Can't breathe

[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.