View Full Version : Breathing issues/persistent cough SO SCARED HELP!
Hi all, I’ve posted a few times in the last 2 months or so with breathing probs. Like I can’t get a good breath. Had a chest X-ray 3 weeks ago which came back clear so no sign of the nasty C. It did show hyper inflated lungs though, and while my doctor said this was due to anxiety, I’m just not convinced. I googled it and hyper inflated lungs is also a sign of COPD or emphysema. So...that’s what I’m now fixated on. I’ve also been coughing now for about 3 weeks. I occasionally bring up a clear salty tasting mucous. I feel like I need to cough at most outbreaths and talking brings it on too. Still feel like my breathing is constricted somehow. Horrible muscle type ache all in my back behind my lungs (I guess could be from coughing). I’m 36. I smoked a fair bit in my late teens early twenties. Smoked e-cigs for about 2 years I’m the last few years too. I’m so petrified I’ve got some nasty irreversible lung disease but my docs are just saying it’s anxiety. Anyone have experience with this? After all this time I’m just going out of my mind.
---------- Post added at 19:20 ---------- Previous post was at 19:07 ----------
Meant to add that it starts shortly after I’m up. My breathing is fine when I’m asleep and when I first wake up.
Super_Freaked
30-10-17, 22:17
there is a simple few breathing test that you do to test for COPD, and of course Asthma. You could probably use those to settle your mind. You can't diagnose COPD by simple X-ray unless it is far advanced and in that case your wouldn't wonder if you have COPD or not. You should puruse the doctor for full testing but don't jump to conculsions or search google for this junk. Your smoking history and age would normally say you don't have advanced COPD, hyper inflated lungs can be from asthma or allergies or being stressed enough to hold your breathe funny durning the X-ray.
I have the same issues!
Breathing, coughing, wheezing since March this year!
Clear chest xrays, bloods, lung function tests etc, I still suffer and am suffering....
My dr referred me to a lung specialist - the specialist thinks I have a sensitive airway esp when around pets (I have pets), I have to go back in 12 weeks....I need to use an inhaler for a wheeze, BUT just like you I am a former smoker & this cough wont budge PLUS I have kind of like muscular chest pains if that makes sense?
I know how you feel & I am your age.
Thank you for your replies. I did have a spirometry test done over a month ago which was just about ok, on the lower side of normal. My doc said it was ok, but the nurse that did it seemed a little concerned. Maybe I need to have another one as my symptoms are worse now, especially the cough. Gothfairy, did the doctor give you any meds’ to try? Antihistamines didn’t work for me. I wonder if I need an inhaler.
Exactly the same as I had in summer 2016. Fine when sleeping, but tight ribs and diaphragm after standing. Felt like I couldn't take more than half a breath and like something was jammed. Back muscles ached. Also my throat was very dry and raw. I couldn't eat and lost 1 stone. Something in the air was obviously bothering me as I would get lumps in the back of my throat that would take three days to go down each time. I "think" mine was ragweed and the London pollution mixed together.
Antihistamines and the inhaler didn't work for me.
It took a year since it started for me to feel 100%. My London GP wasn't as supportive as yours and he couldn't figure out what was wrong except saying that it was all in my head. I told him my anxiety wasn't the cause of my symptoms, but the symptoms were making me anxious because I can't get an explanation to what this is.
I made life changes after this event and moved out of London after hearing about the dangers of pollution in the city.
Thank you for your replies. I did have a spirometry test done over a month ago which was just about ok, on the lower side of normal. My doc said it was ok, but the nurse that did it seemed a little concerned. Maybe I need to have another one as my symptoms are worse now, especially the cough. Gothfairy, did the doctor give you any meds’ to try? Antihistamines didn’t work for me. I wonder if I need an inhaler.
Hello Anna3104 - so sorry I am only responding now, I hardly log onto the site and I dont get notifications of a new response.
My Dr gave me a preventer inhaler and ventolin inhaler that did not work - gave me reflux pills and high dose anti histamines which did not help either, so I really am at a complete loss....I breathe in and it burns like cold air - I cough and now the right side of my chest hurts like a muscular pain everytime I get into the car or stand up, so debilitating for me - are you going back to the Dr?
