asthma, hypoventilation, and/or addicted to cigs?

[macs]

Diagnosed with asthma, not much of a wheezer, albutoral since 10, now 39. I use two albutoral inhalers/month and always forget the Flovent.
  Years ago, I found a way of getting the most productive cough. Cigarette plus albutoral equals great breathing. No more guilt needed, so don't bother.
  Anyway, eight years ago I got pneumonia. I couldn't smoke and decided to stop once and for all. While the pneumonia got better, my breathing seemed to get worse- or at least different. Even with Prednisone, the air I could get was shallow and felt "bad". When I coughed, I could let out more air, but couldn't fill my lungs. Without coughing, I couldn't expel enough air. My chest hurt, my head and neck throbbed, I was dizzy when I moved too quickly or coughed, and even though the gradual delivery of my albutoral by nebulizer was helpful, I was miserable, so I started smoking again a couple of months later, and back were my good old coughs. My doctor said that it was probably anxiety and that a couple of cigs/day would probably do me more good than harm.
  Well, I got pneumonia again and the same thing is happening. After reading through your site, I am pretty sure that I am overbreathing, not anxious though. I have always breathed from my chest, and if I start getting out of breath, I hold it. Of course- I don't exercise.
  Questions: 1)Is it possible that I am not asthmatic, but only breathe incorrectly?  2)How does one learn how to breathe? I try to do as written, but only get dizzy. 3)What risks are associated with hyperventilating? 4) Could this be something else?

[National Jewish]

Whether or not you have asthma it is possible that you are breathing in a very energy draining way using the accessory muscles in your neck, shoulders, and in between your ribs.  Your diaphragm is a much larger muscle, so it is much more energy efficient to breathe through your diaphragm rather than your chest.  Dizziness during diaphragmatic breathing is most likely because you are hyperventilating.  Try to make your breaths slower and deeper so that you won’t pass out or faint.

Diaphragmatic breathing can help you move more air in and out of your lungs.  This will be more helpful than holding your breath when you are out of breath.  It may also make your cough more productive.  Learning this technique will help you to breathe slowly, regularly, gently, and smoothly all of the time.  Here are the instructions:
· Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
· While you breathe in, count 1, 2 and push your stomach out.
· Place your hand on your stomach so you can feel your stomach going out.  This promotes the use of your diaphragm and your lower respiratory muscles.
· Breathe out slowly and deeply through your mouth.  Imagine that you are breathing out through a straw by “pursing” your lips.
· While you slowly breathe out all the way, count 1, 2, 3, 4 and let your stomach relax.  You can feel your stomach going in with your hand.
You often can get help with this type of breathing by taking an introductory yoga class or checking out a videotape on yoga that focuses on breathing and relaxation.

You will need to be checked by a lung specialist to know if this is something else.

[Jane2]

In answers to your questions as a lay person and an asthmatic;

1. Yes, but most asthmatics breathe incorrectly - Have you tried yogic breathing or the Buteyko method?

2. Through the nose is reccommended - but doing too many breathing exercises can render one breathless - again look into Buteyko it isn't for everyone but it may help.

3. I'm not sure of any risks from hyperventolation accept fainting, if anyone breathes in and out quickly ( whether in a panic or not) could render them dizzy.  It is all part of that particular disorder - the creeping feeling in the extremities, breathlessness, dizziness, it is what is causing you to hyperventilate that needs to be investigated.

4. Well this is a big question, being a smoker sometimes covers the symptoms of asthma, I know I'm a smoker and an asthmatic, but I was asthmatic before I smoked and like you I gave up and my breathing worsened, put it this way I only got used to the way I breathed whilst smoking and hell it relaxed me - but did smoking do me any good, I don't think so, not for a longterm diagnoses anyway. I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis 4 years ago, after being diagnosed with Hyperventilation Syndrome,
I was used to being breathless as an asthmatic and I must admit during my symptoms for Sarc, I panicked a lot.  So the hyperventilation diagnoses rang true but the CT scans and biopsy showed sarc.  Look at it this way you need to get your breathing problems assessed by a pulmonary specialist - you need to get your meds assessed also - basically you need to have a full overhaul, get it all checked out, I know as an asthmatic I sometimes concentrate too much on my breathing but lets face it we only notice it if sometime is not quite right - whether it be allergies, or something else you should seek further evaluation.
By the way My diagnosis of Pulm Sarc has been recently given the all clear, and sorry for the less than brief response,

regards
Jane

[macs]

About yoga or Buteyko- I tried yoga, but it was expensive and I think that I need more one on one.

