Breathing Diffiuclties

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Breathing Diffiuclties
6
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 8:41pm

I am frustrated and ticked off right now. About a week or more ago, I woke up in the night, unable to catch my breath. It wasn't that I wasn't getting air at all, just an inability to fill my lungs, in particular my left lung. Now, I have asthma and it's usually pretty bad at this time of year. However, the prednisone (oral steriods) that have always kicked me out of it, didn't do anything. My asthma meds don't make a difference. I have kept up with them, of course, but they aren't making a difference for this particular problem.

I went to the ER that night. They sent me home with steriods. Nothing. I had an appt. with my doc three days later. She said it wasn't my asthma, I probably was having anxiety/panic. Okay, well, since I had been panicked when it happened, I bought that. Duh.

Here I am, nine days or so later. I'm having the same problem only more and more. I am NOT panicked. I have made a point of using techniques to stay calm. I am waking up in the night, unable to catch my breath. It isn't like I am aware of anything that could cause panic. It isn't like I am having asthma.

So, I talked with the doc's office this afternoon. Now, I'm scheduled to see the doc early tomorrow morning. I already feel like she isn't going to believe me. It is NOT anxiety. It is NOT asthma. What is it??? GRRRRRRRRR


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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 9:50pm

Wow, that has got to bite!!!

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 10:42pm

Hi Steph, I'm sorry this is happening to you.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 11:21pm
I have asthma too, Steph, along with the anxiety. When it's anxiety I can tell the difference. It seems as if I just can't get the air in, nor do it regularly. As if my breathing is *ragged.* The more I focus on trying to get it right, the harder it gets. I can commiserate with you that either way, it's scary. Being awakened from a sound sleep must be pretty darn miserable. I hope the dr. can give you some help. Let us know how it goes. Sending P&PT's your way. (((hugs))) jan


 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-19-2006 - 9:00pm
Went to the doc this morning. She doesn't know for sure what is going on, but she IS covering all bases. Since I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo well known for my Atypical asthma episodes, she is not discounting that. She is also not discounting anxiety. Tomorrow morning I am going in for some blood work and a chest x-ray. Fun, fun, fun. She was happy with my asthma meds- xopenex (a pure form of albuterol without the shaky hands, etc. side effects. It's GREAT stuff!) in my machine as needed which is now, albuterol inhaler when not using the machine and for my emergency inhaler which means I use it at least twice a day, combivent which has albuterol and an inhaled steriod 3 -4 X a day, and flovent which is an inhaled steriod twice a day. She added 15mg. of Buspar twice a day. I've used Buspar before successfully. Has it made a difference? Nope. So, we'll see what the tests say.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2004
Thu, 01-19-2006 - 10:05pm

I think it's probably a mixture of both!

You see with me, I have reactive airway disease, which is simply a kind of mild asthma. I also have heart problems and suffer from palpatations and chest pains. Although these symptoms are present on their own, they occur in much greater quantity and are worsened by the panic, of course. Because as soon as you have the symptoms, you begin to panic and it becomes a vicious cycle. When you feel the symptoms coming on, try to tell yourself "it's okay, I can handle this" to try and not acentuate the second fear.

However, I'm not one to talk ... I still panic, LOL. Just wanted to give you my opinion. Do hope you feel better soon - I hate not being able to breathe. It is very scary.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-19-2006 - 10:40pm
Thing is that I am feeling less anxiety than I have in months, since I discovered that my dh was having an affair. Yeah, that will cause anxiety. :( Anyway, I was panicking when this first started, but I'm not know. Even when I am unable to fully get a deep breath, I am not panicking because I know I will in a minute or two. I am not excited about this, but not panicky. KWIM? It's just frustrating!

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