seeing as im “attention seeking” i will not be posting..i thought stuff like this was to “help” but because i keep writing the same stuff im “attention seeking” even though my phone has been playing up and i cant seem to see anything..thanks🤷♀️..i guess its time for me to go
thanks everyone : seeing as im... - Asthma Community ...
thanks everyone
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Shannon97
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Please stay Shannon of course this is for you 🤗 I really hope you find an answer and can put all this behind you love and hugs xxx
EmmaF91Community Ambassador
Hi Shannon
It’s about getting the right help for you. Your health anxiety is not being helped on this site, and the frequency of your posts along side the fact that all of your tests for your one symptom have come back clear, strongly suggests that it is the anxiety that is the root of the problem. The best thing you can do IS to come of off this forum as it is just feeding into you fears and to look for help for your mental health (as many people have suggested to you over a multitude of post/sites). I’m sorry if you’re offended, but this currently is not the right place for you, as we aren’t an anxiety forum.
Look after yourself and get help to control your anxiety and you’ll most likely find that you chest tightness calms down, especially as you stop focusing just on it. I think I can say that we all want you to feel better, but this isn’t the place where you’ll find what you’re looking for.
but as ive said im on inhalers yes ive had tests but haven’t had a proper diagnosis only my parents got told..this is the thing im worrying about
You have had all the asthma and respiratory disease tests in recent months. Had you had a physical issue something would have shown or you would have a great number of symptoms. A lot of children in the 90s/00s were misdiagnosed with asthma, so the fact your current GP is downgrading you medication and wants you to stop preventer strongly suggests you were one of these people. There is no point worrying about something that isn’t there, but get help and support for your health anxiety which is apparent
but in my mind it is? its like they no something and aint telling me? obviously everyone wants to look after thierselfs and i dont feel like i am i feel like i need more answers..they havent said i have or haven’t got it
Anxiety can give you real physical symptoms. If they had found something organic they would have told you... it’s their job. If you had asthma they wouldn’t be downgrading your medication whilst you’re reporting being symptomatic with a tight chest. Maybe if you ask ‘do you think I have asthma, or do you think the tightness is due to anxiety?’ they’ll give you a clearer answer. The answer is the tightness you have is from your anxiety and is worsened by your health anxiety as you focus on it more. Get help for your anxiety and you’ll most likely find that it all calms down. But we aren’t an anxiety page so this isn’t the right place for you to be looking for answers
i understand but they havent said yes and they havent said no..im always worried because looking on pages and you hear these storys ☹️
And that worry is your health anxiety, hence why this is not the place for you cause it’s not helping you
i dont no what else to say or do i just cant stop worrying and it dont matter what im going to do its there..thinking of going doctors tomorrow x
Ask them directly ‘do you think my tightness due to anxiety? If so can you help me get my anxiety under control?’
But this worry isn’t asthma. It’s anxiety, hence why this isn’t the place to get help, cause we are a forum of people having asthma problems with multiple signs and symptoms... we’re not really for those without asthma in their lives or for those with bad health anxiety.
The best way to find an answer is to follow your GPs suggestion and reduce inhaler and monitor your symptoms
Shannon you have said yourself that you are "Worried". Worry by definition is "the state of being anxious and troubled over actual or potential problems."
You have had a considerable amount of advice , information and help from people on this forum. We have helped you as far as we can. The answers you are looking for are not here. Only your doctor, other medical advisers and people who know you can help you face to face.
You can keep on posting but you won't come up with any new answers regarding asthma.
You have said that you can't stop worrying. Yes that is a mental health issue. No it isn't all the mind, that is made up. Many people on here, including myself, have had mental health issues and seen mental health specialists aswell as physical health problems. Both need to be treated properly. I would concentrate your energy on finding answers to your anxiety.
I am no psychologist but I can imagine that if you had asthma as a child that may have been quite frightening and that maybe contributing to your worry.
A psychologist would be of enormous help to you in dealing with your worry whatever the cause and to be able to live your life more fully. If you really want to be well then talk to your doctor about referring for your anxiety or contact MIND - mind.org.uk/information-sup...
You're 22, I think you said, so they would tell you. Have you asked them directly?
