Can't breathe

[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!!!!

[cherinyc]

So - I am still not completely clear what's wrong with me, and the doctor has prescribed a bunch more tests.
The first thing I did was breathe into this machine - which gave me a "Spirometry Report" I asked for a photocopy (like I actually understand anything on it), so if anyone wants to know anything about my breathing - I have all the report data in front of me.
Anyway - the # that the Doctor was concerned about was my lung exhaling output (or something) which was only 55%.
He also heard a heart murmer - and wondered why no one had told me that I had it until now (I'm 31).
So he wrote Rx's for Albuterol, Asmanex, and a Peak Flow meter.
He wants a chest X-ray, an echograph test, and a halter test done.

That's it. I took a couple puffs of the albuterol before my ride this morning, and had a lot of phlegm and mucus - which I don't usually have. Does that mean the albuterol is working?

[Bron]

Sounds like he's taking you seriously then. That's good. Fingers crossed that it's not anything serious.

He also heard a heart murmer - and wondered why no one had told me that I had it until now (I'm 31).

I had this too. Apparently some doctors are better at picking these things up than others. If nobody has noticed it before, the chances are that it won't be anything too bad (in my case it's a slight mitral prolapse which, according to the cardiologist is nothing to worry about, won't make me ill, slow me down on my bike or affect me in any other way).
I hope it all works out well for you too.
Bron

[maillotpois]

That "lung exhaling output" thing - is that what was measured with the peak flow meter in the office?? Mine is also very low, and it seems they're still trying to figure out why. (The doctor does not believe my pulmonary emboli would affect that.)

I'm interested to hear if the treatment helps.

Glad you went ot a doctor!

[Bikingmomof3]

Continue to keep us postd. It sounds as though your doctor is being very thourough,. I had a Holten test about a year ago, when I began seriously exercising I started to feel an occassional flutter near my breast bone-it was weird. We discovered I had Exercise Induced Cardiac Arrhythmia.

[cherinyc]

I had a Holten test about a year ago, when I began seriously exercising I started to feel an occassional flutter near my breast bone-it was weird. We discovered I had Exercise Induced Cardiac Arrhythmia.

Gosh - and I thought all this cycling was going to make me healthier. Why do I feel like I am falling apart all of a sudden.

[Bikingmomof3]

Oh try not to think that way. I cannot speak on your breathing issues as I do not have them. As for my Exercise Induced Cardiac Arrhythmia, I was told by the cardiologist that is is extremely common and I do not worry now that I know what I have. It worried me prior to finding out and when I was sent to the Dayton heaert Hospital for testing I totally freaked out. For about 2 weeks after diagnosis I only exercised when someone else was home, you know, just in case (yes I was paranoid). Now It only bothers me when I really exerct myself, but knowing what it is, I no longer freak out.

Your doctor sounds like a great doctor, covering all basis. Once you know what you have, you can take the appropriate measures and will feel so much better.

[eclectic]

Gosh - and I thought all this cycling was going to make me healthier. Why do I feel like I am falling apart all of a sudden.

Have faith you are not falling apart Just think you have been running around w/ 55% output. You will feel so much better w/ proper treatment.

I was at 65% and did not realize how bad I was, you just get used to not being able to breathe. I told my riding partners "lookout if I ever am able to breathe!" (the last 2 days on new meds have been great and now they are looking out!)
My peak flow on Sunday was 380 - 400 where it always has been for the last year on a good day, today it is 430, best it has been in years Yippee I know it will just get better and better now !

The albuterol is doing its job if it is loosening everything up.
Albuterol is not to be over used so be sure to take the other med as prescribe I assume it is some type of preventative but I really don't know.

I ran the full gamut of tests last summer, allergy test both prick and blood, lung xrays, cat scan, a breathing test where I sat in a bubble like machine then another that measured specific output using some type of gas.
Glad I had good insurance!

The verdict "yup you have allergies and asthma". I knew that from the get go To be fair the doc was ruling out any other more serious lung diseases.

I feel so much better now and although the meds are about $120 per month after insurance it is worth it! AND I can ride up hills faster than I have ever done

Side benefit, I no longer get heartburn. Apparently heartburn is a side effect of asthma, go figure

Thanks for updating us and let us know what else you find out

[Denise223]

Hi Cheri!

The good thing is you have a doctor who is taking your symptoms seriously. That's exactly what you want!

There are some doctor's who will just prescribe meds & say they'll see you in six months time.

Originally posted by CHERINYC: Anyway - the # that the Doctor was concerned about was my lung exhaling output (or something) which was only 55%.
He also heard a heart murmer - and wondered why no one had told me that I had it until now (I'm 31).
So he wrote Rx's for Albuterol, Asmanex, and a Peak Flow meter.
He wants a chest X-ray, an echograph test, and a halter test done.

