Looking for opinions please. Asthma or..........

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Something else. Here's the details. I'm a 49 year old male. About six months ago I think I started having trouble breathing. Mostly at night, rarely during the day. I'll wake up about 4 or 5 in the morning having trouble breathing. Like I need to take a deep breath, but can't get one for lack of a better description. This doesn't happen every night. When this started happening, I went out and bought some Primatene Mist to see if that helped. I can take a hit of that and go right back to sleep with no problem and be fine. I also noticed that I wake up coughing a lot some mornings and cough up some clear sputman or whatever it's called? Like phlem, but clear? I've been to the doctor about three times for answers with no luck. I'm planning to have an asthma test done ASAP when I can get to it and they want me to have a sleep aptnea(sp) test done, but there's no way in the world I can afford that anytime soon. :( I noticed today that I've been having what I call heart palpations(sp). I researched the Primatene Mist and saw where that's a common side affect. Well I don't like that side affect and really don't care for the Primatene Mist. It tastes awful and makes me jittery as hell so I try not to use it unless I have to. The only medicine I take is Lisinopril for my high blood pressure. I'm working hard to drop 20 pounRAB so hopefully I can get off of that. I'm curious to see if anyone has any ideas or thoughts? Thanks! :)
 
Very well could be asthma as waking up short of breath is a symptom of it. You need to see a pulmonologist and be tested. And please do not use the Primatene unless you have been diagnosed with asthma. It could have serious (deadly) complications for you. And all bronchial dialators (which is what Primatene is) are "uppers" and will make you nervous, shaky, raise your BP, etc until your body becomes accustomed to them. Please see a doctor before you use it again.
 
I agree with Titchou. It sounRAB like it could be asthma. A Pulmonologist would be your best course of action. If you are unable to afford a specialist, you should at least see a general practitioner. They could get you started on an initial course of treatment. If it is asthma, you should work with your doctor to have an asthma action plan in place.

The second thing to consider would be reflux. I've had issues in the past with the reflux affecting my breathing and I would wake up in the morning with the coughing and mucous from that as well. The reflux affected me worse during the day though.
 
Thanks ya'll, I really appreciate it! I'm going to try and see my general practitioner this week and see if I can schedule an asthma test and take it from there. :)
 
Hi ya'll! A quick follow up and another question. I went back to the doctor to be tested for asthma and he didn't seem concerned that it might be. He said MAYBE if I was working hard, jogging, etc then MAYBE asthma like symptoms could show up. As far as actual asthma, I don't seem to have it. That's good news, however I'm still having trouble breathing and shortness of breath at night. I also noticed this. I went to Delaware to the race last week. (Jimmie Johnson won, that's enough to make anybody sick) and I noticed the entire time I was gone I slept fine at night and didn't even need an inhaler. I even clirabed the 199 steps to the top of the Cape May lighthouse with no trouble at all. I've also noticed that when I'm in my bedroom/bathroom I seem to start having problems? Here's the stupid question, can my house or part of it be making me sick? Someone said mold can cause breathing trouble, but I don't see any? I've already spent hundreRAB of dollars that I don't have at the doctors so I'm looking at other possible causes. Any ideas on this possibility? Thank you! :)
 
Two things: the cough is probably the Lisinopril....it's a side effect. I take it and have the same issue.

If it isn't asthma, perhaps you are allergic to dust mites. Oftentimes people have problems with that at night as they are all in the bed linens. You might try a benedryl at bedtime if you think that might be it.
 
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