Ermmm, why can't I breathe? Little bit worrying!

[HonorMatopoeia]

Well obviously I'm breathing, because, love mumsnet as I do and as much as I value the advice, I'd probably ring 999 if I really, really couldn;t breathe! But still. . .
I'm struggling to breathe and when I do breathe it is very raspy sounding iykwim. Feel as if I have a huge weight on my chest, bit of a blocked nose, but not enough to hamper breathing and have felt quite 'flu-ey', for want of a better description, over the past couple of days.
So, do I Doctor bother or has anyone got any ideas to ease the breathing?
Any advice raspingly appreciated!

Oh, bother your doc. Sounds like a possible chest infection.

Sounds like asthma. Hospital.

yes doctor-bothering please

don't dick around with chest infection

Ooo, strange nicky, my friend has just been diagnosed with a chest infection. Are they contagious? [Really thick emoticon!]
Califrau, I'm allergic to the odd thing such as almonds, and grass sends me off when freshly mown but as far as I know I've not been near either lately.

test yourself

how many words of the following can you get out without drawing an additional breath .. sing / speak out loud

"I don't care what the weather-man says when the weather-man says it's raining. You'll never hear me complaining dee-dee-dum-dee dee"

Oh dear God, not asthma, my Dad developed that recently.

Agree with other posters.

And yes - chest infections can certainly be infectious!

If I rush Twig I get to the end of the first sentence.

Honor, they can be infectious, yes, especially if viral. Bacterial ones not so much, but theoretically could be. I know my dh ,who is very healthy, had a bacterial one at the same time as his colleague. Could've been a coincidence, but GP though they were probably caused by same bacteria.

can't tell if you're rushing .. do you know the song .. do it in time to the song and tell me which word you get to

Now Califrau, that comment has also proven I can't laugh without collapsing in a fit of coughing!

Oh, in which case when singing it, I can do 'I don't care what the weatherman says' then I tail off into more coughing.

well on the twig scale, at the moment you could make it (possibly if you feel up to it) till doctor's tomorrow morning.. however it's not great .. when I got to first 3 - 4 words I'd go to A&E / doctors ASAP for nebuliser

personally I think I'd be seriously considering A&E for x-ray / antibiotics this evening .. if you can

Ok, panicked a little now and called me Mum in - beginning to feel light headed, so off to A&E I go bugger.

Slightly odd question. Does the area under your chin itch?

Oh x posts. Light headed not good, of course. I had bronchitis recently and had real trouble breathing for a bit, light-headedness, Ventolin (I do have asthma) ineffective. Thought I might have pneumonia but it was only bronchitis and I didn't need ABs. Good luck.

sorry, 'only bronchitis' not meant to sound flippant! Just I am a veteran of these things

I managed to catch a bacterial infection from Dh's cousin while on holiday and felt fine and utterly grim in rotation. But I would have wasted much less holiday if I had gone to the doc sooner. Glad you're off to A & E. And hope you feel better soon.

Just for follow up info. . . Finally got back, chest is clear, took a very painful blood test from an artery in my wrist (well, both as they couldn't find the artery in one!)and oxygen levels were well up but carbon dioxide levels were down (or was that the other way?!). Anyway, turns out I was merely hyperventilating and having an anxiety attack. Just not very sure what it is I'm supposed to be stressed about!
Thanks for your help ladies, apparently also have laryngitis (sp?) so had better head to doctors for that tomorrow!

Save yourself a trip to the doctors- there's nothing you can do about laryngitis apart from warm drinks, pain relief and resting your voice. It doesn't respond to antibiotics and cough medicines are a waste of time and money.

Thanks Emma, right, off to find the honey then.....