Can't breathe

[cherinyc]

so....I'm wondering. Do you guys think I should go see a doctor?

JK - I am going to look for one in my insurance network today.

[eclectic]

so....I'm wondering. Do you guys think I should go see a doctor?

JK - I am going to look for one in my insurance network today.

Keep us posted

[cherinyc]

Seriously.....I am not sure what doctor to go to. Someone mentioned to start w/ my GP or internist. I don't really have one that I go to. I have a PPO and usually go straight to the specialist. I don't see Respiratory Doctor on the list of choices.
Can a regular general practitioner help me? or will they just send me to someone else anyway?
There is an option for "Pulmonary Diseases" but that seems extreme.

[mimitabby]

yes, go to your GP! Talk to his nurse asap..
good luck.
Your GP probably has all the equipment he needs to test your breathing.
An Internist would be good too.

[maillotpois]

If all you have are specialists, then an allergist or pulmonologist would be what you want. In the last few months, I've seen both.

Hey - if you are in NYC - see if there is a Dr. Bernard Feigenbaum on your list. He's an old roommate of mine and a fantastic allergy/asthma guy.

Edit: Here's his info: http://www.med.nyu.edu/medicine/dgim...=feigeb01.html

He's super funny and a good doctor. I'd go to him for my issues if he weren't on the wrong side of the country.

[cherinyc]

Hey - if you are in NYC - see if there is a Dr. Bernard Feigenbaum on your list. He's an old roommate of mine and a fantastic allergy/asthma guy.

Edit: Here's his info: http://www.med.nyu.edu/medicine/dgim...=feigeb01.html

He's super funny and a good doctor. I'd go to him for my issues if he weren't on the wrong side of the country.

maillotpois - you are too funny. I wish I had friends who were doctors. I am guilty of always self-diagnosing based on info from the internet. Would certainly help to know someone in the biz.

I have an appt at 5:30 today with a GP. I will let everyone know how it goes.

[tulip]

Yay! We are all awaiting the diagnosis!

It is a great thing to be able to breathe freely.

My asthma went away when I moved out of ratty old apartments with carpeting into my house with wood floors and no carpeting. I have not had to use albuterol for two years.

So if you have carpeting, it may be a good idea to look for a place without it when you move to Colorado (or am I getting you confused with someone else?)

[maillotpois]

Seriously, get your primary doc to refer you to my friend - he would be great. He was the first person I called when I started coughing up blood because it was 7 am here and I knew no one else would be awake!

[cherinyc]

Yay! We are all awaiting the diagnosis!

It is a great thing to be able to breathe freely.

My asthma went away when I moved out of ratty old apartments with carpeting into my house with wood floors and no carpeting. I have not had to use albuterol for two years.

So if you have carpeting, it may be a good idea to look for a place without it when you move to Colorado (or am I getting you confused with someone else?)

Tulip - you have it right. BTW - when ya coming to Princeton?
I am moving to Colorado in the fall (november-ish) and both my bf and I hate having carpet - but here in NJ, since we are renting, no choice.

I really think there is a mold problem around here. Maybe that's getting to me. I have never seen mold grow so quickly in a toilet that gets used regularly. Seriously, after only 1 week, this black fuzzy stuff is growing, and we have those clorox tablets in the tank too. This mold or mildew is impermeable to it. A lot of the riding I do is along the road, so maybe automobile exhaust is getting to me. (I have so many theories)

On a positive note, I have only been cycling for about a month, and went on a 15 mile ride this morning with my boyfriend. My lungs struggled a couple times, but my AVG mph w/ the hills was ~15. So I am getting better. My bf, who has been riding for years, says he thinks once I get my lungs figured out, I will probably start to kick his @$$.
That's what I'm talking about ladies!!!!

[Bikology]

Hi. I have a different idea that might be worth looking into. This might sound strange... but I experienced something similar in the spring and early summer. I really thought I was getting asthma, especially since I also seemed to suddenly develop allergies (the two can often start at the same time). I have since realized that the allergies and breathing problems are probably completely unrelated. When I tried to exert myself too much I would hit this point where I just felt like I could not get enough oxygen. I would try to gulp back air as fast as I could, but my whole body just felt like it couldn't get enough. Do you have any other symptoms when this happens? I would get this feeling of breathlessness not just in my lungs, but in my leg muscles too (hard to describe). And my heart rate would be up at 197 bpm. And this was happening at a level of exertion that I didn't think was THAT intense. What I finally found out was that I was very iron deficient and very anemic. I always thought iron deficiency was no big deal really. But if you think about it, when you exercise your muscles rely on oxygen that is being delivered via red blood cells (with iron). So really, my muscles really couldn't get the amount of oxygen that they needed and so I was getting really out of breath... the bodies response when it needs more oxygen. This problem has gotten SO much better after a few months of iron supplementation. I can ride at levels that I used to be able to ride at. Does this sound like a possibility for you? Do you have any other symptoms of anemia? Just an idea.

[eclectic]

Hi. I have a different idea that might be worth looking into. When I tried to exert myself too much I would hit this point where I just felt like I could not get enough oxygen. I would try to gulp back air as fast as I could, but my whole body just felt like it couldn't get enough.

Do you have any other symptoms when this happens?

I would get this feeling of breathlessness not just in my lungs, but in my leg muscles too (hard to describe). And my heart rate would be up at 197 bpm. And this was happening at a level of exertion that I didn't think was THAT intense. What I finally found out was that I was very iron deficient and very anemic. .

This is very interesting.

When I get short of breath because of asthma my legs start to give out very quickly also

How anemic were you? I don't think I am anemic - I give blood on a regular basis and have never been refused because of low iron - but maybe this not a good measure (also the doc checked it and I was very good)

interesting interesting interesting hmmmmm

[Pedal Wench]

I've just started a whole new round of treatments for my asthma, and I'm noticing that now that my breathing is getting better, my legs hurt more. I'm not sure if it's the medicine causing it, or if I'm just able to push my legs more now that my lungs aren't limiting me.

[emily_in_nc]

o really, my muscles really couldn't get the amount of oxygen that they needed and so I was getting really out of breath... the bodies response when it needs more oxygen. This problem has gotten SO much better after a few months of iron supplementation. I can ride at levels that I used to be able to ride at. Does this sound like a possibility for you? Do you have any other symptoms of anemia? Just an idea.

Not sure who you were directing your question too, but if it was me, my doctor tested my hematocrit level right away (while also prescribing Advair), and it was normal. So that wasn't the problem in my case, but it's a good thing to have checked for anyone who is huffing/puffing and feeling weak on hills.

Emily

[sallyjg]

I have the same symptons occasionally ..can't catch my breathe, yawning..generally a tough time breathing for a period of time. My Dr called it MVP..mitral valve prolaspe. Quit common but scary nonetheless. Google it and check it out. good luck