I have allergen asthma and since Thursday I'm having asthma attacks that are quite bad. I have hay fever but it has been rather cold here (it actually snowed), I haven't been outside much besides going to the car and into a restaurant and I have no other allergy symptoms (no itching eyes/throat/ears/nose, no sneezing, running nose, whatsoever). Normally my other allergy symptoms are already bothering me by the time I start having asthma attacks. I also have food allergies (nuts, certain fruits) but I haven't eaten anything I'm allergic too - as far as I know. The asthma attacks start mainly in the evening, around 5pm and last throughout the night - in fact they were so bad I couldn't sleep last night. But I actually have one right now as well. It feels all cramped as if somethings tightening around my chest and it's really hard to breathe and the part right on and slightly below my ribcage hurts when I touch it or somethings brushes against it (a pillow for example). Also, my hearts racing and breathing kinda hurts a bit. I have salbutamol and a cortisone spray here to inhale, my allergy pills and cortisone pills (I got them last year when my allergy was real bad (and so were my asthma attacks)). My doctor said to use the salbutamol spray whenever I have an asthma attack, the cortisone spray once in the morning and once in the evening and the allergy pills one in the morning and one in the evening. When I got the cortisone pills I was told to take 2 straight away and then one in the morning and 1/2 in the evening. Right now I have used the salbutamol but it did absolutely nothing... I also used the cortisone spray like 30 minutes ago and I had one of my allergy pills in the morning. I actually had an appointment with my doctor on Tuesday, they did the usual breathing tests/checked for oxygen in my blood etc. and my lungs weren't working the way they should, they were quite a bit below the norm. They gave me salbutamol and after 15 minutes my lungs were working just fine, they did the same tests again and I was above the norm. The oxygen in my blood thing was at a 100% for all three times they did the testing. I don't know what was up with that - the doctor mentioned it but didn't seem concerned since I had no complaints/trouble breathing at the time. Since it's Easter I obviously can't go and see my doctor right now. I'd have to wait till Tuesday to make another appointment. What could it be? Should I go to the emergency room if it doesn't get better? I mean can they do something to help me? Can they prescribe a different medication that could work? Figure out if there may be another problem (since right now it doesn't seem to be allergy/hay fever related, as far as I can tell)? Because the salbutamol really doesn't help - it's as if I haven't taken anything at all.
First things first - your comment about nuts....are you sure? Allergens are all over. Secondly...when were you last tested? Are you seeing a specialist? Your bed - is there something that you think might be a problem? Carpet? Anything in your house? In terms of what else is left........if you absolutely can't get over it or aren't having an easy time, go to the ER. when you go to your doctor, maybe ask if you can get a chest X-ray, just to be sure there's nothig in there that shouldn't. I have horrible allergies/asthma...so, personally, I feel like your meds aren't regulated well enough. It's a tricky field because we all react differently.
ALWAYS go to the emergency room with a asthma attack if regular meds don't help. They can give you an aerosol and intravenus meds there and prescribe different meds if necessary. It could also well be something completely different, like pneumonia. They might want to X ray your chest and check your blood on signs of infection. Then again, anxiety can give the same symptoms. But it must be very uncomfortable. Please don't wait until you fall unconsious or something. I got an asthmetic friend and they told him always to just call 911 if his spray doesn't help when he has an attack. (But it can take up to 20 minutes before if works). Hope you let us know how it went...
Yes, I'm sure about the nuts. When I eat them my throat itches and then starts to swell. And I get a rash around my mouth and my lips start to swell as well. Same goes for certain kinds of fruits. As for my hay fever, it's mainly Birch (REAL bad) and Hazel, but some other trees as well. I got tested for allergies and when they put on the Birch stuff my arm doubled in size because the swelling was so bad. I have no problems with animal hair though. I developed the asthma about 2 years ago. The allergy test was a year ago, the breathing/lung tests were on Tuesday, so five days ago. Yes, I am seeing a pulmonologist and I have a check up once a year. Well, it starts way before I go to bed, around 5pm and I usually go to bed around midnight and before I'm in the living room watching TV. My mom hasn't changed the linen since Monday (and the attacks started Thursday). I could ask her about a new laundry detergent or fabric softener though since I noticed a different smell on the freshly washed towels? We have no new furniture or carpet in the house and haven't painted the walls or anything. Well, my allergy medication takes a week to really start working but then I'm usually fine. The other stuff has worked so far, don't know why it isn't working now. What could be in there that actually shouldn't? I actually had a pharyngitis last week and was given antibiotics. Don't think it's anxiety, I had real bad panic attacks last year that had me in tears, dizzy and vomiting and feeling as if I was suffocated. I had to go to the ER three times in one day. It feels nothing like that - I'm actually rather calm since I know how freaking out makes asthma attacks worse. I have my parents and my relatives (who are over for dinner at 6) here, so they're all watching me. I could breathe normally for about an hour, but now it's started again. Before it lasted like 3 or 4 hours (the breathing problems). I took my spray about 45 minutes ago and nothing has changed so far. The spray I have is supposed to start working within seconds and reaches its maximum after 15-20 minutes - as you said. My lungs are also making a weird noise when I'm turning my upper body (while sitting or standing) to the left or right, it's like a hchr hchr hchr... I'll wait what happens during the next few hours/in the evening/night and will go to the emergency room if it really doesn't get better. What exactly do they do there if someone comes in who has an asthma attack/trouble breathing? Of course I'll let you know how I am and what the doctor says. Thank you so much for your help, guys! (*hug*)
The times I've gone to emergency with asthma, they've taken me off to a bed and asked me a bunch of questions about my medical history. Then they hooked me up to an EKG (sticky electrodes attached to your chest) and an oxygen monitor (thing that gently clamps on your finger and shines a light through it). And they got me to try to breathe out as hard as I could into a tube, and then gave me a face mask thing that makes a hissing sound and releases an airborne medication. That medication made me start vibrating, which I gather is a common side effect.
