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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Asthma / November 2007Is this the right group?
I am having breathing problems and asthma has definitely been ruled out. Is this group appropriate for asking questions? If not, can you recommend one that is? > I am having breathing problems and asthma has definitely been ruled > out. Is this group appropriate for asking questions? If not, can you > recommend one that is? Were you given any alternative possibilities? And I'm not entirely sure, but could be way off on this; I wasn't aware that asthma can be entirely, without doubt, ruled out when it comes to breathing problems... What has helped my breathing problem most is something I had to demand, none of my doctors even mentioned this, much less suggested it. I got a nebulizer, with liquid albuterol. I only mention it because if asthma was ruled out by the asthma meds not having any effect, then it might be worth trying to see. But if that's not how asthma was ruled out, then just ignore me... I don't know of anywhere else breathing problems are discussed on Usenet, but I'm not all that familiar with it and likely someone else will know. Good luck! Dragonfly >> I am having breathing problems and asthma has definitely been ruled >> out. Is this group appropriate for asking questions? If not, can you [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >entirely, without doubt, ruled out when it comes to breathing >problems... It's been a recurring problem for about ten years, typically coming on following a weight gain. I go through all the tests for congestive heart failure, asthma, etc. with no results. I lose the weight, the problem goes away. The last time it happened, I went to a pulmonologist for a year before he gave up. This time the shortness of breath is particularly severe. The diagnosis du jour is "extrapulmonary restrictive lung disease." My weight is restricting my ability to expand my lungs. I can exhale with sufficient force, and my oxygenation is at 98%, but I can only inhale short breaths. The constant puffing is wearing me out. I'm working on taking the weight off, but in the meantime I'm exhausted. >What has helped my breathing problem most is something I had to >demand, none of my doctors even mentioned this, much less suggested >it. I got a nebulizer, with liquid albuterol. I only mention it >because if asthma was ruled out by the asthma meds not having any >effect, then it might be worth trying to see. But if that's not how >asthma was ruled out, then just ignore me... I've been on inhalers before with no effect. > >> I am having breathing problems and asthma has definitely been ruled > >> out. Is this group appropriate for asking questions? If not, can you [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > I've been on inhalers before with no effect. Yes, your best option is to take the weight off ASAP. There is some sort of operation where a doctor can place a strap around your stomach. The end result is that you feel full after eating a small amount of food. There are lots of negative side effects. Perhaps someone else can tell you the name of the operation. It may be your best option if your diet plan and exercise plan are not working. Jason Look into silent Gerd which can cause reflux to burn your respiratory tract. If that is the case, the banding procedure would worsen your symptoms so you have to lose weight the old fashioned way. . > >> I am having breathing problems and asthma has definitely been ruled > >> out. Is this group appropriate for asking questions? If not, can you [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > I've been on inhalers before with no effect. >Look into silent Gerd which can cause reflux to burn your respiratory tract. >If that is the case, the banding procedure would worsen your symptoms so you >have to lose weight the old fashioned way. I do have GERD, but I had an endoscopy since this started and the GERD is under complete control. > >Look into silent Gerd which can cause reflux to burn your respiratory tract. > >If that is the case, the banding procedure would worsen your symptoms so you > >have to lose weight the old fashioned way. > > I do have GERD, but I had an endoscopy since this started and the GERD > is under complete control. What about liposuckion (spelling??) to remove the fat that is keeping you from breathing the normal way? It's possible your insurance company would pay for it since it will help you to breath. >> >Look into silent Gerd which can cause reflux to burn your respiratory tract. >> >If that is the case, the banding procedure would worsen your symptoms so you [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >from breathing the normal way? It's possible your insurance company would >pay for it since it will help you to breath. I'm not a good candidate for any kind of surgery. > >Look into silent Gerd which can cause reflux to burn your respiratory tract. > >If that is the case, the banding procedure would worsen your symptoms so you > >have to lose weight the old fashioned way. > > I do have GERD, but I had an endoscopy since this started and the GERD > is under complete control. I am not certain the test to "prove" silent reflux has been perfected - did you have a Bravo probe or do a 6 month trial of Nexium? There is research activity on this front and perhaps that will help you exclude Gerd or not in the future-both on the part of ENTs and Gastros so keep watching. But right now I don't think you can say for certain that test clears you of having the condition. I just don't want to possibly see you get worse by going for banding. >> >Look into silent Gerd which can cause reflux to burn your respiratory >tract. