disasterous trip to the ER.

[TKS]

I went into the ER this evening with breathing problems and tigntness on my chest, which I've been experiencing on and off in varying degrees allsummer. I gave three people my recent history and this young, arrogant doctor comes bounding in the room. He took a two minuite look at my chart, put a stethascope up to my chest for about thirty seconds and told me my problem was depression and anxiety!!The only thing he was willing to do for me is five me a cat scan to see if there were any clots in my lungs.

I was so incences I got up and walked out and filed a complaint with patient relations. This is scarry, folks, this guy doesn't know me from Adam. I told the admitting nurse I'd been having severe allergy symptoms and breathing problems all summer. I've had this tightness on my chest before but now there is mild wheezing present. He said he could dect nothing on my lungs and no wheezing. It is mild, but trust me, it's there!! I'm so angry I just don't know what to do. My wonderful and highly competant doctor of fifteen years moved his practice out of town and it's too far away. I've been struggling to find decent medical treatment since. I'm reasonalbly certain that my chest irritation is from sinus drainage that has gone down on my chest and is possibly causing an infection. In the past when I've had these symptoms a round of antibiotics (Biaxin) gets rid of it in aboutt ten days or so.

This nut in the Er did no bloodwork, no other tests, I was SHOCKED AND INSULTED!!!I also could've used a shot of Keflex to stop my severe rhinitis symptoms unti we get a couple of hard frosts. I cannot find a doctor who will help me. I'm very sick and while I have battled occasional anxiety and depression in the past, I KNOW MY OWN BODY! I've got allergic Asthme, possibly being aggrivated by wy walking routine, and possibly and upper respiratory infection. The fellow in the ER looked at me and saie, "Unfortunatly, there is no decent remedy for upper respiratory illnessed" What a crock!!

What should I do? I am very tired and very sick. I'm exhausted continually. It takes every ounce of energy I have to go to work and when I come home I have to sleep.

Does anyone know of anything that might help the tightness on my chest? I've been on 180 mgs. of Allegra and it doesn't work, for me it's like taking candy. At the moment, I'm taking an expectorant, Primatene tablets and occasional over the counter antihistimines, the only two brands that seem to work for me.

In addition to all of this, we have had almost no rain in our area. The air is stagnant with pollena dnpollution which I believe is worsening my breathing.
I swear on everything that is holy that these symptoms ar NOT my imagination, nor are they caused by depression or anxiety, although I've been so upset at my poor medical treatment and lack of compassion and understanding from the doctors that I've gotten pretty anxious, which I'm sure isn't helping.

Any advice, natural prodcts, ect. That may help give me some relief?

Thanks in advance for those who take the time to read this and respond.

Sorry to hear about your recent experiences in the ER. If you have a history of allergies, then it is possible to have allergy induced asthma. One thing that might give you relief from the chest tightness and wheezing is using a Ventolin inhaler and if there is significant inflammation in your airways, then a steroid spray as a preventer. Did your doc ever give you these to use during the summer periods when your symptoms were worse? If your symptoms get better in the Fall, you could reduce your dose gradually.

If you have a bacterial chest infection, then antibiotics will help, however, if the cause is viral antibiotics will not work. Anyway, it is not good to take too many antibiotics, as it can leave you with lowered immunity and you will then be at risk of catching more bugs and they also strip the good flora in your gut, leaving you at risk of yeast and candida infections.

If you want a natural alternative, then I would suggest that you try acupuncture treatment or Chinese herbal medicine. Acupuncture is good for stress and anxiety and can make you feel more relaxed. It is also good for chest and breathing problems generally and can also help you to breathre more deeply from your belly rather than your chest. It can also help to clear out any infections that you may have. Brilliant for sinus infections too.

Good luck

[TKS]

Thanks Sarah,
No, I have not used any breathing aids before. I've never had the need to. This is the first year I've had the tighnness on my chest and shortness of breath. I've had upper respiratory infections before that feel very much like what I've got now . I haven't had any antibiotics for a couple years and I on;y take them if it's absolutly necessary for the very reasons you described. I had problems with Candida overgrowth several years ago from overuse of antibiotics so I'm very cautious.

My allergies include dust, pollens, molds, animals. We have no pets so up until now I've just been very careful about the dust in my living enviornment. Several years ago I lived in an older home that had extensive water damage over the years and the home was full of mold, especially in the basement and on the floorboards. I got upper respiratory infections continually and the only thing that helped was to move out. Up until now I've just been living with the seasonal allergies, sometimes they start in Mid April but this year I didn't experience any sign of trouble until about the first of August.

My former doctor gave me the best treatment I've ever had and I'm still sick about having to give him up. I never had one problem with him in almost sixteen years and he always gave me exactly the proper treatment. I'm not going to give up, I've only got about another month or so of these symptoms. After we get a couple of good hard frosts they will disappear completely. I'm going to continue to seek out good medical treatment. If necessary, I may even drive the 1.5 hours to see my former doctor.

Thanks for the respose, I'll see if the chest tightness and shortness of breath continue. If they persist I'm going to get in with my allergist ASAP.

Still, I'm very upset for the way that guy in the ER treated me. He didn't look up my nose, if he did, he would've been able to tell that I've been miserable with allergy symptoms for some time. He didn't do ANYTHING, except accuse me of being depressed and anxious. He didn't look in my ears, they are full of fluid, he didn't listen to different areas of my chest and lungs, NOTHING!! I am still in absolute shock from the way he treated me. It's a setback but I'm not going to give up.

[purple2067]

that's ridiculous, how could someone like that call himself a doctor???

[TKS]

I don't know, I know they were busy in the ER but that's no excuse. He literally told me after about five minutes that my problem was depression and anxiety. He went proceeded to go into this dissertation about phobias and subconscious triggers.

The primatene Mist tablets I bought, along with the expectorant are helping a little, I did have some gunk on my lungs because I expectorated some of it last evening.

I'm going to hang in there, pray and continue to seek out some further help. In the meantime, I'll just have to suffer. It's the tiredness that's the worst, I can hardly move.

As for that gentleman in the ER, he posesed none of the qualities one loks for when seeking a doctor. He'll give an account to God for the way he handles his patients.