Constant Tight Chest

[BP135]

I feel like I'm going crazy and am hoping someone will tell me the same has happened to them! I have asthma, it's been well controlled - no attacks for 15 years. But since August 2017 I have had 10 chest infections. The few days or couple of weeks in between infections I can do some exercise (about 20 mins gentle) but I struggle as I have felt constantly tight chested since early December. I've had an x-ray and my lungs are fine. I' just insisted on a sputum test which I'm waiting for the results for.

I saw the emergency doc last night as I was short of breath just sitting on the sofa. He thinks I have anxiety, he thinks I haven't had 10 chest infections and that a chesty cough is normal. I should be happy that I can exercise for 20 mins a day (I am a runner!! Usually very fit)

Maybe I do have anxiety, if that is the case it is due to always coughing up phlegm and feeling breathless, that started before the constant tight chest. He made me feel like I was just imagining it all! I'm really upset today as I feel like I'll always have this tight chest ad never breathe normally again. It's so frustrating. I also get a burning in my lungs, sometimes when I'm walking and sometimes when I'm sitting still..

Has anyone had anything similar?

[Purplejane]

Hi there, I'm so sorry that you are feeling unwell. It is frustrating and scarey and to not be believed by the medical profession is heartbreaking, as we rely on them for support and some answers.

The same has happened to me. I had a chest infection in November and was ill for 2 months. I was finally coming out of it and I caught another virus which turned into a chest infection and am now on my third lot of antibiotics and 2nd lot of steriods.

I too have been breathless and have been coughing forever. I have been refered to a consultant but it is a very long waiting list and although I have had a CT scan I have no idea of the results and I too think I am going to be like this forever. I hate it and feel my life has been taken away from me so all in all I know how you feel.

I would try and get a referal to a consultant as a continual chest infection warrants further investigation.I don't have burning lungs as such but do find they can be quite painful during flare ups. I hope that you soon get some answers and are taken seriously.

[BP135 in reply to Purplejane]

Hi

Thanks for replying! It's awful that you are feeling this way too, but somehow reassuring that I'm not alone.

My normal GP has given me 4 different types of antibiotic and courses of steroid tablets since December as well as changing my preventative inhaler to a stronger one. She thought it was my asthma at first but now doesn't seem to have a clue what it is.

How long is the waiting list? Is this a specialist at the hospital? I was considering going private as at least they wont make me feel like I'm making it up!

I think I'll wait for the sputum results to come back first then decide where to go from there. It feels like a dead end at the moment but I think that was just the awful emergency doctor making me feel so low.

[Purplejane in reply to BP135]

I saw a consultant privately at the beginning of January and he changed my inhalers to Fostair but unfortunately it didn't suit me and I am now on Symbicort which was doing an OK job until this last infection.

The consultant decided to do the tests I need CT, breathing tests on the NHS as they were prohibatively expensive privately, hence the wait and yes at the local hospital. He did think perhaps that i was triggered by either chronic post nasal drip or silent reflux and I am being treated for both at the moment, although I see little difference as yet. I don't think my asthma is allergy related but who knows, so have in the meantime decided to self medicate with cetirizine - I just didn't really want to take anything I didn't have to.

My GP's are really good but like yours are at a loss and don't really know what to do, when you asthma doesn't play ball as it were they just don't know what to do. I too was a runner, also a cyclist, a gardener, a walker and any other activity you can name but now get very out of breathe and tight chested if I do too much.

Do the steriods improve things or make little difference? I am never quite sure. I still have good days and bad days even while on them.

All I can say is that I hope we both find the answers - I want to breathe again!

[Nutzs47]

Hi like you my asthma was pretty well controlled until this winter .i had my flu jab in sept and since then I have had 2 bad asthma bouts and recurrent coughs/colds .i booked an app to see my asthma nurse to look into my meds as I was concerned that my asthma was getting worse and she’s put me on montuecalast ( not sure if i have spelt it right ) as I also have hay fever and she’s not sure if the constant nasal drip is excabating my asthma and if that doesn’t help the next step is spiriva .She also thinks I’ve had a bad virus which is doing the rounds this winter and can take 8 weeks to clear ,it would appear that I caught it back in sept and just never managed to clear it totally before contracting it again probably from the grandkids but who knows .im hoping that the new meds will clear everything up as like you the constant phlegm and nasal drip is annoying me .

