UNEXPLAINED LUNG SENSATION AND SOME SOB.

[Bubblelicious]

Do any of the people here with asthma have experienced lung sensation with mild shortness of breath while not having an attack? I feel.like there's something going on with my lungs, but I'm not having an attack. This has started mid January and is still going on. Started Symbicort 2 weeks ago. My doctor believes its all stress related, since I've had perfectly controlled asthma for 30+ years. I'm very stressed. Anyone experience this?

[twinkly29]

There are all sorts of things that cause cause asthma-like symptoms (tightness, shortness of breath, coughing, even wheezing - one, some or all of these) but very often they are not asthma and don't respond to asthma medications.

The symbicort will take another 6 weeks or so to kick in properly (if it's going to help). But trying relaxed breathing techniques (or other relaxation techniques) when you get these symptoms might be worth a try. Having recently had covid, I found these really useful for the "breathing symptoms that weren't asthma related" - not saying yours is related to covid at all but it was really interesting to me how different actually the 2 issues were. They kind of feel the same but to me I just knew which bits were asthma related and which were not - and they did indeed respond to different things, asthma to reliever medication and non-asthma didn't improve with that but did to breathing exercises and relaxation.

I have the (slightly weird) advantage that I'm plagued by asthma issues much of the time so I think that helped - I suspect it's more difficult for people who don't really get issues with their asthma (because it's mild or moderate perhaps but well controlled) because they assume all breathing symptoms=asthma when much of the time they're not.

Stress might be likely - I don't know your particular situation but the last year has been weird and hard so I think it will be a very common underlying issue for many people.

These posts might be of interest - one about inhalers (there'll be info in there relevant to the symbicort) and one about asthma mimics (refers to anxiety but the idea would be the same for stress):

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

[Jolius]

Hello, yes I am experiencing the same thing.

Like there is not enough air in my lungs and I just cant breath enough of it. In that moments I dont cough I dont wheeze or anything similar to asthma attack but I have a strong feeling of passing out if I am doing somehting phisicaly in that time or anyhting that requiers me to put some strenght in it.

I have been using Fostair inhaler for almost 2 years now and my asthma was always in control, also my spyrometry was always good.

I had a rough period for that 2 years related to family,job and egzistention in general which coused me a lot of stress. I am not sure if that is realted to it but I just cant get rid of that feeling.

If you get any better or find a way to get rid of it without using inhaler please message me.

[Jolius in reply to Jolius]

EDIT: also I got to mention that I tried using xanax in that moments since my doctor also belives that cause of this is realted to panic attacks and stress. But I got to say that it didnt helped me at all

[twinkly29 in reply to Jolius]

Feeling like you are going to pass out and air hunger are classic signs of breathing pattern disorders, one of the asthma mimics and also common alongside asthma. If not caused by asthma (as in we need to remind our bodies how to breathe properly because they get used to bad habits), it can be caused or brought on my anxiety and stress as they cause unpleasant symptoms and, again, our bodies adapt unhelpful ways of breathing to compensate.

Breathing exercises such as these (particularly stages 2, 3 and 4 in the programme) can be very helpful.

lifeguidehealth.org/player/...

[mylungshateme in reply to twinkly29]

Was just going to say sounds like BPD/ hyperventilation disorder. Follow the link twinkly has mentioned above give it a fair go. 🙂🤞🏽

[Minerva20]

My first post on this site. I've been a passive reader for a while and my thanks to everybody for all the helpful info-sharing.

Sorry to learn about your SOB, Bubblelicious. I've had something similar for quite a while and had begun to despair. I was shocked/ surprised (pleasantly) to discover that taking medication for hyper-acidity helped enormously. I am on Lansoprazole (proton pump inhibitor) now and my breathing has improved markedly. I have mild gastritis and I suspect that silent reflux through the night was triggering a tightening of the airways.

I have had asthma since I was a baby, and ABPA and severe bronchiectasis for some decades. I've also been recently diagnosed with mild heart failure. I knew all these could cause the worsening SOB so you can imagine my surprise when it was a PPI that came to the rescue. I'm taking probiotics alongside to make sure the PPI doesn't in turn cause all the usual problems with SIBO etc. The gastritis, incidentally, set in after a period of high stress at work.

[Poobah]

Breathing exercises are definitely good to do. We all pick up bad habits and if it is stress related then you can learn to moderate your breathing in order to introduce some calming influence when things are challenging. There are plenty of ideas on YouTube - I try and find vids made by qualified physiotherapists. Of course, you may wish to see a private physiotherapist. I've done this for other issues and they are worth every penny.

If you are still grappling with stress then you could consider short term course of medication. I've had two periods in my life where my GP prescribed Amitryptiline, as well as counselling. It wasn't until I received the benefits of these that I realised how much I needed them. These things can creep up on one and it's difficult to recognise the accumulated affect.

