Hi all, I am new here, and scared. I have had several bouts of supposed bronchitis over the last 2 years, always affecting my right lung. In October 2016 I had atelectasis, and was treated with ventolin as well as 2 courses of ABs.
My peak flow is apparently okay, chest x rays likewise. The spirometry showed I had trouble INHALING rather than EXHALING - whereas apparently with true asthma, the reverse is true. They also threw in the possibility of silent reflux and I was on ranitidine for a year. Fast forward to now - got sick in Florida, 4th July. As I was flying home to NZ in 5 days, I went to a GP and was treated for bronchitis - ABs. Got 90% better but terrible pain in throat for 4 weeks, plus chills, aching ribs in my back, fatigue... was then diagnosed back home with glandular fever. Slowly improved until throat came back, then deep chesty cough. Back on ABs and ventolin for a week now, no improvement. I should add I have had intermittent crackling in right lung for around 3 months, now also a deep wheezing, almost moaning sound coming from bottom of my right lung that causes me to cough violently immediately, to the point of almost blacking out. This too is intermittent thankfully - although my GP has not heard the sound, which worries me. I can also feel it - almost like a whirring, spinning sensation that happens once or twice during the day, and once or twice at night. It wakes me from a deep sleep and the sudden coughing is violent. I have no bladder control at these times!
Also have PNd with lots of mucus - GP believes sinusitis - hence antibiotics. But no fever, and mucus is clear. I can feel it and taste it in my throat, but cannot cough it up. The lung is scaring me to the point where I can think of nothing else. My questions are:
1.Does any of this sound like asthma? I have a family history, but none myself - until this.
2. How common is it to develop asthma at this stage in life? I am female, 61 years old, non smoker, normal weight.. thanks in advance!
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meadowbird
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Yes,if you ever can't get a breathe or able to breathe your inhaler in go to your door or window and get fresh air I've had to do that when I feel my head pressure because of the coughing.hopefully you'll feel better soon.
Thanks for that- yes COPD is one of my worst fears - I'm having huge anxiety around the possibility although no DR has mentioned it to me - yet. 2 years ago my cough lasted around 6 months and they were worried, as was I. I'd probably prefer asthma over COPD - if it has to be one of them. As spirometry is good, they do not seem to know what's up.
If you keep your mobile phone with you you can film/record your coughing fits and how your breathing sounds when you’re worried about it. I have no idea what is wrong, but you need to see a respiratory consultant ASAP. Keep a diary of your symptoms with pictures so the Dr. gets a clear idea of what’s happening. Best of luck.
that's a great idea - if I can figure out the record function in the middle of the night I will definitely do that. I don't think I can record the lung sounds though, and that is what's frightening me the most. Thank for the suggestion!
It is possible to get Asthma at any age but a lot of what you describe sounds like silent reflux. LPR does not respond to ranitidine and doesnt normally respond to PPIs. It is a very tricky condition, you should do some research on LPR and see what you think.
I do know I have LPR, was diagnosed definitively in 2016 after my pneumonia, which left me with chronic cough for around 6 months - mainly a dry cough. It had seemed to quieten down with strict diet and ranitidine (which did seem to help by the way, whereas PPI's do not). But this is different somehow, with the moaning and crackling in my lungs (although I had crackles with the atelectasis last time) and the feeling that my lung and throat are constantly filling with mucus. I guess the LPR could be causing the excesses too though. In NZ, no-one seems to know what to do for LPR though - its a kind of trial and error thing.
2. There is some record of women in menopause being more likely to develop asthma.I had the same post menopause got asthma. Like you healthy then.
Reasons,
A, Production of dhea gets right down as we age, and production of cortisol goes up and is not balanced as it should be. Much worse by 60.
Deficiency in dhea gives the symptoms of ageing, and makes lungs irritable, hence coughing and reactive. Even Crohns, uirritable bowel is cured by dhea.
I was given corticosteroids which wrecked everything and asthma kept increasing.
At this point you can be careful.
B. Accumulation of polyunsaturated oils.
Important
Practice abdminal breathing. Abdomen out and this lets breathe in passively.
Babies breathe this way, have to practice so you just pull stomach in and breath goes out without thinking if breathing, focus on abdomen,
Knowing this saved my life in terrible gurgling attack when I could not breathe in and was turned away from a medical clinic and drove to hospital in big city and lived. A guy the week before didn’t, dead in his car outside.
