daughter could not exhale

[Pam1956]

My daughter (age 20) called from college saying she was awakened early this morning with severe back pain and pain under her breast area (rib cage?).  As the pain progressed to excruciating she was able to inhale but had great difficulty and severe pain exhaling.  She didn't know if this was an asthma attack or what, so she tried to find her inhaler, but could not.  She found her Advair and used it, but her pain and breathing had started to ease before using it, so she wasn't sure the Advair had any effect.  This breathing difficulty is not the same as she has experienced with asthma.  Do you think it's related to asthma?  I think this whole episode only lasted a few minutes, but scared her. She had an episode similar to this when she was about 7-10 yrs. old.   She has recently had the flu (one week ago)and said she experienced the same type of back pain and pain in the ribcage area (not exhaling, though).  I asked if she thought it could be her heart, but she said the pain was lower than the heart, but all the way around.  I will call our doctor, but am looking for other thoughts, also.  Thank you.