Do all asthmatics wheeze when they are having an attack? I don't seem to and so when people listen to my chest and say ""you're not wheezy!"" I feel like they don't believe how tight etc I feel. I tell them that I don't usually wheeze but they just look at me as if to say ""you can't be asthmatic then"".
Non-wheezer: Do all asthmatics wheeze... - Asthma Community ...
Non-wheezer
29 Replies
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join the non-wheezy club. i have managed 2 a and e attendeces and 2 admissions in last 6/12 without slightest wheeze like you i just get v tight in fact by time got to a&e on mon night had pf of 130 but no wheeze so unless you have exellent staff on duty at time can prove a pain. the only way i have found is to keep fighting working on the basis that quite few on boards didn't wheeze for ages and some still don't. Girls in work have got to realise that i tend to have coughing fits that not relived with ventolin then slide downhill asap. so keep fighting. the only thing when get v tight that helps is half a ventolin inhaler or nebs if give in and go to a and e. keep fighting there are a few of us about.
hugs
I tend to not wheeze sometimes either.
Not all the time though. E.g. have gone to A&E and been admitted w/o wheezing (I just hear that I have decreased air entry / not moving much air / silent chest) but then wheeze when my breathing is getting better.
Always thought it to be weird, having my chest sound worse when my breathing is better, but then often when I have the decreased air entry going on it gets some panic in doctor or nurses.
It is frustrating - I know sometimes if people only listen for the wheeze your not taken seriously... but can't imagine what you go through not wheezing ever.
i only cough too, except when im sick. then i wheeze alot.
I am brittle asthmatic and generally don't wheeze unless I have a really gunky chest infection. I just get very tight chested. I understand the problems with non-wheezing attacks - some health pros seem to think you have to wheeze to be asthmatic.
I now have on my protocol that I don't wheeze so they know.
Also, if you have been wheezing then stop wheezing it is a sign that (unless you feel better) your asthma is very severe - you will need help ASAP.
It is recognised a bit more now that asthmatics can be non-wheezy.
Kate
Thank you so much, I've never wheezed so I have real trouble explaining to people how bad my asthma can be. At least I know I'm not the only one. Is anyone else sick after attacks? this has happened to me a few times now and seems a bit odd
Rabbit
thank you!! There are minimal/non wheezers out there, the amount of times ive been very sick with my asthma but been left to just put up with it because i dont wheeze unless its really REALLY bad (as in passing out and PFs of 230 or less). Thats what prompted my consultant to lower my seretide trying to convince me that its probably not asthma.
I think more education to doctors in general about asthma and the fact that only some of us wheeze all the time would prevent cases as we've all mentioned and the non wheezers arent playing a game of chance when it comes to a and e. and also to get rid of that look that seems to say ""you cant be asthmatic then
When I was younger I used to have wheezy asthma but after the menopause (last 6 years) it has changed to a tightness. I can be fine (by my standards) for a while and feel so pleased too feel well that I am on top of the world and probably over do things. Then the dreaded tightness returns and here we go again - so unpredictable.
Carla.
I very rarely wheeze too, which used ot be a pain at school for me but they've since worked out I don't need to be wheezing to be in an asthma attack. I had a bad experience with one doctor because of it, but after that saw a different doctor who is much nicer and knows I don't wheeze but tend to get tight chested and cough a lot.
I don't wheeze at all when I'm having an attack and never have done in almost 25 years. I'm lucky now in that my current doctor can listen to my chest and hear that I'm tight but without a wheeze so takes me seriously when I go and see her.
It can be good as people around me don't panic and just leave me to sort it out myself but the disadvantage is when I say I'm struggling I get strange looks as they can't tell any difference except that I'm quieter as I don't really cough any more than usual either.
I do have a few friends that can now tell when I'm having an attack or getting tight who will just keep an eye on me and know what to do and when.
Jo
I am soooo relieved to read this!!!! My daughter is 9 and has NEVER wheezed she has been hospitalised on average 3/4 times a year since she was 3 and I got sooo fed up with being told at my GP's that she was alright ( and then ending up in) that I bought a SATs monitor to PROVE she was ill!!!!! I think we have been a tad unlucky in some of our experiences with nurses (some have been FANTASTIC!) but I remember one who complained to the doctor about us being ""allowed"" to stay in only to remark to me at 2am (when she was quite ill) oh she is still not wheezing - how strange - I'm afraid to say I had a slight sense of humour failure!!!
(It was 2am) I constantly have to remind the school and all her different teachers but still get told oh she's fine - no wheezing - I honestly don't think they believe me. I don't often post on this site but do often read for support ( and lots of great ideas) but really wanted to jump up and down when I read this!!!! So thank you !!!!!!! 
Sorry I feel I must put in an apology to gloomyeyeore - I think I should have read your profile BEFORE complaining about nurses - sincere apologies!!!! will take foot out of mouth very shortly....... this would be why I don't post that often - should stick to reading!!!!! x
non wheezer
I know just how you feel . I cough and have a tight chest. The asthma nurse made me feel much better as she has exactly same symptoms as me. I thought I was going loopy for a while. Hope this helps . Susan
when I was first diagnosed I didn't wheeze and alot of people didn't beleive me when I told them I had asthma cause coughing and SOB were my main symptoms, however ever since my asthma got worse (aged 21) I wheeze all the time, strange hey!!!
Another non - wheezer here! I get tight chest, SOB and as things worsen, I cough more and more but never wheeze....
It does mean people aren't necessarily able to spot a problem until it gets more severe, but I have to say though that I seem to do more than ok for my GPs and Cons....
they don't seem to have a problem - must be used to non-wheezers... actually saw Cons this AM and his attitude was fantastic - even tho spiro was good and no wheezing, he accepted that my symptoms are still not under control and PFs no where near what they were last year....
