This is my first post on here I think. Almost a year ago I was in hospital as I couldn't breath, felt like I was suffocating. I'd had a chest x-ray 6 months previous and was told my lungs were quite normal and my dr couldn't find a reason for my breathlessness. It did improve for a while, but came back in the December. By New Year Eve I was feeling as I said and rang 111 they said I must go to the walk-in and see a doctor. He said I was only breathing from half my lungs and I must go into hospital that night. I was in for a few days, they did a chest x-ray, lots of different blood tests, an ECG which they said was normal. However they found my lungs were hyperinflated and also I had fluid on my lungs. They gave me Furosemide intravenously which made me feel much better. The report they sent me home with was a possible undiagnosed COPD but I needed further tests which my doctor would perform. They sent me home with 2 inhalers salbutamol and fostair.
The tests were requested within 3 weeks, that was almost a year ago and I still haven't had them. I was told by the nurse at the surgery that there was a backlog and I was on the waiting list. I still don't know my what my condition is, but I am sure I have a lung condition of some sort. I felt so well on the fostair I stopped worrying about the lack of tests. I have been feeling breathless occasionaly over this time but not very bad. The surgery rang me a few weeks ago to discuss my meds and he said I hadn't been diagnosed with either COPD or asthma and why was I on inhalers, I told him I didn't know, he said if I felt there were doing me good to stay on them. I have spoken sometimes to the nurses on UK Lung and Asthma and they thought I didn't have COPD as I was too well to even have first stage. I have hardly smoked in my life, a few cigs for a short while almost 60 years ago.
Why I am writing now, the last few days I have been feeling more breathless though not like last year, that wouldn't worry me too much I was going to see if it improved again as it isn't too but I have become very worried about the fact I now have swollen ankles, I didn't have that last year, they kept checking them in hospital. It was only mild but now is much worse and not going down completely in the morning like it was. I looked on the web and it came up with all sorts of terrible things. I don't know what to do, I hate going to the docs while there are so many bugs about and I feel very vunerable.
I was wondering if anyone on here had swollen ankles with any lung condition.
I'm sorry this is so long I just wanted to explain what's been going on. Its also a long time without a proper diagnosis.
I hope someone can throw a little light on this.
Thank you
Pauline
P.S. I am 80 years old and appreciate there are many people much, much worse than me
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You really do need those tests to find out if you have COPD or some other lung condition. After all the hospital requested it. So many things can cause swollen ankles, You need to talk to your GP about that. Good luck- you can't allow yourself to be left in limbo.
If you mask up well , use hand sanitiser as you go in and out of your health centre that will help allay your fears , also ask for the health professional to be masked if they are willing .
So make an appointment , explain your symptoms so you get the correct tests carried out ….lots of things can cause breathlessness , a blood test can help rule out anaemia for example .
I am sorry you have had to wait a year for tests ….I have found in my case the messaging between hospital and GP can fail sometimes . I have had to chase up a 24 hour heart monitor test , and a letter that went to the wrong hospital.
Sending best wishes , contact your surgery today and explain your symptoms .
Try and get a GP appointment and tell him all you have said here. Something has gone amiss between the hospital and your GP although I don't quite understand why the hospital didn't undertake more tests themselves. Having felt better with the fostair would indicate lung disease in my opinion, also the fact that you were prescribed it at all. As has been said, there are several causes of ankle swelling but you need a definite diagnosis. It's a pain having to chase things up but don't let it ride. Good luck and best wishes. Let us know how you go on.
Hi Pauline 🙋♀️, I have Bronchiectasis, recurring Aspergillosis & Asthma. I have had swollen painful feet & ankles for about nine or ten months now. I have had blood tests and an echocardiogram all of which came back ok. GP hasn't contacted me for further investigations yet so will ring for an appointment as it is getting worse! So I understand the worry it's causing you. Once the reason is known I think it's easier to deal with. Sorry I couldn't come up with any clues for you but hopefully we will both find out soon what the problem is. 🤞🤞. Take care and keep us posted 🙂xxx
You need the tests to see exactly what is wrong. Fluid retention don't ignore and it may just mean you need Furosemide again - I had water retention and was given Furosemide tablets.
Tomorrow ring your GP if you feel worse tonight ring 111.
Good luck, don't ignore fluid retention with breathing problems.
Hiya and welcome to the forum.fostair is good as it helps keep inflammation under control& has a bronchodilater aspect to it as well .if u stop it,then symptoms start- well Yr nurse will probably agree u shouldn't stop it.The salbutamol is a "reliever"spray - used to help relax dilate airways, to ease symptoms.
