Aa
trouble breathing
Hi im 26yo female.. no history of any diseases and only taking oral contraceptive medication. Ive been having a lot of trouble breathing as of lately, i feel as though im unable to take a satisfying deep breath. I went to my GP who did listened to my heart and lungs.. did a breathing test, EKG and Chest xray- all were normal. He feels as though there is nothing wrong with me, however referred me to a pulmonary specialist to further evaluate. I know a girl whos 28 with primary pulmonary htn and fear that I may have that as well. Being that my chest xray, breathing test and EKG were normal .. can i rule out PPAH? Is there anything else that can cause my symptoms? Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The Chest X-ray may serve to rule out pulmonary hypertension of a moderate to severe degree. It might not show anything abnormal about the pulmonary circulation with early or mild pulmonary hypertension.
As to your question about “anything else (given the normal PFT’s and X-ray)?” The answer is yes and the anything else would be one of three things: 1) occult recurrent pulmonary emboli or PE (clots to the lungs, the risk of which is increased by the use of oral contraceptives and, 2) anxiety, perhaps related to your friend, age 28, who has PPAH and, 3) much less likely, any one of a variety of diffuse interstitial lung diseases that, in the early stages might not be evident on a plain chest X-ray. The likelihood of the last of these is markedly diminished by the co-existence of a normal X-ray and normal breathing test. The first, pulmonary emboli, is the most serious and is a diagnosis that must not be missed.
Oh, and of course the most common in a person your age would be asthma. It can come and go and that would explain why, you had a normal breathing test and your doctor did not hear the classical wheezes. The asthma was in remission.
You may need further exams. The pulmonary specialist will almost certainly be able to sort-out these various considerations.
Good luck
As to your question about “anything else (given the normal PFT’s and X-ray)?” The answer is yes and the anything else would be one of three things: 1) occult recurrent pulmonary emboli or PE (clots to the lungs, the risk of which is increased by the use of oral contraceptives and, 2) anxiety, perhaps related to your friend, age 28, who has PPAH and, 3) much less likely, any one of a variety of diffuse interstitial lung diseases that, in the early stages might not be evident on a plain chest X-ray. The likelihood of the last of these is markedly diminished by the co-existence of a normal X-ray and normal breathing test. The first, pulmonary emboli, is the most serious and is a diagnosis that must not be missed.
Oh, and of course the most common in a person your age would be asthma. It can come and go and that would explain why, you had a normal breathing test and your doctor did not hear the classical wheezes. The asthma was in remission.
You may need further exams. The pulmonary specialist will almost certainly be able to sort-out these various considerations.
Good luck
Hi.. yes mine is constant.. i can be aitting down watching tv or being active and i have trouble breathing properly. Have u gotten any answers?
I too have recently developed a very similar trouble breathing is, almost as if my lungs won't expand readily. I'm 33/male. Is yours constantly and at rest just the same as if you're exercising/active?
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