All,
In Jan this year, I had acute onset of dyspnea, chest heavyness, audible wheezing, like a whistling when I exhaled. I was smoking at the time, been smoking off and on since I was a teen, I am 43 now. I have had some long periods when I didn't smoke. This last time was for about 4 months, pack every 3 days. When this began that was it for the cigs. I used my Albuterol ( I have a hx of allergic asthma I thought, but maybe it never was) but it didn't take the sensation away completely. If much at all. My Ex wife, and I got a dog around this time, I am allergic, so thought it was the dog. Went to see the GP, he listened to my lungs, sounded fine, except on forced expiration, when I coughed and wheezed. Prescribed a steroid inhaler. I used it, and it did take away a dry cough I had, otherwise no difference really. Maybe slight. Had a CXR too, was normal. Saw a Pulmo in April, thought it wast he dog. Sent me to a allergist for testing, even tho I knew I was allergic. She did spirometry in late May, well above normal. My FVC/FEV1 was 78. FEV, FVC both over 100. Still I had the constant dyspnea. Prescribed Dulera, not much difference. Maybe some. But not much.
I have been away since June fron New Mexico, and the dog. I am in Alaska now. Been on a ship, on shore, in different places. But the dyspnea remains. ALL the time. The whistling noise, the heaviness of breath. Wheezing. I go to stand up, it gets worse, I walk, it is worse. You can hear it, well I can. Take a shower worse. Always there. Sometimes I exercise, not as heavy as I used to, and I don't notice it as much, but I still do, if that makes sense. When I stop, sometimes the whistling, the heavyness intensifies. Lifted weights this morning and was so out of breath, thought my heart was gonns leap out of my chest. 02 sats 96-98. And I have this sore throat too, especailly after activity. Mornings seem to be the worst. No cough, no phlegm, no fever. I have not been sick this year, thankfully. I wake up with a dry mouth every morning, used to breath through my nose at night mostly.
I had a spirometry done 5 days ago: FVC:6.06, FEV1 4.39, FEV1/FVC 72.9
Post Albuterol: 6.49, 4.79 73.8. Yes, good numbers, well above normal. Except for the ratio which is close to the cutoff of 0.70. Even went to 68 today when I did one, and came up to 72, post Albuterol. That is a big difference from May! Still, with how I feel, not sure how this is possible. I have constant dyspnea and this whistling, harsh breath sounds. Feel like they are in my throat. If I do a forced expiration, you can tell I wheeze as well. I wonder if I have emphysema, and have for awhile, but thought it was exercise asthma. I never used my inhlaer much prior to this, and when I did, any wheezing went away COMPLETELY. Now I use it more often, and not much change. Lasts maybe 2 hours, and I am still uncomfortable.
I am supposed to see the Pulmo doc on 11/9, for full PFT's. I emailed him the spirometry and he said it looked fine. Asked him to comapre it to May, have not heard back. Not that it matters I guess. I know you can have emphysema, and normal PFT's, but how I feel, I should be late stage, yet the spirometry says otherwise. Many people have early COPD, and no sxs. What gives? I know it affects everyone different, but this is crazy. People can have norma spiro, but a low DLCO, I guess I will know soon. I may ask for a chest CT too. The pulmo said if PFTs normal, then we can discuss other causes. Guess I wil know soon. I asked him about the FEV1/FVC ratio. He said I was overreading it. That handheld spiro makes results look worse than they are. Mine were "normal". But I feel like crap, since Jan! Overall, it is not as intense as it was at the start, but in some ways feels worse. Especially the past few days.
Anyway, thought I would pick some brains on here. See if anyone had similar circumstances? Opinions please. I know the numbers look ok, but I feel terrible. As I write this, I still have the feeling. Especially in the morning. I have this high pulse rate and worse dyspnea, even with standing, walking. A few weeks ago, I could hit the sauna for an hour or more. Lucky I can get 30 min, if not less. Tired all the time and get dyspnea from talking. If I think back to last spring, I had a similar problem, something didn't feel right in my chest, and I had the harsh breath sounds in my throat, mild dyspnea. Stopped smoking then, had been for like 3 months. This went on until July I think. Also happened in 2011, just came on out of nowhere. Was told I had vocal cor dysfunction. Can't recall if I was smoking. I didn't have the fixed wheeze then. This is different though. Didn't wheeze like I do now. Maybe I have had copd awhile, but didn't know it, discounted it as Asthma, not sure anymore. I just feel like crap! I use Albuterol now, maybe once a day, takes the edge off. I could use it more, but what is the point? Does not really help. Even if I had mild copd, the amnt of breathlessness is too much! Ill admit, I am anxious, not sleeping very well, this is understandable. Not in my head, despite the long winded post. Yeah I am depressed and anxious. No hx of either of those. Ill add that I have not had a cig since Jan, soon as this began. I knew something was wrong and was done.
Ok, don't mean to come across as neurotic, just I am super bothered by this. Please excuse the long post. Many of you have lived it. Appreciate any feedback.
Be well,
Patrick
getting closer to finding the real problem 
Quite worried there's something seriously wrong.
COPD CT scan with contrast Vs fev1/fev
Help with confusing PFT results 
50yr old smoker just quit have some questions
