Asthma Sufferers - I need your input, please.?

Question

I have been battling mild breathing problems for the last 4 months. Started with bronchitis, but problems have persisted. My dr said "you have a touch of asthma & it's making your symptoms last longer. Breathing problems can last 6 months after bronchitis in people with asthma".

If you have asthma, I'd like to know what it FEELS like. What are real symptoms you experience? I've looked at sites, I know what they say. I'm looking for human input.

I am 38 & smoke. Please don't respond to preach about emphysema/smoking, (although some can't help themselves). He did every test under the sun including chest xrays & blood work for cadiovascular disease, because I went in telling him I thought I had emphysema & was going to die.

I don't have emphysema - he said so all 3 times I called & had him recheck my xrays (ugh). I don't have chronic bronchitis (had it once). I am quitting though, because he said smoking with the asthma will make symptoms worse. I am asking about asthma.

Thank you all very much for the great answers so far and I will keep trying to quit smoking.

Killbill - My dr didn't say anything about your saliva getting really thick and not to spit, so thanks so very much. Sometimes it feels like I'm choking on it, but the more I spit it out the worse it gets.

The tickling thing too - usually my throat, chin, and roof of my mouth. Some wheezing, but mainly my chest feeling tight and feeling short of breath sometimes. Esp when it's humid outside.

I do have an inhaler and it helps when I use it.

Answer 1

I'll describe what an asthma attack feels like for me. Everyone is different.

My chest will begin to feel tight, almost as if someone is sitting on me. I'll try to breathe in, but it's as if there is no room for the air. If I try too hard to breathe, I'll begin to cough, expelling what little air I did get in. The only way I can breathe is in small, shallow breaths, because a deep one will make me cough, and the more I cough, the tighter my chest becomes. Heart rate begins to shoot up, as if I were running. I can hear the blood pulse in my ears. Blood pressure skyrockets from 115 to over 200 (can't remember the bottom number). Eventually you can hear a whistle or wheeze with every breath, and at that point it hurts to breathe. If I don't run for an inhaler fast, I'll wind up in the ER in an hour.

Mine is primarily allergy triggered, but if I get a case of the giggles, that can bring it on. Also a coughing fit will do it, like if I accidentally swallow something wrong.

I do a lot of focused breathing, sorta Yoga style, to control it. It helps a lot, you can actually slow your heart rate down... I think the blood pressure/heart rate is more from the panic that begins to set in as you start to starve for air, and in turn it increases your need for O2 which sets off a vicious cycle.

Answer 2

You're docter is right smoking wil make you're asthma worse. I have asthma --( pretty mild though)-- you would know if you had it, its more than just being out of breath. Here is how asthma occurs - at least in my case. Keep in mind if you are overweight asthma could be caused by that.

1.) Spit gets really thick & hard to swallow
2.) I feel like my throat is being sewed shut
3.) Oviously my face gets really red
4.) I have a minor slurred speach, and might even cry


What can you do?

When you are going on even a brisk walk bring an inhaler just in case- even if peple think you don't have asthma bring an inhaler. If you start to have breathing probelms use you're enhaler and get home, if you have a cell phone call a friend, or family member call 911 only in severe cases also,drink water. DO NOT SPIT, even if you're spit gets thick moisture can help an asthma attack drying out you're mouth will make it much worse.

Last but no least get many opinions from docters - be safe and purchase an inhaler.

Answer 3

I did not develp asthma until I was aged 24. I am a non-smoker & always have been, btw.
I got a lung infection & have wheezed ever since almost on a daily basis. 10 yrs. now.
Asthma symptoms don't have to include wheezing. It could be just a little tightening in the chest. Shortness of breath...
Use the albuterol inhaler & see if it relieves it.
I get bad, when I laugh too much.
Bad smells, like perfumes, burnt stuff all irritate me & make me tight in the chest.
Walking, exercise causes severe symptoms.
Colds, allergies always make my asthma worse.
Cat hair now bothers me, did not before.


Oh, & you should try to at least cut down. (just had to say that) ☺

Answer 4

My brother is an asthmatic and after ten years his asthma has shown no sign of improving. He has been to several doctors but they didn't help much.

If you want a proven, all-natural way to cure your asthma, without having to pay for useless medications with harmful side-effects, then this is the most important page you'll ever read.

Answer 5

If feels awful. You do literally feel as if you are going to die. You fight for lots of the day just to get a good breath in. I was coughing so much my entire body would be extremely sore. My chest hurt most of the time with an extreme tightness, and I remember my throat being raw from all the nastyness I was coughing up. Laughing would make me start a coughing fit as well..That took a couple of months to get over when I quit smoking,. Which, btw..I would wake up and cough so much I would throw up a lot of mornings. I quit 5 months ago when my doctor told me that at the rate I was going to have lung cancer within 10 years. I went to one of those laser therapy places and it worked wonders for me, my boyfriend, and his boss (who smoked 3 packs a day for 35 years). Good luck to you. I hope you get scared enough some time from getting so sick that you quit.

Answer 6

I developed asthma years after my toddler had it. It was easier for me than trying to figure what was wrong with him. Wheezing can be just a slight tingle in the chest. It could be as bad as trying to breath through a coffee stirrer. Use your inhaler don't wait until it's too last, or you'll be in the ER. I never knew when to give my 2 year old his inhaler.

Answer 7

for me I have no problem drawing air in I just cant seem to get enough old air out to replace it with new air. I feel like I have had my chest sat on by an elephant who refuses to move. I cough and wheeze. Usually get dizzy and a slight headache (lack of oxygen )

My 12 yr old son wheezes and complains of extreme chest pain and turns blue around the mouth and breaks out in a cold sweat.

**just so you know a cup of HOT coffee or ICY water will some times relieve a mild attack enough to locate your inhaler. (I can never find mine when I need it and start getting in a panic)

Answer 8

I have asthma too, It is inherited all my family has had it even the ones that never smoked.after awhile they call it c.o.p.d.my sister died this past Dec, with it she was only 58yrs old I'm not going to lecture you cause I still smoke myself but, I know I must QUIT .some days I can hardly walk or get out of bed.. If at all possible stay around air cond,drink hot drinks and sometimes pepsi helps,avoid cured food like ham, Years ago an elderly lady told me her Dr. told her to drink Blackberry Brandy I tried it mmm it works too,of course she never told me how much l,o,l

Answer 9

Well, I'm a year older than you & have the same bad habits...but my family often questions if I human!
The only way I can get through the day with my asthma is to take Loratadine once a day (10mg) (it's a sidekick of Claritin)
it helps a great deal, because I also have a cat & a dog that contribute to the problem as well.

Answer 10

In asthma one gets attacks of breathlessness, cough and sputum that is difficult to bring out. It may start with slight sneezing, cough and feeling of soreness in the throat. Sometimes there is itching in the ears as ears are connected with throat internally. The attack may be mild and go away soon, or it may be severe demanding medication/ even hospitalization. It is known to be caused by allergy. People who had skin allergy in early childhood are prone to get it. Sometimes it goes away itself. Polluted (Dust, smoke) environment, smoking (active or passive) and using heavy perfumes should be avoided by such patients. It's a pitiable condition if you see a patient in severe attack. I hope u got what u wanted.