Is this asthma?

[Londongirljfs]

Hi, i am new to this forum, but thought I would outline my symptoms to you all to see if you have any ideas.

I was prescribed asthma inhalers for chest tightness a few years ago, and at that time I only ever had symptoms upon exercise.  Over the last three years my symptoms have got progressively worse and the inhalers have failed to be of any help.  I have had almost back-to-back chest infections for the last 18 months, the main symptom being a severe productive cough.  Even in between these I have experienced constant chest tightness and shortness of breath, which has really limited what i can do.

I have always wondered whether it is asthma, as until recently, i never wheezed or had 'an attack'.  Two months ago I developed a really bad chest infection and it deteriorated to the point that I was almost admitted to hospital as an emergency, as I just couldn't get a decent breath and was in a lot of pain (I have torn my intercostals through coughing so hard for so long).  Antibiotics seem to have little or no effect on these infections, i have had two courses of steroids over the last two months which have done nothing, and my asthma meds are not helping. I have recently developed a wheeze and alarming crackly rattling sound in the bottom of my left lung which comes and goes.

I have been referred to a pulmonary specialist, but just wondered if you have any ideas what may be causing this, or what it may be if not asthma.  

I am a 25 year old woman, have never smoked and live a healthy lifestyle.

Many thanks!

[National Jewish]

This may or may not be asthma.  It is hard to tell in this email.  Seeing the Pulmonary specialist is the best idea.  Probably after a good examination and a few tests, the diagnosis will be made and appropriate therapy can be started.

[goingcrazy06]

(Sorry, I would have liked to ask in a question but the forum has reached its limit for the day.)

[goingcrazy06]

4 weeks ago I woke up with a sore throat that would diminish by bedtime. This continued for about a week. Then I came down with what seemed like either the common cold or the flu. During the second week I developed a cough. I went to the clinic at my hospital, but was not seen by my primary doctor. I was in and out, with no chest x-ray. I was given an anti-biotic, azithromycin, to take for five days and told it last 10. I was also given an albuterol inhaler, which does nothing. I was told, simply, that  

[Londongirljfs]

I forgot to say, I have had a chest x-ray, sputum samples and ecg, all of which have been fine (except the ecg showed something odd, which they are looking into).

Thanks!

J