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Bad allergies, trouble breathing at times
I have allergies that are getting worse the older I get. I am allergic to trees, grass, hay, dust, and cats (so far as I know) that is all I'm allergic to, I had allergy testing 3 years ago). Lately I've been having issues breathing at times. Particularly when I'm around strong smelling things (perfumes, cologne, soaps, etc). I will start coughing and coughin and then I can breathe in ok but I have trouble breathing out. I know this sounds weird, but I feel like when I breathe out, I have to breathe in again to breathe out more, like I can't fully breathe out.
During one of these particular "allergy attacks", my husband witnessed it and freaked out and insisted I go to the hospital. I went to the ER and my oxygen level was 100% and the doctor told me to stay away from what I was allergic to and acted like it was my fault it happened to begin with. I ended up leaving after no one came back to my room for over half an hour (I was the only person in the ER that night).
A few days ago, I went to an after-hours clinic to see if there was anything I could do on my end to help with this. I've been referred to an allergist again but it will likely be 3 months before I get in.
The doctor at the clinic gave me Symbicort, told me to take it twice a day (morning & night) to help and he also gave me Ventolin, but just for an emergency and said to only use it if I had to (I haven't used it yet). He said with some people who have allergies, they have issues emptying their lungs, getting the air out.
He only gave me enough for one month, but I'm wondering if the Symbicort is the best thing. I find it kind of helps, but I feel like maybe I have a sinus infection or something. I have some post-nasal drip, I feel like I constantly need to clear my throat. I cough fairly often (not hard, I feel like I don't have the breath to properly cough most of the time), but I hardly have a runny nose at all.
I get a monthly allergy shot, I take a 24-hour allergy pill as well every day (generic Claritin-D) as well as Benadryl on occasion.
I don't know what's wrong, but I would like to be able to breathe properly again. :(
During one of these particular "allergy attacks", my husband witnessed it and freaked out and insisted I go to the hospital. I went to the ER and my oxygen level was 100% and the doctor told me to stay away from what I was allergic to and acted like it was my fault it happened to begin with. I ended up leaving after no one came back to my room for over half an hour (I was the only person in the ER that night).
A few days ago, I went to an after-hours clinic to see if there was anything I could do on my end to help with this. I've been referred to an allergist again but it will likely be 3 months before I get in.
The doctor at the clinic gave me Symbicort, told me to take it twice a day (morning & night) to help and he also gave me Ventolin, but just for an emergency and said to only use it if I had to (I haven't used it yet). He said with some people who have allergies, they have issues emptying their lungs, getting the air out.
He only gave me enough for one month, but I'm wondering if the Symbicort is the best thing. I find it kind of helps, but I feel like maybe I have a sinus infection or something. I have some post-nasal drip, I feel like I constantly need to clear my throat. I cough fairly often (not hard, I feel like I don't have the breath to properly cough most of the time), but I hardly have a runny nose at all.
I get a monthly allergy shot, I take a 24-hour allergy pill as well every day (generic Claritin-D) as well as Benadryl on occasion.
I don't know what's wrong, but I would like to be able to breathe properly again. :(
Your dr will have to do a new test because you can develop new allergies at any time. My testing revealed several new ones, but only one is being added to my serum. I don't know why, but that is the way it is.
Since you already know that you are highly alergic to trees, I am sure that is what is triggering your asthma. It has been a rough year across the country.
Living without carpets will be a big benefit for you. That should help a lot once tree season is really over and you start shots.
Take care.
Since you already know that you are highly alergic to trees, I am sure that is what is triggering your asthma. It has been a rough year across the country.
Living without carpets will be a big benefit for you. That should help a lot once tree season is really over and you start shots.
Take care.
I have been referred to an allergist yep. I had allergy testing done about 3.5 years ago and it was the ***** along both of my arms. She ended up having to do intradermal testing for a few of the things (cats, trees) because she couldn't quite tell. I am very allergic to trees too.
