Hi,

I have never been officially diagnosed with Asthma but have all of the symtoms and have been treated to releive these symptoms. Short story - I had weezing triggered by smokey bars, dusty environments, or mold. Relieve by Bronchiadialtor Salbutamol. Over 18 months I used 2 salbutamol containers. Once I moved into a new house and started using an air filter and stopped going into smoky bars the wheezing stopped. It is occasionally trigerred by dusty environments but I usually only get that lingering cough that pops up. Lately I have been having a new symptom. Once a week I feel as if my lungs are not working properly. I lie in bed and feel that with each breath my lungs are not absorbing enough oxygen. I have stopped using salbutamol/ventolin but I tried to use this once and it did not do anything to relieve the symptoms.

I had a physical check-up last week and my blood pressure was fine (120:75) and the doctor said my lungs sounded very clear. I mentioned this shortness of breath but she just said it was anxiety. I have 23 years old 5'11'' and 189 pounds. Any advice? Is this COPD or is this asthma? Or is this simply anxiety. No doctors have seemed to be too concerned when I go to see them.

Thanks

This definitely is not COPD. If it was COPD you would know about it hun. Trust me on this.

It sounds a lot like allergy related asthma which is basically something your allergic to (dust etc) sets off your asthma. You need to get a preventer inhaler and take this twice a day. Should help. Hope your better soon.

make sure a heart problem is ruled out. shortness of breath can be a sign of a cardiovascular disease. please mention it to your doctor sometime (shortness of breath).

*I'm not a physician* but to me, your symptoms sound like their attributable to asthma, but do see a doctor about both potential problems (asthma/heart disease). :)

take care!

I am new to asthma but I want to let you know that I also complained about shortness of breath. I complained to my cardio on a routine follow up exam. I go every 6 months. He did not feel it was cardiac. He sent me for a pulmonary function test. He called me with the results telling me he felt there was aproblem but it was out of his area of expertise. He was going to fax the report tomy GP and my neuro becasue he said he did not know if it was from my neuro problems or if I needed to see a pulmonary Dr.

I did not hear from either so called GP. He said the results would not make me short of breath. I had a regular exam schedulaed the following month so I waited. When I saw him he said he felt I needed to do more exercize. That was funny cause I do walk and had been doing Curves when tis started. He did however order a chest XRAY. I started exercizing that hurt my leg. Whjen I went o my neuro for my regular follow up he told me agian my right leg was weak I needed physical therapy and that could make it more difficult to walk. I have MS I finally went for the chest XRAY then GPs nurse says see pulmonary. He initially said could be neurological ,could be anxiety, but lets listen. He said this was easy don't I hear the wheezing. I told him I didn't and my GP said my lungs were clear just like yours did. So now I have asthma. He had to be careful what drugs he gave me because he was afraid of drug interactions with the many meds I'm already on.

I hope if it continues you insist on further testing if you don't feel it's anxiety. If it is anxiety you might want to try some relaxing form of yoga. I believe in it's benifits for many things.

I wish you good luck
laurie f

Yes - I am also slightly concerned about the possibility its heart problems. But I exercise regularely and that does not trigger the problem. Also my GP felt at 23 I was too young to have any sort of heart problems. Doctors are not the best - you've really got to push for the right type of care.

Wrong thread post, sorry...

mtlkidblue, I know EXACTLY what you mean about pushing the docs. my GOD that is so true. it's so dissapointing as well.

I know that even though you're only 23, you should still get checked, ESPECIALLY if someone in your family (one of your parents/siblings if any) have heart problems. disease, cancers, and death don't know age. push your doc like heck!!

