Breathing Problems

[Giggles-Wig]

Hello everyone, I'm a long term severe asthmatic, chronic pain and spasms sufferer with many other medical conditions, I just wanted ask a question, I currently suffer from chronic pain and severe asthma, I sometimes get the following symptoms, shortness of breath, tight chest, ect, when I get up on a morning I can be feeling ok and doing ok but once I've ran my bath and get in and start to relax and have a good soak, afternoon around 10 minutes I start to feel shortness of breath and tired, I then have to get out of the bath after 10 minutes as I can't stop my symptoms unless I get out of the bath after 10 mins, I get shortness of breath while soaking in the bath, I've been like this for the past few years, any idea as to what this could be, please excuse the long post!

[stamford1234]

Is the steam perhaps affecting you? Perhaps a quick shower might be better. Though it's nice to have a relaxing soak

[Giggles-Wig in reply to stamford1234]

Hi, because of long term quite severe chronic pain and back spasms, I am unable to stand for very long therefore I good soak in the bath usually helps, I was once told by an older gp that chronic pain can affect some patients breathing

[Yumz199725]

So sorry to hear your having this problem, I had a similar issue my blood pressure got so low I felt faint and had to slowly get out of bath and my heart rate was over 120 something for like 5 minutes after I got out of bath. I think my bath was too hot have you thought maybe your bath maybe too hot??

[Giggles-Wig in reply to Yumz199725]

Hi, yes I have considered the temperature of my bath, I have to have my bath at a certain temperature so that when I am soaking and relaxing, it helps my pain, I get the symptoms for so many days and then they subside but then they come back, having the water temperature lowered would cause agitation to arise and I hate being like that

[Yumz199725 in reply to Giggles-Wig]

Ahh I get that, makes sense I'm having alot of trouble with hot water at the moment so have to keep boiling the kettle and I I'm in so much pain with my back especially I think soaking in hot water was the only thing getting me through the week! 💔. Hope you can find out what's causing your tight chest and shortness of breathe, have you been to GP maybe worth going could be something else like your heart causing the problem maybe?? I know cause I have asthma and heart problems.

[Giggles-Wig in reply to Yumz199725]

Hi, i've been and saw the gp and hospital specialist on quite a few occasions as my asthma is very poorly controlled hence and I've old them about the shortness of breath especially when I'm bathing and symptoms can happen at anytime of the day when I'm watching the tv or anytime in the night, the shortness of breath is due to asthma and I now think that the asthma and symptoms are not well controlled due to chronic pain, there's not much else I can do unless my asthma medication fails, if that were to happen, then the only thing I can do is change medication if needed, on the pain side of things, I have to take liquid morphine as and when necessary for breakthrough pain, I take 50mg of pregabalin 3 times a day, I take 40mg of zomorph tablets every 12 hours (morphine capsules), I take 5ml of baclofen three times a day and I'm emergencies I take 10mg of baclofen to try and stop the pain and spasms, I hot bath get me through the day and it helps to keep my muscles relaxed enough so I can get through the day, a hot bath on a night before bed, again it helps relax my muscles and helps to relax my muscles to help me get through the night!

[Ergendl]

My first thought was like stamford1234's, that the humidity from running a bath is affecting you.

I got a temperature and humidity measuring device from a local garden centre, and find it very useful in spotting when my asthma is likely to be more of a problem because the air is damp. One of those might help you identify whether this is the cause of your problem.

For info: I can run a bath and enjoy it as long as the door is open to lessen the dampness in the air. But I can't tolerate being in our local leisure centre swimming pool reception area because the chlorine and humidity are well beyond safe levels for me.

[Troilus]

Hi Giggles-wig. It could well be that you are reacting to the steam(humidity). However, I notice you say that you experience shortness of breath and tight chestedness at other times, so I am wondering if you have mentioned this to your asthma nurse or GP. It sounds to me as if your asthma is not very well controlled right now which could be why you are reacting to the steam. I think maybe a medication review would be useful. If the GP has no solutions maybe ask for a referral to the respiratory dept at your local hospital - hospital clinics have the ability to prescribe off licence.

[Giggles-Wig in reply to Troilus]

Hi, I have already seen a specialist, gp and asthma nurse in regards to my asthma as my asthma is poorly controlled, I am currently on trimbow 87/5/9 two puffs twice a day, I also have a nebuliser incase of emergency, I have come to the conclusion that chronic pain and back spasms can cause problems with breathing

[Patk1]

I would try concentrating on Yr breathing b4 going in bathroom,and during Yr bath,see if it helps - also be sure to use ventolin b4hand.if Yr not already familiar with controlled,pursed lips breathing,u can read up on aluk website x

[peege]

Hi, you obviously need your daily bath for other health issues. However, I agree with Patk1, try taking ventolin before going in to the bath, also take the ventolin in with you for taking afterwards if necessary. (f I were in the same position I would use extra Fostair MART instead of ventolin). It's a weird thing humidity, personally damp air outside triggers my asthma whilst the warm steam of the shower soothes my airways when coughing.

I would explain all this to your respiratory nurse in case its all because your severe asthma isn't being controlled sufficiently - bearing in mind changing inhalers at this time of year can be dodgy.

[Giggles-Wig in reply to peege]

Hi, I am going to try ur suggestion, I have come to the conclusion that chronic pain and back spasms can cause problems with my breathing which is so annoying most of the time

[peege in reply to Giggles-Wig]

Have you been to a pain clinic Giggles-Wig? I was wondering if they could teach you any breathing techniques to get you through the back spasms. I wish I could help more 😪

[Giggles-Wig in reply to peege]

Hi, I have to take liquid morphine as and when necessary for breakthrough pain, I take 50mg of pregabalin 3 times a day, I take 40mg of zomorph tablets every 12 hours (morphine capsules), I take 5ml of baclofen three times a day and in emergencies I take 10mg of baclofen to try and stop the pain and spasms

[Patk1 in reply to Giggles-Wig]

Have u tried a tens machine for additional pain control for back? X

[Giggles-Wig in reply to Patk1]

Hi, yes I have tried a tens machine quite a few years ago and it never helped my pain hence why I don't have one now!