We've just moved into a new apartment and this one has no carpets so I'm hoping that will help with some of my allergies. Plus, I'm no longer living in farm country, however I live in Fredericton, NB now and it's known for how many trees it has! Beautiful but I hope I do ok. :)
We've just moved into a new apartment and this one has no carpets so I'm hoping that will help with some of my allergies. Plus, I'm no longer living in farm country, however I live in Fredericton, NB now and it's known for how many trees it has! Beautiful but I hope I do ok. :)
I am so sorry that I missed your last post until just now.
I am glad that you got some more meds from your priamary. I hope they help you. I pray that the specialist has more answers for you. Asthma can be difficult to learn to control and can take some time to figure out your particular case. So be patient. Remember, doctors practice the ART of Medicine, not the science of medicine. So it really can take a lot of experimentation to find the right treatment plan for you.
I hope that you will be seeing an allergist, since your allergies are obviously triggering your breathing issues. They should do an allergy test on you. When you make the apointment, make sure that the doctor uses skin ***** or intradermal testing, not RAST. RAST testing is a simple blood test, but it is frequently in acurate. Intradermal is the most accurate, but also the most uncomfortable. A lot of doctors are using a combination of skin ***** and intradermal now. It is a two part test where they ***** your back with a device that has several needle like projections. The "needles" are dipped into different allergens and your back is then scrathed with the needles. You wait 15 minutes and the dr measures the size of your reactions. If you have borderline reactions to some of the allergens, they will follow the ***** test with intradermals with only those that had borderline reactions. I had my retest done Thursday and it really isn't bad. I do have a few bruises for the intradermals though. LOL I will be wearing longer sleeves for a while. ;) The worst part is that some of the things you are allergic to might itch.
They should do a pulmonary function test (PFT) where you blow into a hose that is attached to a computer that calculates how quickly you can blow air out of your lungs which indicates if there is any obstruction in there. The specialist could also do a methacholine challenge test. Here is an excerpt from a Web MD article that describes the test.
Methacholine challenge test: This lung function test for asthma is more commonly used in adults than in children. It might be performed if your symptoms and screening spirometry do not clearly or convincingly establish a diagnosis of asthma. Methacholine is an agent that, when inhaled, causes the airways to spasm (contract involuntarily) and narrow if asthma is present. During this test, you inhale increasing amounts of methacholine aerosol mist before and after spirometry. The methacholine test is considered positive, meaning asthma is present, if the lung function drops by at least 20%. A bronchodilator is always given at the end of the test to reverse the effects of the methacholine.
From: http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/lung-function-tests-asthma
Some docotors will have the PFT done and then give you albuterol. They will wait a few minutes and have you do the PFT again. If there is a significant improvement in you PFT they will consider that a positive test for asthma.
Good luck and I hope you get to feeling better soon. Keep me posted, and I will try to keep a better eye out for your posts.
I am glad that you got some more meds from your priamary. I hope they help you. I pray that the specialist has more answers for you. Asthma can be difficult to learn to control and can take some time to figure out your particular case. So be patient. Remember, doctors practice the ART of Medicine, not the science of medicine. So it really can take a lot of experimentation to find the right treatment plan for you.
I hope that you will be seeing an allergist, since your allergies are obviously triggering your breathing issues. They should do an allergy test on you. When you make the apointment, make sure that the doctor uses skin ***** or intradermal testing, not RAST. RAST testing is a simple blood test, but it is frequently in acurate. Intradermal is the most accurate, but also the most uncomfortable. A lot of doctors are using a combination of skin ***** and intradermal now. It is a two part test where they ***** your back with a device that has several needle like projections. The "needles" are dipped into different allergens and your back is then scrathed with the needles. You wait 15 minutes and the dr measures the size of your reactions. If you have borderline reactions to some of the allergens, they will follow the ***** test with intradermals with only those that had borderline reactions. I had my retest done Thursday and it really isn't bad. I do have a few bruises for the intradermals though. LOL I will be wearing longer sleeves for a while. ;) The worst part is that some of the things you are allergic to might itch.
They should do a pulmonary function test (PFT) where you blow into a hose that is attached to a computer that calculates how quickly you can blow air out of your lungs which indicates if there is any obstruction in there. The specialist could also do a methacholine challenge test. Here is an excerpt from a Web MD article that describes the test.
