??? for those with asthma

[LoriO]

About a year ago I had a very scary experience when I was out riding. I wa coming up a hill and suddenly had trouble breathing. I was relly struggleing and even getting more then 2 words out at a time was difficult. At the time I shrugged it off to just overdoing it.

A couple of months later I was visiting my sister and we were talking about health issues. I told her about what happened and she reminded me about somethng I had forgotten, our dad has asthma ( I haven't talked to him in 20 years so no wonder I forgot..another long story in it's own!!!) So I started wondering if it had been an excercise induded asthma attack.

Mentioned it to my regular dr at my physical and he sent me to see a pulmonary DR. Tests came back normal and since it had been awhile since the original episode had happened I couldn;t accurately describe what had happened and he sort of fluffed me off.

Well I've had a couple of close calls and then today it started happeneing again. My chest started tightening up and I was having a hard time breathing in and then started coughing too. I stopped riding and just rested and after about 10 minutes the chest eased up and breathing seemed to be back to normal. I just took it easy and went for a shorter ride after that.

Now that I've given you my novel, I guess what I am looking for is when you are having an asthma attack, what are you feeling? Is it sort of like what I was feeling or totally different? I plan on calling the pulmonary DR again but would like to have a little knowledge to go on when I do. Thanks!

[Pedal Wench]

... and then today it started happeneing again. My chest started tightening up and I was having a hard time breathing in and then started coughing too. I stopped riding and just rested and after about 10 minutes the chest eased up and breathing seemed to be back to normal. I just took it easy and went for a shorter ride after that.

...l, I guess what I am looking for is when you are having an asthma attack, what are you feeling? Is it sort of like what I was feeling or totally different?

Exactly like that! The coughing feels like it's just an attempt to push out the air that isn't going out on its own.

[Blueberry]

That's the feeling that my Dr. has said is exercise induced asthma. Of course, my primary care just wrote a scrip - I haven't seen a specialist...

CA

[tulip]

Get your doc to check it out again, and hopefully he or she will give you a prescription for an Albuterol inhaler. It's been a lifesaver for me.

I have/had asthma that seems to be triggered by allergens, as well as exercise. Albuterol really helped when I needed it. I haven't had any attacks in several years. One thing I did was move out of an apartment with carpeting and into a house with wood floors. I haven't needed my inhaler in several years. I used to carry it with me, but I've gotten lazy. Probably should just in case.

[kelownagirl]

I have EIA and it's the way you described. Now that I'm in better shape, I rarely have to use my puffer before riding unless the air is cool or it's very humid. I think you need to go back to the doctor.

[Kalidurga]

When I've had an attack, it's always felt as if there was a heavy weight on my chest, like a brick or something, making it difficult to expand my lungs. And there's always been the coughing.

I'm on Advair 1x per day, and when I head out for a strenuous ride on the bike I use my Albuterol inhaler a couple miles into the ride. With these meds, it's been a couple of years since my last serious asthma attack.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I got asthma (I guess that's how you would put it) from getting sick with pneumonia/bronchitis about 10 years ago. Whenever I cough alot, it starts up. I have an albuterol inhaler with me somewhere all of the time (in the glove box or in my purse) and every year I seem to toss it without using it. Except when there is thick smoke (aka forest fires like this year and last year), or when I get sick and I cough alot or if I really really push it hard. Humidity seems to make it harder to breathe but only if I start coughing does it start up.

I got into a conversation with a respiratory therapist (sp??) at a dinner one night (coworker's spouse) and she said there are tests you can do and I guess some kind of breathing training you can do to help it...but mine isn't that bad...

I personally hate using albuterol. It's a last resort for me. But I know when to use it- I find if I can stop the coughing by either drinking something or sucking on a cough drop, I can usually avoid it getting to the elephant on the chest feeling. Oh how I hate that!!!

It's been really humid here the past few days...maybe talk to the doc about that? Might be something else?

[makbike]

Best way I know to describe an asthma attack is to say is like trying to breath through a straw with the end pinched shut. Typically after an attack I cough a lot of junk up out of my lungs. I'm glad I have my inhalers and oral medications for I seldom have attacks now that we (doctor and I) have figured out the best combinations.