breathing problems - Asthma Message Board

doc__36 · 05-22-2001, 08:36 PM

ok long story here, i am a 36 yr old male who last yr because of difficulty breathing quit smoking a two pack a day habit. after i quit symtoms got worse, everyday s.o.b.,fatigue,pains in my left arm. had e.k.g's p.f.t., blood gas, then finally a stress test. everyting was normal. anyway, stared feeling better after 2 to 3 months off cigarrettes. guess what i did next?? yes, started smoking again . well here i am again same story shortness of breath,fatigue,this time my left arm instead of pain i have weightlessness , kind of like numb. the new symptom i have is sharp pain left sided chest last for a second then goes away. only happens occasionally. been a little over 2 months since i quit smoking, and again the symtoms seem worse again after i quit.last yr pulmonoigist says asthma or anxiety, gave me inhalers none really worked. just not sure i want to go through this whole work up again, sharp chest pains have me a bit worried. history: asthma like symtoms as a teen when away,bronchitis , plerisy at 20. any thoughts??

Heartfright · 05-23-2001, 08:46 PM

No -- no idea, except that possibly you need to get a recent EKG, possibly a stress test and maybe a monitor to see what is going on. The pain in your left chest could be nothing, but if you've been smoking there is the possibility that you've been taxing your blood oxygen and thus put stress on your heart and cardiac output. 2 packs a day is quite a lot to smoke. I'd get myself to the doctor and/or a cardiologist.