Tightness in chest: Went walking on my lunch... - COPD Friends

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Tightness in chest

Greengoddess17 profile image
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Went walking on my lunch break for 30 mins just over a mile and was fine until I sat back at my desk. Chest quite tight. Does this def mean I have copd like docs think as this is the way I felt only worse the day I done my spirometry test and so I used my blue inhaler same as that day and feel much better just a bit panicked. This is the reason the nurse could not do reversibility test as I had used my inhaler five mins before test

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Greengoddess17
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joyful4u profile image
joyful4u

I'm sure that what you were feeling could happen with quite a few medical conditions. It was good that you were getting walking in & thank God your rescue inhalent helped to bring relief. I can't speak on spirometry tests as I never had on. My copd & asthma were diagnosed by a pulmonary function test & a cat scan. Remember to drink a lot of water & think of things you can do to redirect your panicking. It's a very common thing...I have had them more than I can say. It doesn't help...au contraire. Praying for you. Let us know how you're doing. Terri

Greengoddess17 profile image
Greengoddess17 in reply to joyful4u

A spirometry test is the same as a lung function with the fev and what not. Just usually it's done then an inhaler is given to see if there is reversibility so to decide if asthma or copd. My uncle not through blood has copd and has done for 20 years he will be 60 in July but never stopped smoking and still works away as a postman. I don't even cough in night or really through the day except recently with this heat but I always would have been like that in the summer. Guess it's in God's hands. Thanks

in reply to Greengoddess17

I was diagnosed with genetic alpha one which causes emphysema ten yrs ago. My Fev1 is now at 25%. I’ve never had a cough or phlegm. Just quit smoking. It was the hardest thing of all my vices to quit by the way but I did it. And keep exercising. That’s all you can do. If you can’t control the anxiety talk to your dr about antidepressants and anti anxiety meds. If you take care of yourself good at the stage your at now you will have a long life.

Crackerjack4u profile image
Crackerjack4u

Hello Goddess

As the others have mentioned chest tightness can be associated with many medical issues (including anxiety), so it's impossible to say whether your chest tightness today was related to COPD, or something else? So you for sure want to let your doctor know about it and see if they can run some tests to determine the cause.

What you can do that might help is to write down what you had been doing, what you were doing at the time, what exactly it felt like, where was it located, were you short of breath at the time, any arm, or face pain along with it, etc. and start keeping a log to see if you see a pattern between certain activities, and when the chest tightness is occurring.

I am newly diagnosed with COPD, and I do in fact get chest pain/tightness when my COPD is misbehaving, (I also have cardiac problems too, but the chest pain with the COPD is different than the regular chest pain I normally have lol if that makes any sense). (The doctor also thinks I've had untreated Asthma for years that lead to the COPD, so I test for Asthma this Friday). The chest pain I have with my COPD from what I've been able to determine so far seems to always go hand and hand with my shortness of breath. The best I can describe what I feel at the time is that I'm short of breath, my lungs and chest feels very tight/achy and sort of racy, I often get a slight headache, and get slight left side face/left arm numbness, along with some radiating pain between my shoulder blades in my back. I think some of my chest tightness, but not all of it, is related to me getting anxious when I'm having trouble breathing, plus I've noticed that taking my nitroglycerin tablets does NOT relieve the chest pain I have at that time, but the nitro usually Does relieve my chest pain when it is actually cardiac related.

I read your other post, and it said that you are going to be retested for COPD on Monday, is that correct, or did you have the test this past Monday? I noticed that you are a non smoker, but it does appear that you were around a lot of 2nd hand smoke during your lifetime though which can often be as hard on your lungs as if you had been an actual smoker.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that your test comes back showing no COPD, so please keep us posted on what you find out, and how you're doing. Have a Great Night!!!

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