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Difficulty breathing, Light headedness for 5 months.

I've exhausted almost all resources so I'm going to try on here. Since the beginning of December 2017 I've had difficulty breathing. It was sudden onset.  I was sitting at the dinner table eating and all of a sudden couldn't breathe. Seemed like I was breathing through a straw and a weight on my chest. This was my only symptom at the time. Two weeks went by and I started to get a productive cough with clear and sticky mucus. It started off less frequent but more severe. I initially thought I was having a heart attack. It's since then been more consistent but less severe. The breathing issue is always there but it ranges in severity. I've occasionally had loose stool but not enough to consider it a symptom. Although that's abnormal for me. I've also had alot of fatigue. I'm always tired and fall asleep immediately. I've slept from 6 pm to 7 am the last two nights. As of a month ago I've started to get light headed and dizzy spells almost feeling like I'm going to pass out. I bought a oxymeter and during the breathing issues at peak my blood oxygen never goes below 97%. I don't smoke and don't have any family history of any related diseases or anything related that I can think of. Im not depressed or anxious. Although the doctors have pointed towards it. The doctors have been baffled and are stumped. I've been to several hospitals and have gotten no where. my PCP is stumped. They have done a full panel blood work. Checked my thyroid. Did a EKG/ECG. Multiple chest x-rays. A breathing treatment. Did a CT scan on my head. Checked me for mono. A few doctor's thought it was a URI. And another thought it was micoplasma. So I've been on prenisone. Doxycycline. Z-pac. Cephalexin and Clindamycin. The only thing that seemed to help was the Prednisone and that helped with breathing until I finished the dosage. I'm open to any and all suggestions! The dizziness and light headedness has been severe also. Feeling like I'm going to pass out and feels like I'm in a daze. These symptoms also come and go. Also get daily headaches with what feels like pressure in my head/ears. All doctor's exams show normal.
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Avatar universal
Hello,
I have COPD and I did the exact same thing that you are doing. It's not a good diagnosis but at least I have one. And I'm going to fight this damn disease big time. Good luck please keep in touch.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello,
It sounds like COPD. Please get checked right away at least it will ease your mind. Good luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, as someone who was an RN and is a patient who has been grossly misdiagnosed, I feel your pain.

1. Have you had a v/q scan, with spect?
2. Chest CT with and without angiography?
3. Pfts, including dlco, and lung volumes?
4. Echocardiogram?
5. Cardiac MRI?
6. Abdominal CT with angiography
7. CPET?
8. Right heart cath?
Helpful - 0
6 Comments
I have not had any of those, I have a appt with a pulmonary specialist on the 8th of this month and and a cardiologist on the 22nd. I'm assuming at this point after 5 months we could rule out any illnesses?
Some things we could rule out like aortic disection or saddle emboli.  But there is a huge long list of ddx's.

Small PE's
PH
Diaphragm issues
Rad
Bronchoecstasis
Coronary artery fistula
Mitral valve prolapse
Tricusp regurg.

I mean I can keep going theres are probably about 300 conditions i could name off the top of my head.

What country are you in?
Florida. United States.
I'm in Florida, in the United States.
I'll post back anything that we find from the pulmonary doctor. I'm tired of all basic doctor's saying it's in my head. -_-
Would you be able to travel, there are some great docs I can recommend in Boston and NYC.

Have you tried cardiology and pulmonology at ufl?

You should schedule with 2 or 3 pulmonologist and cardiologists right away.  To get several opinions.  And make sure its in differant cities so you have unbiased opinions.

Is there anyway I can get you my direct email, so you dont just post results where everyone can see them?
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