IDENTIFICATION

[cherry442]

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FOR ABOUT THE PAST 3 YEARS, A SORT OF UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS

FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A CONTINUOUS CONJESTION OF PHLEGM AND RESULTS INTO WHEEZING AND COUGHING ... I CAN'T LIE DOWN SUDDENLY AS I CAN'T CATCH MY BREATH... THE CONDITION INCREASES WITH STRESS...I CAN'T SEEM TO DO ANY MODERATE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LIKE JOGGING AND RUNNING OR RUNNING UP THE STAIRS BECAUSE I CAN'T CATCH MY BREATH AND MY CHEST SEEMS HEAVY... I FEEL WEAKER BECAUSE OF THESE SYMPTOMS AS A WHOLE AND EXPERIENCE MUSCLE WEAKNESS.... EVEN AT AN AGE UNDER 20... PLEASE FIGURE OUT WHETHER THIS IS ASTHMA AND IF IT IS I HAVE BEEN GIVEN FORMITOL (STEROIDAL INHALER) BUT IS THERE ANYTHING NOT STEROIDAL THAT CAN BE SEEN TO CURING IT NOT ONLY TREATING IT?

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

[bsmsl]

Well, I can't figure out what it is for you.  Only a dr performing the proper tests can do that for you.  

Are you seeing general practitioner or a specialist?  You might ask for a pulmonary functions test (PFT), spirometry test (very similar to PFT), FEV testing (I forget what that one stands for right now), and a methalcholine chalenge.  The methalcholine challenge will give a firm diagnosis of asthma or not.  The others just indicate it as a possiblity.  

It does sound like asthma though.  Unfortunately there is no cure for asthma. It is a chronic disease.  Some people have had some sucess with diet change and some alternative treatments, but I would never say that they are cured.  Honestly, they are probably in more danger because they are ignoring their asthma as a result.  Using alternative medicine practices in conjunction with other treatments is fine as long as your dr knows.  

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the most effective single treatment for asthma.  They are the first line meds drs try.  You should know that ICS's are not like oral steroids.  You are taking such a much, much smaller amount of them than you would an oral steroid.  (The smallest oral steroid dose is around 5 mg, while ICS doses are measure in mcg's (1/1,000,000 of a gram).)  Second, they go directly into the lungs where they reduce the inflamatory component of asthma.  Very little steroid gets into your system to cause the side effects from oral steroids you might be fearing.  Also, many Olympic athletes have asthma and use ICS's.  

Another thought for you to discus with your dr is acid reflux.  Stress can trigger asthma and reflux.  Reflux can also cause all the symptoms you mentioned.  Many people are falsely diagnosed with asthma when they have reflux.  When the reflux is controlled the asthma symptoms go away as well.

As the other poster mentioned, allergies could be a factor in your symptoms.  You should be evaluated by a dr to rule that out.

Feel better soon.

[cherry442]

thanks, but i don't have any nose drip and the weezing occurs when i have alot of stress and it becomes so uncomfortable that i can't sleep... currently(like right now... the symptoms are over... and its completely gone...) but it sort of strikes suddenly

[68suezq]

first you need to be allergie tested. you need to check your sinuses, you might have a constant postnasil drip that will cause constant couph, also make you have over abundance of chest congestion, that will cause you to weez. you could have a silent sinus infection that could cause all that phelm,it will aso make you feel realy tired and dizzy,try neili med sinus rince. see if some of the phlem slows down. try clariton also. i know your thinking what does this have to do with my chest and throat but sinus can cause your symtoms,