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Breathing problems only better when lying down!

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minimemo
minimemo

I have suffered with asthma for decades and from infancy - before the invention of Ventolin! My asthma is accompanied by noisy wheezing and only alleviated by using medicines and sitting backwards on an upright dining chair and leaning over the back of it. My asthma has historically never lasted more than 2-3 days and has become much better after being prescribed Symbicort inhalers a couple of years ago.

Recently however, I have been getting symptoms of breathlessness and coughing, with NO wheezing. This only gets better when I lie down flat! My asthma medication does not help, nor a course of antibiotics in case it was a chest infection. My doctor keeps saying it is probably my asthma but I have never experienced this before. It is lasting for weeks at a time and I am worn out! Help

2 likes, 116 replies

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  • paul20298
    paul20298 minimemo

    Posted

    Asthma is a disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, which will cause you to wheeze and cough. You will feel breathless because it will be difficult to move air in and out of your airways. Position is important in air flow. Most asthma problems are at night, even if your disease is controlled. Some people have worse breathing problems when lying down. A lot of this probably depends on body types, asthma severity and if one has some anxiety struggles with anticipating asthma. You can try grape seed extract, try amino acid lysine to tackle this situation.

    Paul.

    • underwoodlala
      underwoodlala paul20298

      Posted

      Paul, Thank you for your response, but I don't believe you "listened" above. Breathing is EASIER when lying down. I am experiencing the same thing. I was born with asthma, had it all my life, and recently find difficulty breathing without the wheezing and easier to breathe when lying down. I will try your suggestions, but am still concerned why I can breathe better when lying down which is the opposite of how to breathe during asthma attacks.
    • minimemo
      minimemo paul20298

      Posted

      Paul, I have over 50 years first hand experience of asthma....this is NOT my asthma..
  • cheryl92623
    cheryl92623 minimemo

    Posted

    Have you found out what is causing this, I have just had bronchitis and have had a cough for sometime, having chest xray on Monday. I too feel better when lying down, short of breath when I get up
    • minimemo
      minimemo cheryl92623

      Posted

      Still having tests, the ones I've had are negative...being referred to specialist will keep you posted....
    • l71876
      l71876 cheryl92623

      Posted

      Sorry, I know this was a while ago but have just stumbled upon this thread as I am currently suffering exactly the same symptoms after a bout of bronchitis. Did you discover what was causing the ongoing shortness of breath? Has it resolved itself?
    • minimemo
      minimemo l71876

      Posted

      Hi Cheryl  been fine for months but just today has started again!  Just in time for christmas!  I have a pass to get me admitted straight into hospital so the respiratory specialists can hum and haw and hopefully tell me what is wrong... How have you been recently??
    • bethany87362
      bethany87362 minimemo

      Posted

      Hi... having same issues... when I am up walking or sitting up my chest fills tight shortness of breathe but when I am laying down it goes away
  • marylee78
    marylee78 minimemo

    Posted

    Hello, I have been having these same symptoms. Did your symptoms ever resolve or did you get any answers/treatment? Any info appreciated!
    • minimemo
      minimemo marylee78

      Posted

      Hi, had loads of tests all negative...I am baffling the experts and am now being referred to a specialist...will keep you posted, it's a long slog though...
    • minimemo
      minimemo marylee78

      Posted

      Been fine for the last few months...had all kinds of tests done on heart and lungs...no answers....and then today...it's back!!  However if it gets worse I have a pass to get admitted to hospital to be seen by the respiratory specialists first hands...as by the time my appointments came round to see them I was better!!!

  • arzish86506
    arzish86506 minimemo

    Posted

    i have had the same problem for over a year now, since im a smoker all the doctors did was check my lungs etc but to no conclusion. While visiting my wife's physician, he told me to get a complete blood test or cbc. When I sent my report to the doctor he called back and told me to donate 3 bottels of blood, in the next 45 days!! I showed his prescription to the donation center they refused to do it, instead told me to take 3 month intervals. But after the first bottle donated i started feeling better and got so well that i forgot to donate the next or the third but after three months the problem recurred, so went on and donated another, it gave me 9 months of a good breathing period but again came back this december. 

    The doctor said my body was making more blood due to some reason resulting in high blood pressure and extra pressure on heart to pump the blood which is more than the veins aretries can take. 

    hope this helps

    • minimemo
      minimemo arzish86506

      Posted

      I've not smoked for almost 20 years but dont have high bp and my heart has been checked and all is well....still baffled and it's come back today!!

  • Bolow
    Bolow minimemo

    Posted

    Similar situation - mycoplsama was diagnosed after a swab 4 months ago having felt horrendous for a while. 3 weeks of antibiotics saw off that (they haven't reswabbed) but I was left with a constant tightness of the chest/virally feeling and I'm short of breath after climbing a few floors (different symptoms from those of pre-mycoplasma).  X-ray of lung area showed only over inflated lungs. Never had asthma, was prescribed the two enhallers and after a month another course of antibiotics just in case and hardcore steroids for 7 days. Blood tests all clear except lacking in vitmanin D.  No change in symptons.  Off for further exploration next week, will report back.  Empathise, I'm also knackered. Terribly dull.
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