Clear xrays/cscan but can't breathe!

[Slytherin09]

I am having this same problem! I have had asthma for years. I am on controller medications and I use a ventolin inhaler almost daily. I often wake up at night choking and I use my inhaler. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I have a home nebulizer machine for when this gets really bad. I've been tested for every allergy under the sun. This is always been blamed on my environmental allergies as there are so many of them, dust mites included. Today I'm in the hospital because I woke up choking I spent all night choking with no relief for my medicine. I finally decided to go to the hospital this morning. shortness of breath, no relief with medication, I can't walk 5 feet without being out of breath even after getting oxygen all day. And now my oxygen level will not climb above 90%. because of that they are admitting me. They've done lung x-rays which I'm told look fantastic. I got a CT scan on my lungs, was told that is normal. If I come off of active oxygen my percentage drops down to 88%. I have been sitting here on oxygen all day! I'm told my pulmonary function is fine, I see an allergist monthly, I get spirometers among other tests and I'm always told my lung function is fantastic.

No one can tell me why I'm here today or what the problem is. my blood work all came out fantastic, I was cleared for both flu and coronavirus, negative on both tests. they ran an extremely expensive viral panel after that and I was told I'm negative for everything. They just gave me steroids, prednisone 50 milligrams oh, I've been on oxygen all day long, and I'm still winded when I simply just get up and try to go to the bathroom which is 5 steps away from my bed. This can't just be nothing! and I've tried to ask if they think it's anxiety yet they've given me no anxiety meds because I don't think they believe it has anything to do with anxiety. I have mild anxiety but I know it my anxiety is over, and I treat it appropriately. I also have acid reflux and a hiatal hernia which has been blamed on some of my wheezing episodes. Even though I take medication for that and was told my hiatal hernia is so small that it doesn't need surgery and it shouldn't be that much of a problem.

Does anyone have any answers from any doctors? I'm afraid I'm going to go home and just end up back here an hour after I'm in my house doing chores and just being a normal human being. I finally stopped crying about an hour ago because I'm so frustrated and so scared. My heart was also checked and I'm told that's fine as well. I'm really at a loss and don't know what to do and I'm terrified. I googled this problem and found his page only a half an hour ago. I'm really hoping somebody has some kind of information that would put my mind at ease. it doesn't make sense that my heart races and I become short of breath like I ran a marathon when all I did was walk 5 to 10 ft at a slow pace.

Does anyone have any idea what other test I should be asking for? Please?! I'm so scared and just tired of not being able to breathe.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Hello and welcome, it sounds very much like you do get anxious which isn't nice, but none of us on here can give any medical advice. But please try not to panic and ask if you can speak to someone who can help with this. Please try to stay calm, try to relax and get some rest, and keep us updated, we are all here for so you aren't alone. Take care of yourself😊 Bernadette xx

[Katinka46]

Welcome to this forum. Many here will identify with your problems but we cannot diagnose, we are not doctors. The drop in oxygen sats shows that there is obviously something wrong. So hang in there, push for answers and try to be calm.

K

[knitter]

Is your peak flow being checked and recorded at different times of the day....before and after your reliever?

Are you still on a course of prednisolone ?

I am asking because in the past I have been in a similar situation to you, when my reliever doesn’t work anymore and naturally panic sets in .

Anxiety , breathlessness set up a vicious circle.

The best doctor who helped me , sadly moved away now, gave me a long and at first quite high dose of steroids, which were very gradually decreased week by week , until I now longer needed any reliever, and just used brown preventer.

I also had to record my peak flow twice a day....I made a graph...and report back to her regularly . I also had a bone scan to check side effects of pred. and later asked to walk regularly and safely.

I also do gentle breathing exercises to help with breathlessness and anxiety. I was prescribed Xanax years ago but that didn’t suit me.

I have slight acid reflux when I lie down , but Peptac sorts that out.

Sending best wishes.

[Spacecat1]

Have they checked that you dont retain CO2. I do and it can affect your breathing. They probably have checked but it was just a thought. Look after yourself hoe you find answers soon

[Steveb4257]

Sorry Slytherin I don't have any answers but was very interested in your post as it is so similar to my own, I found your bit about the hernia very interesting as my own doctors are telling me they won't operate on it because it is too big. They are telling me that because it is so big it can't cause any problems to my other organs. I am going to question my G P as both my consultant and my Respiratory nurse team are telling me that because it is so big it will be pushing up into my diaphragm which will affect my breathing. I am also going through anxiety problems however I am going through a therapy programme (silvercloud) at the moment which has a section which deals with lung conditions I do this from home at my own pace. I was referred although I believe that you can self refer or call in to your local talking point, it is helping me with this and other issues so may be of help to you too, as with Knitter below I also have a started with a peak flow monitor so I can provide my respiratory team a clue as to what is happening at different stages.

Hope you get sorted soon and if you do find someone who can answer your questions I would love to know.

[Troilus]

Hi Slytherin,

I’m sorry you are having such a hard time. Are you allowed to take your blue inhaler? If you can I would take a couple of puffs and wait for 5 to 10 minutes before you go to the loo.

I’m also wondering whether a nebuliser would help. When I was in hospital like you, it was up to me to ask for one when I felt breathless.

As you have asthma it is probably a flare up, but someone should be able to tell you.

Now that you have stopped crying you might start to feel a little better. Emotions can play havoc for us asthmatics. Try not to get too anxious. I know that is hard when you are not breathing properly, it is a natural instinct I think. Just keep in mind that you will get better, that the prednisone will start working, that help is there for you. You are not on your own. If panic hits, try to keep your breathing slow and steady.

And most of all, let people know you are still struggling.

Hope you start to feel better soon.