The reason people are getting a little annoyed with your posts is because you are worrying about this tightness in your chest with no other symptoms of asthma. The fact your doctor has reduced your dose of preventer inhaler despite of this suggests whatever asthma you may have is very well controlled. You write about being worried because you hear of story’s were people don’t present with a wheeze, good sats ect but these people have other symptoms effecting everyday life. I’d suggest you go to your doctor and discuss this tightness for sure but firstly address your anxiety which I’m sure will improve the tightness in your chest. Your obviously really struggling at the moment with your anxiety and it feels very real to you and I really do feel for you but multiple health professionals and experienced posters on here over a number of different forums have expressed your anxiety is the problem. Posting on here and googling symptoms is just going to fuel your anxiety. As there are a number of us really struggling which asthma consuming there whole lives when we see your posts about your asthma that the treatment is actually being reduced for and your fab lung function tests, whilst you write about how worried you are about them it is a little frustrating.
Saying that I do really feel for you as you are obviously struggling but please do seek advice for your anxiety x
I know it’s worrying but people are annoyed because they are actually experiencing it day in day out effecting their quality of life but you have been reassured you are doing okay from a chest point of view 😊 Of course it’s still a symptom and that’s really hard for you to deal with but try and listen to everyone that’s telling you not to worry about asthma. Take care and do get some help x
it is affecting me though..i may not sound like it is..but it is and ive been doctors plenty of times as you no x
I’m not saying your anxiety isn’t effecting your life but it’s not asthma that’s having this effect x
i would like to just no if ive got it x
Even if you do have mild asthma it’s well enough under control for you to lower your preventer dose x
They way to see of you’ve got it is to reduce your inhaler. If your symptoms do not change then you don’t have asthma. But everything you’ve had done so far indicates no asthma. So just ask outright if they think you have it or if they think it’s anxiety based
its been months ☹️
Then it’s unlikely to be asthma tightness as it would have either worsened or gotten better over the time you’ve been on the inhalers. Anxiety gives chest tightness which doesn’t improve with inhalers
i no its going back to it again but you no they gave gone from two puffs in morning and evening to one in morning and evening for two weeks then nothing..i no its good but could it get worse can it go from good to bad just like that
They give you an inhaler as a diagnostic test. If you had no improvement on asthma medication, then it’s not gonna be asthma causing the issue, especially when all other tests are clear and no other symptom is present. If you don’t have any worsening of symptoms as you downgrade and stop inhaler then it’s also not gonna be asthma. It’s linked to your anxiety. Get your anxiety controlled and it should calm down, ignore your anxiety and you will definitely continue to feel tight.
You’re weaning your inhaler so you won’t suddenly get worse even if you did have asthma, because the inhaler you’re on is for very very mild asthma.
what other symptoms would i have i dont want it to get worse thats why i was asking x
Sometimes the hardest pill to swallow is the truth . You are not physically ill , your problem is psychological . The fact that you can not accept this is part of the condition .
We’ve all mentioned other symptoms that asthma can cause like cough, wheeze, increased mucus production, being worse in the night/early morning and finding it harder to breathe out than in.
The fact that you only have chest tightness that hasn’t changed with an inhaler is why your GP is happy to try and reduce it. As others have said, if it was asthma it should have improved by now with the inhaler.
it is hard very hard..BUT there is so many different things right?
What do you mean? There are lots of things that can cause chest tightness but most of them will come with lots of other symptoms
different inhalers and stuff and as i said i think once they say if i have it ir not i think it may help i no it can be hard x
Yes, I know it’s a really horrible symptom to have and if you already struggle with health anxiety then it’s natural that it will worry you.
Much as it might seem worrying at first trying to come off your inhaler is what will let them tell you an answer either way - which as you say should help you feel better about things
what if it dont and im scared that it will go from mild to bad x
It will give them an answer. Because if there is no change in your symptoms when you stop an asthma medication, then they can tell you it’s not asthma.
And I know you’re scared about it but that’s why your GP is getting you to reduce the inhaler over a few weeks rather than just stopping it straight away.
Have you spoken to them about how worried you’ve been about this and other symptoms over the years?
thankyou all also if it is..will it alway stay like it? will it get bad/worse this is also what scares me x
Don’t forget that anxiety (and other feelings) can and do give PHYSICAL symptoms. Anxiety isn’t just in your mind, it also affects your body, or anyone’s body who suffers from anxiety, but the way to control it is to get help how to manage your thoughts and difficult feelings and fears. That will also help the feelings in your body. No one here denies you feel it, but it is about what causes it, and that seems pretty clear is not asthma but anxiety.
yeah it may be true but im so thinking its worse..it wont go they have taken me down from the brown x
And that is why you need to see your GP so that he/she can refer you to someone who understands anxiety. Just like loads of people here have said. If they can help you reduce your anxiety you may feel loads better.