Kat
Thank you to everyone who has replied to my post - it really helps to know that I'm not the only person that doesn't wheeze - you do start to doubt your own symptoms after a while! Am also glad that the post has helped others. TinaW please don't apologise, I have many a good moan about nurses - please keep posting.
Sarah
Hi everyone,
I was diagnosed in Feb (after nearly a year of repeated chest infections including pneumonia). I sometimes have wheezing but not neccessarily always, I find coughing, tightness and SOB are my persistent symptoms. So I'm relieved to find so many other 'non wheezers' out there.
hello
I am also a non-wheezer. Though the tone of my breathing/voice does change. I have also come across this attitude, but not really from doctors. I do carry a list (in a pencil case with my inhaler/epipens) which has my medications and the fact I don't wheeze and other details like my consultant, GP etc.
Past wheezing!!
I usually find that by the time anyone gets to listen to my chest i am past the stage of wheezing!!
I wheeze at the very beginning of an attack - just as my PF start to drop. I then start on my management plan, and by the time I get to my GP or A+E I no-longer wheeze.
I then start wheezing again for a day or so when my PF are almost back to normal.
We are all different and Dr's need to be made aware of this!!!
Jen
I too don't wheeze or always struggle to speak in sentences. I cough ALOT, get tightchested and a sore throat -my pf can be 300 but I can still feel like I need oxygen or other treatment but cos I don't wheeze A+E never believe me and give me 'that look'
Hi. I haven't posted on here for ages but still occasionally read posts.
I too am sooooo relieved to ead this thread!
I don't wheeze and have had the same negative reaction from Drs, although I do sometimes ""whistle"" (any difference?)!?!
I too get tightness, SOB, sore throat, and go VERY quiet. DOH knows these symptoms well now and keeps a watchful eye on me when they come on!
Thankyou soooo much. This thread has been a BIG help!
Hugs to all ( especially hose who remember me on here!)
CD
I've just joined here and I'm glad to see it's not just me that has this problem. On several occasions I've either called the ambulance or been in A&E and they've said ther's nothing wrong with me because they can't hear a wheeze. I've had asthma for nearly 40 years so I know when I'm in difficulty probably more so than they do. I think it's about time professionals were brought up to date with this.
I'm a non-wheezer too. (It is only when I am much better and my chest is less tight that I begin to wheeze). I find that it is paramedics who can sometimes be judgemental, and can imply that there's nothing wrong with you. Also, I think telly has to shoulder some of the blame - medical dramas always depict an asthma attack as a wheezy thing.
I thoroughly agree with the earlier poster that health workers (especially paramedics and A+E staff) should be better trained in this area. The amount of people who have replied to this thread shows that a significant proportion of asthmatics don't wheeze when they are ill.
I don't wheeze but I have a treatment protocol with in bold...
I Do Not Wheeze when Bad! printed on it.
This works most of the time!
If you do get regular attacks, wheeze free, get it written on your asthma plan.
Though, not wheezing can have its up side - you can hide how bad you are!
Don't Try this! Please!
I also not get very wheezy when i have an attack one hopsital i go to are quiet good bout non wheezers but my local that I usually end up in isnt so good. Also my sats dont usually drop that low. Last time I went to costa the nurse was so rude and just ignored me for 3 hours, they know me at my local and most nurse are really good and know how bad I can be but his murse really put me of going to hopsital full stop. Not good when you really know you need to go in.
I daren't call an ambulance when I'm bad as the paramedics round here are judgmental
I am seeing my chest physician in August and can't wait to get it properly in stone that when my pf is 350 sats 97% and no wheeze I can still be having an attack
'I daren't call an ambulance when I'm bad as the paramedics round here are judgmental'
I daren't NOT call an ambulance when I'm bad.
Could I just point out to other board users that not calling an ambulance when having an acute attack can prove fatal. Some paramedics may indeed be 'judgmental' (although I find it difficult to see how a sweeping generalisation about a whole region of paramedics can be correct) but they cannot refuse to take you to hospital if you request it.
Em H
normally when struggling drive self to nearest a and e as always feel that by ringing 999 wud be taking service away from s'one else daft really i know. on other hand had green men at airport on wednesday evening after just got home from hols cause struggled with flight and although was really struggling sats were fine but was still given neb and offered ride to a and e which i politly declined but was written on paper they give you that had expiratory wheeze which is novel for me as don't wheeze but waws only heard by listening to chest not to normal ear. think all practitioners in all areas are judgemental to some degree cause all asthmaics are diff and if never seen one that don't wheeze they do question just as people inother areas of work question things that don't fit that 'norm' bracket but they will learn each time but if you are struggling it seems daft to me not to seek help and i know i'm one of worst but at end of day if you were with a friend and they were struggling u wud get them seen even if they felt better.
Thank you for this!
Thank you everyone for these posts, I've just joined today and asked the questions ""does anyone else not wheeze with attacks"" but I posted it in the 'General forum' and before I did a search and found lots of useful comments. I've had so many experiences of doctors and nurses not believing me. I'm SO GLAD I'm not alone and am very grateful for this web-site indeed!
Surely there should be awareness raised to this issue? This is so dangerous! ! !
Anyway... thank you again
I coughed my head off for years, short of breath etc. but because I hardly ever wheezed, I was told it was everything from reflux to another bad cold. Diagnosed recently. life is so much easier with the right meds.
Must get one of the cards on what to do if having an attack and write in BOLD that I DO NOT WHEEZE!!!!!
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