Am I having an asthma attack?

[Sunshineeverydaypls]

I know that might seem like a question with an obvious yes/no answer but I’m not actually sure!

I’m fine now and I’m not having an attack atm.

I’ve got hayfever and it usually affects my chest so I was prescribed a salbutamol inhaler to use when it gets bad. I’ve found that sometimes my breathing goes a bit funny and I have to use my inhaler, even when I’m not having hayfever symptoms. When it happens, it feels like someone has my chest in their hand and is squeezing it in a fist. I can feel my heart going really quickly and it’s really loud when I breath. It sometimes starts randomly but it always happens when I exercise. I’m not getting it at the moment but that’s what it’s like when I do get it.

My BMI is 20 and I’m a competitive sportsperson so I shouldn’t be as unfit as I am. Im not pushing my body too far or doing anything ridiculous- even a small bit of running is enough to cause it. I keep getting told I need to sort my stamina but it’s awful. I couldn’t get through a warm up of 20 star jumps tonight without having to stop.

I’ve just been puffing away with my inhaler which always helps the symptoms. But I’m starting to wonder what is actually going on?

Is this asthma or am I just a bit unfit? The inhaler helps the symptoms but equally if I’m mainly getting it when I’m exercising, is it more likely I just have bad stamina? Or could it be panic related and I’m subconsciously panicking and it’s affecting my breathing?

How do you tell the difference in that and asthma attacks? Been to the pharmacy and they said go to GP when it happens but getting an appointment is very hard

You really need to see a doctor. Sorry I know that's frustrating. None of us can accurately advise you and it would dangerous to try.

What you describe could easily fit the description of an asthma attack but equally it could be anxiety or severe unfitness.

Exercise induced asthma is a thing as well.

Asthma can only be properly diagnosed through tests. If you can't see the gp, ask to speak to a nurse who does asthma reviews - they might be able to boost you up the list.

How old are you?

You definitely need to see your surgery,I would say. If you have a prescription for salbutamol and you’re getting through it you should ask for a medication review at least. Exercise induced asthma is a thing, and your breathing really does sound as if it needs some attention.

It sounds like asthma to me.

Exercise induced asthma is a thing, as is allergy induced asthma - I know that one to my cost as I got into a very sticky situation with it once.

You need your GP. I know getting an appointment is a nightmare, but you need to persevere and take it seriously.

Definitely speak to your GP. I’m asthmatic. Mine used to be only from hayfever too but it for worse and now I need a preventer. If you need your salbutamol even just for warm ups, it needs investigating.

You need to see your GP. They will probably give you a peak flow meter, which is a device that you breathe into which measures how forcefully you can exhale. If the results of this indicate that your asthma is poorly controlled, you may be prescribed a ‘preventer’ inhaler to use daily.

It does sound as though it could be asthma and asthma is commonly brought on by exercise.
Try taking your inhaler before you start exercising to see if it helps. My DC have exercise-induced asthma and taking the inhaler beforehand is recommended.

If hayfever is causing your lungs to be inflamed it won't have much to do with your stamina or fitness.

You really do need to see your GP though! I can't stress that enough! Asthma is not to be trifled with.

You may need to be on preventative medication if they decide it is indeed asthma. And maybe it's not - you really do need to see a doctor.

Another vote for GP here. I'm an asthmatic, have been since I was a child, you need testing with a peak flow etc. I tend to find that if I need to see the doctor and can't get an appointment, I write to him. He gets back to me about it.

Everyone posting here is familiar with asthma, Sunshineeverydaypls, and it seems like we're all saying the same thing. See a doctor. Sorry, I know it's very tricky with appointments, but difficulty breathing is taken very seriously.

I have exercise induced asthma, diagnosed when I was 30 (now 39) and spent my whole life thinking I was unfit for struggling to breathe when I exercise and never understanding why I couldn't keep up with other people. I take a preventer inhaler morning and night and it makes a big difference. The fact you are having to use your salbutomol which is a reliever inhaler so much means if it is asthma then it's not controlled. The asthma nurse asks me how much I use it and if its more than a certain amount I have a treatment review as you don't want to keep getting to the point you have to use it, you want the asthma to be controlled.