I think you already know the answer to that question as you have read a lot of the posts on here. Concentrate on the here and now, if you do have mild asthma it is well controlled as you have already been told
Maybe because you have been posting about this same thing for 3 years.
yeah i no im annoying...
No I mean that for 3 years you have been on these boards asking do I have asthma, will it get worse, I don’t know what to do....Well, has it got worse? 3 years ago you were saying the EXACT same questions and if you haven’t had an asthma attack in 3 years, you either don’t have it at all or it is well controlled. You have ANXIETY honey. How are you addressing the one health problem you clearly do have? Do you have access to a mental health provider? If not, that’s something you do need help with and you should have it.
Shannon I have read each and every post and I have such empathy for you so if there is any thing I can say to make you feel better you can sure talk to me!
thankyou so much i just think i shouldn’t you might get annoyed like everyone else has x
Hi Shannon, I hope you feel heartened that once you started responding and interacting with the good people on this forum there has been a wealth of support for you.
I think it was the posting then not responding that started to get to people.
All the very best to you, anxiety issues are not easy to offer general support for, which is why everyone has been guiding you back to your GP for the professional expert care for your personal needs to give you the tools you can use going forward for a better quality of life. X
As everyone has already said to you in these and previous posts you quite clearly do NOT have anything to worry about regarding your physical health & you would serve yourself well to go see your GP & explain your anxiety about your health & he/she will be able to reassure you completely that you have absolutely nothing to worry about regarding your physical health. They will also be able to help you regarding the chronic anxiety which you clearly do have.
Please be extremely grateful that you clearly do not have any real problems regarding your respiratory health as it’s a living nightmare & can very dramatically and negatively affect your overall health & quality of life. I have had several very close calls where I have ended up in resuscitation unit with the doctors desperately trying everything to try to open my airways as I was acidotic & my organs were closing down. That’s only one of the times which I could tell you about Shannon and believe me when I say that you would absolutely be symptomatic if you had asthma & you do NOT want to have it.
I would love nothing more than to be in your position & to not be plagued by the phenotype of asthma which I have (SREA)I & all of the associated health problems & side effects of the various medications I have to take. I genuinely hope that you are able to get help for your very obvious anxiety and move on with your life, feeling extremely grateful that you are in good physical health, unlike a lot of us here on this forum. Good luck.
Shannon97• in reply to
i think that then it just all comes back ti me like what if,what if..i see something and its like is that me..like is it going to be worse x
• in reply toShannon97
Hi Shannon,
This is why it is so important to go and talk to your GP about your worries. No matter how much reassurance we give you, it really isn’t going to stop the worry and the thinking about ‘what if’. You need some more professional help with this and addressing your health anxiety with your GP will be the first step.
For this to work, it is important that you write down a list of everything that you are questioning/worried about and ask the GP about your anxiety, asking for clear answers (you have mentioned that feeling of uncertainty being an issue a few times) and tell them that you are really struggling with health anxiety and for them to confirm for you that the tightness is anxiety-this will help you and help them get you the right support. You just need to ask for support for anxiety so they can address the real issue.
The first step (and the hardest!) is asking for that help for the first time but I do believe that if you go ahead and do this, it will help you with your anxieties and worries.
Side note(as others have said)-reading things on here will not help and will really make you worry more as it is a part of having health anxiety-constantly comparing yourself to others who are struggling and really worrying about ‘what if’ you are the same really wont help and will make you feel worse.
• in reply to
As someone with severe asthma, other health issues, and anxiety, I can categorically say that while I agree with a lot of what you have said, I take issue with your line that you “would love nothing more than to be in [Shannon’s] position” because she clearly has very severe anxiety and people really have no idea how debilitating that is. It severely impacts on people’s quality of life, their ability to work, and their physical health. Saying you’d love to be in her position is like saying you’d love to have, say, chronic cluster headache because it’s not fatal. But it’s also the most painful thing a human being can experience. In other words, it’s apples and oranges and I know as someone with a disease that’s tried to kill them multiple times that you might not understand that because I’m guessing you feel like you’d trade anything for a non-directly-fatal illness but please keep in mind what I’ve said. Shannon also doesn’t ‘want’ asthma, which is very clear by her posts, and as someone with training in mental health first aid I just want to remind people that comments like that in situations like this are counterproductive!
