't know what it signifies. Is it brought about by the tablets in fighting infection or could it just be coincidence?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you ;)

Your welcome :)

Thats good the antibiotics are helping to some extent. Antibiotics usually only work with infections so you must of been right all along. ;)

The sore throat could be a sign your coming down with a cold in a couple of days or maybe it is brough on by the medication. Read the little leaflet thingy and see if that tells you anything.

Oh try gargling with salt water. Tastes real horrible but it does ease the throat for a few minutes.

Have a good look at the back of your tonsils to. If they are very inflamed and have white spots on them you probably have tonsilitis which would be why your neck felt funny and why the pills are working. :)

Ok, it was probably a bad idea but I just went running. It had been over a week without so much as a trot so I was dying to stretch my legs. Anyway, I ran for about half a mile and saw a girl I know coming home from the pub she works at so I stopped. Man was I out of breath. It looks like my hopes that the antibiotics were working have just been completely dashed. I am totally deflated.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: running defines who I am. Without it, it genuinely feels like there's very little point getting up in the morning. It used to be that when I was slogging away at work I could always look forward to bouding 'round the countryside afterwards, de-stressing and firing the endorphines. But now all I can look forward to is watching myself get fatter and fatter in the mirror.

I have decided that I might have developed an allergy to something that I eat. So for the next three days (maybe more if I can) I am going to fast. I really hope that I start to feel better. If I know that I'm simply allergic to something I eat then I will be able to relax knowing that I can go about getting better. As things stand now, however, it just feels like I am treading water and I am on the verge of going mad :(