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Shortness of Breath / Tight Chest

Posted , 6 users are following.

madhatter
madhatter

Hi -

Apologies for the long message in advance but I would really appreciate any advice or help.

I am a 36 year old male - diagnosed with asthma since childhood. Been using Seretide for a few years now and my asthma has been well under control with no recent attacks and I attended yearly reviews.

However, In January this year I became breathless very suddenly and was eventually diagnosed with a chest infection. The shortness of breath and tightness in my chest has never gone although the chest infection cleared with erythomycin

The odd thing is my peak flow is consistently between 650 and 800 which is supposedly good and I don't have to use my Ventolin more than once a day if at all. My spirometry test was normal in fact excellent and showed my lung age to be 10 years younger than I am. I have had 2 chest xrays - both clear. My GP has tried treatment for anxiety, GERD and candida but this has not worked. I had a barium swallow test today for hiatus hernia but this was negative.

I am really getting frustrated now - is it possible to have asthma but have normal spirometry and feel like this? I don't have a wheeze or cough and I am not producing sputum. It is just this continual tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. I continue to take Seretide. My doctors surgery are covinced there is no serious lung disease and are not keen on referring me to a chest physician but I am getting very scared now.

Has anyone have any idea what this may be or what I should do next. Up until Jan 2012 I have been perfectly healthy? Any help greatly appreciated.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • moomay
    moomay

    Posted

    Hi I can only think of hatha yoga, learning to breath properly, meditation, relaxation.

    I have had severe asthma for over 10 years and never had an attack. I have done a lot of yoga however and sometimes I meditate.

    I have a few other diseases too, so look after yourself and do as much alternative treatment as you can.

    Positive attitude always helps

    I respond really well to accupuncture. Luckily I have a low cost alternative health clininc in Sheffield.

    Good luck and take care

  • madhatter
    madhatter

    Posted

    Thank you moomay. Never consider alternative medicine but I'm happy to give anything a go to get better. All the best to you too.
  • Vee123
    Vee123

    Posted

    I know it's sometime ago that you posted this message and I sure hope you have things under control now.

    I just thought I might add that anxiety and panic attacks can play havoc with ones breathing and once you recognise the difference between an asthma attack and the feelings from anxiety and panic, I believe it can really help.

    In my experience - an asthma attack feels like a sponge is growing in my lung and I struggle to breathe through the holes left in the sponge. If my attack is bad then the sponge holes are smaller.

    When I have had anxiety or a panic attack the feeling is more like stress on my rib cage - as if I am wearing a corset or holding my breath and my ribs ache. For me I have identified asthma as "inside my lung" feeling and anxiety as an "outside my lung" feeling, however both can effect my breathing.

    It all pretty much sucks lol .. and yes learning relaxing techniques are great :-)

    I sometimes use my partially deflated exercise ball and lay over it .. and just rock back and forth and that helps expand my lung gently.

    Anyhow.. sure hope you are better now.

    For me knowing the difference has allowed me to try different techniques to treat one or the other or both.

  • moomay
    moomay

    Posted

    Aw thanks very much. So glad you replied. Yes I am better. Thanks. It makes a lot of sense what you said. Take care
  • orquid06904
    orquid06904 madhatter

    Posted

    Hi,

    Sorry to revive this thread after such a long time, but madhatter's situation is exactlt what I am going through now. I am a 29 year old female, asthmatic but never had an attach and very rarely used inhalers. Have had chest x-ray done, ECG, spirometry, blood tests, oxygen level tests - all normal. Had to beg to be referrered to a consultant because GP is convinced I have nothing. Been like this for 2 months now - same, started and then was diagnosed with lung infection, which went away, but tightness and shortness of breath remained. 

    Did you manage to fix your problem? If yes, how? I am very curios to know as this is driving me crazy now!

    Thank you

    • Guest
      Guest orquid06904

      Posted

      Hi,

      I would say that if you are on Seretide, request a change in meds.

      I wrote another post in which i described the 'fun' i had with the drug and what would manifest as anxiety attacks, when in fact I was sat quite relaxed (increased heart rate, difficulty catching my breath).

      the pamphlet in the box has these sorts of symptoms in the side affects section.

      I hope you get it sorted.

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