Are you smarter than my doctor?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MissyMeg05
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MissyMeg05

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So for three years now, every autumn I have breathing issues.

I never have it to the extent that I can't breathe, it's more that it is very difficult and painful to breathe. I get a lot of chest tightness...and it isn't helped by decongestants.

I have it where it feels like I have to blow and force air out of my lungs because I'm not moving air like I should. The worst days are when my throat feels swollen; where I feel as though it's being pressed open when swallowing...or even breathing.

I sometimes get similar issues when I'm in old, mildewy buildings, although not as extreme.

The past two years I've gone in to urgent care. The first year, the doc gave me a prescription for Allegra and an albuterol inhaler, told me it was probably allergies or asthma and to follow up with my primary care doc (I didn't...). The second year, she gave me a breathing treatment, another albuterol prescription, and some "magic mouthwash" (which had malox, benedryl and lydocaine in it...). My peak flow is usually off the charts...even throughout my respiratory episodes and my lungs are clear.

The albuterol helps sometimes. Other times, not so much. The breathing treatment did nothing. Antihistamines sometimes help. The magic mouthwash doesn't do a darn thing for the breathing...although it's very nice to have around for sore throats.

My copay keeps going up on my insurance...I'm at $30 right now, so I really don't want to go to the doctor again just to hear the same things again. I thought I should ask around here to see if anyone has had similar experiences first...maybe figure out something my doc hasn't. (I'm 21, if that helps at all...never smoked a day in my life.)

Thanks. :]
 
My husband experiences the same thing seasonally and if our cats spend too much time in his face. He has been allergy tested and his symptoms follow, or are in conjunction with, exposure to his allergens. He gets very little relief from allegra or other antihistamines and also has clear lungs but feels like he can't get a good breath. He has had super success with prescription Flonase 1x/day year round. That would mean another $30 copay to ask/discuss with your doc but may be worth it. Hope this helps.
 
Hi,
I would say go to an allergy/asthma doctor who specializes in this type of thing not the PC.
i have mentioned this a few times on the boarRAB, my PC doctor said i didnt have asthma because I didnt have the classic sign of "wheezing". For two years i had a hunch i may have it but he told me no. During the year i was getting nauseas, trouble breathing, tiredness, etc.... in May i really had trouble breathing and went to an allergy specialist and she just happened to give me the breathing test. Well she diagnosed my problem and i was so thankful for her. Even after going back to my PC and telling him what my new diagnosis was, he had the nerve to smirk and tell me "oh those breathing tests are off sometimes". Thats all nice but i know my body and probably would have died if i listened to him.
 
Missymeg-

The two most common triggers for asthma are allergies and acid reflux. It sounRAB like your doc has focused exclusively on allergies, but you might consider whether acid reflux could be causing your asthma to flare up. You can have acid reflux without having any of the common symptoms like heartburn, but your description of feeling like your throat is swelling is a common symptom of acid reflux.

You might try taking PrilosecOTC (which is available without a prescription) for a couple of weeks to see if your symptoms improve. For many people, getting their acid reflux under control will dramatically decrease their asthma symptoms.
 
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