Breathless Sleeping / Breathlessness PFT results

[Ohmygod]

Hi,

My illness continues, maybe you can comment.

I am 34yo male my PFT (did them on two seperate occasions)results are as follows:
FEV1 5.39 108% of predicted
FVC 4.66  103% of Predicted
FEV1 % FVC % 86.44
MMEF 75/25 3.61 76%
DCLO 118%
CT, ECG, Heart echo + Bloods clear also

Social smoker for 17yrs, now stopped, controlled mild asthma all my life. Now have a riot of sympthoms incl:
1. Uncotrolled Asthma (or whatever)= breathlessness sometimes even at rest
2. Feeling of being generally unwell
3. Awake starving for Air during sleep, like as if I have stopped breathing, then feel like I cannot inhale, like as if I have met my respiratory reserve, feel better from forced exhalations.(Not overweight + nose breather), If I get up and move around SOB goes away..
4. No maintenace meds work (they did before, all my life) tried Singulair, Pulmicort, Flixotide, Advair, Becotide etc. etc.
5. Only ventolin (Albuterol) work now...
6. Dry hacking cough (nearly makes me get sick)in morning with no sputum, did have sputum + cough when I took Advair.

Pulmo feels I dont even have asthma, trying to tell me its physchological, tried stopping inhalers, felt ill / tired / increased breathlessness especially in morning.

I have heard that in emphysema you cannot sleep lying down (Nat Jewish website)this concerns me in spite of my PFT etc.

C.

[National Jewish]

At this time quitting smoking is the most important thing that you can do for yourself!  You may want to look at our Quit Smoking Topic Center at http://www.nationaljewish.org/topic/smoking_cessation.html for ways to help you stick with your wise decision to smoke no more.  Also check with your doctor for other quit smoking resources in your area.

Your pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are normal.  Your shortness of breath goes away when you move around.  This eliminates almost all lung problems as a possibility, including emphysema.  However it is still possible that asthma could be causing your symptoms.

Your doctor should attempt to find the cause of your cough.  In a person who has a normal chest x-ray and who doesn’t smoke the most common causes of cough are postnasal drip, chronic sinus problem, heartburn, and asthma.  Since some of your worst symptoms are at night, you should have a sleep study.  A sleep problem could cause many of your symptoms.

[Jane1]

How long is it since you quit smoking?  I know when I quit first attempt - my okay asthma turned chronic after about 2 months -
I also got dizzy feelings too. When we smoke the tiny hairs in our resiratory tract are burnt or put to sleep but when we stop smoking these hairs come awake and in asthmatics this can trigger SOB and contain the build of mucus - this could explain why you feel the reliver ( ventolin) is the only thing working -
I also experience Asthma like I had never had it - it did feel psycological ( it wasn't) but when I was a smoker I wheezed before an attack - My chest was like an orchestra tuning up, when I gave up smoking I lost the wheeze so the SOB was not backed up by anything, no mucus, just in inability to breathe, even my Peak flow wasn't altogether bad - but I did get treatment for this - the dreaded steriods injected - my weight flew up but the attacks subsided. If your symptoms have worsened since giving up cigs - tell your GP this - and ride it out as best you can - it may take up to a year before symptoms subside but believe me you will feel a whole lot better - Even if you have Hyperventolation syndrome it is NOT psycological - your GP should be able to help, you shouldn't carry on being tired from not being able to breathe, seek another opinion - PFT's are great, but they are only calculated on how you perform on that day, not at night or any other day you are suffering worse.

Regards and I hope you feel better soon - Kudos for kicking the habit, I know it is bloody hard, it will be worth it in the long run!

J