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Post by Toby on Jun 10, 2008 14:29:37 GMT -5
I just got back from my husband's surgeon and the air was out in the building. His waiting room was small and his examining room was small. After 10 minutes I started having a difficult time breathing and after we entered his exam room it got worse and worse till my throat started closing up on me and I had to leave the room and get in front of the fan that was in the hallway. There was no other fans. My husband and the surgeon got very concerned because I was turning beet red and gasping. Has anyone ever had this happen to them? The breathing I just do purse lip but what do you do when your throat starts to close up? I grabbed water in the waiting room till I got my composure then went to air conditioned car. It was a scarey feeling.
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Post by roadtrip on Jun 10, 2008 14:53:18 GMT -5
Linda,
That happens to me a lot and still scares me and everyone around me. To this day I can't walk into places like Home Depot without having one of these. I think it is the fumes. My Pulmo calls them bronchiospams (sp?) and he says they are probably brought on my Asthma component. He also told me that they are more common in women than men. Found that interesting.
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Post by blondie on Jun 10, 2008 15:34:07 GMT -5
Linda, I have heard of people having bronchospasm numerous times. They say when it happens to use your rescue inhaler immediately. I think you did the wise thing by getting under a fan and getting into a a/c car. I don't think PLB would help you in one of these attacks. But remember to use your rescue inhaler. Pat
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Post by merryfl on Jun 10, 2008 18:15:09 GMT -5
Linda -- another possibility is a panic attack. I don't get them very often, but my 1st symptom is a feeling like I have a ball stuck in my throat and it is growing! Very frightening. Being in a space with no air makes me feel claustrophobic which brings on panic attacks. Just a thought.
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Post by Toby on Jun 10, 2008 18:24:16 GMT -5
I have a feeling you are right Merry. I was having a hard time breathing in a closed room and I panicked. It felt like a ball in my throat that was growing and the more I tried to swollow the more I panicked. I feel fine tonight but I have air conditioning.
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Post by Colleen-NC on Jun 10, 2008 19:13:42 GMT -5
I think it was a combo of things. I try to carry throat drops with me at all times just for this reason. Panic creeps up at times and can't be avoided and when you first went in and it was so hot it probably started the ball rolling. I haven't had it happen in a while but it sure is scary.
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Post by citygirl on Jun 10, 2008 19:41:23 GMT -5
Our lungs are so sick that in extream heat our body can't cool itself or even in a small place that doesn't have much oxygen ..I have to open my car doors and put the windows down for a bit before I can get in..and I can't sit outside on the patio for more than a few minutes..sometimes even when cooking I have to go sit under the ceiling fan and then I do 2 puffs on my inhaler..I probably would have even passed out a few times without my inhaler..remember the air we breath is only 21% oxygen so if we aren't getting enough and add to that our lungs don't go in and out the right way..yep..you can get in distress quickly..glad you are doin well now..
Did I ever tell ya..I hate summer?
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Post by blondie on Jun 10, 2008 20:13:59 GMT -5
Citygirl, I am with you on hating summer. I'm a cool weather gal. But I guess any day above ground is good ;D
Linda, I am glad you are feeling better after your episode.
Pat
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Post by virginia on Jun 10, 2008 20:26:20 GMT -5
Toby, i'm like you when i get in small warm places or if it has fumes in it I get out real fast.I'm glad you're ok...
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Post by Toby on Jun 11, 2008 8:28:12 GMT -5
Anxiety - Why do we become short of breath? In a nutshell and very simplified, in most of us COPD’ers, our DLCO or diffusion rate is compromised so that our lungs are no longer able to efficiently exchange O2 and CO2. The O2 in our blood may drop and the CO2 level increases. Our brain signals our lungs and heart to speed up and try to get our level back in balance. We then become short winded. Then anxiety kicks in. When we become anxious, our body releases adrenaline which causes our heart to beat even faster. The brain then tells the lungs that the heart is working harder and needs more oxygen. So we start to breathe faster and harder. The brain then tells the heart that the lungs need more blood to process, and so the heart starts to beat faster again. And so on, and so on, until we are uncontrollably Short Of Breath. We are then hyperventilating, breathing too fast and too shallow.
