Hi all. I'm currently going through some issues and doctors are running tests, but have no idea what's wrong with me. I gave birth to my son 3 1/2 months ago, and two weeks after he was born I started having shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and lightheadedness. Initially I brushed it off as not eating/sleeping enough, but I was finally able to eat and sleep more, and still the symptoms got worse. When I finally decided to see the doctor a couple of weeks ago, they ran an ekg, found an arrhythmia, then ordered blood tests, which all came back normal, a halter monitor, which is being done tomorrow, and an ultrasound of my heart, which was done Thursday but have not received the results. However, since going in, my breathing has gotten a lot worse. If I do any kind of physical activity, my chest tightens up, it feels like my throat closes up, and I start gasping for air and wheezing. On a good day, it only lasts about 15 minutes. On bad days, it can last more than 30 minutes. Usually after these "episodes" I start coughing up mucous. BUT, I went back to the doctor today, explained allllll of that, and because the "episodes" resolve themselves without medicine, she dismissed the possibility of it being asthma and won't test for it. So, any ideas? Should I find someone else who will test for it, or is it not likely asthma since it resolves itself? Thank you in advance!
Asthma or...???: Hi all. I'm currently... - Asthma Community ...
Asthma or...???
Are you a smoker or ex smoker?
Light smoker. Started again after the symptoms had already started.
Do you think it could be stress causing your symptoms?
Do you have any fluid retention?
The Doctor is going through elimination, I had all these done and eventually found I had a chest infection.
Coughing up the mucus is good btw..better out than in, is it clear, yellow green?
Only thing causing stress is the symptoms, no fluid retention, and mucous is clearish with a slight yellow tint
Maybe its a chest infection or an allergy?
As I said before the GP goes through elimination and tests take forever , have they not mentioned your smoking at all?
I had it drummed into me over and over to quit and much as I needed to for my health, people pressurising me didn't help, I quit when I was ready not when i was told to.
Well they suggested quitting once then didn't mention it again. And wouldn't it be easier just to do a breathing test to rule out asthma instead of letting me suffer while they take forever to do these other tests? I'm having these "episodes" at least once a day, and they drain me entirely and leave me in pain. They've already determined nothing is physically wrong with my heart, yet they still refuse to move on to look at other possibilities.
mmmm maybe suggest to them?
I'm sure if they thought it was asthma they would be going down that route rather than waste yours and theirs time... I know how frustrating it must be for you.
I did suggest it :/ they said asthma attacks don't resolve without medication so they don't think it's that. Which just doesn't sound right to me..
Are you saying it comes on even when you don't exercise or just when you do?
Have you googled it?
Most of the time it's when I work/exercise, but every once in a while it'll happen even if I'm not doing anything.
Also, the mucous only occurs after an episode.
After given birth I experienced the same symptoms...it was lack of iron since I lost much blood giving birth...I was advised to eat a rich diet I was prescriobed iron tablets for a week and all my breathlessness, weakness dissappear....just to let you know.
Well they tested all that with the blood work. No deficiency in anything. :/
It sounds like exercise induced asthma to me, if it comes on after you exert yourself, worst after about 15-20 mins of stopping, then gradually resolves over the next 60-90mins. The coughing up mucus at the end is another sign, as your bronchospasm goes the muscles relax again and the mucus is coughed up.
Tell the doctor you suspect it might be asthma, ask for a peak flow monitor. If it is asthma it will normally be worse in the morning. get better as the day goes on, and be noticeably worse when you have an episode.
Repeat of everything I've said to worrying-too-much ha, mainly happens when I work, sometimes when I'm doing nothing, doctors are being stupid and don't wanna test for it.
or better still go to the chemist and pick up a peak flow monitor.
Anxiety, even if you don't think you're worrying, can give horrendous symptoms.
(I'm finding it really difficult to separate asthma/anxiety.) New babies are terrifying little people! All the best.
I've had really bad anxiety attacks before, this is nothing like it. Plus, I haven't even felt too anxious in a few years now.
Hello, i wonder how are you today and did you get a diagnosis? I had my son last year october and suddenly I got the same symtoms. My doctor diagnoses asthma and my pregnancy had triggered this due to hormone changes. Now I still have these symptoms every day and i also suffer from depression. before pregnancy i was a very healthy person.
Well, I never got an official diagnosis, but I believe mine is severe allergies.
And how are you now? Do you still have these episodes?
If I don't take allergy medicine every 24 hours, I almost immediately have an episode.
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