chest tightness/wheezing only - Asthma Message Board

tiercy · 06-10-2006, 07:08 AM

My PCP dx'd me with asthma last September, I had 3 weeks where it felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest and wheezing while inhaling. I had fall allergies with lots and lots of wheezing, cough, runny/itchy nose, itchy eyes and more. I was put on albuterol and sent home.

This spring (mid February) it started all over again. The only problem over the winter months was I couldn't run in the cold air, other than that no other problems. I went back to my PCP and she rx'd Pulmicort, Zyrtec, Flonase and Clariten D, but I have never had the test to determine if it is really asthma.

I have read here that most of you have a chronic cough with your asthma, I only have wheezing and elephants, I only cough with colds, flu, & allergies.

I guess my question is: Can you have asthma without the chronic cough?

I have an appt. set up on Tuesday with an Asthma specialist, I want to be certain that all these meds are even worth taking.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please let me know if some of you have dx'd with asthma and have not had a chronic cough.

Titchou · 06-10-2006, 01:06 PM

OK, first of all, everyone has different symptoms. With me, it's shortness of breath. Others wheeze, some cough. You should be on a daily preventive med (pulmicort/flovent/advair/etc). Don;t know why you are on two antihistamine (zyrtec and Claritin D). You probably need only one. And the flonase is a good kick for nasal issues.You then need your albuterol as a rescue inhaler (if you have an attack) or to keep from having an attack during any cardio work that causes you to wheeze (two puffs, 20 minutes before jogging, aerobics class, mowing the grass, etc). You should be seeing a pulmonologist, immunologist or at least an allergist, not your PCP, for these issues. When I run in really cold weather, I put a bandana over my face so I won;t inhale really cold air. That helps also. FYI, I am a 60 year old female, jog 3-4 times per week, hit the weights 3 times per week and have had asthma for about 10 years, allergies all my life (I did immunotherapy for the allergies so rarely take an antihistamine). Hope this helps.

tiercy · 06-10-2006, 01:25 PM

Thanks for the reply Titchou. I am on Pulmicort and have an appt Tuesday with an Asthma Specialist. I guess I just don't want to look like an idiot because I don't have the chronic cough I keep reading about.

I am on Zyrtec everyday and add Clariton D when my allergies are really bad (and believe me, this year they have been really bad).

I'm guessing by your response, not everyone has the "chronic cough".

I've never had the pft but I'm assuming they will do that Tuesday. I'll post on here what I find out.

Titchou · 06-10-2006, 02:32 PM

Let us know what you find out Tuesday. Good luck!

singer1 · 06-12-2006, 03:50 PM

I have pretty severe asthma but I don't like the steroid inhalers because of the thrush it causes, so I am only on albuterol and claritin and an albuterol inhaler. I have had a hard time the last 3 days so I put myself on prednisone to get some relief. (I had it and never took it before) They say the more water you drink, the less symptoms that you have but how much is enough? Water makes me terribly full and then when I am full, it makes it hard for me to breathe because I am so full. I guess we just can't win with asthma.

But yes, everyone has different symptoms. I do not usually cough as it makes my asthma worse but I have the tight feeling.