Suffering with chest problems for three months.

[Randall1990]

Hi I'm new here but have been following post for the last couple of months.

Basically I have been using a ventoline for about 30 years. I've never had an asthma attack or anything like that I just get a bit tight chested and wheezy every now and then so I use to use the inhaler about 1 puff 3 to 5 times a week which I don't think is too bad and my doctor was happy enough with that. I have smoked on and off for years but nothing heavy, the last four years about 3 a day before that about 7 a day and maybe a couple more if I went out drinking which has never been that often. I have give up totally now since last October.

Last November I started noticing I was using my inhaler more often as much as 1 puff 5 or 6 times a day and I was waking about 4 in the morning with a really tight rattling chest and need to cough up phlegm and use my inhaler to make it feel better. This went on for about two weeks before I went to see my doctor.

He listened to my chest done a check on me, took O2 levels and peak flow. Peak flow was just under 500 O2 was fine but he said I had a crackle at the top of my right lung. So prescribed me a steroid brown preventer. I used my new and old inhalers how I had been instructed and within a week I started to notice a good difference. After another week I went back to se him he done the same checks the rattle had pretty much gone and my peak flow was up to about 550 so that was good.

About 2 weeks after this this the phlegm side of it and using my inhaler more started coming back. I went back to the doctors this time my peak flow had gone down a little but the crackle hadn't returned I got prescribed steroid tablets and amoxicillin, I mentioned to the doctor I think it could be COPD he said we can bare that in mind but I don't think so. The prescriptions he give me didn't do anything.

After two weeks I went bank as I was coughing up a lot of green phlegm in the morning and throughout the plus the inhalers I was using really didn't feel like they were doing anything anymore and my chest felt really wheezy and tight. This time I got more steroid tablets and a different inhaler 'Fostair. I asked again if it could be COPD he said he doesn't think so as the sound of the wheeze didn't sound like COPD. The Fostair worked straight away relieving the tightness in my chest and the wheeze. He put me forward for a chest X-ray which I went for it come back my heart and lungs looked normal. After about two weeks I went back again as my chest still didn't feel right the Fostair was working ok-ish the ventoline didn't do nothing he done all the same checks they were the same, little bit of wheeze O2 ok peak flow about the same.

By this time I had seen about four different doctors. The next time I went I saw a women doctor she said it sounded like nassle drip was causing the phlegm and prescribed me a steroid nassle spray which didn't do anything.

That was about six weeks ago but about two weeks ago the phlegm sort of dried up but the chest tightnes and wheeze has always been there and I have noticed the last few days the Fostair doesn't feel like it is doing anything my chest is constantly tight but not so tight it's unbearable, in fact today I haven't used it at all its now 19:38.

I really think I have early COPD from smoking. I cough a little bit but it's more to try and get phlegm up, my chest is tight and I still have a little bit of a wheeze. The other day I coughed up some blood I went back to the doctor he prescribed me more antibiotics and put me down to see a chest specialist and I'm having a spiro test next month.

I don't get breathless it's just the annoying tightness in my chest which the Fostair won't touch at the moment. I have seen five different doctors none of them think it's COPD but I think they're wrong. What else could do this to me for three months I have gone from using a ventoline a few times a week to using that's or a different inhaler everyday for the last 3 and a half months.

I'm going out of my mind with worry can anyone tell me if what I have said points towards COPD..?

Thanks for letting me try and explain what's been going on..

[diesel12]

It's good that your doctor is referring you to a specialist and hopefully you'll get some answers from them. It's impossible for us to say one way or another what it could be but as the best treatment for copd is no smoking (which you don't do) good diet and exercise it won't hurt you to put that in place while you are waiting for your appointment. Hopefully it won't be too long until your appointment and I hope everything goes ok xx

[Randall1990 in reply to diesel12]

Thanks and yes I know no one can know I was just wondering if anyone has had the same sort of symptoms before being diagnosed with COPD. I have looked at the diet side of things on google and already have some of it in place I try and consume a decent amount of protein daily through milk eggs Greek yogurt ext. As for exercise I have quite an active job plus I was kickboxing till last year, I haven't been lately but I still do some training with my girlfriend circuit training and stuff like that when we get a chance. I cycle when I get a chance too, not as much as normal of late because of the weather so I'm going to get my bike out again to and see how that goes. Thanks again for replying I'm just looking for as much feedback as possible..

[Hidden]

Hi the spirometry test will show whether you have copd or not. The Fostair you are using is a preventer ie it opens your airways and you use it twice a day normally. The blue ventolin is a reliever to be used as and when you are extra breathless. I use about 1 of these a month which my nurse is happy with. Oh I have asthma and mild copd.

Hopefully you will get some answers at your consultation. x

[Randall1990 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks I'm anxiously waiting for the spio test got about a month to go. Yeah I use the the Fostair in the morning and in the evening before I go to bed. It use to last for ages and keep the tightness at bay but just lately the tightness comes back after a few hours then when if does I use the ventoline which doesn't really do anything as where it use too. Thanks for replying, how long ago was you diagnosed with COPD and how does it affect your way of life..? x

[Hidden in reply to Randall1990]

Well I was diagnosed with asthma around 30 years ago, triggered off by smoking but not causing it according to the doctor.

I was diagnosed with copd around 8/9 years ago at the mild stage and am still mild. I am not always sure which is caused by the asthma or copd, but I find that I get breathless easily especially going up hills and steps. I also wheeze a bit too and my chest does get tight. I get more tired too but this could in part be caused by age now. x

[Knicho]

This sounds like my exact story too! I've just managed to get a referral to the hospital after many trips to the gp and about 18 months of different treatments including fostair antibiotics steroids etc. I would push for a referral as your symptoms sound similar to mine however I've been told I may have COPD or bronchiotasis. I'm only 41 and have never smoked but I do have a history of chest problems including non Hodgkin's lymphoma 14 years ago.

[Randall1990 in reply to Knicho]

Thanks for replying. Really yeah that's pretty much what I have been doing but over a space of three months. I have a spiro test next month and am waiting for an appointment to come through to see a chest specialist. Can I ask if you have bronchitis can that be cleared up with antibiotics and how did the people who told you you may have one or the other how they come to their conclusion..?

[Mardi in reply to Randall1990]

Bronchitis doesn't clear up quickly -had it for 3 months last year. Knicho was referring to bronchiectasis (he had an o where the c should have been -typo) which is another thing altogether. A lot of people on this forum have it. Google it -the phlegm is very sticky and hard to shift in bronchiectasis.

[Mardi]

You should be on a preventer now even if only for the course of the illness. Oh sorry didn't realize Fostair was a preventer-I was thinking of Seretide which is a steroid based preventer .