Chest tightness, any ideas?

[bicker]

I have been feeling like its hard to catch my breath off and on since sunday. Last night my chest felt tight.

I've had something like that, though perhaps milder symptoms (but how do you measure something like that, especially over the Internet?) since the spring. I made a doctor appointment in September, for late December. It's so far been too subtle for me to justify an emergency visit.

Best of luck with your travels through the American medical system.

Asthma can develop later in life, it's not just a childhood disease.

This is my best guess (for myself).

 

[RitaZ.]

He said he'd do an EKG or stress test if I wanted. What do you guys think? Should I ask for a stress test or EKG or both?

"If you wanted"? What kind of doctor is he? A patient presents with chest tightness and he will only run rests if the patient requests them? I'd find another doctor today!

When I had pneumonia, my doctor ordered an x-ray in his office and told me the results immediately. He sent it for further review to the radiologist, but he said that it definitely looked like pneumonia. Then, a couple of days later I got a call confirming the diagnosis.

I would be concerned that it may have something to do with your heart. Again, find another doctor! Good luck getting to the bottom of it.

 

[lecach]

What kind of breathing treatment did he do? Albuterol or similar or something different?

I developed Asthma at 39 so it wouldn't be unheard of.

Albuterol. My Great Grandma and my uncle on my Mom's side had/have extreme asthma. DS has probable asthma. I have terrible allergies to trees and pollens and work at a retirement community with a ton of trees and plants.

 

[lecach]

Am I the only one that thinks that it is strange the doctor is saying he will run any test that YOU want him to run??? Are you a doctor? Cause if you aren't then I don't understand why the doctor isn't making the decisions on what tests to run to figure out what is going on.

If my doctor asked me what tests I wanted I would be clueless on what to ask for. And when he tells me he wants a chest Xray, EKG, CT scan, Colonoscopy or whatever he thinks is necessary for my current symptoms I never WANT those tests. I do them because a medical professional is telling me it is in my best interest.

Personally I would find another Dr really fast!

Well he felt like none of my symptoms were really pointing to anything in particular. He said there were no "must do's" but if I would feel better about it that he could order the tests. He suggested an EKG but thought we should check the chest xray first.

 

[lecach]

My thoughts exactly. X-rays can be developed and read within minutes

I had to go to another office for the xray. They tell you results within 24 hours so it's possible that we'll get them this morning.

 

[Green Tea]

Did you receive flu mist recently? One of my children mentioned similar symptoms for a few days following the mist, but it went away quickly.

 

[lecach]

Did you receive flu mist recently? One of my children mentioned similar symptoms for a few days following the mist, but it went away quickly.

No. I had the seasonal shot on October 15. And we're supposed to be getting the H1N1 shot any day now. I work in a retirement community so we're considered high risk.

 

[Deb in IA]

I agree with the others.

HE's the doctor. He should be recommending tests, based on your history and exam, and explaining what he is looking for. Not asking YOU want tests you want.

I would go back to him and ask him point-blank - "What tests do YOU recommend, Doctor?"

 

[freckles and boo]

The horrible chest tightness was why I went in and was finally diagnosed with asthma at the age of 37. It seemed to come from absolutely nowhere. Coughing at night and the tight chest are my only symptoms when I have problems.

 

[Green Tea]

I agree with the others.

HE's the doctor. He should be recommending tests, based on your history and exam, and explaining what he is looking for. Not asking YOU want tests you want.

I would go back to him and ask him point-blank - "What tests do YOU recommend, Doctor?"

I agree except I would likely go to an allergist or pulmonologist and ask the same question.

I was dx with asthma as a 30 something. My mother as a 60 something. It can just happen.

 

[izzy]

OP, what you are describing is EXACTLY was I experienced when I had a pulmonary embolism. Unbeknownst to me, I had a blood clot in my calf and parts of it broke off and went to both lungs. I was very lucky that my doctor was observant and immediately sent me to the hospital for a CT scan, which revealed the PE's. By any chance, are you on birth control pills? They believe that's what caused my clot to form.

Anyway, don't mess around with this. Hopefully it's nothing bad, but it could be something very serious. I'd either go get another opinion or go to the ER.

 

[lecach]

OP here.

Just heard that the chest xray was normal - heart and lungs looked perfect.

I'm guessing I cant talk to the Dr. before tomorrow but I will probably see about an EKG and then a referral for Asthma testing.

We're supposed to fly to NYC next Wednesday and I am a bit nervous about flying and going out of town without knowing what is going on.

Today I have developed a very mild cough with some gunk. I wonder if the albuterol is bringing that out?

 

[lecach]

I feel a little better today. No tightness, just the breathing and that's not as bad either. The Dr. has called in a steroid for me because he thinks the issue is inflamation in my lungs. And he is going to refer me for a CT scan. I am starting to wonder though if that's necessary or if I should go in another direction. Maybe I over-reacted?