I cannot stress this enough, it is really important you make an appointment with your GP to discuss your symptoms, or with an asthma nurse if your surgery has one. Asthma can turn nasty very quickly and out of the blue, my asthma nurse has drummed it into me over the years as for a while I just thought I didn't have "real" asthma and even now I sometimes forget and think God I'm unfit then remember I've forgotten to take my preventer inhaler for a bit.

Other things that have set it off for me are - strong smelling flowers, hyacinth gave me an asthma attack, so there could be environmental factors at play.

But again, the most important thing is you speak to your GP as this is only based on my experience and I'm not medically qualified so you need to talk to someone who is.

Will take everyone’s advice and try harder to get a GP or nurse appointment!

Again, this might be an obvious question, but I won’t get sent to hospital will I? I’ve got a bit of a fear or hospitals and try to avoid as much as I can, and I think deep down I’m scared to go to the GP in case I end up going to hospital. I know that’s dramatic and a big jump and it’s not nearly serious enough for that, but it’s something that really worried me and I don’t want to get sent to hospital with breathing difficulties only to look like a timewaster if it turns out ive just got bad stamina! Our practise has an automated message before someone answers where they say all chest tightness and breathlessness should go to a&e but it’s not bad enough for that, I was just worried the GP would insist I went there!

I usually take salbutamol 3-7 times and it relieves the symptoms. Sometimes I still feel a bit tight but I just ignore it until it gets better or I take some more salbutamol!

You'll probably only be sent to hospital if you need acute treatment such as a nebuliser. If it is asthma and needs an extra boost to get it under control then the gp might be able to manage it with a short steroid prescription.

The fact is that only a doctor can tell you. They'll want to know your symptoms, how you use the inhaler and will listen to your chest. I was diagnosed a long time ago but the asthma tests could all be done on the gp surgery.

Good luck and try not to stress

There's advice and a helpline here too. But definitely see GP.

www.asthma.org.uk

I don’t even know what a nebuliser is for sorry! I won’t need it though, I probably just need stronger salbutamol or something for when it’s not enough on its own.

Would the steroid prescription be able to stop an attack when I’m having it or would it work by preventing it?

Thanks for helping me

www.asthma.org.uk/advice/nhs-care/emergency-asthma-care/nebulisers/

Steroids would reduce the inflammatory response in your lungs which would ease asthma symptoms. There's loads of info on the asthma uk website so have a look.

You might not have it though so don't stress too much.

That makes sense, thanks for explaining it.

Yeah I’m sure I’m just very unfit, my stamina has always been crap so it’s probably just that and I’m making a fuss over nothing!

I’ll try to get an appointment soon to get it double checked.

I have exercise induced asthma which can be worse depending on pollen count, and weather. I take two puffs salbutamol at least 15 mins before exercising. I also have a fostair preventer inhaler I take one puff twice a day on. This works for me.

I agree see your GP as what you describe could be exercise induced asthma. They’ll tell you how to use your inhalers to minimise chances of an attack.

Your practice might have an asthma clinic or nurse who. If you are using the blue inhaler a lot, you might be better off with a different inhaler. The blue one should only be needed infrequently. I have a brown one which controls the asthma much better, used daily and I hardly need the blue one. I find excessive use of the reliever makes me feel quite unwell. Your current asthma sounds poorly controlled - this isn't safe but could easily be rectified.

Book a GP appointment asap and get tested for asthma. Asthma was first suspected when I was 11. I wasn't diagnosed until 28. I kept being told it wasn't asthma without a wheeze which wasn't true. I had symptoms like yours and initially got an inhaler to help with bronchitis. The inhaler got me through an awful exacerbation on holiday somewhere with a lot of pollution after which my GP got me an asthma nurse appointment which led to my diagnosis.

Push to be assessed and given a preventer inhaler - if the inhaler helps it's a good indication that you have asthma. It could save your life.