what does this sound like? Asthma? something else? HELP!

[spidy]

My doctors are trying to figure out what is going on with me.  I get short of breath &tightening of chest(to the point of attacks at times - the ER visit said my lower lungs weren't getting air, they nebulized me, then right lung wheezing, then another nebulization- then pf's got up to 450 chest X-ray clear).  I did a spirometry and it came out as significant improvement in some areas with albuteral treatment.  My doctor was going to have me do a methacholine challenge (i was off meds), but ended up in the ER with a breathing attack, so they gave me prednisone for 5 days.  I have another appointment with my pumonologist on monday and will be taking advair 500 until i have his appointment.  He said on the phone "we have to see what is going on with you".  What else could it be?  Are there any other respiratory disorder or anything else that could be causing this?  It has to be something if my lungs weren't moving air.  My breathing and chest discomfort varies by the day.  Is there anything i could ask him to explore into (any other illnesses).  I just want to breathe (desperately) and not have attacks anymore.  Please help if you could give any leads to something!

[dw1979]

I have similar problems.  I am 24 years old and have been having these same symptoms for the past 10 years. For a few days at a time, about once a month I get shortness of breath and tightening of my chest. It worsens at night. It gets so bad to where I can't lay down. I have seen many Dr's, all lean towards gerd. I have taken prilosec and two other drugs but nothing seems to work. I've seen a cardiologist and he says it is not my heart. I also have mixed connective tissue disease and guess it is linked to that. I am very frustrated and do not want to live the rest of my life like this. Anyone have any suggestions on what else it might be?

[National Jewish]

Asthma is a variable disease.  For some people the symptoms will come and go.  For others the symptoms are constant.  The basic problem is chronic inflammation in the airways of the lungs that gets better and worse at different times.  Even though people can be relatively "mild" most of the time, they can have rather severe attacks due to specific triggers.  Infections, exercise, acid reflux, and allergies are common triggers.

To know for sure if your symptoms are due to asthma testing is done.  Generally testing starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry.  This test provides detailed information about how your lungs are working.  It will show if there is obstruction in your airways.  To really test for asthma it is best to repeat this test after using a rescue inhaler, such as the bronchodilator albuterol.  This measures how much the bronchodilator helps your lungs by reversing the problem.  When there is a 20% increase the test is positive for asthma.  You have already had this simple testing done.

There is a complex asthma test that is the gold standard for diagnosing asthma.  This is called a methacholine challenge.  You will blow into a spirometer before and after each increasing dose of an inhaled medicine.  This test is positive for asthma if the result after the inhaled medicine is 20% lower than it was before the inhaled medicine.

Sometimes these symptoms are due to other factors, such as infection in the sinuses or in the chest.

[schnooky]

I, too, have had problem breathing (tightness on the right side of the chest and pain in the chest & back).  I too was exposed to asbestos as my school.  I have had a chest x-ray and it came up clear.  I have chills--no fever. I am constantly coughing up thin phelgm.  I feel for you.  Prednisone seems only to be a temporary relief and although my advair & singular does seem to help, it only masks the real problem (whatever it could be).

[is218]

I am 37 years old. I 've  being working for 19 years with the board of education.  I have been expose to asbestos.  I have never smoke  I just had an x-ray done and it show inflamation of the lungs. My breathing is bad. I had a breathing test done and i score 44.  What can be wrong with me.  I an waiting to see a lung speciallist.  I am being treat like if i have asthma.