This has been going on a while now maybe I am too dumb to rationally reduce my anxiety.
Basically I have had the condition Chronic rhinosinitis with polyps since I was 23. Twelve years later I have been under ent had ct scans which have shown some sinus thickening, they said it didn’t look too bad and advised me to carry on with nasal steroids.
The issue is over the past year I have had a combination of anxiety, frustration with my sinuses (reduced airway patency on and off) and throat sensations. At times it feels as though my nose and throat not allow enough air in, as though there is a resistance. It could be phlegm, dryness from the steroids it’s hard to really tell. I have been checked out medically it has been more or less put down to anxiety. I have kept an eye on my peak flow 24 hour variation is low. Spirometry was normal and I haven’t had classical asthma symptoms as such.
My main issue is a cycle of fear over breathing issues. I know that about 60% of people with my nasal condition develop asthma (expecially females) . My dad developed nasal polyps and asthma when he was 40 so I’m half expecting to develop it. When I get the above symptoms I mentioned (feelings of reduced sinus/throat openness) I automatically get anxious as it makes me wonder if an asthma attack is occuring for the first time. I then start checking my peak flow and pinching my nose to see if enough air is getting down. Even when I have convinced myself that it is just sinus issues/throat sensations I then go on to worry about developing a first asthma attack in the future.
I have even had CBT for my anxiety over the past year but I still can’t stop the automatic fear that comes with my sinus sensations.
I can admit to not being the most sensible person so I’m wondering how would someone sensible and rational deal with this? What would be their thought process?
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Blueforest23
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I would consider what I am worrying about. You are worried that someday you might have an asthma attack.
Does it matter having an asthma attack, I think not, it is not the most pleasant thing to have, but when my appendix went wrong was worse.
You have an asthma attack, you might have several, then they bring it under control with all their drugs. It might take time, but that is life.
As you get older lots of diseases crop up that we have to endure, asthma is one of them, but it is by no means the worst. If you get it, you get it, it is by no means that bad.
Hi,Am so sorry to hear about your health problems. Please dont think you aren't sensible and rational. The fact you have tried CBT shows you are both of these things. I would certainly keep up with the cbt or try other techniques for helping you to calm yourself. Maybe other breathing exercises.
Yes you may not develop asthma but I know only too well that worrying about things could even bring on a panic attack.
There are some wonderful and very helpful people on here so I hope they can help give you some advice.
You aren't alone in your worries and well done for feeling confident enough to talk about it on here.
You sound very sensible to me - you are aware that the fear you are experiencing is excessive and you are doing what you can to deal with it! Anxiety is a horrible condition to live with, but do keep going with the CBT - the effect can be cumulative, so you may find you gradually improve.
It's hard when our fears focus on just one thing, but it might help to remind yourself how small a risk you are talking about. While it's true that some people have a first asthma attack that is sudden, severe and with no warning, most people experience milder symptoms first. Some people experience asthma for years before getting diagnosed, and they still survive! The fact that you already know you have a condition which increases your likelihood of developing asthma means you are alert to the symptoms and also means that your doctor knows this is a possibility - so you are much more likely to spot symptoms and be able to get help than someone who is ignorant of what asthma is like.
Practicing breathing exercises might also help - I find that when I am experiencing a flareup, focussing on my breathing technique is really helpful, both in physical terms (not adding to my symptoms by breathing incorrectly) but also in giving me something to concentrate on other than 'I'm feeling awful and how much worse am I going to get?' Even if your breathing issues are caused by anxiety, not asthma, this might help keep you calm while you evaluate what you need to do next.
Hi. I can empathise with you. There are some excellent breathing exercises and techniques to use to help with the horrible feeling that you cannot get enough air in. Exercises such as “the secret/ silent yawn” help open up your throat muscles and techniques such as “short sniff and blow” help to get back to breathing when feeling that you are struggling. They are exercises given by Speech Therapists and Respiratory Physiotherapists. There’s lots to try. There might even be a link on here that someone knows of? They really do help.
You say that you have had nasal polyps for 12 years. During that time has any medic suggested they be removed? During the last fifty years I've had polyps removed twice. After the last time they haven't regrown, so my nasal passages are clear. On both occasions I had sinus washouts also, to clear my sinuses of infected mucus.My asthma attacks normally come from infection. I get a cold which persists and infects my lungs , so my lungs clog up. It's gradual so I can get medical help before it gets really bad. I used to have around three attacks a year, all from catching a cold.
I've had no attacks caused by infection since before the Pandemic .
It may be the modern way is not nasal polyp removal.
