Have You Ever Coughed So Hard You Couldn't Inhale?

[snowwite]

I test my breathing every morning. They are a pretty good indicator.

I also blow about a 500 when things are going well. I can usually tell when it's a "bad day" but sometimes it sneaks up on me. A lower than normal reading on my peak flow indicator allows me to take proactive steps, like using my nebulizer, before I have an actual asthma attack.

Anne

I got a peak flow meter in ER when I went in because I could not breathe.I have two inhalers and started Z pak but dont feel any better yet. The staff was not helpful and didnt really explain what I am to do w/peak flow meter and MD office is closed. They put green mark at 550 but last night I could only do 200 and still feel out of breath. I wish they gave me a nebulizer for home but they didnt.I cant use my inhaler again until 10am and its only 7:30. I got up and ran very hot shower and inhaled steam.My kids are visitng dad and DH is gone to drag race all day so I am here alone. To the OP your symptoms sound like my asthma. I also have bronchitis,sinusitis,laryngitis and otitis media following a recent flight home from Disney.As fello passenger was hacking so much they should not have been on plane w/o a mask!It is scary to be breathless.

 

[Christine]

I got a peak flow meter in ER when I went in because I could not breathe.I have two inhalers and started Z pak but dont feel any better yet. The staff was not helpful and didnt really explain what I am to do w/peak flow meter and MD office is closed. They put green mark at 550 but last night I could only do 200 and still feel out of breath. I wish they gave me a nebulizer for home but they didnt.I cant use my inhaler again until 10am and its only 7:30. I got up and ran very hot shower and inhaled steam.My kids are visitng dad and DH is gone to drag race all day so I am here alone. To the OP your symptoms sound like my asthma. I also have bronchitis,sinusitis,laryngitis and otitis media following a recent flight home from Disney.As fello passenger was hacking so much they should not have been on plane w/o a mask!It is scary to be breathless.

Hi snowwite, I hope you feel better soon. For what it's worth, my son sees a lung specialist and when he is in the throes of an asthma problem he is allowed to use his nebulizer/inhaler a lot more than 3-4 times a day. We were told to use it as often as possible to get it under control. Anne could probably weigh in better on this issue, though, than I can. I think a lot of "regular" doctors are just ignorant about treating asthma.

The more time that goes by since my coughing incident on Friday night, the more I think it was an allergic reaction. I have been clearing a lot of mucous over this whole weekend. No more coughing fits, thank God. But, I can say that during this whole time, I have no problem with blowing a 500-550 on the peak flow, so I'm really pretty sure that it's not asthma but an allergic reaction. I mean a certainly *feel* symptomatic like I do have asthma, but it's not registering as that..

 

[snowwite]

Hi snowwite, I hope you feel better soon. For what it's worth, my son sees a lung specialist and when he is in the throes of an asthma problem he is allowed to use his nebulizer/inhaler a lot more than 3-4 times a day. We were told to use it as often as possible to get it under control. Anne could probably weigh in better on this issue, though, than I can. I think a lot of "regular" doctors are just ignorant about treating asthma.

The more time that goes by since my coughing incident on Friday night, the more I think it was an allergic reaction. I have been clearing a lot of mucous over this whole weekend. No more coughing fits, thank God. But, I can say that during this whole time, I have no problem with blowing a 500-550 on the peak flow, so I'm really pretty sure that it's not asthma but an allergic reaction. I mean a certainly *feel* symptomatic like I do have asthma, but it's not registering as that..

Thanks for the tip.Glad to hear you are feeling better.

 

[luvdzne]

REALLY??? That is so weird--I'm asthmatic AND allerigic to nuts. There have always been some toothpastes that will trigger an asthma attack in my--now I"m wondering if there's a relation?

Any idea what brands?

Anne

I don't remember. I think she said aqua fresh had traces of it. I'm not 100% sure. They moved not too long ago, and I have no way of getting a hold of her to ask. I do know that if you go to peanut allergy.com (don't leave the space in between) they have loads of info.

 

[minkydog]

Could it be Pertissis (Whooping Cough)?

I had a terrible, terrible bout with it over Christmas about 3 years ago. I was home alone and started coughing so hard and so long that I couldn't bring the mucous up, but couldn't catch a breath either. I called my Mom (physician) at work and went into a fit on the phone. She said, "I'll be home in 15 minutes." She was afraid I was going to choke at home alone and not now what to do.

Although we're vaccinated against Whooping Cough as children, it wears off around the time we head into 1st or 2nd grade...

My first thought was also Pertussis. It's not an uncommon as you might think.The reason kids are immunized for it is because it can be very serious in young children. In fact, most kids who get it, get it from some adult who is coughing their head off and doen'st know they have pertussis.

