25th March 2008
I had asthma as a child and, until last year, only around cats and dust as an adult. Then I came down with a virus in December of 2007 and have had breathing problems ever since. After a trip to the ER, my doctor diagnosed me as having asthma, and I was placed on Advair 500/50, Singulair, Duoneb 2-3x daily in a nebulizer, and I carry a Combivent and Albuterol inhaler for emergencies. I also take Xyzal for my allergies, birth control pills, Paxil and Zyprexa, and Synthroid, Xanax, and Metformin. I should have mentioned that I am a non-smoking 43-year-old female.
I was better for a few weeks back in January, then I caught a cold at the beginning of February, and have been experiencing odd symptoms. I am okay when I first wake up in the morning. I use my nebulizer and my Advair, and am basically symptom-free until about 2:00 p.m. I am usually away from our house at that time, so I use my Combivent. By 6:00 at night, I experience chest tightness (like someone is squeezing my chest) increase in mucus production, and great discomfort until I use my nebulizer another time. I don't actually progress to actual wheezing.
I feel I have to mouth-breathe to get enough air. My peak flows are very good, even with my symptoms, ranging from 400-460.
Does anyone else experience their asthma in this way? I should also mention that I had pulmonary function testing done in January and all was negative. I am starting to wonder if what I am experiencing is actually asthma. The Duoneb helps-does this mean what I'm experiencing is actually more COPD? Or some other undiagnosed disorder?
I was better for a few weeks back in January, then I caught a cold at the beginning of February, and have been experiencing odd symptoms. I am okay when I first wake up in the morning. I use my nebulizer and my Advair, and am basically symptom-free until about 2:00 p.m. I am usually away from our house at that time, so I use my Combivent. By 6:00 at night, I experience chest tightness (like someone is squeezing my chest) increase in mucus production, and great discomfort until I use my nebulizer another time. I don't actually progress to actual wheezing.
I feel I have to mouth-breathe to get enough air. My peak flows are very good, even with my symptoms, ranging from 400-460.
Does anyone else experience their asthma in this way? I should also mention that I had pulmonary function testing done in January and all was negative. I am starting to wonder if what I am experiencing is actually asthma. The Duoneb helps-does this mean what I'm experiencing is actually more COPD? Or some other undiagnosed disorder?