As for asthma attacks it's best not to worry. The last I had was out of the blue, a week ago. Something upset my lungs, though there was no infection. It was harder to breathe. I couldn't sleep, and was sat upright in a chair. I went to 111 online and answered its questions. The result said phone 999. So I did. I spent just 14 at hospital. I noticed that the longer I was away from home, my health improved. I worked out that what my lungs reacted to was tobacco smoke. I had a visitor for three days who didn't smoke in my house, but his clothes smelt if tobacco smoke.
I now can avoid that situation again
So don't worry about an asthma attack, but do get medical help if you get one. In 49 years of being asthmatic only 3 of my attacks have warranted hospital admission, one back in 1983 for 12 days, one 7 years ago for 3 days, and one last week for 14 hours.
Hi Blueforest. I have chronic rhinitis but no polyps. I also have asthma. I know what you mean when you talk about being unable to breathe and thinking it is asthma. For quite a while I was getting breathless when doing strenuous things, carrying a hoover, housework etc (I don’t mean climbing mountains or doing marathons 😁) I used to reach for my blue inhaler, feeling the anxiety levels go up thinking it was the start of an asthma attack. Then, don’t know why, one day I “tested” my breathing by taking a big breath through my mouth - nothing wrong. I mentioned it to my consultant who referred me to ENT. He prescribed Flixonase spray with a plan that if it didn’t do the job to move to drops and an antihistamine nasal spray.
The mouth breathing thing is something you could possibly do to reassure yourself that is your nose that is the trouble. You might find this reassuring. I also sometimes use Otrivine nasal spray when it is really bad, but not often and not for long as this can cause rebound congestion - my blocked nose doesn’t cause me to get anxious but I do get bad tempered with it!
Do you see ENT on a regular basis? As I said, I don’t have polyps but I know they can be removed. Maybe you could ask your consultant about this? I reckon that if a condition is causing a lot of anxiety and a small op would change this then it might just be a possibility.
The other thing I was wondering is if it is allergic rhinitis? If so, do you take antihistamine? At what dose? This again is something you could discuss with your consultant. If it is allergic, you could maybe try the antihistamine nasal spray ( not the over the counter ones - they are all steroid sprays.)
Maybe you just need to be busier. I do not know what you do for a job, or what hobbies you have, but anxiety is made much worse when you have nothing else to focus on. Perhaps you can find something which you like doing and which is a help to someone else, to look outside your immediate problems. You have access to the medical help you need and although CBT didn't work for you there are other talking therapies you might try. Have another chat with your GP to find the best solution for you.
I don't know if I am sensible and rational. I do have asthma, but I have not suffered from anxiety. I don't know if anxiety is treated with medication, or whether your anxiety is treated with medication. I may be underestimating the anxiety.
My thought process is this. What can I do to reduce the anxiety ? Have you tried yoga ? Have you tried methods of calming your self ?
This may be totally off the wall, but something occurred to me last night - I'm assuming by your comment about females being especially likely to develop asthma that you are female? And I notice that you make a new post about your health concerns every month or so... Do you think there is any chance your health anxiety might be linked to hormone changes? I used to get terrible feelings of grief and anxiety - usually generalised, but sometimes linked to health - and it took me a long time to work out that these feelings were on a monthly cycle! And weirdly, just knowing that the feelings were linked to hormonal changes made them easier to cope with - I could 'listen' to how I was feeling, but remind myself it was temporary and would ease in a few days.
Obviously, this may be completely irrelevant to you, but I thought I'd mention it just in case it is helpful.
Thanks, hormones are something I haven’t thought about tbh, you may have a point. My instinct is that I am still ruminating over bodily sensations/symptoms as I still don’t fully understand what is going on, despite tests ruling out this and that. I am just afraid of an asthma attack suddenly occuring out of the blue as I remember it happening with my dad I have had CBT but still have the fear as ridiculous and neurotic as it sounds
I do notice that I feel more annoyed/angry just before a period but this is all I assumed is happening. You may have a point, I’l def take more note of it, maybe anxiety can be part of the hormonal cycle like anger
You've b very sensible,and v brave opening up as u have.It does sound that u have health anxiety + sounds hard to cope with.
Anxiety is a major trigger for breathing problems so concentrating on help for anxiety,should help u.
Perhaps accessing cbt again may help,now u know what it involves.its hard work,involves determination + time to work on info given,to be effective.
" controlled breathing" techniques in a relaxed manner,are v useful eg pursed lips breathing, are extremely useful to maintain airflow + help u focus on breathing,distracting u from anxiety. Xxx
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