I'd call your doctor Monday and get checked for asthma and whooping cough. Of course, if you are short of breath today or have fever or chest pain,you should be seen today.

 

[wvjules]

I have coughing spells once a month or so. No asthma that I know of either. What works for me is trying to calm down and relax, taking tiny inhales (too big and the coughing gets worse). The more calm and relaxed I get the faster I get better.

I've told my DD and co-workers that if/when it happens around them, not to panic, keep others away from me and let me work my way through it. The first couple of times it happened to me I was scared. Now that I know how to manage it I'm not as afraid of them. Still scares DD but she knows that I'll be fine.

 

[grinningghost]

I had a terrible case of bronchitis in the mid 90's. I had exactly what you described. I'll never forget it.

I was walking to the front door, and I literally coughed so hard, I collapsed in the hallway. I could feel the air getting sucked back out of my lungs like a vacuum. I was all alone and I was so scared.

It took a couple minutes before I could get my bearings and crawl back to the couch.

It took at least 6 months for that cough to completely go away - I went back to work, and I can still remember coworkers saying "You really need to get to a doctor about that cough". The fact is, I had been to the doctor several times, and he said it was just lingering symptoms of bronchitis, nothing I could do but wait.

I sure hope you're feeling better soon Christine. Coughing is miserable, especially that kind of coughing.

 

[OK!]

I had something like that happen about a year ago, as I was coming down off of a respiratory infection. Right when I got up in the morning, I launched into a horrible coughing fit and couldn't inhale in between hacking. I have exercise-induced asthma, but I'd never felt anything like this. Once I quit panicking and the coughing slowed down a little, I remembered that caffeine can help loosen up constricted airways, so I drank a bunch of Diet Pepsi and that seemed to help a little. At any rate, it was terrifying, and I'm so glad it's never happened since!

Hope you're feeling better, OP!

 

[mickeysgal]

I also had a similar thing happen. I was miserably sick with a cold. I got up in the morning and once I started moving around, I started a coughing fit. I was coughing so hard, that I couldn't breath. No intake at all. My husband was still home (hadn't left for work). I jumped into the shower thinking the steam would help. It took forever, (something like 45 seconds we think) before my breathing started to slowly resume. In the meantime, DH called the paramedics. I went to the doctor who told me I had bronchitus and most likely I had a throat spasm. It felt like the wind was knocked out of me. It was horrible. I tend to have coughing fits often with and without colds. I hope it never happens again. I'm starting to wonder if I have asthma.

 

[LindaG4458]

I tend to have coughing fits often with and without colds. I hope it never happens again. I'm starting to wonder if I have asthma.

I was the same way for at least 30 years. On top of frequent coughing fits I was constantly clearing my throat. This irritated both me and everyone around me.

We are transferring our primary healthcare to Florida. About four weeks ago I was at the doctor and she said I was wheezing when she listened to my lungs. Yup, I have asthma. She prescribed Advair, Singulair, Albuterol, and Nasonex. I have not had a coughing fit since then and, when the throat clearing begins, I have taken a puff of Albuterol (only three times so far). I told the doctor that, if she is ever nominated for sainthood, I would testify to her first miracle: controlling my cough!

Why did nobody else catch on to the problem?

 

[ducklite]

I had something like that happen about a year ago, as I was coming down off of a respiratory infection. Right when I got up in the morning, I launched into a horrible coughing fit and couldn't inhale in between hacking. I have exercise-induced asthma, but I'd never felt anything like this. Once I quit panicking and the coughing slowed down a little, I remembered that caffeine can help loosen up constricted airways, so I drank a bunch of Diet Pepsi and that seemed to help a little. At any rate, it was terrifying, and I'm so glad it's never happened since!

Hope you're feeling better, OP!

Actually while the caffiene can help, the CO2 can make it worse. Carbonated beverages, including beer and sparkling wines are contraindiacted during any type of breathing difficulty, and many severe asthmatics are warned to avoid them when possible at all times.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I was the same way for at least 30 years. On top of frequent coughing fits I was constantly clearing my throat. This irritated both me and everyone around me.

We are transferring our primary healthcare to Florida. About four weeks ago I was at the doctor and she said I was wheezing when she listened to my lungs. Yup, I have asthma. She prescribed Advair, Singulair, Albuterol, and Nasonex. I have not had a coughing fit since then and, when the throat clearing begins, I have taken a puff of Albuterol (only three times so far). I told the doctor that, if she is ever nominated for sainthood, I would testify to her first miracle: controlling my cough!

Why did nobody else catch on to the problem?

Because a lot of doctors don't associate coughing with asthma, they are only looking for the classic wheeze. Fortunately more and more of them are catching on that there are several other symptoms of asthma, and people who have had it their entire lives are finally being treated properly for it.

Anne