so scared ☹️

[Shannon97]

hello everyone i am so scared i have had this feeling in my chest like tight for a while which ive been to so many different doctors which have all said the same thing i was fold i had it when i was small which ive never had any problems ive been to see the nurse which she has said it is well controlled and ive had a spirometry test and blew 110% 😭😭

[Tugun]

Hi Shannon,

Sounds like you are breathing okay but we may need a few extra details. Where is the tightness in the chest and can you describe how it feels and when you feel it. Is it worse at any particular time? Also you mention that you had it when you were small. Was it diagnosed? Did you see a doctor about it? Also you mention that you never had any problems when you were young. Is it the same now? Have you had xrays etc?

[Shannon97 in reply to Tugun]

i just no something is there some times it is like on top of my boob area and then like under boobs like around there my mum

said i got told i had it and all i suffered with was chest infections and ive got a chest xray booked ☹️

[Tugun in reply to Shannon97]

Hi,

I'm glad you have an x-ray booked. It's probably fine but at least the x-ray will confirm that for you and let you know if there is something that needs fixing. Wishing you the best of health!

[Shannon97 in reply to Tugun]

what will a chest xray show im so scared do you think it sounds bad all this im feeling ☹️

[Tugun in reply to Shannon97]

Hi Shannon,

No, I don't think it sounds bad. There are many twinges and pains that people have and often it is just a sore muscle that fixes itself. The x-ray will show if it is a chest infection. So hopefully everything will be fine and the pain will go away. All the best.

[Shannon97 in reply to Tugun]

im scared that its something bad ☹️ im scared if its something bad ☹️

[Tugun in reply to Shannon97]

After you find out that everything is fine you will realize that your worry of what might be has robbed you of the joy of today. Corrie Ten Boom said that "worry about tomorrow, empties today of its strength."

I, too have worried. It's hard sometimes not to worry even if it is a waste of time. However I try to empty my mind of the thoughts by filling it with other things - a good book, a funny movie or something I enjoy doing. Sometimes I work out what I would do in a worst case scenario, so I feel prepared and more settled. I haven't yet had a worse case scenario. Everything is usually better than my worse case scenario. So my worrying is totally useless.

Sometimes it helps to remember when you once worried about something and things worked out better than you thought. Then realize that this is the same.

If it's your anxiety catching up with you, then you need to see a doctor about your anxiety. The doctor may be able to help you.

Realize that FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. False Evidence - False. Don't let it take your joy. Why not enjoy today!

If it gets too difficult see your doctor and let them know how you feel. Some counselors are really good at helping us to retrain our thinking so we don't go down the rabbit hole of useless worry. Enjoy your day Shannon! Do something that you like doing. Wishing you all the best!

[Shannon97 in reply to Tugun]

ive had it for way over a month ☹️ i just want it all to be okay but im scared it aint ☹️ xxxx

[Griffon in reply to Tugun]

If all the tests come back clear it is possible that this is a psychological / anxiety related problem , and you need to seek help / understanding along these lines .

[Shannon97 in reply to Griffon]

it worrys me because i see people saying “peak flow doesnt always mean your good” or “because your oxygen levels are good its okay” im literally so scared it has got so bad im constantly crying and looking online ☹️

[Griffon in reply to Shannon97]

Asthma has a clear set of symptoms . An attack is triggered by an allergic reaction and the air ways in the lungs become restricted , causing loss of breath . The reaction in the lungs causes mucus to form , so an attack is followed by a coughing fit to bring up the mucus .

It is obvious that if you read the posts here that there is a relationship between anxiety and asthma type symptoms . This is very real to the sufferers . It is possible that this is the case for you , and sorting the psychological aspect of your problems will sort this out for you ?

[Shannon97 in reply to Griffon]

what would you say it is im literally always thinking the worst ☹️ xxxx

[Griffon in reply to Shannon97]

Shannon , I'm afraid I'm not qualified , and it would be impossible for anyone to give you a diagnosis like this . I'm trying to help by giving some suggestions for you to investigate yourself - Google is a wonderful tool !

It strikes me from what you have said that your problems may be psychosomatic , that is caused by stress or anxiety rather than actual illness . If this is the case you need treatment for anxiety , not a physical illness .

[Shannon97 in reply to Griffon]

anxiety and stress is what ive been told by many doctors what it is im just finding it so so hard to believe ☹️ like how can i get it to stop ☹️

[Griffon in reply to Shannon97]

Well at least I'm on the right track !

Are you on any medication for any condition ? I was once prescribed a drug which had a side effect of causing anxiety . I am normally a very resilient person , but due to this drug I started to worry , and could see that if it had got worse it would have cause me difficulty in running my life . Equally anxiety is treatable with medication too .

I know telling you not to worry won't stop you worrying ! But try and look at it like this , there is nothing wrong with your health , it is just your brain misleading you . For all of us reality is what is in our heads , so to you it is real , but try telling yourself that your body is fine , and nothing to be concerned about .

Have you considered any sort of counciling , or even joining a support group ?

[Shannon97 in reply to Griffon]

im on seeing and a new tablet that i have recently started and ive been doctors again today and been told the same ☹️ what will an xray show xx

[strongmouse in reply to Shannon97]

Shannon, first I'm sorry to hear that you are so worried. Our bodies and minds work together. So first it helps you to note down what your symptoms are and when they happen. If you have seen the doctors and they have done tests and found you haven't got asthma then you can say "okay but these are my symptoms, can you tell me what is causing them?" If they say anxiety then ask to be referred to someone who can help you with that. If they are unsure then ask them what they can do to investigate further. As Griffon has said there are clear tests and symptoms which will lead to the correct diagnosis. Asthma is treatable and many people live very well with it. Take a look at Asthma UK and you speak to one of their experienced nurses on the free helpine if you need to talk it through with someone.

