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Asthma (Expert Forum)
Anxiety and Asthma
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This forum is for questions and support regarding: Asthma, Chronic Cough, Sinusitis, and other Respiratory Disorders.
Anxiety and Asthma
by sugarman, Dec 20, 2007 02:43PM
Greetings-
I am a 28 year old male, non smoker,good shape, very active till 4 months ago. I was riding home with my friend and couldn't catch my breath. It progressed when I got home which led me to have them rush me to ER (I NEVER go to the doc). the doc's ran ekg, x-ray, blood tests for iron,calcium and blood pressure. All came out fine. Over the next 4 months I have been to the doc 5 more times, 3 different GP's the current one 2 times. I have told it is asthma with the possibility of anxiety. I have been prescribed a strong antibiotic (a theory my lungs were infected) which didn't work, symbacort, advair and a emergency inhailer albuterol. The symbacort didn't seem to do much after 2-3 weeks, advair didn't jive with me for some reason, it made my lungs tighter it seemed (could be a mental thing I guess) so I quit that after 3 days, and albuterol seems to help a little in emer. situations although it makes me jittery and seems to feed anx. I have also taken a spirometer twice with the first one telling me my exp. flow was real low and my second one said I was "fine", my peak flows were in good.
My docs ran a blood test to look at allergies, thyroid and blood levels. With the exception to a few alergies (allergies) such as dust, fish and cockroaches, all my blood tests were within limits, along with my 2 x-rays coming back fine.These couple of "anxiety or panic attacks" if this is what they are were absoultely horrendus, I thought I was going to die or something was severely wrong with me. Is my breathing is the catalyst for my anxi and is there something is causing that. Is asthma a disease that lingers, and if not wouldn't it be remedied from a emer. inhailer then I would feel back to normal unless "triggered"?
I have FINALLY got a app't with a pulmonary specialist. Does anyone have any thoughts, advice on this? there seems to be a lot of similarities with lots of people and would love to hear some feedback.
Thank You, God bless and happy holidays!
I am a 28 year old male, non smoker,good shape, very active till 4 months ago. I was riding home with my friend and couldn't catch my breath. It progressed when I got home which led me to have them rush me to ER (I NEVER go to the doc). the doc's ran ekg, x-ray, blood tests for iron,calcium and blood pressure. All came out fine. Over the next 4 months I have been to the doc 5 more times, 3 different GP's the current one 2 times. I have told it is asthma with the possibility of anxiety. I have been prescribed a strong antibiotic (a theory my lungs were infected) which didn't work, symbacort, advair and a emergency inhailer albuterol. The symbacort didn't seem to do much after 2-3 weeks, advair didn't jive with me for some reason, it made my lungs tighter it seemed (could be a mental thing I guess) so I quit that after 3 days, and albuterol seems to help a little in emer. situations although it makes me jittery and seems to feed anx. I have also taken a spirometer twice with the first one telling me my exp. flow was real low and my second one said I was "fine", my peak flows were in good.
My docs ran a blood test to look at allergies, thyroid and blood levels. With the exception to a few alergies (allergies) such as dust, fish and cockroaches, all my blood tests were within limits, along with my 2 x-rays coming back fine.These couple of "anxiety or panic attacks" if this is what they are were absoultely horrendus, I thought I was going to die or something was severely wrong with me. Is my breathing is the catalyst for my anxi and is there something is causing that. Is asthma a disease that lingers, and if not wouldn't it be remedied from a emer. inhailer then I would feel back to normal unless "triggered"?
I have FINALLY got a app't with a pulmonary specialist. Does anyone have any thoughts, advice on this? there seems to be a lot of similarities with lots of people and would love to hear some feedback.
Thank You, God bless and happy holidays!
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Dec 21, 2007 05:00PM
, Dec 21, 2007 05:00PM
What you describe, including the attacks that were "horrendous", could be panic attacks. You might want to consider the circumstances, especially the emotions that prevailed, when you were "riding home with my friend"; whether there was something going on between the two of you, that might have precipitated a panic attack.
Also, it sounds like asthma has not been completely ruled out.
However, the one important condition that must be ruled out and was not ruled out by the normal tests cited including the 2 chest x-rays, is recurrent pulmonary emboli, also known as clots to the lung. This can occur without clot formation, evident in the legs. Unless your doctors can be 100% sure that this is asthma or panic attacks, you should be tested for pulmonary emboli, without delay. Your doctors could assess this possibility with a CT scan of the lungs.
You might want to share this response with them.
Also, it sounds like asthma has not been completely ruled out.
However, the one important condition that must be ruled out and was not ruled out by the normal tests cited including the 2 chest x-rays, is recurrent pulmonary emboli, also known as clots to the lung. This can occur without clot formation, evident in the legs. Unless your doctors can be 100% sure that this is asthma or panic attacks, you should be tested for pulmonary emboli, without delay. Your doctors could assess this possibility with a CT scan of the lungs.
You might want to share this response with them.
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