Fluid in lungs every morning with first breath

Every morning for the last 5 months or so, when I take my first breath it feels as though I have fluid deep in my lungs. With one deep breath or a couple of normal breaths this feeling is gone but it repeats its self every morning with out fail. Does anyone have any theories why? I have never had asthma or alegies causing lung problems.

I am concerned further due to my self being a heating engineer, I know in the past I have come into contact with asbestos. I am just hoping my sympoms have nothing to do with this. I am 25 and I have been working in the heating industry for only 8 years so from what I have read it seems unlikely that any symptoms would show at this stage. I experienced an unfortunate incident with asbestos about 6 months ago, I unknowingly dismantled a boiler containing asbestos, then vacuumed up the remaining debris, then by a freak accident which still drives me crazy to think about, the vacuum bag split and pumped the contents into the room i was working in. I know this sounds exteam but the amount of the material would not have been 'much'. I have been really worried every day since then and I also wonder if this worry alone is causing these daily morning symptoms??

If any one has experienced similar symptoms or could share some information about my problem then I'd really appreciate it.

[dosteadie]

I have this EXACT same symptom.  First breath almost feels like breathing through cobwebs or spiderwebs or a sponge (to me- difficult to describe the sensation), but by the 2nd or 3rd, everything is basically normal again.  I also notice this if I wake in the middle of the night after being asleep for some time, and take a deep breath.

Occasionally it will subside for a few days to a couple of weeks, but returns again for several months.

I too have never had asthma or allergies.  I have had pneumonia a couple of times, but not anytime near when this began occurring.  

Lastly, I have had some exposure to household asbestos when a "popcorn" ceiling was removed.  My exposure would have been minimal, but it's interesting we have this in common.  

Would be very interested if anyone has any info, or similar experience, and anything that has helped

[dosteadie]

dosteadie here again-  I forgot to mention that I did have a chest x-ray before my previous post, which showed my lungs were "hyperexpanded" or a term similar to that- apparently something that happens to ppl with COPD.  I also had a PFT Pulmonary Function Test, which the technician seemed to think I wasn't trying hard enough on because my results/numbers weren't in the normal range, and didn't improve much after administering albuterol.  (I look very healthy, so I think my appearance was somehow incongruent with her expectations).  The results were sent to a "lung doctor" (who exactly, I don't know) and it was relayed to my primary physician that I was fine.   I'm not sure how exactly that was determined, as my results were below normal (you can see the printout/results as soon as you finish the test- they are right in front of you, and the tech explained them to me, to show me where I should be "hitting").  I'm considering scheduling an appointment with a pulmonary doctor to try to get to the bottom of this.  As you can see from my posting date, this has been going on for well over a year.

Lastly, I also saw an allergist for the first time (have never really had allergies), and my initial "pricking-test" came back as not allergic to anything, my "arm-test" (more concentrated material injected under the skin) came back as very lightly allergic to some sort of tree, and slightly more so to mold spores.  So those results basically ruled out this breathing issue being related to sudden-onset allergies.

I wish you luck, and would be most interested to hear from anyone with similar experience. I saw on another board someone posted this as "raspy breath in lungs first thing in the morning".

[hava]

This breathing technique will expel the toxins from your lungs and improve your lung function. You will also notice other benefits, which you will tell me after you have followed the technique for a few weeks.You have described your condition very well, and it will help others.
Kapalbhati pranayam -(Do it before eating)
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day. Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
November 14 ,2011

[eggy4200]

Hey man, I'm experiencing the same thing for over a year now and I have no idea what it is.  Did the allergist thing and went on two courses of meds to kick it to no avail.  Do you have anymore info on your condition?  I'm concerned but not too concerned as it's only on the first breath or two.  I noticed that if I slouch in the couch for awhile, it happens too.  I am super fit, have an perfect diet and am generally very healthy.  Weird stuff.

[JJH1985]

I have the same exact thing! My chest x rays always come back normal and they even did a lung catscan that came back normal...This started about a year after I had pneumonia. I'm only in my late 20s. My pulmonologist suggested the lungs could be a little damaged from the pneumonia but didn't seem to take the "stuff in my lungs for the first breath every morning" too seriously. Still, it really concerns me.