trouble breathing

[brittandadam]

I am having trouble breathing sometimes im ok and then somethimes it feels like  have to take very deep breaths and it feels like my chest is stopped up or something does anyone know what it might be

[National Jewish Health]

This could be asthma or could be caused by anxiety.  The first thing to do is for your doctors to determine if you have any physical lung disease.

[paranoiaxiii]

I am having similar difficulties.  For the past 3-4 weeks, I have experienced dyspnea along with a constant burning/tightness in my chest.  I have also noticed a "popping" to the right of my sternum whenever I straighten my chest/neck.

Initially, this inability to take a full satisfying breath was so bad that I ended up in the emergency room.  X-rays were taken and I was given prednisone.  During the next few weeks, I followed up with several doctors who prescribed me albuterol and advair diskus -- neither of which helped relieve my breathing difficulty or chest discomfort.  After seeing a pulmonary specialist who performed a CT scan, EKG, and pulmonary function test, I was told that everything appeared normal.

I am currently taking aciphex in the hopes that this is all due to acid reflux (although it has not made a difference in the week I've been on it).  I have a follow-up appointment with the pulmonary specialist but I am beginning to wonder if I should be seeing someone else.

The onset of this whole thing was rather sudden and I have had no chest injuries or complications in the past.  I have had asthma and allergies in the past, but I am 21 and have not had any problems with them for 10 years.

Please, if anyone has an idea of what could be causing this, I would appreciate your input.  My life has changed drastically due to this condition.

[MChad]

I am not a doctor by any means but I have spent the last three years in and out of doctor's offices trying to have them diagnose me.  I started have acid reflux approximately 3 years ago.  I would get a pain in the center of my chest between the breastbone (gastris) and it could burn all around the center of my chest and sometimes at the base of my throat.  I have alot of inflammation in my lungs.At that time I was coughing up blood in the morning also with my mucus. I started with Nexxium (not all of them are designed for each individual, I could not take aciphex).  It worked for some time when it started gradually coming back.  I ended up treating it again and after taking the Nexxim it wasn't working very well.  I had to switch again. Even now when I take the new acid cutter it still does not releive all of the symptoms.  I also have pulmonary issues and had lung surgery 9 months ago.  From what I understand, if you have acid reflux it can also run over into your lungs and cause you pulmonary issues including burning in your chest.  When they did my lung surgery they even took some of the pleural space due to chronic inflammation. Find a good primary doctor who can help put things together for you or sometimes you can find a good specialist who also specializes in Internal Medicine.  I wish you luck!

[MOMMY975]

I would also get a methacoline challenge test done.  This test is pretty accurate in diagnosing adult asthma.