What's wrong with ds?

[insanityscratching]

Ds is 27 and has always been extremely fit and well and rarely needed to see a GP. Prior to two months ago the last time he saw a GP was at 16 and was diagnosed with appendicitis.
In the last three months ds has had a tight chest but no cough, he's had two week long courses of penicillin which cleared his chest but within a fortnight the tightness was back.He's had a chest xray and blood test and is due back at GP's for results this week
This morning he's gone to A&E (no OOH here) because he was struggling to breathe. He's had a nebuliser because his SATs were late 80s and now after the first they are 92 and so he will be having a second as well as another chest xray and blood test.He's now got pain in the centre of his chest but I suppose that could be the effort of breathing.
He's never had asthma, there is no asthma in the family, he doesn't smoke (never has) rarely drinks and is physically fit.He's lost some weight without trying but he's still in the healthy weight range for his six foot height
Could it be asthma? Would there be a cough? I'm so worried for him, I suppose they are still your baby even if they tower over you, and the witing is tortuous.

[lougle]

That sounds worrying. The blood test will tell you more about the cause of the breathlessness, so hopefully they will rush that through.

[insanityscratching]

Well still waiting I suppose for results of tests to come through. The poor doctors and nurses seem to have their hands full with a fair few drunks, a really abusive woman (expected the police to be called by now, don't know how they put up with it tbh) and some old people so expect it will take some time but he's in the right place for now and hopefully we will get answers soon

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

It's difficult to tell with asthma. DD always presented with tight chest, difficulty breathing, then the active wheezing set in. She didn't start coughing until it was really really bad.

Ds1 coughs first, then wheezing, then complaints of tight chest.

Ds2 wheezes first, then cough, then tight chest complaints.

None of them alike, all of them with asthma, all of them have different "first warning signs."

Hope he's okay and you find out what's wrong soon.

[insanityscratching]

Well now on third nebuliser as SATS hovering around ninety but have been told not to expect any answers before 3pm which helps a lot with the worrying. Ds is in good spirits (he's one of those always cheerful people) and just chilling. I've come home to see to little dd and ds whilst ds1 contemplates ringing his gf (she'll panic enough for all of us)

[CrispyFern]

I hope it's nothing serious. Good luck.

[insanityscratching]

No real answers yet but they are admitting him to see the respiratory people so hopefully we'll have answers eventually

[Le1890]

How is your son insanityscratching?xx

[insanityscratching]

Have been with him this afternoon, his girlfriend's there now. He looks awful but he's really tired so that might account for a lot of it. We still know nothing really, they've said his chest xray is clear so that's good news, sats are still low but his spirometry readings have gone from 80 when he was in the ambulance to 330 after the third nebuliser (of course I have no idea what these values mean)
They've said his readings present as severe asthma but it came on suddenly only three months ago and so they are somewhat puzzled as to how he went 27 years with no asthma to severe asthma in three months.
Hopefully we'll get some answers tomorrow.

[Rhymerocket]

Thinking of your son Mrs. I hope he keeps his spirits up and his wee girlfriend is a good support when ur not there. Positive thoughts for results tomo. Ps. As a nurse, I'd be asking what his blood has shows. It gives the doctors a good idea of the gas exchange on his lungs. If his sats are low but his blood gas is ok then that's good news. Google Arterial Blood Gas tonight and ask about it tomo. X

[goodasitgets]

Bizarrely I had similar and it turned out to be pneumonia. I did have a cough as well. Fit and well, never had asthma but was presenting almost as adult asthma but I wasn't getting breathless or coughing in exercise
Penicillin did nothing, I had doxycycline or something plus two courses of steroids

[Tykeisagirl]

Has anything changed in either his home or work environment?

I don't have asthma, I never get a tight chest or wheeze, unless I stay in a house where a cat lives. Then in the space of 24 hours I go from a person without asthma to having an asthma attack. I also haven't always been like this, we had cats when I was a child and I was fine, but the older I've got the worse the problem has become.

[insanityscratching]

No nothing has changed in the last three months. He's never had allergies, he's the only one in the family who doesn't get hayfever. He's never had symptoms with gf's cat or our dog (hypoallergenic because of dd ironically) but I suppose that doesn't mean he couldn't be allergic now.

[Le1890]

How's things with your son?x

[insanityscratching]

He was discharged last night 10pm He's got a course of steroids, a steroid inhaler and relievers and an appointment in clinic in a month's time. The verdict is severe asthma which is worrying but better than some of the scenarios that were running through my mind.
He's had a proper talk about how serious it is and how he must take the inhalers and check his peak flow. Apparently ambulance people drew up adrenalin because his levels were so bad .
So he's back on the mend thank heavens, now I'm going to make sure he stays well.