Tight Chest.

[Claire-12_12]

Advice needed please.

These last few weeks I've been having a tight chest like I have a 1ton weight sat on my chest.

I've tried everything what I know but doesn't seem to help.

Any advice or suggestions woukd be appreciated.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi - sorry to hear this

I’m assuming you’ve used your reliever inhaler? (Typically blue). I’d suggest calling your GP tomorrow and let them know what’s going on. It could be that you need a short course of steroids, a different preventer inhaler, or even further investigation of asthma meds are not relieving the tightness.

I am also assuming you’re tracking your PF and are following an asthma plan. If this isn’t the case it’s probably also a good idea to ask for them when you speak to your GP

Other than this, home remedy wise, some people find heat helps (hot water bottle etc), others steam (tho be warned some people are triggered by steam) and others feel like a back massage helps. However if this is tightness associated to asthma this will all likely be very short lasting. My own home remedy tends to be a mustard bath, but that is usually for if there’s an underlying cold etc.

If you want to discuss things in a greater depth it may be worth giving the AUK helpline a call. Their nurses are great and can be reached on 0300 2225800 M-F 9-5.

Hope this helps and you feel better soon

[Claire-12_12 in reply to EmmaF91]

Hi EmmaF91.

Yes am using my preventer (brown) Clinic Modulite, yes I've used my blue inhaler but it doesn't seem to help my chest is still tight, not sure what else to try.

Am not sure what to put on Ask my Gp if I did go to my GP, what to put & how to put it am not very good at that.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Claire-12_12]

You basically inform them what you have done on here. ‘I’m feeling really tight in my chest atm and have done for x days. I think my asthma isn’t happy but not sure. I’ve used my reliever but that doesn’t seem to work/last. Can you help?’

Or as I say call AUK first. Discuss it over with them and come up with a plan.

[Poobah in reply to Claire-12_12]

Emma is right. Definitely talk it through with an Asthma UK nurses first to get used to talking about the symptoms and ask what you need to stress to your GP. And after that phone call, write down what you want to say to your GP - a list of your worst symptoms and any peak flow results, what part of the day the symptoms are worse, how many times a night it wakes you, how long this has been going on, how much you're taking each of your inhalers and if you don't feel any better after taking your inhalers.

It can be difficult to speak up for ourselves so having notes helps (it's so easy to forget to say something). I hope you get treatment and feel better very soon. Take care.

[PeonyTruffle in reply to EmmaF91]

I have the exact same thing, my inhaler has recently been changed but I still am really struggling.

I did an econsult with my GP today explaining all of this, tight chest, struggling with taking full breaths and blue inhaler isn't really helping and all they told wasn't me my new inhaler (fostair) can take up to 2 weeks to work and if its getting worse, to seek further advice. And that was it.

I was seeking further advice but I guess I now need further further advice....

[Jollygood]

Hi Claire

For info the clenil didn't do anything for me, I needed something stronger. It may be you could do with a different inhaler X

[Claire-12_12 in reply to Jollygood]

Hi Jollygood am not even sure what to put for the questions they ask.

New medical problem, how long gone on for, in few words explain.

Don't want to waste Drs time when there is more pressing matters gojng off.