Asthma or anxiety?

[mommaofx2]

Hi, I've gone through phases in the past when I've had a cough that won't shift but nothing can be found by the dr. Recently I've had a cough which is productive and I have lots of mucus - all clear so no infection at the moment. Some days I won't cough too much, other times I cough loads. I was given antibiotics before Xmas for a chest infection and that cleared up but I've been left with a cough and a tight breathless chest at times. I've been given a blue and brown inhaler (brown one makes me feel worse) and I'm awaiting blowing tests, to diagnose asthma I presume. Has anyone had anything like this? It's hard for me 'the not knowing' as I suffer with health anxiety and so I am worried sick I've suddenly developed chronic asthma which will only get worse or ill have some terrible asthma attack. I didn't know you could suddenly develop asthma (of any degree) as an adult and I just want to feel my normal self again. Constantly checking my oxygen etc and going round in circles with worry waiting for my chest X-ray etc. Thank you

I suffer with health anxiety aswell as general anxiety.
I always feel like my chest is heavy, it's so hard to explain but I feel like I can't get enough air in me even though I'm breathing perfectly fine, and sometimes my throat feels tight and like I can't breath but I am breathing, not wheezing or anything just the physical feeling of heaviness.

Awaiting blowing tests?! Can't you just go to the GP? I went to my GP to renew my pill once and mentioned I feel like I might have been asthmatic, before he even answered he pulled out a little blowy thing, stuck a tube on it and told me to blow through it.

Your GP must have one readily available!

The one you have at the GP is called a peak flow test. The one you go to hospital for is a lung function test. You blow into both but they are different. Lung function test is diagnostic and used to find out how well your lungs are performing.

Peak flow just measures how fast you can expel air from your lungs. It gives an idea of how narrow your airways are but can't be used to diagnose asthma. It's more of a monitoring thing.

Oh! That's interesting, it was just such a quick test too and he said i don't have asthma so I assumed that was th eyes they do for it.

Good luck with your test OP!

Hi Mommao, I'm feeling the same. Although I have struggled with asthma in the past and it kind of went away I think because I was pregnant and gave up smoking for 2 years. I occasionally have a cigarette with a glass of wine only at weekends so only about 5 a week but because of this I have had a bad chest longer than what I should. 2 courses of antibiotics and steroids and it's still lingering. I've now convinced myself I have something seriously wrong with my lungs. I eat healthy, walk the dog every night and only have around 3 glasses of wine at the weekend so I'm relatively healthy apart from the stupid smoking . Hope your feeling better soon xx

Hi all, thanks so much for your helpful replies. Random question does anyone ever suffer with heavy aching arms (especially the tops) with anxiety? Thank you x