All my Mom friends think it sounds like adult asthma because several of them have developed it and experienced similar symptoms. Especially with my family history of asthma and my history of intense allergies.

I dont know.....I just wish that my presentation clearly pointed in a certain direction. Why cant anything be simple?

 

[lecach]

OP here again.

So I saw the Dr. last week again. My pulse ox was 96. He prescribed an inhaler and a longer dosage of prednisone since that was the only thing that seemed to be working. He wants me to have a CT scan (have it scheduled for tomorrow) and then if that is normal, be tested for Asthma.

I got my prescriptions on Tuesday last week and then we left for NYC on Wednesday. I was 100% fine the entire time in NYC and most of the weekend. Never even took the medicine, didnt need it. Woke up this morning feeling the breathing thing again and coughing a bit of phlem. So now I am really thinking its allergy/asthma related. I wonder if I should still go to the CT scan? Seems to me that it would be a waste of time and money. I'll try to call the Dr. but dont know if I will get an answer in time. Anyone have an opionion?

 

[mcco5543]

Am I the only one that thinks that it is strange the doctor is saying he will run any test that YOU want him to run??? Are you a doctor? Cause if you aren't then I don't understand why the doctor isn't making the decisions on what tests to run to figure out what is going on.

If my doctor asked me what tests I wanted I would be clueless on what to ask for. And when he tells me he wants a chest Xray, EKG, CT scan, Colonoscopy or whatever he thinks is necessary for my current symptoms I never WANT those tests. I do them because a medical professional is telling me it is in my best interest.

Personally I would find another Dr really fast!

I would too! and if a breathing treatment is not helping and it gets any worse I'd consider the ER. shortness of breath is not something to be played with at all! Even if it turns out to be something very easy to treat, it needs to be treated immediately.

Last time I had shortness of breath and we were waiting for the blood work, x rays and other tests, My doc put me on a general antibiotic as well as steroids when the breathing has been really bad.

I'd either get a second opinion or march straight back to your Dr. and get those tests done immediately, and then search for another doctor. Any doc who doesn't want to be thorough is not worth your time. Not jumping the gun is one thing, but this is your air supply, not some annoying pain you have in your little finger that could possibly wait...know what I mean? Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

 

[mcco5543]

yes it's neccesary! And I wouldn't fly either!

 

[mcco5543]

OP here again.

So I saw the Dr. last week again. My pulse ox was 96. He prescribed an inhaler and a longer dosage of prednisone since that was the only thing that seemed to be working. He wants me to have a CT scan (have it scheduled for tomorrow) and then if that is normal, be tested for Asthma.

I got my prescriptions on Tuesday last week and then we left for NYC on Wednesday. I was 100% fine the entire time in NYC and most of the weekend. Never even took the medicine, didnt need it. Woke up this morning feeling the breathing thing again and coughing a bit of phlem. So now I am really thinking its allergy/asthma related. I wonder if I should still go to the CT scan? Seems to me that it would be a waste of time and money. I'll try to call the Dr. but dont know if I will get an answer in time. Anyone have an opionion?

Follow it through! It seems like it may be asthma/allergies with a possible infection but for jiminy cricket's sake follow through with whatever your doctor tells you to. It's not over reacting..It's your health. There's no such thing as over reacting. good for you for taking care of it! Keep following through.

 

[ogreenlee]

OP, what you are describing is EXACTLY was I experienced when I had a pulmonary embolism. Unbeknownst to me, I had a blood clot in my calf and parts of it broke off and went to both lungs. I was very lucky that my doctor was observant and immediately sent me to the hospital for a CT scan, which revealed the PE's. By any chance, are you on birth control pills? They believe that's what caused my clot to form.

Anyway, don't mess around with this. Hopefully it's nothing bad, but it could be something very serious. I'd either go get another opinion or go to the ER.

I need to check for this. I was having the out-of-breath issues, winded.. couldn't walk up the stairs without taking a break. I was on month 2 of the Nuvaring. I found out that this causes blood to thicken. That same day after reading about this, I removed the Nuvaring and took 3 baby aspirin. I felt better within hours.

No more hormonal BCs for me.

 

[phorsenuf]

Ive been dealing with the same issues. I ended up in the ER Monday afternoon. Since I've had a heart attack in the past they wanted to keep me for observation. The cardiologist decided to do a stress test and it turns out I have some fluid around my heart. I stayed in the hospital until Wednesday.
When I got home I looked up the symptoms for it and sure enough I had them all right down to the dry cough.
I go back to my Dr tomorrow to see where we go from here.

Maybe you should ask about an ultrasound of the heart. That's how they found my problem.

Hope you feel better soon.