Asthma like symptoms

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beckydsl

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I am a normally healthy 30yr old female. I work with young children and get a cold quite often so when I got one a month ago, I thought nothing of it. My problems started after this cold. I had a cough that lingered and then ragweed hit and it started bothering me (itchy eyes, throat, nasal congestion) which was strange because I never had severe reaction to pollen even at its worse. During this time, I also noticed that I was short of breath when going up stairs, reading a book to my students, or running after them. A week ago I decided to go to the doc to get the cough checked out. She said my lungs were clear but my nasal cavity was still inflamed so I was given a steroid shot and hydrocodone. I felt better for a bit but the hydrocodone knocked me out. 2 days later I developed a fever and I was given antibiotics - doxycycline, which I am still on. I also asked for a cough medicine that was less drowsy and was given tessalon pearls. The first day I took the antibiotics and tessalon, I started violently throwing up 15 minutes after taking the tessalon. I called my doctor and left a message about this but never got a call back. (i took this as a sign for a new doctor).

Anyway, I stopped the tessalon but have noticed that my breathing difficulties have gotten worse. I have this feeling like something is sitting on my chest and I think its mucous or phlegm but I can't cough it out. A hot shower sometimes help loosen things a little but not much. The heaviness goes away after a while and I can breathe normally again. Today the tightness/heaviness stayed for about 8hrs. I've noticed that I would wheeze when inhaling through my mouth but not always. The heaviness lifted about an hour ago and I feel a lot better but I am exhausted and dizzy.

I have no history of allergies or asthma so I am not sure what this is. I am afraid that if I go to the doctor and do show any symptoms then they will just send me home and I do not have very good health insurance at the moment and do not want to waste money on a wasted trip. Any advice? Should I look for a new doctor? Please help I am at a loss, I feel like I cannot give my all to my students and I am getting more and more depressed because I feel so tired all the time.
 
I'm right around your age, and this sounRAB a lot like how my asthma started this spring. I had a few days of bad allergy symptoms, much worse than usual, then my chest got tight and I started feeling very tired all the time.

Definitely go to a doctor. If it is asthma, proper treatment can restore your energy almost immediately (like within minutes.) Regarding the missed call, well, all doctors do that sometimes. If you are otherwise pleased with the doctor, I wouldn't switch over just that. If nothing else, he has the record of the previous visit and can see for himself that this is an ongoing problem.

Eventually, you'll probably want to see an allergist or pulmonologist, but you do need SOME sort of treatment immediately.
 
Thanks for your reply janewhite1. Is it normal for the chest tightness to go away suddenly? It seems like it got progressively worse each hour and then all of a sudden, it went away and I'm left with an achy chest, some phlegm and some coughing but am otherwise breathing much better.
 
Yup, that's pretty normal.

Typically, that happens to me right before the dr appointment when I've been feeling terrible for days.;)
 
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