Your exhaling output was low @ 55%.
When you did that, did the doctor (or nurse) "cheer you on", saying, "blow, blow, blow..."?
I've seen doctor's with their patients doing the peak flow test, (I've had them too), and they usually stand right there cheering you on so that you get ALL OF THE AIR out of your lungs. The "cheering" will help you to get your best reading.

A 24-48 hour holter monitor test is a wonderful non-invasive study. That will give your doctor a 24-48 hour EKG (electrocardiogram) reading, while you go about your day & night. (they usually want you to do everything that you normally do, while you have the monitor on -- and, you are given a sheet of paper to document everything that you are doing.)
Example: say if you're going on bike ride from 10am-11am, and from 10:20 - 10:30 you had a little chest pain or lots of difficulty breathing, you would document that on paper -- and when the physician reads your study, they will find that exact time, and see what (if anything) is going on with your heart.

An echocardiogram will be good to see what's going on with your murmur. Did you hear, or did your doctor say what "grade" your murmur was? Some murmur's that are small - some doctor's will be able to hear them and some won't.
I have a very small heart murmur (grade I/VI), which doesn't cause any problems for me.

Originally posted by CHERINYC: Gosh - and I thought all this cycling was going to make me healthier. Why do I feel like I am falling apart all of a sudden.

When we start new activites, our bodies will respond, whether favorably or not. And, all of what's going on here with your symptoms, might actually be a good thing, Cheri. Perhaps there is some underlying problem that you wouldn't have known, unless you started up with cycling?? (I'm just guessing).

With the Albuterol, (which I take before exercise, and as my "relief" inhalor), that you started. Have you had any cough symptoms before you started the Albuterol? Perhaps you had an upper respiratory infection (viral/bacterial), OR some bronchitis - and that's why you're coughing up some phlegm.

Please keep us posted, Cheri! When are you scheduled to have your echo & holter monitor?

Just remember, things will get better !

Have a peaceful day.

Denise

[cherinyc]

Your exhaling output was low @ 55%.

With the Albuterol, (which I take before exercise, and as my "relief" inhalor), that you started. Have you had any cough symptoms before you started the Albuterol? Perhaps you had an upper respiratory infection (viral/bacterial), OR some bronchitis - and that's why you're coughing up some phlegm.

Please keep us posted, Cheri! When are you scheduled to have your echo & holter monitor?

Just remember, things will get better !

Hi Denise - thank you for taking the time to post such a throrough response. It is good to hear positive comments. It's scary to me - to think that there could be something really wrong. My grandma died of lung cancer (she never smoked, but my grandpa did) and I, unfortunately was a social smoker for about 10 years. I quit completely about 3 months ago - and even though I never even came CLOSE to being a pack-a-day smoker - I am worried "Uh Oh - what've I done? - what if, what if."
At 31, I feel very young still - and the breathing thing has been a problem as long as I can remember. I was a competetive gymnast, and certain things just got to me, but I thought it was normal. Guess not.

Re: the 55% - I am finding out that it IS pretty low. Below 50 is supposed to be REALLY dangerous, and I am so close to that. Scary. It will be great to be able to breathe better though.

When I quit smoking entirely, I was expecting to have to cough up tar or something (probably just a nasty rumor) but nothing ever happened. I was wondering if the albuterol is making that happen, though everything is clear.

I am trying to schedule all my tests on the same day - so will let you all know when I get some results.
BTW - anyone ever heard of ASMANEX?

[mimitabby]

Hi Cheri!


Your exhaling output was low @ 55%.
When you did that, did the doctor (or nurse) "cheer you on", saying, "blow, blow, blow..."?
I've seen doctor's with their patients doing the peak flow test, (I've had them too), and they usually stand right there cheering you on so that you get ALL OF THE AIR out of your lungs. The "cheering" will help you to get your best reading.

Denise

Oh Denise, that's right! The one time i had this test done, when i was through blowing, the nurse looked at me funny and said; "I don't believe you blew all your air out... you got a reading like someone with no lungs.. try again"
and the second time she cheered me on.
Oh, that's better, i got a 90 or 95 the second time.

[cherinyc]

My peak flow on Sunday was 380 - 400 where it always has been for the last year on a good day, today it is 430, best it has been in years Yippee I know it will just get better and better now !

I just got the peak flow meter gizmo - and so far the highest I can get it is ~350. My bf wanted to try - and he got to like 620. I'm really jealous. No wonder he always drops me when we go up hills.
I started the ASMANEX this afternoon. Denise mentioned it might take a couple weks to kick in. Can't wait!