Hope you find a resolution that suits you. All the best.

[Bubblelicious in reply to Poobah]

Thank you!!! I will look and search for some of these videos you mentioned on YouTube.

[Maltesemama]

Hi Bubblelicious, Yes I had that for several months.....One Doc decided it was anxiety, as my lungs sounded clear. He put me on Colonzepam 3 x a day and it cleared up! Now I still take it. Wonderful drug! Good luck!

[Bubblelicious in reply to Maltesemama]

I will ask and inquire about that medication this week!! Thank you so much for this info.

[Bubblelicious]

Wow!! Thank you everyone for the amazing replies 🥰❤ The anxiety came from many things:I work at the hospital, and with Covid well, no further explanation necessary. You can all imagine.

I had a serious accident 6 months ago, a motorcycle hit me in my truck, he was going 150km per hour and I was going 90 km per hour. He died on impact...I made it through, with a broken foot and a bit of whip lash, and scratches, and mental trauma although, knowing it wasn't my fault. He was in my lane and he lost control of his bike.

Then about a month and half later, my daughter gave birth to my first granndchild, and because of Covid, I couldn't be there for a month to help her, thanks again to Covid. I finally was able to visit after 2 months and doing a 2 week quarantine in a Airbnb in Toronto, a block away from her house..that was very stressful because there were cats, my asthma acted up...it was awful.

I was off work for 3 months.

Its been a rough year to say the least. We had just bought a house and 2 days later my husband was on hold for 3 months because of Covid. The company shut down. But he was called back after and were both doing ok...except now all this lung issue.

I do Transcendental Meditation 🧘‍♀️ 2x per day for 20 to 30 minutes...I just started doing yoga...but I have to ease into it my right arm is still rehabilitating from the accident.

I see a physiotherapist 1x per week.

I take a cortisol control natural medication to help calm me a bit. Symbicort for about 3 weeks now.

That's my story in a nutshell.

[twinkly29 in reply to Bubblelicious]

Erm that's a humongous amount of stress, strain and understandable anxiety!!

No wonder you're struggling.

I think I'd try some relaxed breathing exercises (there are some on this link which is free respiratory physio thing but am sure there are others online: lifeguidehealth.org/player/... ) and used them (anything that relaxes you and encourages slower, more even breathing) when you feel sob. It's highly likely that most of your symptoms are caused by anxiety not asthma (given what you've been through and that your asthma was well controlled). In any case, it can't hurt to try them while waiting to see if the inhaler improves things. If the current issues aren't caused by asthma then it won't - but hopefully it will control your asthma as well as it was controlled before to at least keep things stable there.

But I do think you need something to use like the breathing techniques when you are symptomatic.

[Bubblelicious in reply to twinkly29]

Ahhhh...thank you again! Yes, it's been a crazy year to say the least. My meditation is all about breath and it includes breathing exercises, therefore I believe at this point I'm heading on the right tract, however I will explore those links with the breathing exercises. I won't leave stones unturned. I used to be a runner as well...5km to 7km, about 4 times a week. Mind you, anxiety has always been on my heels, and I did suffer from situational depression 4 times during my life. I will persevere and hope to get back to my normal. 😊

[twinkly29 in reply to Bubblelicious]

Ah that's good and your exercises may well be better - generally speaking but also because you already know them so then it's easier to do them as and when you have symptoms rather than having to think "how do I do this again?!"

[Bubblelicious in reply to twinkly29]

And on top of all this, the straw that broke the camel's back, my father-in-law, whom we were so close to, was sent to the hospital I work at for back pain, and that's about tge time my new lung sensation problems started. They kept him and after 11 days he contracted Covid. It was especially stressful as I work in Diagnostic Imaging and he came to our department a few times, and he eventually died the night after his 90th Birthday...and I took this especially hard. It just took me over the edge stresswise.

So, I suppose I should be convinced by now it's stress related. I did go for Covid testing, snd I was negative. I just really questioned everything and backtracked my steps...it seems to go back to everything that I've dealt with the past year.

[mylungshateme in reply to Bubblelicious]

Flipping heck 😱😱😱. The past year has been so weird and stressful but you really have had it from every possible angle. And I am so very sorry for your loss. I would be more shocked if your symptoms weren't due to trauma/exhaustion to be honest.