A lot of times, people don't know that they have a problem. there's a lot of heart problems that are passed down from parent to kid so it's the kind of thing that you might be born with. Also, some heart problems, even if you're born with the gene and didn't have symptoms as a kid, would show up from late teens to early twenties.

a doc told me that it used to be "if you're 25 and don't have a heart problem, you never will" but that actually changed now.

so anyway, just push your doc. this is your health. the doctors just want you to keep coming back to them so theyd make money. (ok, i think that last statement was influenced by Kevin Trudeau)

let us know how it goes with you. i wish you good luck :)

My family doctor told me I didn't have asthma because he didn't hear any wheezing. I was just coughing alot night and day and an xray showed my lung were clear.
I couldn't take it anymore and went to a pulimonary doctor and was diagnoised with moderate asthma. I'll give it away...I hate having asthma.
But at least I am alive :)

Hi Everyone

First of all I agree with you Johna, I hate having asthma too. I have had it now for almost 11 years and tonight I feel congested and am short of breath, coughing and wheezing. I have a slight vocal cord dysfunction, reflux and allergies that make my asthma worse. I also have chest tightness. I just find that being short of breath wears me out. I also have had alot of reflux and stomach problems lately which I am pretty sure that is making my breathing problems worse.
Does anyone else have similiar problems?

Karen

Karen I have the same issues you mentioned, but they are unsure of wether or not I have actual asthma, but I am on a reliever inhaler anyways and singulair and zyrtec and prilosec for my GERD. There has been recent research on the link between GERD and Asthma and they are finding there is a lot in common between the two that one can cause the other. The albuterol can cause refluxing as well. To the person who started this post I have had the exact symptoms that you mentioned. My doc thinks I was having an allergic reaction to something and possibly a little asthma, but he is still unsure. Now I have to go in because I am having significant pain in my left shoulder and chest. I think this pain is related to me taking Levaquin. :nono: EVERYONE BEWARE OF LEVAQUIN! It is not safe!!!:nono: My breathing problems came after using Levaquin and I am starting to wonder if this caused it! Take Care everyone! Any breathing problem is really scary and awful!

Take care,

Galaxy_Sug:wave:

Hi,

I have never been officially diagnosed with Asthma but have all of the symtoms and have been treated to releive these symptoms. Short story - I had weezing triggered by smokey bars, dusty environments, or mold. Relieve by Bronchiadialtor Salbutamol. Over 18 months I used 2 salbutamol containers. Once I moved into a new house and started using an air filter and stopped going into smoky bars the wheezing stopped. It is occasionally trigerred by dusty environments but I usually only get that lingering cough that pops up. Lately I have been having a new symptom. Once a week I feel as if my lungs are not working properly. I lie in bed and feel that with each breath my lungs are not absorbing enough oxygen. I have stopped using salbutamol/ventolin but I tried to use this once and it did not do anything to relieve the symptoms.

I had a physical check-up last week and my blood pressure was fine (120:75) and the doctor said my lungs sounded very clear. I mentioned this shortness of breath but she just said it was anxiety. I have 23 years old 5'11'' and 189 pounds. Any advice? Is this COPD or is this asthma? Or is this simply anxiety. No doctors have seemed to be too concerned when I go to see them.

Thanks
I have had asthma almost all of my life. And it does sound like you are having allergie reations. To me you are allergic to smoke, dust. The reason I say allergie reation is because normally if you had asthma then you would need an inhaler before and after you exercise. It would probley benifit you to see an allergist. They can find out what you are allergic to and maybe start you on a weekly shot of what it is that bothers you. Trust me you will be a happier camper if you see the allergest. And I am sorry but I really don't think it has anything to do with your heart or anything else people have said. And don't go to a pullmo. Just go to the Allergest. If they come up with nothing then go ahead and see the others. But I seriously think the allergest will do the trick.

I have had asthma almost all of my life. And it does sound like you are having allergie reations. To me you are allergic to smoke, dust. The reason I say allergie reation is because normally if you had asthma then you would need an inhaler before and after you exercise. It would probley benifit you to see an allergist. They can find out what you are allergic to and maybe start you on a weekly shot of what it is that bothers you. Trust me you will be a happier camper if you see the allergest. And I am sorry but I really don't think it has anything to do with your heart or anything else people have said. And don't go to a pullmo. Just go to the Allergest. If they come up with nothing then go ahead and see the others. But I seriously think the allergest will do the trick.
Also if you are having shortness of breath then make sure you carry with a little brown paper bag (lunch bag) so if you start to have trouble then breath into the bag and it will help you control your breathing. :wave: