sore lungs

First post, long time reader :)

Hello. I bought my new road bike the other day. I love it. I went for a ride with my boyfriend who also just bought a bike. I've been riding all my life but was always hybrids. I'm doing the round the bay for the fifth year this year and am super excited to use my new bike :D

Does anyone else seem to have trouble breathing when riding? I'm not a smoker, never have been, but it is mainly when I am riding up hills. I get a sharp pain behind my sternum, and I struggle to expand my lungs enough to fill them up. It is like I need to yawn, but I can't seem to breath in enough. I can breath fine when I'm not riding. Perhaps I'm still quite unfit in terms of breathing properly while riding.

Does anyone have any suggestions on the correct method of breathing whilst riding up hill?

you might see your doctor, could be exercise induced asthma. Breathing isn't something I'd mess around with! (and welcome to TE!!!)
(Maybe you're pushing yourself too hard?)

I haven't heard of that before. Thanks! I'll book in for the doctor. Will be nice to climb a hill without been in pain. Maybe I'll stick to the flatter areas and build up some more fitness too.

Yes, for years I thought I was undertrained so I thought it was normal. Turns out I had exercised induced asthma. I've probably had it all my life and no one recognized it. Advair and using my rescue inhaler before exercise controls it.

I also have adult onset asthma although I've never smoked.

I also have problems with asthma, mostly when riding up steep hills. I find it's best to shift into the easiest gear and pedal more slowly. Even if it means I'm only going 4 mph up the hill. Also, stay calm. An asthma attack can be scary, especially if you don't know what's happening, but panicking just makes it worse.

I find that as my fitness improves over the course of the summer, the asthma symptoms are not as bad. Some hills require a hit of Albuterol in June but not in August.

Bad air quality can make things worse, so pay attention to that part of the weather forecast. I also find that cold air makes it hurt to breathe, so I don't do much riding outdoors in winter. Brisk walks in the cold are okay for me, though.

I use a daily inhaler (Pulmicort) and carry a rescue inhaler (Albuterol) with me. I'm lucky in that I don't need the Albuteral often. However to use it properly you have to inhale deeply and then hold your breath for 10 seconds, which is really hard if you've just ridden up a steep hill and your heart rate is way up. So it's better to pre-treat if you're doing a hilly ride.

I find that too with the cold air, especially if I have gone for a walk/jog. I can feel the pain in my lungs for the next day or two. It is nice to know that I'm not the only one feeling this :) you've all been very helpful

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

you might see your doctor, could be exercise induced asthma. Breathing isn't something I'd mess around with! (and welcome to TE!!!)
(Maybe you're pushing yourself too hard?)

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Yup, sounds a LOT like EIA. Definitely get that checked out. Asthma is nothing to mess with.

Welcome to TE. Tell us about your bike (we love bike porn, heh). :D

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Originally Posted by rose

I find that too with the cold air, especially if I have gone for a walk/jog. I can feel the pain in my lungs for the next day or two. It is nice to know that I'm not the only one feeling this :) you've all been very helpful

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The boyfriend has allergy-induced asthma and lives in a town with crappy air quality. He's got his inhaler with him on all rides. Cold air can also be a trigger for him. Go talk to your doc!

thanks! i really enjoy it here at TE :) and yes lol the most important part!

I bought an Azzurri Imperia. It is green and white. (62% off is in my price range too! which I was very happy about). It has shimano ultegra brakes and gears (they change so smoothly, its a good feeling).
The frame is aluminium, with carbon fiber seat stays and seat post and front forks. (I've never had such a fancy bike). I bought a new saddle, a Scott Contessa, to try out (not too sure if it is any good though, will be worth a try). The bike came with a male specific Selle Italia X2 saddle with the bike, so I thought I'd try a female specific saddle.
I have new shoes, pedals and cleats coming too.
I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging, I've never had to explain my bike before :S very new at this (did I do it right? lol)
It is a dream to ride. It is really good on the flat, it just keeps rolling and rolling. Very cruisy.
I was deciding between that and a Giant, but I'm a picky shopper and colour means a lot to me lol and I couldn't really go past such a good special.

I was just talking to my sister, and she said her ex had EIA too. I didn't realise how common it was, I thought I was the only one!

I started with EIA...but it gradually morphed into 24/7/365 asthma. My mom has pretty bad asthma, so it was no surprise.

You are SO not bragging about your bike...it sounds lovely! Now we need pics! ;) 62% off, though...how in the world did you score a deal like that!? :eek: I thought I was doing good getting the 20% off that Cannondale extends to JDRF riders. Bah, that's chump change compared to the steal you scored!

Thankyou :) I went onto a website, and they were trying to get rid of stock (I think it is a 2010 bike?) so they have new 2012 bikes coming in that they need to make room for. Plus I didn't buy from my LBS so there wasn't the added price so the shop can make money. Now I just have to figure out how to do pictures! lol I'll get there. How long have you had your Cannondale? They are very nice bikes :)

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Originally Posted by rose

How long have you had your Cannondale? They are very nice bikes :)

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A year in early Dec. It's my baby! :)

To add photos you can either upload to the thread or hotlink to a photo you have elsewhere on the web (like Photobucket or Facebook) by right-clicking and coping the URL, then pasting it in the proper field in the pop-up window that appears when you click that little icon above with the yellow background and the mountains.

I went to the doctor today, and turns out I do have EIA. I have a Ventolin puffer now to have before rides. I am excited to get out there and climb some hills to see if it will help over time.
I also got a new saddle today that I just put on my bike. So I am really itching to get out there now. Just need some better weather and everything is good! :D

Rose, how did they diagnose the EIA? Just curious...
Hope your rides improve, and congrats on your new bike!

Boo on the EIA, but good that you have a diagnosis. Now you KNOW when you are having lung issues that it's not just in your head or lack of fitness.

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Originally Posted by jlnc

Rose, how did they diagnose the EIA? Just curious...

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I told the doctor what I felt, shortness of breath, pain behind my sternum, can't seem to expand my lungs enough, pain over the next couple of days, occurs when I'm cycling/swimming/jogging. He asked if I would start coughing during the night, but I don't. I was on Ventolin when I had bronchitis too. He asked me to blow as hard as I could into a little tube. It had numbers along it. He said that I did good. He listened to my breathing and said that it was ok. But he said from what I explained that I had EIA. If I need more that 5 puffs a week of the Ventolin then I would need to go on a preventative but I don't think it is that serious.
I hope that covers it :)
thanks zoom-zoom! (cute name too hehe) I'll still have to work on my fitness though. lol its a never ending battle

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

You are SO not bragging about your bike...it sounds lovely! Now we need pics! ;)

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lol i finally figured it all out! i'm a bit slow at all of this. I made my bike my profile picture and avatar picture. It is a bit of a dark picture, I need to get one while I'm out of a ride, but at least you can have a look at my bike :D I'll figure it out more as I go, but it is a start :P

Nice bike Rose. You will both have great rides together. Sorry to hear about the asthma :(. Yes, please post pics

This is an interesting thread. I notice after a hard race effort my lungs hurt, in the center of my back. And then I'll have phlegm issues for a day or two. And it will cause me to cough at night, just the night post-race. Maybe I should talk to my doc too!

I think that would be a good idea limewave! I am very glad I went. It makes a huge difference. The mucus build up is not a good thing. Even if it isn't asthma, it would be good to know what your body is up to, especially when it comes to breathing. Goodluck with it! Would be good to hear how you go :)

Excessive mucous production is very often a symptom of asthma (it's one of mine, as well as one of my mom's symptoms, as well as the night cough). With your other symptoms I would definitely check with your Dr.

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Originally Posted by rose

lol i finally figured it all out! i'm a bit slow at all of this. I made my bike my profile picture and avatar picture. It is a bit of a dark picture, I need to get one while I'm out of a ride, but at least you can have a look at my bike :D I'll figure it out more as I go, but it is a start :P

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Oh, that looks REALLY nice!

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Originally Posted by limewave

This is an interesting thread. I notice after a hard race effort my lungs hurt, in the center of my back. And then I'll have phlegm issues for a day or two. And it will cause me to cough at night, just the night post-race. Maybe I should talk to my doc too!

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Have you had a chance to talk to your doctor yet?