Tight chest - breath shortness

[ClareS]

Hi there - please help, dont know what to do now.

I have had very bad respiratory discomfort for seven months now - tight chest, SOB, I actually feel diasbled as my life has become so restricted. I am  29 (female, non smoker, normal weight, physically fit) and have already had to pass up two jobs because of this.

Have been diagnosed mildly/moderately asthmatic by a chest specialist but he says my asthma is under control; (85% what it should be) and that there is no reason why i should feel tight chested all the time. I have been on steroids for 4 months but dont feel better and I am going to see him next month and he may be giving me a bronchoscopy.

Other tests
Chest x-ray - normal but hyper inflated lungs
Blood pressure - normal (slightly low)
Oxygen (when had endoscopy) 100%
Heart beat - 60-80 bpm
IgE - normal
Blood count, glucose etc - normal
Peak flow - 400-450
Endoscopy - normal apart frpm some candida in oeasphagus (from inhalers?)
H-Pylori - Positive - have been treated over a month ago.

My GP on the other hand is convinced that asthma is not the main problem and says that it must be muscle tension around the lungs but will not prescribe me tranquilisers to help me get on with my life; she says that I (or anyone else) would be addicted in two weeks and they cause more problems than they solve

My questions:

can you think of any other tests that i could have done?
Should i accept the diagnosis of muscle tension?
What wouldf a bronscopy show? Is this a dangerous procedure
What is your opinion on tranquilisers?

[dorpheus1]

I received the small poxs shot and develop costochondritis. Can costochondritis aggravate sleep apena by making it more difficult to breathe.

[Stella4]

Clares... I am not a med. professional but a fellow sufferer.  I am having similar symptoms as you, & similar frustrations.  My methocoline challenge came back as "mildly" asthmatic, not enough to treat with meds though.  I'm not entirely certain of the path that my respitory specialist is going down, he is attacking the SOB from the "acid reflux" angle, saying that the airway is constricted due to reflux.  Not sure about that since the lack of air is very distinctly coming from the chest & not the throat.

I know that my SOB improves, chest tightness goes away if I exercise very regularly (4 - 5 times/week), and/or if I am exposed to cold, fresh air.  Go figure, doesn't sound like asthma!  

My resp. dr. did make mention but for whatever reason did not pursue -- hyperventilation syndrome.  I am going to check into this again when I go back to my GP.  You may want to read this article, from what I can tell it fits my symptoms pretty closely, it may fit yours as well:  http://www.remcomp.fr/asmanet/edit9702.html.  If it is as easy to treat as teaching proper breathing techniques it would be worth it!  Good luck...

[National Jewish]

Typically the symptoms of asthma would go away after 4 months of steroids.  Since you don