Melissa765

I've had asthma since I've been 4 or 5 years old (I'm in my late teens now), and it's gotten worse as time has gone on. It started with just needing the occasional inhailer, then going to nebulizers, which was soon followed by daily inhailed steroids and prednisone treatments a few times a year. I also get CHRONIC sinus infections -- I get them about once a month, and they last a few weeks. I've become immune to ALL antibiotics, and sometimes I'm sick for months on end. When this happens, my asthma usually flares up more than usual, which I understand is to be expected. However, I've been feeling like a sinus infection is starting, and I've been having a new asthma symptom!

For the last few nights, after I'm asleep for a few minutes, I wake up gasping for air, so suddenly that I'm extremely startled. I'm usually really dizzy, struggling to breathe (so much that I nearly called 911 one night), and feel like I stopped breathing for a few seconds. I then do my inhailer/neb (if the inhailer doesn't work), and have to sit for about an hour to consciously think "breathe in, breathe out." I know that I'm not having like a bad dream, or hyperventallating (I've had that before and I know the "tingly hands, feet, and face" feeling... this isn't the same). Also, when I breathe, I notice that my entire chest and abdomen are moving and I can't expend any extra air (i.e. by talking), which I'm assuming means that I'm having to work too hard to breathe.

What I'm asking is, does this sound like a normal asthma symptom (perhaps just asthma that isn't being managed well enough), or does it sound like something more serious that I need to make an emergency appointment on tomorrow morning (a Sunday) for?

I know this was really long, but I appreciate you taking the time to read this and if you can offer any advice! Thank you!