[BP135 in reply to Nutzs47]

Have you done a sputum test yet? I was convinced it must be a nasty strain of bacteria that caught me at a time when my immune system was low and I just haven't been able to totally shake it off, but according to my sputum results I don't have any bad bacteria in my lungs! So unless my sample wasn't big enough..it's something else. They have now changed my steroid inhaler to something stronger to see how I get on. They already stepped it up earlier this year which didn't make any difference so I'm not convinced.

I hope you get it sorted soon!

Becky.

[Purplejane in reply to BP135]

Hi there, just an update really no definates. I had breathing tests on Friday with the techncian at the hospital,still have to wait to see the consultant. I had usual spiro breathing into tubes etc, test in the little box for lung capacity and Feno for inflamation. I did mention that I was still on oral pred but the tech said it didn't matter just so long as I didn't have an infection. I am sure the results will be a false positive but he ho.

My feno levels were raised although not too high but considering I have been on 2 weeks if oral steriods quite a worrying sign as it means my lung inflamation is still there.

Just have to wait for the consultant appiotment for some clarification as to what it all means

[BP135 in reply to Purplejane]

Oh good I'm glad you get an appointment to have it all explained as that didn't mean a lot to me! I have never had a spirometry. Haven't had any tests for my asthma since my early teens as it has been so well controlled until recently.

Good news that you are having tests, hopefully the consultant appointment comes round quickly and he/she can help you. Surely the expert can give you some answers!!

Becky.

[garywake]

I have had similar symptoms to you all for the last two winters. I had a ct scan, bronchoscopy, sputum tests, breathing test and a visit to a consultant last year. By the time I saw him my symptoms had cleared and he put it down to my hiatus hernia flaring up. During spring to autumn 17 I was fine, running and cycling. Last Nobember, however, I started with a chest infection, the first of many this winter. I have had 2 lots of steroids, 4 lots of antibiotics, sputum tests, more breathing tests, xrays and I am now waiting to see a co sultant again. My chest has been so raspy, sputum, green and unable to do exercise. The surprising thing is that throughout my peak flows have been quite normal, 550 to 600, I am 52. I feel your pain and I too am worried about my prospects for the future.

Gary

[BP135 in reply to garywake]

Hi Gary

I had forgot to mention that my peak flow is also normal, which is very confusing! Have you had a spirometry?

I got my sputum results back this morning, all normal! I was pinning my hopes on them saying "we have been giving you the wrong antibiotics, take these instead" and then being back to normal finally! That would be too easy. My GP is now going back along the lines of it being my asthma so has changed my preventative inhaler again, I've now got seretide 250 which I'm to take 2 puffs twice a day for two weeks, by which point by tight chest should have gone and then I can decrease my dose. I hope she's right because I am so sick of going to the doctors and feeling like this all the time. I'm usually a fit healthy 30 year old, now I can't even keep up with my toddler without feeling like I'm about to have an asthma attack.

What's next for you?

Becky.

[garywake in reply to BP135]

Hi Becky, I am going to see a Consultant next week so maybe get some answers then. It is horrible when you can't get answers. I will keep you updated.

Gary

[skybluepink]

I had similar symptoms which after MI [ CARDIAC ARREST ] Realised it was classic heart failure ones the NHS ignores they were exactly symptoms affecting function /movement [ Dukes Analysis ] That LA used to target out of employment knowing antibiotics withheld! Still symptoms have been ignored as not showing up on Tests

.I suspect mine could be microvascular angina as PAH picked up on insertion of Reveal device not revealing the loss of consciousness spasms daily .My late Mother had severe multi infant dementia & I have had an abnormal EEG since 1969 .

By the way I was revived from MI with angioplasty which gives me to believe the Testing & Operational equipment don't equate ??!! As this doesn't make sense?

However have found acupuncture & flu jabs now oxygen chamber [ MS [ don't have] Therapy Centre helpful.

As for unmonitored ineffective CPAP machine? Oh dear !