Excessive mucus and shortness of breath

[jazminealthia]

For a while I've been needing to "sigh" a lot before I talk, because I feel like once I start I'll run out of air. It was a fairly rare thing that I just got made fun of for. It's been happening more recently, and it feels like my throat and chest is restricting. I've been blaming it on allergies and the fact that I'm pretty much always congested. Every time a doctor looks at my throat they're surprised I'm not more bothered by the irritation from the sinus drainage.

The thing is, this "sighing" has been happening more and more frequently. My husband, who is very much a "death's door" or "something's broken" doctor visitor told me I "really needed to get an appointment" because I was taking these deep breaths before I spoke a lot, and even in the middle of conversation, and it's been getting worse. I get lightheaded a lot and my hearing occasionally gets fuzzy.

I don't cough, I don't wheeze. I've been trying to treat this with pseudoephedrine, benedryl (at night), cetirizine, and guaifenesin. Things usually feel a little easier, but they don't really go away.

I'm really trying not to be too worried, but it's really unnerving. Any advice/thoughts/opinions? (I'm probably going to be going to the doctor this coming week anyway, but just... trying to get calm enough to make it to that point)

[bsmsl]

Have a great time on your honeymoon and a blessed mariage.  

Feel free to use brand names.  We do it all the time.  You are on either Advair, Smybicort, or Dulera (the only combo meds on the market) and most likely Singulair (leukotrient modifier).  Acolate and Zyflo are other leukotrient modifiers, but Singulair is the go to for beginners.

It is actually good to talk about the brands and how they work for you.  One brand may work better for some people than it does for others.  Knowing there are options and what they are is very helpful.  Personally, I do okay on Advair, terrible on Symbicort, but very well on Dulera.  Other I know do very well on Symbicort but not the others.  

Please let us know how you are doing and if we can help you at all.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Again, have a fantastic honeymoon and come home safely.
Please keep us posted on how you are doing.

God bless.

[jazminealthia]

Just wanted to let y'all know - I went to my doctor yesterday. She didn't give me any firm diagnosis (maybe she did to my insurance company, but nothing directly to me) but I have to go back next week to see if the trial of meds she gave me have any impact on my peak-flow score (she would have had me come back later, but I'm leaving for my honeymoon next Wednesday, and she wants to make sure I'll be ok while I'm gone). Without throwing brand names out there she gave me an inhaled combo corticosteroid/bronchodilator as well as a leukotriene inhibitor.

We'll see how things go.

[jrizzuto]

while you are waiting for an appointment, see if there are any Salt Therapy centers where you live. At least you might get some relief without pills and side effects. There are a few across the country - several in Florida, one in LA, one in St Louis, one in NJ, Chicago, Arizona, and Plano Texas.

Good luck

[bsmsl]

Hi,

Seeing a doctor is a very good idea.  Your symptoms sound a lot like asthma.  Many people, even doctors, are not aware thatt sighing is an obscure symptom of asthma.  Your other symptoms are much more common symptoms.  The sooner you can see your doctor that better.

God bless.

[jazminealthia]

And for further information, having taken the pseudoephedrine my throat is completely clear (to the point that its dry), but I'm still feeling like I can't get enough air.