Yup, this is pretty typical. That's the typical reaction to most asthma medications (specifically, albuterol/inhaled substances.) Your heart rate is increased. Now, there are some inhalers that can be given which are better for higher heart rates (the vibrating.)
Hey guys - just a quick update for you: I was hospitalized after I went to the ER. They're pretty much sure it's Myocarditis, but still doing a few more tests. I feel a bit better but I'm soo bored - very thankful for having EC right now :lol: Thank you so much for your help guys! (*hug*)
Thanks for the update. I got quite worried. I'm sad to hear that it ended this way, but it shows how important it is to go to the ER when your meds don't work. I hope you come out okay! Are you at least feeling a bit better now? Big hug!
Ahhh, makes so much sense! Everyone should take a lesson from this - if you think something is wrong, then go get it figured out. Find a doctor you can trust or go to the ER if it is truly bothering you. Keep us updated - best of luck!
OK so it sounds like you could need a better asthma management plan. I don't know much about the differences between countries but I would ask for some type of pulmonary function testing. I know that salbutamol doesn't work for me either... Makes my heart race etc. At least salbutamol is an option for you at the moment. While I wait for an appointment I was told that if I have an attack to call an ambulance :bang: One thing i would do is get your hands on a peak flow meter. Measure your peak flow every day and write it down. That way if it starts to drop you can act on it before an attack happens.
Aww, you got worried - that's soo sweet (*hug*) I'm feeling a bit better, but the combination of the two (Myocarditis and asthma) is sooo annoying. But it's a rather mild/moderate case of Myocarditis, so I got quite lucky - could have ended much worse... But I can go home tomorrow Big thank you hug! (*hug*) Yeah, it totally does, right? Definitely - I was actually at a friends house when my breathing started to get worse and I could barely speak and my heart was racing so fast - I was shaking like crazy. Poor guy probably thought I was going to collapse right there - I scared the hell out of him. Thank you! (*hug*) The ER doc actually said my asthma management plan was pretty good. They did the pulmonary function testing and there actually was something wrong but they gave me some medication and then it was fine. Since I didn't have any complaints at the time, they didn't worry much about it though. I have different meds now, some stronger ones and some to treat Myocarditis. Thank you for your help! I hope you're doing fine!
// edit: Just saw that you already went to the ER. I'm glad they found out what was wrong, and I hope you're feeling better! My asthma was always 10x worse when I was sick with something else, too. // Hello hello! I have year-round allergy-induced asthma, so I'm a pro. If you have been taking all of your medication on time and are still having asthma attacks or any uncomfortable symptoms, your asthma is not under control. If you have taken your salbutamol/albuterol and still have difficulty breathing, go to the emergency room. I know it sounds silly, and I was always reluctant when my parents took me, but they can give you a nebulizer treatment and medication that will improve your breathing until you can see your doctor for a full-time solution. I'm not a doctor, but you probably need to increase the dosage of your medication. What pills are you taking? Singulair? I would go to the ER. I was that person that tried to tough through it and I ended up passing out in school. Feel free to ask any questions. I know how frustrating this illness is and remember how many nights I sat up crying because I couldn't sleep.
Yes - I'm feeling better and I'm back home now Having asthma attacks at night is the most awful thing ever - in the beginning (before getting the right meds) I had attacks lasting several hours and I sat up crying endlessly as well. I was so scared and so tired...it was horrible... Thanks for your help, prism! (*hug*)