Methacholine challenge test: This lung function test for asthma is more commonly used in adults than in children. It might be performed if your symptoms and screening spirometry do not clearly or convincingly establish a diagnosis of asthma. Methacholine is an agent that, when inhaled, causes the airways to spasm (contract involuntarily) and narrow if asthma is present. During this test, you inhale increasing amounts of methacholine aerosol mist before and after spirometry. The methacholine test is considered positive, meaning asthma is present, if the lung function drops by at least 20%. A bronchodilator is always given at the end of the test to reverse the effects of the methacholine.
From: http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/lung-function-tests-asthma
Some docotors will have the PFT done and then give you albuterol. They will wait a few minutes and have you do the PFT again. If there is a significant improvement in you PFT they will consider that a positive test for asthma.
Good luck and I hope you get to feeling better soon. Keep me posted, and I will try to keep a better eye out for your posts.
Just to let you know. I saw my doctor yesterday and he gave me a refill for the Symbicort and a prescription for Singulair. He said it sounds like I have 'Allergic Asthma', but if this can help me, then he would like for me to be diagnosed by the 'experts' on that so I'm waiting to hear back on an appointment!
Thanks for all your help!
Thanks for all your help!
Today was a bad day for allergies for me. I ended up using the Ventolin puffer three times today. I still feel weird using it.. I also got a nasal rinse and it's doing pretty good. I'm not feeling too bad now. I was at an antique stores today and it must have been all the dust in there (and likely a touch of mold), but I felt just awful. I have discovered I have a certain love for antiques so that's too bad.
I am glad the Ventolin is helping you some. I don't know how much you have, but if you can take it say around 5 hours apart so that you do get to feeling tight, it would help more.
When my asthma flared two and a half years ago, lots of albuterol is the only thing that stopped it. Hydrocodone wouldn't even stop my cough. I coughed for months before my dr sent me to an allergist. The allergist's head nurse told me to take 4 -5 puffs of albuterol every 3 - 4 hours and to my surprise, my cough stopped after a few days. It was amazing.
I highly recommend that you take your Ventolin (a form of albuterol) on a regular basis before you get to feeling bad.
Please do keep me posted.
When my asthma flared two and a half years ago, lots of albuterol is the only thing that stopped it. Hydrocodone wouldn't even stop my cough. I coughed for months before my dr sent me to an allergist. The allergist's head nurse told me to take 4 -5 puffs of albuterol every 3 - 4 hours and to my surprise, my cough stopped after a few days. It was amazing.
I highly recommend that you take your Ventolin (a form of albuterol) on a regular basis before you get to feeling bad.
Please do keep me posted.
I asked my husband today if I coughed a lot, he looked at me like I just asked if he would set the apartment and on fire and said, "Yes, you cough ALL the time!"..
I guess I don't really notice it, but then again, I'm starting to get used to not being able to breathe properly too, lol.
I guess I don't really notice it, but then again, I'm starting to get used to not being able to breathe properly too, lol.
Thanks bsmsl. I got some nasal rinse today and it did help actually. It feels funny putting water up my nose but at this point, if they told me hopping up on one foot while singing a sea chanty would help I would do it.
I actually used the ventolin today. I was having a bit of trouble breathing and thought I might as well give it a try, at this point, couldn't really hurt and it did help a little bit. That was about 10 hours ago and I'm feeling the same again and thought I'd use it again,
I'll call the doctor's office Monday and I'll be sure to tell them about the chest tightness. Thanks again. I'll keep you posted. :)
I actually used the ventolin today. I was having a bit of trouble breathing and thought I might as well give it a try, at this point, couldn't really hurt and it did help a little bit. That was about 10 hours ago and I'm feeling the same again and thought I'd use it again,
I'll call the doctor's office Monday and I'll be sure to tell them about the chest tightness. Thanks again. I'll keep you posted. :)
Most definitely you can have asthma and no wheezing. That can be caused by several things: cough variant asthma (since you don't have a cough that is not likely), you might not be able to hear wheezing, but your dr might be able to hear it with the stethoscope, third and least wanted - your airways could be so blocked with inflammation and broncho constriction that your are not moving enough air to cause wheezing. That confuses many ER docs and they miss diagnose an asthma attack as just panic as a result.
