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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Asthma / February 2004Advice please
I was diagnosed as asthmatic a couple of years ago based on the fact that I have a persistent cough. This has been the only symptom I seem to suffer from and has led me to doubt whether the diadnosis ahs been correst. Today whilst wondereing round the local shopping centre I began to feel "heavy" chested. It felt like there was a lot of pressure on my chest and was fairly unpleasant. I did not wheeze or have trouble breathing, but was rather concerned none-the-less. Does this sound like an asthma symptom? I did use my ventolin inhaler at the time but am unsure if it helped or not. I am still waiting to see a specialist about this, and although May is getting closer, I would like to know if I should be doing something sooner. TIA Saffy. > Today whilst wondereing round the local shopping centre I began to feel > "heavy" chested. It felt like there was a lot of pressure on my chest and > was fairly unpleasant. I did not wheeze or have trouble breathing, but was i have very bad asthma and i rarely wheeze...i get short of breath and a heavy sensation in my chest...this makes it difficult when you have to go to the ER because if you are not wheezing they don't believe you have asthma... you may want to get started on a preventative med like Advair  Signaturepeace, tish === i'm growing older but not up my metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck may the winds of time flow over my head i'd rather die while i'm living than live while i'm dead -jimmy buffett > > Today whilst wondereing round the local shopping centre I began to feel > > "heavy" chested. It felt like there was a lot of pressure on my chest and [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > you may want to get started on a preventative med like Advair I am already on Seretide (I think its the same as Advair) but its not working all that well so thats why I need to see the specialist. I had a couple of Asthma attacks as the result of an allergic reaction a few years ago and I guess I always think you need the "Darth Vader" breathing for it to Asthma, as thats what I felt like then. Saffy. >i have very bad asthma and i rarely wheeze...i get short of breath and a >heavy sensation in my chest...this makes it difficult when you have to go to >the ER because if you are not wheezing they don't believe you have asthma... I rarely wheeze either. That only happened the first few times when I did not not know what was going on or how to deal with it well. I haven't had a full blown attack in years since I can avoid the triggers. So, usually my symptoms are the tightness in the chest, cough sometimes, and being out of breath. A couple times, my breathing sounded fine, but I would have to stop and breath during a sentence because I simply ran out of air and could not speak. I do squeal when I laugh hard since I don't have enough air to verbally laugh when I exhale. I just squeal as I suck in the air. It doesn't hurt or bother me, but it does scare some people if they don't know what it is going on. It doesn't happen much at work anymore, but I do usually warn new coworkers. I had one ask me if they should call 911. I was able to signal no. Once my breathing is back under control, I can speak again. I also have a smaller than typical throat, so that combined with my allergies is what causes my asthma. I can flunk a breathing test on a good day. I was very greatful that my new doctor accepted the old doctor's tests, as I really didn't want to do the breathing tests again. I go in fine and come out exhausted. Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com Thank you to everyone who has responded to my query - both on the newsgroup and via email. I think I am slowly coming round to the idea that I do have asthma and not "just a cough". Saffy. I frequently have that problem. It is really puzzling. Sometimes it comes on when I exit my car and head for the stores and but usually it happens after I get inside a store. Very strange. Ora >I was diagnosed as asthmatic a couple of years ago based on the fact that I >have a persistent cough. This has been the only symptom I seem to suffer [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >Saffy. >I was diagnosed as asthmatic a couple of years ago based on the fact that I >have a persistent cough. This has been the only symptom I seem to suffer [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >rather concerned none-the-less. Does this sound like an asthma symptom? I >did use my ventolin inhaler at the time but am unsure if it helped or not. Your descriptions sound like my asthma. I sometimes get the cough without any attacks. It is a dry cough, nothing to cough up, and I get started and feel like I cannot stop. It really tires me out. Once I realize it is an asthma cough, I use my inhaler 3 times a day til the cough is gone. It often takes 2 -3 weeks to get rid of it completely. The heavy chested part sounds like my problem as well. I feel like everything is tight, compressed, and tense. Like something heavy is sitting on it. Normally, I can sleep flat with no problem, but when my asthma is bothering me, if I lay flat, I will start coughing, like somebody is pushing on my chest. Does that sound like the feeling you had? When I use my inhaler, I feel that relax almost instantly. Last December, I had my first problem in about 2 years. My old inhaler had expired, and I had a new doctor. She had prescribed advair, but I forgot to ask at my appointment for a new prescription for albuterol. So, when I realized I was getting that tight feeling, I called teh doctor. I had to wait until 6pm for the prescription to go the pharmacy. I was there at 6pm, and I used it as soon as I could. I could feel the relief right away. Five hours later, I could feel the tightness again, looked at the clock, and saw that it was in the right time range to use it again. When I am having a problem, I do get relief right away from the inhaler. So, while your description sounds like asthma problems, I am surprised that you didn't get a noticeable relief from the inhaler. Is it still good? Perhaps it is not the right strength for you? I'd ask your doctor. Also, how many times did you use it? I am allowed to use mine 1-3 puffs at a time, with 1-2 minutes between puffs. The first one helps, but the 2nd one works better since the airways are opened a little better and can take in the second puff better. Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com > When I use my inhaler, I feel that relax almost instantly. Last > December, I had my first problem in about 2 years. My old inhaler [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > go the pharmacy. I was there at 6pm, and I used it as soon as I > could. I could feel the relief right away. In a pinch, I'd try using the expired inhaler. The worst thing that's liable to happen is nothing. According to my physician, the only commonly available drug that becomes dangerous after expiration is chlorotrimeton. Other common drugs just become weaker. We have discussed this topic at length before; check the groups.google.com archives. Disclaimer: I am not a medical practitioner. SignatureAlison Chaiken "From:" address above is valid. (650) 236-2231 [daytime] http://www.wsrcc.com/alison/ I have always done my own typing myself, using both index fingers, and I have never received any encouragement at all from anyone about anything. -- Jeffrey Cartwright via Steven Millhauser >> When I use my inhaler, I feel that relax almost instantly. Last >> December, I had my first problem in about 2 years. My old inhaler [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >discussed this topic at length before; check the groups.google.com >archives. I did. I could barely feel anything. It was pretty dead. It was a sunday night, so I called the doctor monday morning. If it had been an attack, rather than just the tightness, I would have gone to the emergency room. They would have given me one there. But it wasn't an emergency. I have used one before when it was expired, but it was only by a couple months. This one was just too far gone. Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com >In a pinch, I'd try using the expired inhaler. The worst thing that's >liable to happen is nothing. According to my physician, the only >commonly available drug that becomes dangerous after expiration is >chlorotrimeton. Other common drugs just become weaker. We have >discussed this topic at length before; check the groups.google.com >archives. It's not that one is worried about expired albuterol being dangerous, it just plain doesn't work. They also say as long as you can hear liquid in the canister, that it's ok to use the albuterol, even if you've used more than the standard 200 puffs off it. But I've noticed that nearly empty canisters of albuterol do not do much. I switch to a new one & I'm fine. PS - and YES, I'm always careful to shake the canister before using. |
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