1. This does sound like asthma. I had a coughing episode last year continuous for five weeks caused by cedar oil furniture polish to the devil..my sister.
I finally took the corticosteroid puffer and it stopped. Then needed it constantly hair fell out, flesh was eaten etc,
I now am taking intal which has no side effects, and stops mast cells releasing stuff and causing problems. Have to have ventolin just in case as it does not stop attacks once started.
===============================//==
As well these are my life retaining measures I after 12 years of hell on corticosteroids:
I take 12.5 mg dhea from Kirkman 60 to 90 vitamins and minerals which I buy online from iherb.com, as I had about none,
Take 50 mg pregnenolone for my brain etc could take less.
An aspirin to stop conversion to estrogen and strengthens gut lining...there is a lie from Big Pharma that aspirin harms gut lining.
Progesterone, a hormone of youth ie anti ageing, dissolved in vit E. it’s a liquid,
A little coconut oil .. few teaspoons over the day in tea or coffee .. helps mitochondria, helps lung lining, helps body clear out polyunsaturated oils
Stop polyunsaturated oils immediately, they reduce immunity, slow metabolism right down and are anti thyroid.
Are stored preferentially as fat... look at the fat explosion as seed oils, polyunsaturated oils were no longer used by the oil paint industry instead Fed to fatten stock and feed and fatten people.
That's so interesting - yes menopause was a turning point for me, although as I have had a hysterectomy (unnecessary as it turns out) I am unsure as to when It actually ended. I also don't use polyunsaturated oils, have been using olive and coconut oils exclusively for about fifteen years - would hope that I have got rid of any polys by now.. The DHEA sounds very applicable to me, I will definitely look into that - thanks you!
Hi Meadowbird, and welcome. Your symptoms sound like my own, right down to trouble inhaling. I have been diagnosed with both asthma and silent reflux.
First of all, try to calm yourself, whatever that takes. I have been through similar struggles, and that's what helped most. I also have suffered bronchitis and have scarring. I know how scary it can be.
I'm sure it doesn't help. I only know about it because my doctor mentioned not being able to hear sounds of breathing very well on that side. She asked if I'd had bronchitis but didn't explain any further. Because she seemed so unconcerned, I didn't ask what she meant. Afterwards though it started bugging me. I called, and she told me that scarring from bronchitis is common. I was moving air, but she couldn't hear it as well on that side.
I tend to be proactive about my health, and I started studying healing scarring from bronchitis. I haven't looked into it very far, but I did read that sea air helps some people.
Oh that's perfect - I've been looking for an excuse to move to the beach! You've actually made me feel a little less anxious though - I'm most afraid of what the long term implications are, but if your Dr seems unconcerned then perhaps I should try not to worry too. Thank you
It helped me, too, knowing that scarring from bronchitis is common. I wouldn't be fearful but simply aware of something that could become a larger problem. From my admittedly-sparse research, repeated bronchitis can lead to COPD. I don't want that to happen to me, so I'm making needed lifestyle changes to avoid it.
that is one of my biggest fears too - but how can you make lifestyle changes to avoid bronchitis? It seems to seek me out like a heat seeking missile
I'm at the point where I'm afraid of going out in public, I'm even afraid of my beautiful grandchildren who are at that age where they seem to get every damn virus going around their school - I don't want to live my life in fear, but I also don't want to put myself in harms' way. Gotta get a handle on my anxiety I think.
Here's what I do: eat a healthy diet consisting of organic food exercize, get enough sleep, reduce stress, boost my immune system with vitamins C and D3, wear a particulate mask outside and filter inside air when needed, use a salt crystal lamp to put salt into the air, drink enough water, wash my hands after touching surfaces that could contain viruses, have groceries delivered to avoid exposure in stores, and enjoy life. I am working with a naturopathic doctor who uses both traditional and herbal medicine to manage and hopefully eliminate my asthma.
Changes I'm planning to make: move near the ocean and install a whole-house filter.
thank you! I already focus on the first five (although in my case its vit c and zinc - tell me more about D3) - haven't gone to a mask because I live in the country. Hadn't though of a salt crystal lamp but I do drink heaps of water and I'm always washing my hands to the point where my family thinks I am OCD. Interestingly enough, I often get sick when I try to go back to the gym, even though I wash hands and use sanitizer. Moving to the ocean has long been on my radar, unfortunately I have a very resistant husband. I do wonder if ,women over a certain age truly do develop poor immunity.
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