You have been listened to by the doctors if they are doing a chest xray. They are taking you seriously. Have you tried a reliever inhaler? If it is asthma that will help. If it isn't asthma then it won't. A tight chest can happen for lots of reasons. Working out when it happens will help to identify the cause.

Learning relaxation techniques will help with both asthma and anxiety so it is worth finding out about how to do that. Lots of Youtube videos on different relaxation techniques, so find one which works for you.

All the best.

[Shannon97 in reply to strongmouse]

thankyou so much i have had it for way over a month and thats what makes me worry even more and what comes up looking online and what will an xray show xx

[Shannon97 in reply to Shannon97]

and why do people say that your peak flow dont have to drop or your oxygen dont have to be low ☹️

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Shannon97]

Hi Shannon, it's true that you can have asthma without the peak flow or oxygen dropping necessarily, but this usually comes up when someone is very symptomatic and has a lot of other things suggesting that asthma is a problem.

People on here say this because doctors don't always look at the full range of symptoms in an asthma attack (usually much more than tight chest on its own), and might just be looking at peak flow and oxygen when someone is having a lot of other problems - but they wouldn't be fine and going about their life with normal peak flow/oxygen and something awful going on.

Even if someone did have an asthma attack or has asthma, it can be treated. On here you see a lot of people who do have problems with their asthma, but not the people who are fine with it - because their asthma doesn't bother them most of the time, and they don't need advice! So you might be getting the impression from reading posts here that asthma is really awful because you only see the people who have more problems, but there are plenty of people out there who are managing fine with it.

I hope this helps - like others have said it sounds like the doctors are listening and not dismissing you.

[Shannon97 in reply to Lysistrata]

when you say that what do you mean and when you see people say thatdoctors listening to you with a stethoscope dont always pick up😭 im literally so scared that its bad and seeing stuff makes me think its that like pollen ☹️ xx

[Shannon97 in reply to Shannon97]

or pollution all sorts ☹️ xxxx

[Junglechicken in reply to Lysistrata]

I so agree with your statement. A lot of users on the forum are looking for help and advice in difficult circumstances. I’ve not been seriously troubled by asthma until now since I was 10. I’m 38. That’s a long time. I regularly forgot to mention it when asked about medical conditions. I didn’t even use a preventer inhaler for 18 years. I think that’s why I’m having a hard time mentally dealing with this serious flare up, I have forgotten what it is like to have asthma. More of my life has been symptom free rather than effected by it.

[Shannon97 in reply to Junglechicken]

i dont no how or what to think ☹️

[Junglechicken in reply to Shannon97]

Please don’t worry. It’s hard not to, I truly understand that but it really does make things ten times worse. The human mind has such a powerful impact on the body and it plays horrible, frightening tricks. It becomes very difficult to distinguish them. This may or may not work for you but when I have a racing mind I use the Calm app. It’s in the apple app store. Most of the meditations are free, on a whole range of topics and they have some lovely bedtime stories to listen to. The lady who leads a lot of them has a beautiful voice which relaxes me so much. Life saver while i’ve been poorly.

[Shannon97 in reply to Junglechicken]

i just keep thinking the worst😭😭 i dont want nothing bad to happen 😭😭

[Shannon97 in reply to strongmouse]

and i got told i had it when i was small but never really had problems ☹️ xx

[strongmouse in reply to Shannon97]

Sharon, you are going round in circles. At the moment you have done all you can. It is hard to wait for investigations but it isn't urgent and you will only stress yourself more by thinking is it this or is it that or possibly some other lurgy! It could be pollution, it could be allergies, but I have give you all the advice I can by saying write down your symptoms, when and what happens.

This will give your doctors a better understanding of what is going on. When we read stuff on the internet it is easy to think 'Oh yes I have that and that, oh and that!" Doctors spend years training for a good reason, they really are the best people to help you at this stage.

It is important to try to focus on other things and wait. The only exception would be if your symptoms get a lot worse. Asthma UK website has information about asthma and managing stress - asthma.org.uk/advice/trigge... and there is a lot of information on the web about managing anxiety, I suggest it might help to take a look at those too. All the best.

[Shannon97 in reply to strongmouse]

im sorry i dont want to sound annoying it just really worrying me and i dont want nothing bad to happen ☹️

[Pippy36]

I have been having something similar to you I think. I get tightness in between breasts - sometimes just slight and stronger at other times. One night in bed it kept me awake and my breasts felt sore - the tightness seemed to move about. If I have a day when I get this tightness ( it feels like a pressure/slight ache) it is in the middle of chest and sometimes where bra is underneath. GP sent me to hospital to rapid chest pain clinic and I have just had first part if a stress test done, second part is this week. My bp is always low, ECGs all okay. I do have heart failure anyway and have an ICD. I get this about 7 days a month! I was almost sick with worry. I think the stress test is to test for angina - I posted on this website to ask what angina felt like and lots of kind people responded. I get the ache more at rest than doing anything energetic. I am still a bit worried and will be glad to get my results. Keep me posted as to how you are doing. X

[Shannon97 in reply to Pippy36]

what do they think it is im so so worried hope you get answers xx

[Pippy36 in reply to Shannon97]

I don't think they know but as I said, the stress test (which sounded scarey but wasn't) but I think the test fir for angina. Are your symptoms similar to mine? I did meet someone that had same symptons as me and once she had results showing no problems she was discharged. I had more tightness when I was really worried but I try now to save my worrying until I know I have something to worry about. Difficult, I know, but good thing is we are doing what we can to resolve problem and whatever, if anything, it will be sorted. X

[Shannon97 in reply to Pippy36]

ive had blood tests ive got a chest xray i just cant stop thinking the worst and looking online ect xx

[Shannon97]

☹️ ☹️