Breathing Problems NO diagnoses

[Mike240]

I am a 22 year old male in pretty good shape. My problem started back when i was 15 or so and is now getting worse. I get a really tight chest sometimes out of the blue or after a night of drinking. I do smoke but its more of a casual thing and when the problem started i didnt at all. The tightness gets worse when i lay down but its still very bad sitting up. It wakes me up out of my sleep ( i shoot up out of bed gasping for air, sometimes 10 - 20 times a night.)When the symptoms get really bad i get slight weezing and sharp pains either in my back or next to my shoulder on my chest. I find myself clearing my throat alot but i don't ever get much up(mucus). I have been to several doctors and had the x-rays, breath test, blood tests, ekg, stress tests and passed them well. My peak flow was a little weak when i went to e.r. a couple times. My doctor keeps telling me its stress related but it doesnt feel like that to me. I am now going to try takeing zanax to see if that helps at all. inhalers and other powders only made things worse.My symptoms are getting worse and more frequent now and im missing alot of work because i can't get any sleep. Any help would be appreciated! THANKS,  MIKE

[National Jewish]

Each of these 3 possibilities could be worsened by stress:  

1) You may have a sleep disorder, specifically obstructive sleep apnea.  Please read our obstructive sleep apnea information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/sleep/treatments/obstructive-apnea.aspx to learn more.

2) You may be experiencing nocturnal asthma.  Please read our nocturnal asthma information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/asthma/about/types/nocturnal.aspx to learn more.

3) You may be having recurrent aspiration of gastric juice into your wind pipe from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  Please read our gastroesophageal reflux disease information at http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/asthma/about/relate-other/gastro-reflux.aspx to learn more.

[crystalfresh]

I am not a doctor. May I ask what were the brand names and active med in the inhalers that you used that were not working? I ask this for a specific reason. Not all inhalers work the same.

[Mike240]

I am no longer on them but i think the names of them were albuteral asmanex (excuse the spelling if its not correct) and a couple more that i dont remember. My symptoms are now starting to get better but i know it will be back full force soon because its been like that for pretty much this entire year. Thanx for any help!

[Sunny602]

I wonder if your doctor has considered reflux disease with you...You said that the problem is worse when you are lying down, sometimes you can get asthma like symptoms if you aspirate, or reflux into your lungs. Alot of people aren't aware that they are indeed having severe reflux. It might be worth considering, you have a pretty good workup cardiac wise but perhaps a GI workup might show something. Anyhow, I hope that the doc figures this out so that you can get the right treatment. Sunny :)

[Mike240]

My symptoms are not always worse at night and only wake me up when they are bad throughout the day. If it were asthma wouldn't it have helped to take the inhalers? I have tried taking reflux meds before (self diagnoses) and it didn't help any. I guess I can't completely rule anything out yet...

[Mike240]

BuMp...

[tight chest/breathing trouble]

hi, I know this is random but did you smoke any cannabis shortly before your problems first appeared?

[Mike240]

No not in years.