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Does this sound like COPD?

Posted , 4 users are following.

sweetbee1
sweetbee1

I am a 36 yr old female, never smoked in my life but the past few months I had a panic attack when I went to the doctor in July 2017 and had to take deep breaths all day for a few days. I also noticed my blood pressure spiked during this time. As my breathing returned to normal so did my bp although slightly higher than it was but in the normal range. After the breathing returned to normal I still had to take a deep breath as if I was missing air in my lungs but not as frequently as before. I then started to wake up every morning coughing mucus which had no blood in it. I still cough mucus now but this mucus isn't like when I have a cold or flu where it quickly comes out. This mucus feels like its deep in my throat and is harder to cough out. I may blame it on being out of shape but I also feel a shortness of breath when running up the stairs or when my throat feels congested and I am eating. I went on vacation and came back with a cold which gave me the most awful congestion and pain my ears for 2 weeks after I came back home. I went to the doc and told him about the congestion and the mucus. He said he heard some wheezing and said it could be the asthma I had before as a child and to take mucinex. He didn't seem too concerned because I had to remind him of the wheezing before he told me to take mucinex and if it didn't subside in a few days to come back for an inhaler. Reading about COPD on google is making me wonder I could have it? I only have the wheezing and the cough when there is mucus in my throat though and the mucus I cough up hasn't been increasing the past months. I sleep on an elevated pillow but I still have the mucus in my throat in the mornings. I don't feel the mucinex work on me but just noticed it gave me an itchy throat.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • aitarg35939
    aitarg35939 sweetbee1

    Posted

    Sweetbee, we aren't doctors here and cannot diagnose anyone. It sure seems as though you've got some health anxieties which may need treatment.

    Wheezing some, mucus production, perhaps a little shortness of breath, and a bit of a cough do not equal COPD. In the absence of other issues, and/or depending on degree, they might just mean that one is human. Allergies, pollutants, etc. can be causes. Nowadays so many doctors jump at the chance to label folks as having COPD that it is remarkable that your doc did not do so. He didn't send you for breathing tests so he doesn't feel that you need them.

    This is good news. If possible, you might accept the good news & be glad of it. Otherwise see a different doctor.

    • sweetbee1
      sweetbee1 aitarg35939

      Posted

      I keep telling docs that the cause of any health issue i have starts with anxiety attacks and they are always skeptical. The first doc i saw failed to send me for any tests and i was still suffering with earaches, sinuses, and phlegm. The second doc told me i should have had a chest xray done with that doc weeks ago. Xray came back negative. I got a pft done and put on an inhaler that alleviated my syptoms and my tension released after feeling all is ok. Anxiety wearing off i am feeling much better.
  • marty72080
    marty72080 sweetbee1

    Posted

    First off if you have questions you should ask your doctor and if you can’t seem to beleve what your present doctor tells you than logic tells you find another doctor. 
    • sweetbee1
      sweetbee1 marty72080

      Posted

      I have an hmo so good docs are hard to come by and docs even good ones can only make theories. Even with the pft i took they are still unsure whats wrong.
  • hypercat
    hypercat sweetbee1

    Posted

    Hi this does sound more like asthma to me especially as you have never smoked.  What tests did your doctor do?  The peak and flow one is usually done for asthma but sometimes the spirometry is done too though this is always carried out for copd.

    If you have not yet had those tests then ask for them. If you have you need to ask for the results and what they mean.  x

    • sweetbee1
      sweetbee1 hypercat

      Posted

      I got a PFT done. I think that tests for both? My results came back normal for the PFT. They still dont know why it happened or what it is but with the inhaler and breathing returning to normal i feel much better. Anxiety manifests itself into all kind of diseases.
  • Vee2
    Vee2 sweetbee1

    Posted

    Anxiety attacks and heavy cold will certainly give you all the symptoms you have described.

    Get help with the anxiety and see how things are after your cold clears.

    Then later if you really think you might have COPD go back to your doctors and say this concerns you and your doctor will then do the appropriate tests. 

    Good Luck.

    PS what made you ever search for COPD in the first place?  

    • sweetbee1
      sweetbee1 Vee2

      Posted

      It came up when I searched my symptoms and the asthma forum kept saying clear phlegm is asthma but if it has any color it must be an infection or bronchitis or copd.
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