This is confusing (to me anyway) so I'm going to put it in bullet form. Does anyone here think this could just be asthma? I'm a 36 yr old healthy female and mom to two young boys.
--regular asthma flare ups until early 20's (exercised induced, allergy related, full on wheezing and tight chest, on oral steroids for extended periods of time as teenager)
--as adult (now 36 yrs old) have had minimal flare ups, usually related to seasonal allergies
--moved to North Carolina last August, immediate allergy problems and subsequent sinus infection
--hoarse voice originally attributed to sinus infection, later learned was a paralyzed vocal cord
--waited 10 months to give nerve for the paralyzed vocal cord to heal
--while waiting, had clear head/neck/chest x-ray and clear head/neck/chest CT scan end of January '07
--while waiting that 10 months for vocal cord nerve to heal, had severe air wasting (left vocal cord was "stuck" in the open position..all air just escaped immediately on exhale)
--was short of breath a lot but was a normal symptom of paralyzed vocal cord
--Spring time came, felt asthma flaring, ended up on oral steroids (burst and taper) twice and responded VERY well while on the oral steroids
--vocal cord surgery begining of June to place permanent implant, air wasting no longer an issue
--given oral steroids after surgery to help with inflammation, again had GREAT response and all breathing problems stopped w/in 24 hours
--now over a month post-op and for past 3 weeks have had shortness of breath after any exertion (loading toddler and stroller into car, walking from parking lot into mall, any walking uphill, hurrying to shower and dress in morning in order to be somewhere, etc...)
--I've had minimal wheezing, just short of breath
--used nebulizer (with albuterol) and seems to help a bit but not totally
--currently taking singulair, zyrtec, and Advair but doesn't seem to help all that much
All I know is I'm sick of being out of breath! For nearly a year I did have "air wasting" due to the vocal cord being paralyzed but I was patient and dealt with it. That is now solved but I'm still getting short of breath.
Is this asthma related? I know (from pre-op scans) that as recently as January my head/neck/chest were clear and no abnormalities seen in my heart or lungs. My oxygen saturation when sitting (at doctor's office) is 98%. I do not konw what it is when I'm feeling SOB from doing every day activities.
I've always wheezed when I had an asthma flare up, so this baffles me. I respond very well, as in, I feel back to 100% when on oral steroids. I can breathe and I don't feel so fatigued and am a better mommy because of it! But I can't be on steroids long term..at least it's not optimal.
Am I dealing with asthma or is this shortness of breath something else (I hate to think of possibilities). If anyone has had this type of 'asthma" I'd appreciate hearing your story. I see my GP tomorrow and I'm just looking for info!
Thanks in advance,
Maddy
mom to two boys 17 mos and 6 yrs