Could this be asthma?

[Charlottie]

Ever since I was young I've never been able to exercise much because I would get out of breath after about a minute of running about. I also remember a few episodes, especially the one night where I woke up and I could breathe in but not breathe out - it eased once I relaxed and had a drink of water though. Lately this lack of stamina has been getting worse, with me getting breathless just walking up 2 flights of stairs. About 5 minutes after physical exertion my chest will start to feel tight and wheezy and I always cough but will subside after about half an hour. This is worse if I have ran in cold weather.
Lately, as in the past two years I have felt tightness in the chest and pains just randomly and this has got worse two times. In March 2006 and this March. I would like to note March is usually wehn I suffer with hayfever and I have also been suffering from itchy eyes/nose and sneezing these past few weeks alongside the chest problems. The past few weeks I have felt tightness in the chest all the while and I feel the need to cough to be able to breath, or I breathe in and it makes me cough. Today, it feels as though I have phlegm behind my breast bone and when I cough it clears but comes back again after a bit. Also if I lie down it makes the chest tightening worse so I'm sticking to sitting up at the moment. It's scaring me so bad it's giving me panic attacks which make me feel even worse. For example, yesterday on the bus I really felt like I couldn't breathe, I began to go lightheaded and my arms and face tingled. This feeling subsided after about 15 minutes. Does this sound like asthma? I also have hayfever and eczema and all of these run in the family.

I do have an appointment with my doctor on Tuesday but I am convinced it is asthma that I have. Please help

EDIT: Oh and if I get a cold I also get tight chested and wheezy, my mom thought I was gonna stop breathing in my sleep last time I had one haha

[alley67]

Sorry that you're going through this, and happy to hear you have an upcoming appt. It sounds like you probably do have asthma, and as it is getting more frequent it is causing you anxiety (understandably) and bringing on panic attacks possibly (the tingling, etc may be due to hyperventilating due to anxiety).

Check back in after your appt and let us know what you found out.

[Charlottie]

Thanks for the reply, I will let you know.

Today I have a cough that is stimulated when I breathe out, and when I do cough it alleviates the tight chestedness for a little while, especially if I bring up a little bit of phlegm. [Sorry if that is too much information].

[Charlottie]

Anybody else?

[Vanessa74]

Charlottie,

I agree with Alley67 - it defnitely sounds like asthma. I am not an expert - but I had severe asthma as a child which went 'dormant' when I was 7 years old and returned about 5 years ago (I am now 34).

I take a daily inhaled steroid (Flovent 2 puffs twice daily) and have a Ventolin 'rescue inhaler' that I use as needed. My Dr. is thinking about adding Singulair to the mix because my asthma is not well controlled right now.

The coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, etc. -- all signs of asthma. Mine is worse at night and when laying down. Mine is also made worse by acid reflux (GERD) - which I also take medication for. I also get short of breath upon too much exertion - I am also bothered by really cold air, high humidity, dusts, pets, and on and on and on Thankfully my children are AWESOME and very understanding and helpful (the Hubby - well NOT SO MUCH

One thing I can say is that daily asthma treatment is not that bad - just inhaling some medication (and making sure to rinse the mouth good!!!) - the testing is pretty easy too - just some simple breathing tests.

I too am glad that you have an appointment. Hopefully your Dr. will prescribe you some meds that give you relief - Short and LONG term.

Best of luck to you and please let us know how you make out.

Vanessa