That said, I understand what you’re saying and agree with a lot of it: although I empathise fully with Shannon, I too struggle seeing constant posts which ask exactly the same thing as if new answers are going to magically materialise, while seemingly not taking on board any advice given, when I’m doing everything I can to deal with my condition.
• in reply to
I have read your message & I do not really understand why you have chosen to “take issue” as you put it with my comment. I also have anxiety myself because I have had so many near misses and unbelievably close calls - not only in relation to some very bad asthma attacks (I have SREA) but also because I have also suffered two major heart attacks, one of which was a ‘widow maker’ & the doctors could not believe that I survived it as my LAD was completely occluded, it was a STEMI & my ipatropium levels were well over 900 when they’re normally below 20. Believe me when I say that you have no idea of the anxiety I have endured since these things have happened to me, particularly as there is no history of heart disease in my family so it was all a terrible shock to my family & myself. I feel like I am living on my nerves now & never know if or when I could suffer another heart attack as I also have Churg Strauss /EGPA so yes I have a better understanding than most people of anxiety and the effects of it on a person. I feel it was entirely fair, right and appropriate for me to make the comment in my message to Shannon which I did as I feel fairly certain that most people in my position & a lot of the good people on here would agree they would love nothing more than to be in the position where their asthma was not presenting them with any real problems.
I addressed the issue of Shannon’s anxiety by advising her to see her GP & explain to him or her why she’s so anxious etc.
I understood that this forum was for people to try to help each other and offer advice where it’s been asked for- & Shannon has been asking for help repeatedly & according to one of the other people who tried to offer her advice, for some 3 years now.
The last thing I expected was to be admonished for trying to offer help & advice to someone.
Hi Shannon. Let’s look at this in sensible steps. Reading back through your story on here clearly you have asthma-like symptoms. You’ve had clinical tests which indicate at worst a mild asthma which is well controlled. This is very positive and encouraging. Quite understandably you’re worried about your health in general and asthma in particular. It does look as though that the anxiety is probably at such a pitch that it’s making your asthma symptoms worse. And that’s not fair, especially as you’re only 22 with all your adult life ahead of you. Your next step is to tackle the anxiety, and the best way to do that is to ask your GP for help. It’s a challenging step to take. We all find it relatively easy to talk about physical symptoms, but very much more difficult to discuss our feelings. But good GPs recognise that our physical and emotional feelings are inextricably linked. If your anxiety about your physical health is negatively affecting your physical health then it’s definitely time to tackle that anxiety. As much as it can help in the short term to commit your concerns to an Internet forum this approach won’t ever address the real issue. Why should anxiety blight your life in this way? I’d encourage you to take the positive steps to reclaim your wellbeing. You can do this, and when in years to come you look back at all this you’ll be glad that you did.
Just read the above what wonderful advice go now Shannon and phone for that appointment or get your mum too you will be glad you did 😄😊💕
I don't know you, I don't know what's exactly wrong with you, but simply because I've seen you here I'm praying for you. Even if that's all you got out of it, it is worth it.... But it does seem you have good support here from some good people. Don't worry about the hard hearts, they've reasons their hearts are hard, they are hurting. Just love others the way you want to be loved and move past anyone who's not aligned that way during your journey. May God give you grace and strength for each day, may He give you wisdom, knowledge and understanding x
This site is for everyone. Perhaps, in some cases, one condition may trigger another. Please stay.
The site is for everyone, however this forum is aimed at those with asthma (or with family with asthma etc). In this situation Shannon is highly unlikely to have asthma (as every test is negative, only symptom is tightness which isn’t affected by inhalers - reliever or preventer and has been told to wean off inhalers), but health anxiety and anxiety in general. Her being on this forum isn’t good for her as its worsening her MH. So in the nicest possible way this isn’t the place for her and she’ll feel better not being here, but solely on the anxiety forums (where she already posts the same posts she does here).
as everyone knows or well can see i worry so much but ive never worried so much about my lungs not ages since ive always worried about my heart..if it is just very very mild (which is good) is it going to turn bad..ive got an ultrasound tomorrow on my chest xx
every ache,pain,tightness i am thinking its my lungs/heart ☹️ xx
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