I'm glad your doing meditation for time out. It maybe a good idea to really speak to your gp, you may need additional help to get you through this raw and traumatizing patch. X🙂

[Bubblelicious in reply to mylungshateme]

I agree...I decided to make an appointment for some counseling. My gp has been truly amazing and also recently was referred to our local adult asthma clinic. I think with time, I'll get this lung issue fixed. And thank you kindly for your kind words. 🥰

[Flowergirl78]

Yes I have experienced this. I am opposite to some in that I had the stress and anxiety before the asthma. Looking back on childhood I had some red flags for asthma but had much greater stress issues to deal with. I learnt to deal with these by breathing techniques. This was self taught survival breathing techniques so personally don't advocate breathing techniques unless also seeking professional help. This led to me disbelieving asthma symptoms for awhile and now am up and down and haven't managed my asthma well. Stress can totally mimic breathing issues as I have both. You do learn the difference between them. I cant explain how, you just become aware of the difference in your bodies reactions to them. I didn't think I would but it did happen. I have learnt from this site that you can't dismiss breathing issues. Even if it's stress get professional help especially if it's enough to make you stop and think about it. Breathing should never have to be an effort (even though it is for so many of us 🙁)

[Bubblelicious in reply to Flowergirl78]

Hello Flowergirl78

Thank you for your reply.

You mentioned there's a difference between the anxiety breathing problem and the asthma attack.

It's really hard to explain the differences between a true asthma attack and one cause by stress, but I am definitely starting to be convinced of this....convinced that my latest breathing issues are stress related.

The feeling is, not a real asthma attack, but you have this sensation in your lungs that you can't have a full breath without feeling some constriction. And because I feel this, it cause me to pannick and then the anxiety attack happens. I feel this heaviness on my chest.

In the beginning the sensation was just a feeling in my lungs, but not enough to convince me I had to use my Ventolin rescue puffer. If I tried to take a deep breath, I felt I couldn't accomplish it fully. And it scarred me. And then it escalated from there into pannick and anxiety.

Now...after almost 3 week of Symbicort and 1.5 weeks of transcendental meditation, and taking regular walks, I'm starting to calm down...and I am hoping that in due time , I'll be able to reverse the damage I caused myself.

Does this somewhat sound familiar?

[Flowergirl78 in reply to Bubblelicious]

What you are describing does make sense. It's all very difficult as everything mixes together sometimes. I was told once that asthma is where you can't get air out and panic attacks are where you can't get air in (which causes the panting and in turn the hyperventilating). The problem with an asthma attack is it will feel like you can't get air in or out at the time. I'm still in a learning process with it. Only you know your body and what is normal for you and what isn't. If it is stress a ventolin probably wouldn't make a difference (someone may correct me on that?). Either way it should be sorted out and sounds like you are doing everything you can so hopefully with some time it will get better.

[mylungshateme]

Hey just checking how your doing? 🙂

[Bubblelicious in reply to mylungshateme]

So far I'd say a bit better...I thought at this point I could get away with only 1 shot of my symbicort in the am and 1 shot in the pm, but clearly my lungs are not stable enough because I was woken up with an asthma attack.. My stress is still somewhat around, but the meditation helps take the edges off. Yesterday was an amazing day I felt incredibly well. Today anxiety is a bit annoying...I'll just meditate more today. And go back to 2 shots of Symbicort 2 x per day.

Thanks for asking 🙂

[twinkly29 in reply to Bubblelicious]

Definitely go back to it - it takes about 8 weeks to kick in properly so you need to be on the proper dose for that - but even then one is supposed to be well controlled for 3 months before stepping down (with doctor's advice). If things are yoyoed then it will just keep reflaring.

[mylungshateme in reply to Bubblelicious]

I echo what twinkly said at least 8 weeks on higher dose before even thinking of reducing and that's with discussion first. As depends how well others triggers are managed ie anxiety etc. As that's a known trigger for you, it would almost be daft to reduce meds until mentally a bit fitter so to speak so when you reduce your on more of an even keel all round if that makes sense.

Honestly I've tried to rush it before and causes more stress as you feel frustrated keep going back 10 steps!

You will absolutely get there, keep meditating and making time for just you. X🙂

[Bubblelicious in reply to mylungshateme]

Omg...absolutely you are 100%. Thank you for your perspective on this, as it really makes sense. I'm going to keep up with the 2x2 times per day, until I can reduce the anxiety further. Getting there for sure but better to be slow and steady and see some progression.

[twinkly29 in reply to Bubblelicious]

Sensible approach - and meant to say before that I'm glad things have improved a bit! 😀

[Bubblelicious in reply to twinkly29]

Hi Twinkley..they have improved. It's just going to take time.

[mylungshateme in reply to Bubblelicious]

Its hard to see when it's you living in the middle of it. It's far easier for people on the outside to have a sensible perspective that's why posting on here is good. X🙂

[Bubblelicious in reply to mylungshateme]

I've gotten so much out of this situation by basically posting here. What a relief...

[mylungshateme]

Yes literally a god send this forum isn't it?! Especially with these extra challenging times and lockdown and shielding. Sometimes we know the answer or know it's a silly wishful idea but helps to hear someone else's perspective 😁 to put things in context. Hope your week is going smoothly..? 🙂