breathlessness

[ej0820]

I can't breathe!

This is probably just a post of unanswerable questions, but I'm posting anyway.

Within the last 2-3 weeks, I've noticed that I am becoming more and more breathless. I just can't seem to catch my breath for anything! I've been increasingly wheezy and short of breath this entire summer, blaming it on the weather and my lack of air conditioning. Now I'm not so sure. I just finished a course of IVs because the doc and I figured it was an infection. I even had some fevers here and there, so we were right to treat an infection. However, after no more fevers and feeling a little better, while still on IVs, I noticed my still increasingly tight chest.

More and more I feel like someone is sitting on my chest all day. The last week of IVs, my pulseox was 91-92. That's not bad, I know, but I'm usually about 95 and I didn't really think 2-3 digits lower would having me feeling that big of a difference.

We stopped the IVs, took out the PICC and my doc decided to put me on prednisone, flonase, albuterol, and a couple other abx to help with the breathlessness. My shortness of breath feels asthma related where prednisone and albuterol should do (and have done) the trick...but they're not.

Has this happened to anyone? What could this be? My coughing is increased and quite productive, but it's not colored (I don't think I still have a raging infection), no blood. I can't walk from one end of my house to the other without feeling like I got the wind knocked out of me, though. Just stepping into the shower today made me feel like someone shoved cotton balls in my lungs! All of these symptoms suggest asthma issues, but how on earth could I be treated/relieved when I'm already on drugs that work to alleviate these symptoms?

Is this my sudden new baseline? I know I need to call the doctor, but I'm pretty sure it's not an infection. I feel like a call to the doc will just make us more baffled.

Have any of you with bad asthma experienced this? What helps you guys? Would oxygen therapy be something I should consider? Have any of you been hospitalized just because of shortness of breath and not an infection associated with it? Are there other symptoms you all have had that I should be looking for if I need oxygen or another hospitalization?

Sorry long post...I'm confused, irritated and little anxious.

 

[ej0820]

I can't breathe!

This is probably just a post of unanswerable questions, but I'm posting anyway.

Within the last 2-3 weeks, I've noticed that I am becoming more and more breathless. I just can't seem to catch my breath for anything! I've been increasingly wheezy and short of breath this entire summer, blaming it on the weather and my lack of air conditioning. Now I'm not so sure. I just finished a course of IVs because the doc and I figured it was an infection. I even had some fevers here and there, so we were right to treat an infection. However, after no more fevers and feeling a little better, while still on IVs, I noticed my still increasingly tight chest.

More and more I feel like someone is sitting on my chest all day. The last week of IVs, my pulseox was 91-92. That's not bad, I know, but I'm usually about 95 and I didn't really think 2-3 digits lower would having me feeling that big of a difference.

We stopped the IVs, took out the PICC and my doc decided to put me on prednisone, flonase, albuterol, and a couple other abx to help with the breathlessness. My shortness of breath feels asthma related where prednisone and albuterol should do (and have done) the trick...but they're not.

Has this happened to anyone? What could this be? My coughing is increased and quite productive, but it's not colored (I don't think I still have a raging infection), no blood. I can't walk from one end of my house to the other without feeling like I got the wind knocked out of me, though. Just stepping into the shower today made me feel like someone shoved cotton balls in my lungs! All of these symptoms suggest asthma issues, but how on earth could I be treated/relieved when I'm already on drugs that work to alleviate these symptoms?

Is this my sudden new baseline? I know I need to call the doctor, but I'm pretty sure it's not an infection. I feel like a call to the doc will just make us more baffled.

Have any of you with bad asthma experienced this? What helps you guys? Would oxygen therapy be something I should consider? Have any of you been hospitalized just because of shortness of breath and not an infection associated with it? Are there other symptoms you all have had that I should be looking for if I need oxygen or another hospitalization?

Sorry long post...I'm confused, irritated and little anxious.

 

[ej0820]

I can't breathe!
<br />
<br />This is probably just a post of unanswerable questions, but I'm posting anyway.
<br />
<br />Within the last 2-3 weeks, I've noticed that I am becoming more and more breathless. I just can't seem to catch my breath for anything! I've been increasingly wheezy and short of breath this entire summer, blaming it on the weather and my lack of air conditioning. Now I'm not so sure. I just finished a course of IVs because the doc and I figured it was an infection. I even had some fevers here and there, so we were right to treat an infection. However, after no more fevers and feeling a little better, while still on IVs, I noticed my still increasingly tight chest.
<br />
<br />More and more I feel like someone is sitting on my chest all day. The last week of IVs, my pulseox was 91-92. That's not bad, I know, but I'm usually about 95 and I didn't really think 2-3 digits lower would having me feeling that big of a difference.
<br />
<br />We stopped the IVs, took out the PICC and my doc decided to put me on prednisone, flonase, albuterol, and a couple other abx to help with the breathlessness. My shortness of breath feels asthma related where prednisone and albuterol should do (and have done) the trick...but they're not.
<br />
<br />Has this happened to anyone? What could this be? My coughing is increased and quite productive, but it's not colored (I don't think I still have a raging infection), no blood. I can't walk from one end of my house to the other without feeling like I got the wind knocked out of me, though. Just stepping into the shower today made me feel like someone shoved cotton balls in my lungs! All of these symptoms suggest asthma issues, but how on earth could I be treated/relieved when I'm already on drugs that work to alleviate these symptoms?
<br />
<br />Is this my sudden new baseline? I know I need to call the doctor, but I'm pretty sure it's not an infection. I feel like a call to the doc will just make us more baffled.
<br />
<br />Have any of you with bad asthma experienced this? What helps you guys? Would oxygen therapy be something I should consider? Have any of you been hospitalized just because of shortness of breath and not an infection associated with it? Are there other symptoms you all have had that I should be looking for if I need oxygen or another hospitalization?
<br />
<br />Sorry long post...I'm confused, irritated and little anxious.