About the nose- deviated septum and sensative. I don't even like people looking at it.

About the risks- I don't breathe quickly so much as it is shallow. In fact, last time I was at the doctor's, there was very little air movement (kept falling asleep even though ox was at 95%). Is there a problem with only breathing while using your upper chest besides passing out and pain? The reason I ask is that I may just try and get used to it. I'm sure that I will improve to a point where I can function at some point.

I'm not sure that a full work up is a choice that I am able to make. I have a less than desirable insurance company, so to see a specialist and have them pay for the visit would be very very challenging if possible at all. If I could get more of an idea what this could be, I could ask my pcp for specific tests, but even that will be expensive.

Thanks for your response:)

[carolyn123]

Hi
Its interesting to hear what you have to say.
I was diagnosed with asthma in the beginning of the year by my gp, an allergy/asthma specialist, then a pulmo.  I started seeing another pulmo, who I like best.  One problem.  He doesnt seem to be able to give me a diagnosis as to why I cant breath.  He wont confirm or deny asthma, doesnt hesitate to call it chronic bronchitis.  He has even considered it to be anxiety.

I quit smoking 6 weeks ago.  Though I am not coughing, my breathing is no better. I often have a TERRIBLE time getting a full breath in, its often impossible.  Coughing does seem to help me get more air out so I can take a deeper breath.  I use albuteral and sometimes duo nebs - usually once a day.  I take every other medication under the sun for asthma and allergies.  I thought quitting smoking was going to help me breath better and get back to my active lifestyle.  Granted, I like a lot of the benefits of not smoking, the main one has yet to surface. :(

I dont really have any advice.  Sorry.  I just wanted you to know that Im glad you posted so I dont feel crazy and alone.  Know that you are not the only one out there struggling with the same situation.  I think practicing to use belly breathing could be worth a shot.  I've seen instructions for it online before.  I might go do a google search and see what I can come up with.

Best of Luck to you!

[Cirila]

I used to be an asthmatic for 15 years and then it went away. After 17 years of being fine, I got pneumonia last july and since then my breathing has been pretty bad. In the beginning I thought that it wasn't asthma, and that I was having something else. The reason i thought that was because instead of having and acute asthma attack with whezzing, it was more like a constant not being able to breath for weeks. Turned out that I do have asthma, I guess the pneumonia brought it back.

[macs]

How is it that asthmatics, some since childhood like me, can be confused as to whether our poor breathing is caused by this, that, or the other thing? Why do our symptoms change? Why can't doctors be more clear?

Does anyone know anything about asthma without wheezing? Is it just less serious, or could it mean that one is not using all parts of their lungs?

[EROS]

Macs,

Smoking with asthma leads to COPD, its well documented. You should have a full pulmonary function test with DCLO, this will pin point your current malady. After giving up smoking for at least 2-5 years your asthma and chronic bronchitis should improve.

Smoking does not make asthmatics breathe better no matter how you feel, cigarettes contain strong chemicals that mask receptors. Cigarettes also contain a bronchodilator, this makes your lungs open up more letting the smoke do its harmful work.

My guess is you have an element of chronic asthmatic bronchitis from your years of smoking. It may clear up some if you stay off the smokes.

E.

[Jabber]

Macs,

There are a few things you need to look into.  Not only are Asthma and COPD symptoms very much alike but so are the treatments.  In order to really focus on the issue and get to the root of your problem, you need to go for a full workup by a specialist who deals with lungs everyday.  There are 2 components you need to treat.  Inflamation (inflammation) and opening up your airways.  Using your rescue inhaler is not going to cut it for this kind of Chronic situation.

You need to ask your doctor about using a anti-inflamitory such as Pulmicourt and Serevent both of which I find in my opinion very effective in treating the kind of symptoms you are talking about. These inhalers last for 12 hours and you take them in the morning and at night.  I have had great results with taking these medications and have gained complete control of my Asthma.  You sound just like me years ago when I was diagnosed.  You sound very inflamed and even if you do not hear any sounds in your lungs, this just means you may be very, very inflamed.  Your rescue in-haler will not help very much or at least it did nothing for me when I was this bad.  Now, I breathe great and never have to use my rescue in-haler.  Don't smoke because you will only make it worse, I am an ex-smoker of 5 years, I went back for 2 years and I just quit again 2 months ago.  You just have to decide you want to help yourself.  Good luck.