joshuaainsworth
05-09-09, 23:25
Hello, I'm a new member, been lurking for some time though.
A couple of months ago I developed a rather nasty flu could have been that swine flu, that turned into bacterial pneumonia, during which I had a nasty 'attack' where I couldn't breath and was bringing up a lot of phlegm which I believe had developed over night and settled while I was lying down for a long period of time, the attack lasted about 10 minutes before I could finally breathe some what properly again, (it felt like drowning) after that I got anti-biotics for the pneumonia and about 5 weeks ago I finished the course and the pneumonia had pretty much gone.
How ever ever since that 'attack' I have anxiety focused on my breathing that has got progressively worse, a constant worry about my breathing is always there at the back of my mind, usually about some illness or disorder I think I've got, some days it's a pulmonary embolism, others it's COPD (I was a 10 - 15 a day smoker for two years) I get symptoms daily that some times last for hours or days; tight chest, slight apnea, air hunger, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, globus hystericus, agitation, restlessness, mood swings and horrible thoughts about choking or suffocating.
I'm at the end of my tether as is my partner who I inflict all my worries on!
I've seen several doctors who have all told me my chest sounds clear and my peak flow is what it should be, all three doctors have diagnosed me with anxiety for which I have diazepam (which I don't really like taking), I was also prescribed a Salamol inhaler for the shortness of breath but I've been tested for asthma today and I don't have it.
I know that my fears are most likely irrational but it's so hard to tell yourself that when these symptoms present themselves!
Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.
Joshua.
A couple of months ago I developed a rather nasty flu could have been that swine flu, that turned into bacterial pneumonia, during which I had a nasty 'attack' where I couldn't breath and was bringing up a lot of phlegm which I believe had developed over night and settled while I was lying down for a long period of time, the attack lasted about 10 minutes before I could finally breathe some what properly again, (it felt like drowning) after that I got anti-biotics for the pneumonia and about 5 weeks ago I finished the course and the pneumonia had pretty much gone.
How ever ever since that 'attack' I have anxiety focused on my breathing that has got progressively worse, a constant worry about my breathing is always there at the back of my mind, usually about some illness or disorder I think I've got, some days it's a pulmonary embolism, others it's COPD (I was a 10 - 15 a day smoker for two years) I get symptoms daily that some times last for hours or days; tight chest, slight apnea, air hunger, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, globus hystericus, agitation, restlessness, mood swings and horrible thoughts about choking or suffocating.
I'm at the end of my tether as is my partner who I inflict all my worries on!
I've seen several doctors who have all told me my chest sounds clear and my peak flow is what it should be, all three doctors have diagnosed me with anxiety for which I have diazepam (which I don't really like taking), I was also prescribed a Salamol inhaler for the shortness of breath but I've been tested for asthma today and I don't have it.
I know that my fears are most likely irrational but it's so hard to tell yourself that when these symptoms present themselves!
Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.
Joshua.