Allergies Forum - Allergies Or Asthma Or Both Or Neither???

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Q: Allergies Or Asthma Or Both Or Neither???

asked by: xn1x on September 14th, 2004

New User

Hello,

i've been having breathing problems the past 2 weeks. My friend rushed me to the hospital when I felt like I couldn't breath. While waiting to see a doctor after about 1-2 hours I started to become ok. By the time I saw the doctor I was doing just fine. As soon as I stepped outside of the hospital I felt my problem slowly starting up again. I just went home and worked thru it. I'm currently 28, male, living in long island, ny. I saw 3 doctors (regular doctor, allergy doctor, and a ears, nose and throat doctor) and they are not exactly sure what's wrong with me. The allergy doctor gave me about 8 shots on my shoulders and said it wasn't allergies. He said I might have temporary allergies or something like that. He gave me a nassle spray which does nothing for me. I don't have medical insurance and so I paid out of pocket for all of it. I didn't care what it costs just as long as i'm getting better.

Anyway, I noticed when i'm home and the windows are closed... I am able to breath just fine. When I first noticed the problem it felt like my throat was closing and my mouth got dry and the saliva was kind of pastey and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I've been taking ginger tea with honey and that usually helps. Now, when I go outside, I can only stay out for a little while. My chest gets heavy or tight and it becomes harder to breath. I no longer really feel my throat getting itchy. It does however get a little sore time to time. Its usually worse at night so I don't go out at all. I realized my chest gets a little tight when i'm in my basement for more then a few minutes. So I run upstairs and lay down and i'm ok. Usually in the morning time I feel great. After a few hours for the rest of the day i'm kind of down but i'm able to breath pretty easy. If I go outside my problem starts up again after a while.

I've never been sick in my life. Besides the average cold or stomach ache. Nothing like this before. Any suggestions on what to do or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I feel that besides my doctor the other 2 "specialist" took advantage of me paying out of pocket. The ears, nose and throat doctor actually gave me an anxiety pill. After I took 1 pill I did research and found several possible side effects. I didn't take anymore of that pill and went thru withdrawal which was... Scary. Anyway, i'm currently taking a multivitamin and a immune boost thing both of which I have never taken. I never used to take vitamins. I've neglected my health for the 1st time this past year. Usually i'm at the gym exercising but for the 1st time in my life this year I was concentrating more on developing a new company. I think that's what made my immune system the way it is now. The fact that I haven't been exercising like I used to or being more aware of the things i'm eating. I have been eating pretty health this past year but the lack of exercise must of done a number on me. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Peter

Replies(5)

Wendypops

replied on September 14th, 2004

New User

Hello peter, did your doctors give you an inhaler to use when this happens? I have a ventolin that I carry around, just because I never know when I might come into contact with someone who has been near a horse -- and any trace of horsehair makes me react exactly like you describe, basically I just stop being able to breathe. But the inhaler helps a lot. I didn't know I was allergic to horses until I moved out to the country! So did you change anything in your lifestyle, or maybe there is some kind of substance or chemical in your environment?

xn1x

replied on September 14th, 2004

New User

No inhaler yet. I thought it was allergies at first. I figured when I go outside something in the air makes my throat kind of scratchy and I start to have a problem breathing. Now that my throat feels cleared my chest is where the issue is. I plan to ask my doctor for an inhaler just in case. I feel trapped inside my house. I believe the pollen in the air here is triggering the asthma. At least I think it is asthma. I can feel pressure on my chest but its a little more on the left side. Just hoping its not my heart. Not much has changed in my lifestyle. I have been trying to eat things that i've been familiar with for years. I've cleaned just about everything. I've sat and thought and looked around for anything that might be causing me to have this problem. So as fars as I can tell the high pollen levels are what has caused me to be like this. I can't even go outside for long periods of time. I don't know if a person can get asthma later on in life. All I know is that I have very similar symptoms as someone with asthma.

Jas

replied on October 9th, 2004

New User

This sounds like typical hey fever (allergic reaction to rag weed, otherwise known as golden rod). This can start at the end of august and go until a heavy frost kills off the plant (usually mid to end of november). If you feel better in the winter months I would definitely ask your doctor about medications you can start taking in august before the hay fever season starts next year. You may also be allergic to molds. At this time of year the leaves that are on the ground tend to get moldy. The mold spores can cause the same reaction you are describing.

Regarding asthma...Yes you can develop asthma as an adult. The body is always going through changes. Something that you may have been allergic to in the past can suddenly disappear and the opposite is also true. I think an inhaler is a good idea especially until you get a proper diagnosis.

Jas

BeckLyn

replied on November 4th, 2004

Experienced User

8 shots doesn't sound like a very extensive allergy test. I had at least 20 on my back. I get that way around smoke and mildew (basements). Sounds like hay fever/asthma (a lot of times they work together, when one gets triggered it will start the other).

wakkochic17

replied on November 5th, 2004

Experienced User

Try over 40 tests for me... I guess it depends on the person on how extensive they need to get.

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