Is this asthma?

[bluemorningglory86]

Hi, I will try to keep this as short as possible. I am a female in my 20s and always been healthy. I do not have a history of asthma in my childhood. I have bad chest tightness with occasional shortness of breath. My symptoms are bad some days and gone on other days. My previous doctor prescribed me Flovent. Also, I was prescribed Albuterol for a rescue inhaler. Flovent didn't work so my dose was increased. I am still on it and still not working. I felt as if the doctor wasn't listening to me very well about my symptoms so I questioned the diagnosis and treatment and saw a new doctor. The new doctor told me my symptoms sounded like asthma, but are very weird and referred me to a pulmonologist. If everything is normal, he said he would refer me to an allergy specialist. If everything is normal with that, then a would need to see a cardiologist. Also, he said to stay on the Flovent for now. My appointment with the specialist is not until 2 wks. My chest tightness is making me worry and anxious so it feels like it's killing me to wait 2 wks.

My symptoms:
-Chest tightness and shortness of breath is worse when I am sitting down inside of a building even my apartment.
-I feel better when I walk around outside, sometimes that makes the symptoms go away.
-Also, I feel better when I exercise. Doesn't matter if I am inside a fitness center or outside.
-Chest tightness feels better when I put my hand on the part of my chest that feels tight and apply light pressure.
-Chest tightness is worse when I lay on my side at night.
-Rescue inhaler does nothing to help chest tightness.
-Symptoms gone during summer.
-When I get a cold, it stirs up my symptoms. I also experience wheezing and have a cough or about 2-4 wks. The wheezing and cough eventually go away.

Do anyone have any idea about this situation? I have been suffering from this since last November. Please help!

[bluemorningglory86]

Hi, I thought I would post this just in case anyone else is having the same problem as me. I went to see that specialist. Turns out it is not asthma. Everything, including a chest x-ray, came out normal. They even said the testing they did to me can make a person without asthma have an asthma attack, but I was normal throughout the whole testing. My symptoms are starting to go away again like they usually do this time of year. Any other ideas on what this could be or does anyone have a similar problem?

[Resilient_Mimi]

It sound like asthma, every person is different. Some people will have heat or cold air induced asthma, some people can have asthma after being in a home with pet dander or new carpet or new wood florring, the chemicals in these products can cause asthma to start flaring up.  Some people have exercise induced asthma also. Asthma is the restriction of your airway, and that is why you hear a wheeze, it is like air whistling thru a closed window.  Your inhaler should help relieve this.  Make sure you are timing it just right when you use it, if you puff it and you dont time it just right then the meds just deposit in the back of your throat and it doesnt do you any good.  It sounds like there is something in your apt that is flaring it up. Not a good idea to be around any cats. Hope this helps ya.

[achilles2]

I sent you a message.

[bsmsl]

Hi, the wheezing and cold part sounds very much like asthma.  The rest of it is opposite usual asthma presentation.

I sort of hate to say this because I know how I would feel if someone said this to me, but here goes.   Could it be anxiety or panic?  Just a thought to consider.  Both have similar symptoms as asthma and can be helped by the acitivities you say relieve symptoms.  You do say that this is making you anxious, but could you also be anxious before the onset of symptoms.  

Like I said, I do hate suggesting that, but it has to be considered.  Certainly with a cold I would say there could be some asthma issues, so you want to take care of that.  I just offer this as a thought.  Your symptoms do need to be followed up with by specialists to make sure that nothing serious is going on.  

I would be quite angry if someone blew me off saying that to me.  I hope you don't feel that way.  I do care.  If the pulmo and allergist don't find anything, I think you should consider that a possibility.  

Take care and God bless.