Have you had an allergy test and an endoscopy of the Upper GI? I can't understand why doctors can't figure this out. Mine is gone, but it took six months to be able to breathe fully again and one year to feel 100%. I'm still baffled although I'm just guessing it was some kind of allergy or gastritis as I was diagnosed with it after getting an endoscopy, but something was also affecting my throat so maybe I had both. I'm just upset the doctors couldn't confirm it and my GP was the meanest man claiming it's all in my head.
It's can't be COPD because I had the exact symptoms with clueless doctors and I'm back to normal now.
---------- Post added at 14:06 ---------- Previous post was at 13:36 ----------
Just thought both of you or anyone suffering with the same conditions should consider getting checked out for gastritis with an upper endoscopy as severe gastritis can cause shortness of breath, chest pain and a tight diaphragm.
Have you had an allergy test and an endoscopy of the Upper GI? I can't understand why doctors can't figure this out. Mine is gone, but it took six months to be able to breathe fully again and one year to feel 100%. I'm still baffled although I'm just guessing it was some kind of allergy or gastritis as I was diagnosed with it after getting an endoscopy, but something was also affecting my throat so maybe I had both. I'm just upset the doctors couldn't confirm it and my GP was the meanest man claiming it's all in my head.
It's can't be COPD because I had the exact symptoms with clueless doctors and I'm back to normal now.
---------- Post added at 14:06 ---------- Previous post was at 13:36 ----------
Just thought both of you or anyone suffering with the same conditions should consider getting checked out for gastritis with an upper endoscopy as severe gastritis can cause shortness of breath, chest pain and a tight diaphragm.
Hello Lily Thanks for your response.
I had a endoscopy last year and was clear and scope down my larynx also clear......I am under the care of a respiratory consultant now at the hospital, he thinks its animal allergies....nothing is working but now with this additional chest pain/striking its making me panic even more so than ever - convinced its a tumor like lung cancer
Did you get pets right before you started feeling this way? I think mine was high pollen, but which pollen I don't know so I'm planning on getting an allergy test.
I think this is an allergy issue which has led to upper airway inflammation.
I found this on another forum as someone else had the same issue. This post made sense.
I had a similar problem plague me for years. Constant S.O.B heart palpitations fatigue severe irritability. Anxiety was the answer for my doctors, however one Dr hit the nail on the head. For me it was as simple as hayfever. At first this was a little hard to believe because i never had any symptoms of hayfever before however it was something different to the anxiety diagnosis. The Dr explained that i was not experiencing the classic and obvious symptoms, rather i was getting "upper airway" inflammation, which was restricting my airway. He put me on a course of prednisone and a once a day antihistamine (zyrtec). Over about a month i noticed great improvement, and i gradually tapered off the prednisone and was just taking the zyrtec. It has been 3 years since then and i can say that for me this has stopped my problems with S.O.B and the other related symptoms. This is a long term problem where prevention is the best cure and i have to take antihistamines from the lead up to spring to the end of autumn. REF (https://ehealthforum.com/health/can-t-take-a-deep-breath-t139883_20.html)
Hi there
I started with a similar cough in Feb 2016 but then it went however this one is persisting.....I had a massive allergy to cats last year (when I visited someone) so much so I want to go to A&E as my eye was so swollen and my throat was closing - I then moved in and the cough not sure if this is coincidence but I really think I am very ill with a tumor in my lung now, this worry is causing me great stress
Super_Freaked
24-11-17, 19:43
You guys don't have a tumor ! Gees.
The most common reasons for your symptoms are Aniexty, Asthma, GERD or post nasal drip. Can be a combo and some allergies causing it or causing your to hyperventalitae a bit or something. I know it sucks, but common.
Thanks for your reply, anxiety is horrible and I hear what you saying but if you coughing for about 9 months now and then get a funny chest pain when you move and cough your mind will also think the same...but I hear what you saying :) - just so nervous and nervous about it all.....been going on for so long now
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.