 

[tleigh]

Erin
These are all great questions and actually similar to some of the experiences that I have had this summer. If you are not getting the results w/ your typical asthma flare-up meds...I would pursue the oxygen side of things. This is what actually ended me up in the hospital. Shortness of breath-struggling with just moving air-it felt different than my asthma tightness, it was just like I couldn't get enough air. So, into the ER I went and my ox sat was at 80-been here 4 weeks and "hopefully" headed home soon on oxygen and IV abx.

 

[tleigh]

Erin
These are all great questions and actually similar to some of the experiences that I have had this summer. If you are not getting the results w/ your typical asthma flare-up meds...I would pursue the oxygen side of things. This is what actually ended me up in the hospital. Shortness of breath-struggling with just moving air-it felt different than my asthma tightness, it was just like I couldn't get enough air. So, into the ER I went and my ox sat was at 80-been here 4 weeks and "hopefully" headed home soon on oxygen and IV abx.

 

[tleigh]

Erin
<br />These are all great questions and actually similar to some of the experiences that I have had this summer. If you are not getting the results w/ your typical asthma flare-up meds...I would pursue the oxygen side of things. This is what actually ended me up in the hospital. Shortness of breath-struggling with just moving air-it felt different than my asthma tightness, it was just like I couldn't get enough air. So, into the ER I went and my ox sat was at 80-been here 4 weeks and "hopefully" headed home soon on oxygen and IV abx.

 

[lilywing]

Hey Erin <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Do you know if your doctors have ruled out aspergillus? I know when I first cultured it back in 2008, I was feeling terrible, but in a different, more asthmatic way (and I don't have asthma). I did 4 rounds of antibiotics in as many months with no improvement, just continued decline (because of course, a fungus does not respond to antibiotics). My doctor (don't ask me why or how) failed to recognize the aspergillus, it was actually another doctor reading my cultures (holy FRUSTRATING!!). Anyways, it was later determined that I was allergic to the aspergillus in my lungs (ABPA), explaining the tightness and especially asthmatic symptoms.
I hope your doctor has ruled this out, and I hope you get some relief and see some improvement soon!
KElly <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[lilywing]

Hey Erin <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Do you know if your doctors have ruled out aspergillus? I know when I first cultured it back in 2008, I was feeling terrible, but in a different, more asthmatic way (and I don't have asthma). I did 4 rounds of antibiotics in as many months with no improvement, just continued decline (because of course, a fungus does not respond to antibiotics). My doctor (don't ask me why or how) failed to recognize the aspergillus, it was actually another doctor reading my cultures (holy FRUSTRATING!!). Anyways, it was later determined that I was allergic to the aspergillus in my lungs (ABPA), explaining the tightness and especially asthmatic symptoms.
I hope your doctor has ruled this out, and I hope you get some relief and see some improvement soon!
KElly <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[lilywing]

Hey Erin <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />Do you know if your doctors have ruled out aspergillus? I know when I first cultured it back in 2008, I was feeling terrible, but in a different, more asthmatic way (and I don't have asthma). I did 4 rounds of antibiotics in as many months with no improvement, just continued decline (because of course, a fungus does not respond to antibiotics). My doctor (don't ask me why or how) failed to recognize the aspergillus, it was actually another doctor reading my cultures (holy FRUSTRATING!!). Anyways, it was later determined that I was allergic to the aspergillus in my lungs (ABPA), explaining the tightness and especially asthmatic symptoms.
<br />I hope your doctor has ruled this out, and I hope you get some relief and see some improvement soon!
<br />KElly <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[ej0820]

hey guys!

I guess my second to last culture showed aspergillus. I've had it before. My doc has checked my IgE levels to see if maybe it could be ABPA and I think it's been pretty much ruled out. I'm on sporonox just to treat what was there last time it showed on a culture, but like I said, my IgE levels weren't increased, and I've been on abx to treat what is still there for a good week or so now.