If you have enough Ventolin, you might want to use it on a regular basis (every 3 -4 hours typically) to see if that improves how you feel over all.
Your chest tightness could be another symptom of asthma as well, but could also have other causes. So be sure to mention that to the receptionist and dr as well. (It WILL get you in the office faster. :D )
I hope that helps.
If you have enough Ventolin, you might want to use it on a regular basis (every 3 -4 hours typically) to see if that improves how you feel over all.
Your chest tightness could be another symptom of asthma as well, but could also have other causes. So be sure to mention that to the receptionist and dr as well. (It WILL get you in the office faster. :D )
I hope that helps.
Oh, just in case it's relevant.. when I have one of my 'allergy attacks', I also have chest pain.. almost like when you cough too much, only I'm not coughing hard enough or long enough to have chest pain.
Thanks for the reply Tammy. I'll keep up with the Symbicort, promise. :) I will call the doctor's office on Monday and will let you know the results.
Thank you for the quick response. I never have any wheezing and I have heard that is a big thing when people have asthma. Is it possible to have asthma with no wheezing? In my research to try to find the cause of my problems I read a little about 'allergy induced asthma' and briefly thought that sounded like what I might have, but I just don't know.
My doctor isn't in on Fridays so I can't get in to see him. I will call on Monday morning and talk to his receptionist. She's really nice so I think if I explain all that is going on (and provided the doctor isn't on vacation), I may be able to get in that same week.
I'll keep taking the Symbicort as directed and will try Zyrtec instead of Claritin. I take Benadryl on top of that because I'm finding the Claritin isn't helping but I wasn't sure if it was just me or not. :)
I will check at the drug store for a nasal rinse today.
Thank you so much for your quick reply.
My doctor isn't in on Fridays so I can't get in to see him. I will call on Monday morning and talk to his receptionist. She's really nice so I think if I explain all that is going on (and provided the doctor isn't on vacation), I may be able to get in that same week.
I'll keep taking the Symbicort as directed and will try Zyrtec instead of Claritin. I take Benadryl on top of that because I'm finding the Claritin isn't helping but I wasn't sure if it was just me or not. :)
I will check at the drug store for a nasal rinse today.
Thank you so much for your quick reply.
It could be asthma, which is your lungs constricting due to allergens or other triggers. One common symptom is the feeling or having trouble exhaling fully. I would ask your doctor for pulmonary function tests, especially the one that check your total lung volume (they place you in a closed cubicle thing), and possibly even a methacholine challenge to confirm yes or no asthma.
Try taking the symbicort twice a day, and consistenly for a month and see how your breathing improves. If there is any improvement at all, there is a high probability that the breathing problems are asthma related.
I personally have allergies to cats and dust mites which lead me to develop asthma.
Try taking the symbicort twice a day, and consistenly for a month and see how your breathing improves. If there is any improvement at all, there is a high probability that the breathing problems are asthma related.
I personally have allergies to cats and dust mites which lead me to develop asthma.
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With the treatment plan the doctor at the clinic gave you it sounds like that is what he is thinking you have. Adult onset asthma is not at all unusual.
Symbicort is a great med for you to be on. It has an inhaled steroid to reduce inflamation in your lungs. The steroid does not get into your blood stream like oral steroids. The steroid can take up to 2 weeks to work. Symbicort also has a long acting bronch dilater. Be sure to take your doses as close to 12 hours apart as you can. This makes the broncho dilater most effective. Don'y hesitate to use the Ventolin if you are having any problems at all.
You might try Zyrtec instead of Claritin. Many allergist's do not think Claritin is very effective. This could help your breathing quite a bit. Also, sinus rinses are very helpful in cleaning the nose out and minimizine post nasal drip.
Who is giving you allergy shots? An allergist or an ENT? If you can get in to see your primary care physician tomorrow, that would be a good idea. Make sure nothing is going on with your sinuses, or treat whatever is going on there. That well help bring the lung stuff under control. Also, your primary might be able to give you a script to carry you through to your allergy testing. New allergy testing sounds like a good idea, but I think it would be wise for you to see one of your doctors before a 3 month away allergy testing apointment.
Feel better soon.