Lots of us have fluid retention. Given that u had fluid in lungs previously+ its s new symptoms,u should see Yr gp x
Im sorry to hear you’ve been struggling, sounds like you need to follow up on those test results and find out what was causing your problems, I have bronchiectasis and when I take one of my preventative medications (Azithromycin) I get a lot of water retention in my ankles so it could be a side effect of the medication but the best way to work out what is going on is to ask for a review with your GP or specialist so you can discuss your symptoms in general. Good luck and I hope you get some answers!
It was swollen ankles that led to my first hospitalisation with Copd flare up, along with breathlessness of course and I was on furosimide and restricted fluids for five days before being sent home with permanent oxygen. Do insist on seeing someone about your anles as it can be a sin of other things.
hi lhave copd and had op for lung cancer which l am in remission l had a reoccurance of breathlessness in november which l was hospitalized for 3 days had xray and a ct scan also it was starting to look that l hade blood clots on my lung which l was treated for by blood thinners however it was noted that wasnt the case my feet had swollen in the summer but l didnt think much of it because of the heat but it hadnt actual gone down enough going into autumn/winter l now have odema the outcome of my hospital admission is l now have pulmonary fibrosis so please please follow up those tests for your own peace of mind
I find it disgusting you haven't been seen for over a year. Bugs or no bugs, you're health comes first and demand to see a doctor about this as you shouldn't have been left this long. Ooooh it makes my blood boil. As for swollen ankles there are a lot of meds that can cause that so bear in mind it might be a side effect of your current meds, another reason to see your doctor. Demand chook and when you do go wear a mask and take hand gel. I always hate it when I have to go to the surgery. Let us know how you get on. 😉👍
Nothing different to say from what others have said, just wishing you good luck with getting an appointment & hopefully some answers, do keep us posted on what happens, sending hugs, & happy new year wishes xx 💐🌷🌼
I have interstitial lung disease, a lung scarring that has been diagnosed as caused by Systemic Sclerosis (an autoimmune disease).
I too have swollen ankles, the swollen ankles arrived around the same time as the ILD, the swelling increases as the day progresses. If I sit or stand in one place it brings on the swelling more so than if I keep on the move.
I also get the breathlessness and heart palpitations/heart racing sometimes accompanied by breathing difficulty!
I don't know if it's connected to the ILD or the Systemic Sclerosis.I have mentioned it to a number of the GP doctors at my medical centre with no specific response. I was given advice to sit with my feet raised for a few hours during the day.
I have also mentioned it to the respiratory and the rheumatology specialists.
If I discover anything I will post it here, similarly if you find anything I would be grateful for similar!
Can you make a telephone appointment with your doctor if you don't want to go into the surgery? I think you need some answers & if it gets worse l would take yourself to A & E because at least you will be seen & get the attention you should already have received! Sorry you seem to have been left adrift not knowing what's going on.... time to demand some answers l think! Hope you feel better soon! Xx
Hi I think you may have mild heart failure as has my husband don't let your surgery put you off ask for a face to face appointment this is your right.they need to sort out what is wrong not keep giving you medication when you are undiagnosed. So I urge you to insist(nicely) on getting assessed
I was on a blood pressure tablet years ago, and a locum at the surgery changed it for a different one, and my swollen ankles stopped being swollen. I can't remember what that medication was called, but if you are on any blood pressure medication, look on the leaflet and see what side effects it can have. Apart from having COPD and Bronchiectasis, I have mild to moderate heart failure. I am on a diuretic to keep fluid off vital organs. Trouble is, I can't take it if I'm going out, say shopping, as I need to be near a toilet.
Thank you for replying, I do know what you mean about diuretics, my dad was on them for 20 years for water retention and daren't take them when going out as he needed to be near a toilet
Hi Pauline. Like you I’ve got swollen ankles. They used to just come up when it was hot. They are now coming up in the cold too. I’m eighty too. I think a lot is we are getting older. I have got a problem with my lungs and I’ve had spinal fractures so lots going on. It may be that our hearts don’t work the same. It doesn’t mean we are going to die tomorrow. It just means it’s working harder because we are older.
Hi Navaey, I think you cound be right about the age. I do have a problem with my spine I think it is a curvature, the hospital thought itcould impact my breathing but didn't think that was my problem at that time
my xrats always come back as clear but always get chest & throat infections and coughing up chunks of grey brown pink sputtum, did you have ct with contrast please, do I’d you have many symptoms for a long time too
I don't know if I'm putting this in the right place but I would very much like to thank you all for your kind and caring replies. Getting a doctors appointment is dreadful. No appointments this week and none next week. I don't even think the doctors are there this week only a nurse and health care advisor, whatever that is. A nurse rang me about 3 weeks after I left hospital in January and said to have the tests I would have to attend a clinic they hold there sometimes. She said they don't have them very often now and it may be months. She couldn't say when. There is a backlog and I was on the waiting list. They would be in touch, she sounded very casual about it as if it didn't matter much. That was 11 months ago, still not heard! Keep safe everyone x
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