Asthma?

[Natsku]

I'm starting to wonder if I might have asthma. I don't have the typical wheezing symptom (although I was wheezing last week) but I get a cough lasting for weeks after I have a cold and it gets worse at night and makes it hard to breathe. Last night was the worst, it felt like my chest was getting tighter, like my lungs were filling up with a tickly fog and when I coughed my lungs would clear for a moment and I could breathe but then they would fill up again. In the end I used my OH's inhaler (reliever one) and it calmed the cough down after 3 or 4 doses so I was able to sleep. Could this be asthma? I'm worried its going to be as bad again tonight, already its getting harder to breathe and last night it was at its worse around midnight.

 

[Nela]

It's possible. I was not the typical wheezer myself, I had a very deep cough when my asthma would act up. As I get older, my asthma has started to change and I am more wheezy nowadays but when I have a major attack, I often still end up with a deep cough rather than wheezing. However, usually asthma goes away or at least gets better as you get older and most adults aren't diagnosed as having it if they've not had issues before. Is it possible your cold developed into something more like bronchitis or something? Allergies? Mold? There can be other things causing it.

Perhaps you can try some steam treatments (like letting a hot shower run and just breathe in deeply, or letting the sink run with hot water while you lean over with a towel over our head) before going to bed to make it more comfy to sleep? I imagine you aren't lying flat but if you are, try sticking another pillow or two under to sit up more. Your best bet would be to see a doctor and be tested if they feel the need but I would advise against using inhalers that weren't prescribed for you.

 

[Natsku]

The cough is getting better now it seems. I had to go to the emergency room on sunday night as it got really bad and I cough barely breathe and they told me to make an appointment with my doctor for asthma testing so now I have to measure my peak flow before and after inhaler use for two weeks.

 

[wishuwerehere]

I was going to suggest peak flow testing - usually a pretty good place to start I have asthma and it is for the most part of the typical wheezy variety, although attacks are more like a really scary fierce chest pain coupled with inability to catch my breath. I think it varies from person to person but if you do have it I suggest requesting a combi inhaler like symbicort for maintenance therapy as this has helped me hugely when used as a preventer. Hope you get your answers soon!

 

[Natsku]

I did the peak flow testing (and some blood tests and a chest x-ray which were normal) and went back to the doctor today and he says that I do have asthma so he's prescribing the inhalers now.

 

[deafgal]

Not every asthma is a wheezing type. They can make you do a peak flow test where you blow in a tube to see how much air you can blow out. If you are ahaving a asthma attack, no matter how hard you try, you can't blow very far. Sometimes my asthma is the wheezing type and other times it is just tight.either way, inhaler makes it better fast. You should go to the doctor so you can get your own meds. You probably started acting up because of allergies (like recently got a new pet).

 

[deafgal]

Ah I see, it has been taken care of