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Asthma or anxiety

Posted , 2 users are following.

OliverOfPeace
OliverOfPeace

Hello all,

I've previously posted about my anxiety breathing trouble as I wound myself up a lot and breathing as been my main health anxiety worry for years but recently I started wheezing sometimes after exercise which causes major panic attacks. The doctor i saw said this is common and just a bad cold or infection and to give it time, a seen the practice nurse who found a throat infection also. It's been a month I can exercise some days great no sounds others I wheeze.

Because of this I developed more breathing problems the rest of the time and now believe I'm asthmatic, the doctors have given me an inhaler and a preventer. But I wasn't told I had asthma.

I do peak flow every day morning work and night and I score 550-600 every time, even during the wheezing its 500+

I don't think it's a coincidence I am having this trouble after years of worrying but I can't stop thinking I have asthma, my lungs and airways have been listed to and said to be all clear. Plus the blue inhaler doesn't help the feelings at work it makes me feel heavy, and I haven't tried the preventer

Any advice?

Sorry it's a long one

Oliver

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • eb1148
    eb1148 OliverOfPeace

    Posted

    Hi! When I first started getting panic attacks 9 years ago, I was diagnosed with asthma (incorrectly). I think some of the symptoms can be confused with each other. I have panic disorder and I also get wheezy sometimes, after exercise, and in times of stress. Sometimes just randomly. It can be a symptom of anxiety. The more you think about the wheezing and fearing it, the more it will probably happen too. You could try breathing exercises, and maybe take your exercise down a notch. Also could you be allergic to anything? Lillies and lavender make me wheezy, and some laundry detergents x
    • OliverOfPeace
      OliverOfPeace eb1148

      Posted

      Hello,

      Firstly Thank you for replying!!

      I haven't exercised in a while so it could be why, I have a asthmatic friend and what he described seems to not fit me as I have good lung capacity and I am scoring 500-650, 450 at a worst and I haven't got any sounds and I always feel better when I see a doctor or talk about it. As u am known to go on about it. I've been given inhalers to satisfy my anxiety and was just told to lose a little weight, I don't think it's a coincidence I already had health anxiety and a week before all this it was my heart.

      Oliver

    • eb1148
      eb1148 OliverOfPeace

      Posted

      It's okay, I hope I can help!

      Yeah that definitely could be why. Start the exercise lightly, short amounts of time, and build up. Listen to your body, be kind to it and hopefully it will be kind to you smile You could also try things like Olbas oil and menthol, inhaling it, it can help to breath clearer x

    • OliverOfPeace
      OliverOfPeace eb1148

      Posted

      Hello,

      I guess I jumped back into exercise to quickly, while suffering bad anxiety.

      I think it was the carpet I was exercising on that's irritated my body as my tonsils were swollen a week later.

      I also get really high on peak flow most of the time and not much less during exercise.

      Thanks again

  • OliverOfPeace
    OliverOfPeace

    Posted

    I was taking a blue inhaler(properly) and it didn't help so I have been given a steroid inhaler and I am still feeling tickles in a chest and a feeling that I can't talk but I still score 550-600 on my peak flow.

    I know I'm stressed and it's making it worse but I'm worried that's not just it. I had a few days without the inhaler, felt a bit funny breathing but was calm and not coughing or wheezing.

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