Not responding to Albuterol, but 100% oxygenation

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asthmakate

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Hello,
I had severe childhood asthma but by and large haven't had any symptoms for the last 5+ years, and I have been off asthma medications because of it. This past week, I had what I believe was exercise-induced asthma; I started feeling short of breath and feeling tightness in my chest that continued unabated for three days, with intermittent gasps for deep breath that have felt deeply satisfying.

I went to the doctor on Friday, she prescribed me an Albuterol inhaler and scheduled a follow up appointment for a month from now. I have been taking two puRAB every four hours and it does not provide me with instant relief. I am not sure if it is working at all. I still am going through nearly constant shortness of breath and chest tightness.

I don't know what this means in my case because when I went to the doctor, she told me that my lungs were actually reaching full capacity, my oxygen levels were at 100 percent, and so I must just have mild asthma of the upper airways. Because of that, I don't feel like I should be going to the emergency room.

But I don't know what I should be doing. Could it be that this is something other than asthma? Should I even continue with the Albuterol? Could there be any reason for it to need an adjustment period before it works? Is there anything else I can try over the counter before I can see my doctor again (it will probably be a couple of days)?

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
If it was EIA, it should have gone away once you stopped the cardio that caused it - or shortly thereafter. So it could be regular asthma which would need a daily med rather than just the albuterol. Or it could also be acid reflux which is noted for mimicing asthma. Did you see a pulmonologist or a GP? Did they do a lung function test or just test for oxygen levels?
 
I saw a GP, and she only did oxygen level test.

I kept poking around the internet and found a lot of information on "air hunger" which is exactly what I am experiencing. I am suspecting that this is not asthma but rather stress induced -- perhaps because I was laid off a month and a half ago and I am getting increasingly nervous about finding a job before my savings run out. I just took a Xanax (not my prescription, my bf's) -- it is calming me down and I am trying to control my breathing and convince myself that I am getting enough air, that I don't need that extra breath, that I'm fine. Also took Peptobismol (in case it's acid reflux related) and vitamins (in case it's iron deficiency.) On another message board I saw that some people dealt with this successfully by seeing a chiropractor or an acupuncturist -- I also have had back and neck tension and pain for a while now, so if I can find a way to afford it, I might try one of those options. I wish I could exercise with this problem, because that is my main way of controlling stress...

it's all very bizarre to me.
 
Anxiety can absolutely cause this. And since the albuterol isn't doing any good and other things are, I'd say that was the cause.
 
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