Allergies Forum - Breathing problems and advair inhalers don't work

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Q: Breathing problems and advair inhalers don't work

asked by: mdavis237 on November 21st, 2007

New User

About a year ago when I was 17 around the start of the school year which is when the seasons change (im from ohio) and it gets colder i had some difficulty breathing. My doctor gave me advair inhalers and the problem went away mostly in about 2 weeks. for about a year id have maybe a day with some problems but nothing like my two week episode..now recently, around the same time of the year i had the same problem for about two weeks, it felt like i couldnt get a good breath and it was just hard to breathe..it seemed worse than last year and i went to my doctor who prescribed inhalers again but they didnt seem to work, hes checked my heart and lungs twice and said they sounded clear and perfect, then he did an x-ray which turned up perfect, then a blood test which was returned as normal. i have developed pains on my left side of my chest, as well as rib and back pains esp. when i take deep breaths, ive told my doctor all of my symptoms and he hasnt found ne thing or seemed to be nervous about them...any insight anyone could offer would be extremely appreciated as i am very concerned and connfused...ty

Replies(10)

MandMs

replied on November 23rd, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Do you have other respiratory symptoms like coughing hard (at night or after exercise)?
Do you have a history of allergies?
Do you find that cold, dry winter air is causing you faster or harder breathing?
Have you noticed that sinus infections and upper respiratory viral infections are triggering or making worse the breathing problem?

mdavis237

replied on November 23rd, 2007

New User

hi thanks for your reply, i dont and havent had any sort of cough really at all, i notice sometimes after eating and being rly full, after singing to a song, or walking to school that it is sometimes harder to breathe, as i said the difficulty has come in the cold air last year and this year but much worse this year and wont get any better, unlike last year. i am allergic to penacillan but havent been tested for other alleries ever, nor have i been tested or diagnosed with asthma, my doctor just gave me the inhalers and didnt seem to worried.

MandMs

replied on November 28th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Cold air causes the airways to constrict, known as bronchoconstriction. When bronchoconstriction occurs, the airways narrow, allowing less air to pass in and out of the bronchial tubes.
Bronchoconstriction is especially troublesome for people who have asthma or lung disease. In asthmatics, cold air may trigger an asthma attack. In people suffering from a lung disease, cold air may cause respiratory distress.

Do you have a high-pitched whistle when breathing?
How often do you use your inhaler?
Do you find it hard to breath after exercise or other physical activities?

mdavis237

replied on November 28th, 2007

New User

i have and continue to use my inhaler once in the morning and once at night everyday for about a month now since i got them when the trouble started. it has seemed to help a little but not fully. i dont have a high pitched whistle or any wheezing when i breathe that i notice or detect. the trouble is constant throughtout the day regardless of whether im outside or not. i have tried to stay away from physical activity since it started but when i do do something like that it gets a little worse.

jimbott

replied on November 29th, 2007

New User

mdavis, make your way through this forum.

http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic2753.h tml

I'm 99% sure you will find it very helpful in relations to your situation and even find some relief.

MandMs

replied on December 7th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Do you have breathing difficulties at night?
Do you awake in the night out of breath or have to sleep propped up on several pillows to avoid becoming short of breath?
Are you experiencing any chest discomfort?

wickedwanda

replied on December 30th, 2007

Experienced User

MandMs wrote:

Sounds like you have some experince with asthma, how about Vocal Cord Dysfunction? It is shocking the amount of people that think they have asthma and they may have a form of VCD. U develop it from ignoring heart burn! A very big mistake people make. I have a combination of both sever asthma and VCD. Do u know anything about it?

MandMs

replied on January 17th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Vocal cord dysfunction produces airflow obstruction at the level of the larynx and can be confirmed on laryngoscopy performed when patients are symptomatic.
There are cases when there is a coexisting asthma like in your case, but many
patients with VCD often seem to have refractory asthma (with poor response to beta-agonists or inhaled corticosteroids), but they actually don't.
There are laboratory studies that may be indicated to exclude asthma and other diagnoses.
Are you experiencing a feeling of tightness in your throat?
Do you have hoarseness and voice change?

wickedwanda

replied on January 17th, 2008

Experienced User

Vocal Cord Dysfunction or Asthma??

MandMs wrote:

Oh yeah, they did a mini broncoscopy and i was awake for it, and my vocal cords will flap in opposite directions, so i was choking on spittal or gagging, you can hear the stritor(spelling is wrong) wheeze coming from my throat and i feel like i am being strangled. I do the breathing exercises daily, but my lungs are failing me now, o2's are low, if they are normal then its vcd if not its asthma, I have access to the top specialists in canada, who have kept me alive and have been so compassionate and aggressive in trying to help me. I keep a detail medical diary so that they can learn from what has happened to me. When my vocal cuts of my air, it is the scarest experience i have ever had, how ever they give me oxygen and boom it opens the air way. So many people are diagnosed with asthma when they really have VCD, so if your meds are not working see and ENT asap and have an open mind to what they have to say! thanks for your concern. have a great day ww Very Happy

MandMs

replied on February 13th, 2008

Extremely eHealthy

Hi, wickedwanada!

How often do you get episodes of airflow obstruction due to abnormal adduction (moving to the middle line) of the vocal cords?

Laryngopharyngeal reflux, and neurologically-based dystonias are other two diagnosis besides gastroesophageal reflux, mentioned as possible organic causes for VCD.
Some recent studies have suggested that there are also, other causes of vocal cord dysfunction, such as an patch of gastric mucosa in the upper esophagus and exposure to agents such as glutaraldehyde, chlorine, or even eucalyptus.

All best to you!
Marija

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