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >I am not certain the test to "prove" silent reflux has been perfected - did >you have a Bravo probe or do a 6 month trial of Nexium? I don't know what a Bravo test is. As I said, I had an endoscopy. I've been on Nexium for years. My last endoscopy three years ago showed severe inflammation, scarring, and Barrett's esophagaitis. The recent one showed zero inflammation. In fact, it was so clean that my GI doc said that if he didn't know I had a problem he would not have been able to tell by this examination. As far as I'm concerned, that rules out reflux. > I don't know what a Bravo test is. As I said, I had an endoscopy. I've > been on Nexium for years. My last endoscopy three years ago showed [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > As far as I'm concerned, that rules out reflux. A Bravo test involves inserting a small device in the esophagus to measure acidity over a short period of time. The device dislodges itself eventually and passes through harmlessly. The lack of inflammation or scarring does not rule out reflux. A Bravo test is a very accurate method to determine reflux. I have had reflux for years. Bravo test showed high acid levels. Endoscopy showed very clean, no inflamation, no scarring etc. They then performed a VCD test and found vocal chord inflammation (caused in part by reflux) which can cause severe respiratory problems that appear much like asthma. >I have had reflux for years. Bravo test showed high acid levels. >Endoscopy showed very clean, no inflamation, no scarring etc. They then >performed a VCD test and found vocal chord inflammation (caused in part >by reflux) which can cause severe respiratory problems that appear much >like asthma. I also had a rhinolaryngoscopy that showed no vocal cord irritation. So maybe you will help someone else here. Not sure that is a bad thing. > >> >Look into silent Gerd which can cause reflux to burn your respiratory > >tract. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > As far as I'm concerned, that rules out reflux. >It's been a recurring problem for about ten years, typically coming on >following a weight gain. I go through all the tests for congestive [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >I'm working on taking the weight off, but in the meantime I'm >exhausted. I started on oxygen last week, though not with much effect. I tried to see my pulmonologist, but he said he couldn't see me until December. My GP pulled some strings and got me an appointment for this afternoon. Then, last night at quarter to eleven, the shortness of breath simply stopped. Between one breath and the next. I'm keeping my appointment with the pulmonologist, but at this point I don't know what I can tell him. As of this morning, I had lost 15 of the 20 pounds I gained before this started. Maybe it truly was a matter of weight. > >It's been a recurring problem for about ten years, typically coming on > >following a weight gain. I go through all the tests for congestive [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > As of this morning, I had lost 15 of the 20 pounds I gained before > this started. Maybe it truly was a matter of weight. Are you still on oxygen? If so, that may have played a role related to preventing the shortness of breath. If you have this same problem again in the near future, make sure you take oxygen since it should help you get all of the oxygen you need without having to take millions of "short breaths" each day. In other words, oxygen may prevent you from having shortness of breath. Of course, "doc" knows more about this subject than I know. >> As of this morning, I had lost 15 of the 20 pounds I gained before >> this started. Maybe it truly was a matter of weight. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >having to take millions of "short breaths" each day. In other words, >oxygen may prevent you from having shortness of breath. It's hard to say if oxygen played a role. I had hoped it would decrease the need to constantly take short puffs, but it did not. It did make a difference in my fatigue level, though. I work at home, on a computer, and I found I could put in longer, more productive days on the O. In fact, I'm going to keep using the O until they take it away from me. > >> As of this morning, I had lost 15 of the 20 pounds I gained before > >> this started. Maybe it truly was a matter of weight. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > the O. In fact, I'm going to keep using the O until they take it away > from me. I am glad the O helps you. I suggest that you make a hard copy of this report: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3470.htm >Then, last night at quarter to eleven, the shortness of breath simply >stopped. Between one breath and the next. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >As of this morning, I had lost 15 of the 20 pounds I gained before >this started. Maybe it truly was a matter of weight. I saw the pulmonologist, but had no symptoms to show him, so he couldn't say much. He tested my lung volume and it was OK this time. Well, that remission (Oct 24) lasted all of 36 hours. As of this morning (11/4) I'm back to my original weight but still puffing. I guess it's back to the doc this week. |
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