I know this is really gross but i have to ask someone~
ive been suffereing from asthma since i was little.... but ONLY this recent year is when i started experiencing this. My entire life, the "asthma attacks" i have are painful spasms in my chest when i take a breath in.....but now,
When i lay down for more than an hour and then get back up, i realize that i cant breathe in more than about 20% of my lungs capacity because it feels like theres stuff in my lungs taking up the space, like water. If i ignore it, it just gets worse and worse until i cant breathe so ill use Serevant. About 5 minutes after i use the inhaler i cough up consistant gunk. Its competely clear and stringy and for hours, I wont cought up ANYTHING but these clear strings. the more i cough up , the more i can breathe, and when i cough up all the strings, things are back to normal. Now remember how i said "If i ignore it, it just gets worse and worse until i cant breathe"?? well thats completely true...which is a huge problem. Since this happens when i lay down, its mostly when i sleep. The longer i sleep, the worse it gets. If i dont wake up to help it then im afraid ill end up not breathing. 4 Nights ago i didnt wake up to use my inhaler and what woke me up was me gasping for air. It was really scary and i have the thought "what if i never woke up" in my head.
Ive never heard a story lke this..anyone have any info or comments or experience it themselves? Its gross and scaring me~!

Hi,

Go to the doctor, get him to send you to a respirologist. You might have a chest infection that's intreated. As well, you should probably be on a preventative such as pulmicort or flovent..etc.

Go to the doctor!

Keep us posted as to the outcome.
quincy

i was waiting for a "i have that too..." response to make me feel better but i dont want to ignore a problem. Preventative sounds good in the first place~
thanks!

Does it happen only when you are lying down?
PND (Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea) is a sudden onset of difficult breathing while asleep and recumbent. This is usually a sign of chronic bronchitis, but then again you have asthma. However, with asthma the problem is not getting air "into the lungs", but rather getting air "out of the lungs", hence the purse lipped breathing etc. Usually secretions dont start flowing until the attack has stopped, then it comes from everywhere (nose, etc).
I would try sleeping with a couple of pillows behind my head to prop up my upper body somewhat if I were you, and make an appointment to see you family doc or pulmonologist. They can view the sputum and check your breath sounds etc. and try to alleviate some of your problem.
God luck

Hi
Serevent shouldn't be used as a reliever medication. You should be using your salbuatmol or bricanyl inhaler in situations like this. Go and see your doctor or sathma nurse to review the meds you are taking.
Blue
x x x

OneWayOut - here is your "I had that too". I too have asthma, I would wake up every night at 3 - 4 am like an alarm clock congested and unable to breathe.

Sometimes It would be so bad that I would hardly have the strength, or breath left to find my albuteral inhaler. There were nights that I thought I was really going to die. Really scary.

My doctors prescribed electronic nebulizer treatments before sleep and when I would wake up in that condition. I mixed the liquid meds and put them in my nebulizer before I went to sleep, so all I had to do was to flick a switch to start my breathing treatments when I woke up.

I think you should look into getting a nebulizer and have your doctor recommend liquid meds for you in addition to your albuterol/serevant inhaler.

Easy on the albuterol and serevant - they can have bad side affects like causing body spasms, etc. What is happening to you is that you are panicking/stress when you wake up and have these difficulties breathing and this is making it worse.

Good news - I no longer wake in this condition. It took a while, but I got there. Try using Adavair (Purple Disk - It is a steroid but not systemic - it is preventative - really helps).

Also, talk to your doctor about having a heart ultrasound, the reason for this is because waking in the middle of the night, every night, is also symptomatic of congestive heart failure - I don't mean to scare you - I really don't think this is the case, but have him check anyway. They did it on me and I was OK.

You will wake up if you need to believe me! - one night I was dreaming that a dog was barking and barking and wouldn't stop - it woke me up. It turned out it was me wheezing and coughing. I chuckle now when I think of this.

I understand how you feel, I have been there too, talk to your doctor about giving you a muscle relaxer - it will help your stress levels. It helped me to stop panicking when I woke up breathless, wheezing and coughing. It's a good thing that you are able to get the phlegm up. Also, try sleeping in a chair lounger (almost upright), or with more pillows, NOT FLAT, it will help you.

It is getting the air out of the lungs, not in, that is a problem to asthmatics. Learn to Purse Breath and have your spouse or someone do Paddle Hits on your back before sleeping or when you wake up like that - it loosens the congestion and makes it easier to bring up. Also, my doctor has me carry an EPI pen, it makes me feel more secure.

When you wake up like this, do a Peak Flow and keep track of it. Give it to your doctor or pulmonologist.

You'll get through this, I know you will. I will be thinking of you and wishing you all the best. If I can answer any other questions, let me know. Good luck.