2 months shortness of breath, is that Pulmonary fibrosis?

Dear all,

I am 23 years old male, having more than 2 months shortness of breath with palpitation. I seems that I couldn't take a deep breath and sometimes felt dizzy, lightheadedness, nausea. I had a history on asthma, but my SOB didn't response to asthma medication. Recently, my doctor prescribed me Singulair, Allegra and I did 2 chest x-ray tests, spirometry test, EKG, Echo, holter monitoring, TSH blood test. All test were normal. With this SOB I can't concentrate while studying and doing another activities. My peak flow is around 500 L/min while the normal for my age and height is around 600.

Is it possible that my SOB is because of Pulmonary Fibrosis/Interstitial Lung Disease? I was a motorbike rider when I was an undergraduate student. Is the exposure of air pollution (from vehicle for example) can cause Pulm. Fibrosis? What  kind of test need to be done to know whether my SOB is because of Pulmonary Fibrosis or not? Another thing that I'm concerned is GERD, some articles in the internet relate SOB with GERD. I'm thinking of getting Lung scan to get better clue on my SOB. Does anybody know the cost of CT scan for Lung?

Thank you very much

Heribertus

[National Jewish Health]

From your description, your respiratory symptoms and your peak flows do not suggest asthma as the cause.  We assume your doctor listened to your lungs and did not hear wheezes or appreciate slowed air flow.  At age 23, a normal chest x-ray would, with rare exceptions rule out the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis or other especially if no sounds of such were heard on physical exam of your lungs.

Given the negative testing, 4 possibilities come to mind and not necessarily in this order:  
1. Heart disease with or without an abnormal heart rhythm.  Young men can get inflammation of the heart muscle, called cardiomyopathy, and this need not be associated with heart enlargement on x-ray.  You may need 48 to 72 hour cardiac monitoring to determine the nature of the "palpitations".
2. Anxiety with panic attacks.
3. High blood pressure.
4. Recurrent clots to your lungs, called pulmonary emboli.

[heribertus]

Thank you for your reply. I did Echo, 24 hours Holter monitoring 2 weeks ago. Echo gave me normal results. My doctor told me that the Holter monitoring showed some episodes of palpitation but that's normal according to him. I've been prescribed Lorazepam, and I think it helped my dizziness, palpitation, tingling,lightheadedness, but not my SOB. I've been prescribed also Xopenex HFA, it increased my peakflow rate from 500 to 525 after i took it.

How to know if there are recurrent clots to my lung?what kind of test should I take?

[adam_yawn]

I was shocked when I read your article because I'm having the same symptoms plus abdominoal and chest pains,Increased appitite,I get exausted just doing small simple activites,and oddly problems urinating.The doctors have done all of the tests you mentioned above and more but still cant tell me what is wrong or fix it. I'm only 28 and also have asthma but my meds for that dont seem to work either.If you figure out what is wrong please contact me by email this has been going on for months and I cant work because I do construction work. My email is adam_yawn***@**** thank you and I hope one of us can figure out the problem soon because I'm tired of doctors and family thinking i'm crazy or somthing.

[Bevie37]

My 7 year old as been experiencing the same symptoms (except heart palpitations) since 2006 right after having MRSA.  She also has pain in her upper rib cage area on both sides.  We spent the other night in the ER to get a diagnosis of Panic attacks which I do not buy. There has to be a diagnosis for this. Also, would like to know about any testing we should have done.  Please Respond.........Thanks