I hate not knowing what's up. It's making my vest and therapies so much harder to do because I'm beginning them when I'm already out of breath. Throw in the coughing and I feel like I'm done for! There have been two or three occasions during/right after a vest in the morning that I considered going to the ER for oxygen...or something! Not to mention, because it's harder to do my vest and nebs, the time I'm taking to do them properly (or even incorrectly but to a point that I feel a little better) is multiplying! What took me 45 mins to do, now takes me nearly an hour and a half.

Can you develop ABPA over time? When I first cultured aspergillus in 2002, I didn't have a problem. The second time in 2004, my IgE levels were through the roof (suggesting allergy) so we did a few allergy tests (mold, oddly, came back negatory). This time, I cultured it at a time I wasn't really feeling too bad. Not bad enough to think it was the culprit anyway. Besides which, my IgE levels have been normal. Is it possible that over the years of culturing it I could have developed an allergic reaction to it though?

Ugh...

 

[ej0820]

hey guys!

I guess my second to last culture showed aspergillus. I've had it before. My doc has checked my IgE levels to see if maybe it could be ABPA and I think it's been pretty much ruled out. I'm on sporonox just to treat what was there last time it showed on a culture, but like I said, my IgE levels weren't increased, and I've been on abx to treat what is still there for a good week or so now.

I hate not knowing what's up. It's making my vest and therapies so much harder to do because I'm beginning them when I'm already out of breath. Throw in the coughing and I feel like I'm done for! There have been two or three occasions during/right after a vest in the morning that I considered going to the ER for oxygen...or something! Not to mention, because it's harder to do my vest and nebs, the time I'm taking to do them properly (or even incorrectly but to a point that I feel a little better) is multiplying! What took me 45 mins to do, now takes me nearly an hour and a half.

Can you develop ABPA over time? When I first cultured aspergillus in 2002, I didn't have a problem. The second time in 2004, my IgE levels were through the roof (suggesting allergy) so we did a few allergy tests (mold, oddly, came back negatory). This time, I cultured it at a time I wasn't really feeling too bad. Not bad enough to think it was the culprit anyway. Besides which, my IgE levels have been normal. Is it possible that over the years of culturing it I could have developed an allergic reaction to it though?

Ugh...

 

[ej0820]

hey guys!
<br />
<br />I guess my second to last culture showed aspergillus. I've had it before. My doc has checked my IgE levels to see if maybe it could be ABPA and I think it's been pretty much ruled out. I'm on sporonox just to treat what was there last time it showed on a culture, but like I said, my IgE levels weren't increased, and I've been on abx to treat what is still there for a good week or so now.
<br />
<br />I hate not knowing what's up. It's making my vest and therapies so much harder to do because I'm beginning them when I'm already out of breath. Throw in the coughing and I feel like I'm done for! There have been two or three occasions during/right after a vest in the morning that I considered going to the ER for oxygen...or something! Not to mention, because it's harder to do my vest and nebs, the time I'm taking to do them properly (or even incorrectly but to a point that I feel a little better) is multiplying! What took me 45 mins to do, now takes me nearly an hour and a half.
<br />
<br />Can you develop ABPA over time? When I first cultured aspergillus in 2002, I didn't have a problem. The second time in 2004, my IgE levels were through the roof (suggesting allergy) so we did a few allergy tests (mold, oddly, came back negatory). This time, I cultured it at a time I wasn't really feeling too bad. Not bad enough to think it was the culprit anyway. Besides which, my IgE levels have been normal. Is it possible that over the years of culturing it I could have developed an allergic reaction to it though?
<br />
<br />Ugh...

 

[JORDYSMOM]

I read this yesterday, and didn't have time to post. I was also thinking aspergillus. I think that if it is out of control, you may have developed an allergy to it. It's worth checking into anyway.

Also, it may be time for O2. Maybe not continuous, but to use at night or during really hard times. Jordan's asthma gets way out of control sometimes, and no amount of bronchodialators will open him up enough without adding O2, so off to the ER we go. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

One more thought: Has anything in your environment changed that would cause an allergic reaction? I hope that you can figure it out, and feel better.

Stacey

 

[JORDYSMOM]

I read this yesterday, and didn't have time to post. I was also thinking aspergillus. I think that if it is out of control, you may have developed an allergy to it. It's worth checking into anyway.

Also, it may be time for O2. Maybe not continuous, but to use at night or during really hard times. Jordan's asthma gets way out of control sometimes, and no amount of bronchodialators will open him up enough without adding O2, so off to the ER we go. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

One more thought: Has anything in your environment changed that would cause an allergic reaction? I hope that you can figure it out, and feel better.

Stacey

 

[JORDYSMOM]

I read this yesterday, and didn't have time to post. I was also thinking aspergillus. I think that if it is out of control, you may have developed an allergy to it. It's worth checking into anyway.
<br />
<br />Also, it may be time for O2. Maybe not continuous, but to use at night or during really hard times. Jordan's asthma gets way out of control sometimes, and no amount of bronchodialators will open him up enough without adding O2, so off to the ER we go. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />One more thought: Has anything in your environment changed that would cause an allergic reaction? I hope that you can figure it out, and feel better.
<br />
<br />Stacey