I just went back in to read more under COPD thread that Toni brought over from the other forum and their was a tribute to Philcab. I guess that is what I experienced. Also, my husband and I were talking about what happened and he said that he was light headed and was getting a headache while he was there. I do believe it was a combination of everything.
I use to lay in the sun constantly and loved outdoor activities, but now I dread the Summer. I love Spring and Fall, but not Summer!
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Post by blondie on Jun 11, 2008 9:50:26 GMT -5
Toby, you bring up a good point. My last pft showed DLCO down from 56 to 41. That maybe why I am getting more sob breath than I use to before pneumonia. I'm going to ask my pulmo doc about it tomorrow. Thanks for bringing it up. Pat
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Post by citygirl on Jun 11, 2008 21:42:11 GMT -5
I used to lay out at Yorktown Beach in Va. every summer till I was a light walnut shade..beautiful in all summer colors and especially in sumpin white..now I can't sit in the shade on the patio on a hot day for very long.
I only visit my DD and her family about 1 time during the summer because they don't use their AC like we do here at home..
No one seems to understand..it's not a matter of me wanting to be comfortable..I CAN'T BREATH. I pray they never have to find out first hand.
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Post by maryaz on Jun 11, 2008 23:03:19 GMT -5
Hi Linda; Hope next time you are more prepared and catch an attack sooner. It could have been a combination of things mentioned here. Many good posts made. I will share my experiences with you.
When I was fairly new to my COPD and getting out and about. I really figured this out when one Halloween about 4 PM we were in a Party City store to get a costume for one of my grandkids. The aisles there are very tall reaching quite high to the ceiling. Costumes are in the back of the store and in not too large of an area were 'lots' of people trying on costumes. In other words we had a store with no good circulation in it. I thought (wearing o2) that I could handle this. I was soon kneeling down and telling Joe that I cannot stay here. My saturation was going down in the 80's and I could not breath good.
I walked out of the store and as I got close to the door, I was already cooling down, feeling little better, breathing little better and numbers slowly going up. I went out and then sat in the car and breathed my way back and was relaxed and fine.
I learned that we need air circulating. In my hospital room, my nurse kept saying 'it is a good idea to keep a fan on'. I don't like it if it blows in my face but otherwise, I need it at times.
On a smaller scale, this happened in a restaurant. I was in the middle of a booth that wrapped around a corner and in a way that no air got there. It was walls behind me. Now I watch where I sit and we wait and sit me where the air circulates. I tested this a few times. Sometimes not the best seat but handled it.
Sometimes in my room, I have to turn the fan on. It has to do with the air circulating. I like open aisles like Target. I can handle Walgreens only for a short time as not a lot of air moves. We can take better care of ourselves if we know what to avoid.
Hope this helps someone. I really just came to update my situation. I better get moving. Take care.
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Post by James on Aug 1, 2018 15:05:31 GMT -5
I have stage 1 emphysema. For about 4 yrs now. I am on my 2nd different set of inhalers. Was on combivent and symbicort. VA cardiopulmonalogist put me on speriva and proair. Not working again. I too have exacerbations and recently had accute pneumonia and a week later I had a total collapse of my lung. Feels like my throat is closing up, chest feels tight. I am ok for a couple hrs then have to do a puff. I get my inhalers and solution from the VA. Sometimes I have to do more. Currently after losing my job of 8 yrs, I am fighting to get disability. Don’t sleep good at night because I am ok then I have to do a puff. Everything I do anymore is getting harder to do
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Post by Cherylmcc on Aug 2, 2018 7:34:38 GMT -5
Good morning James
Having COPD is hard to cope with. Thank you for sharing with us. It sounds like it’s going to take time and trials of inhalers until your Drs find the combination that will work for you. Please keep us updated..
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Post by kenaz on Aug 2, 2018 8:29:10 GMT -5
James, I to am using VA. with End Stage COPD diagnosed in 2002 I use Spiriva every morning and 500/50 Advair morning and night. It is very important to relax and try not to panic. Pursed lip breathing sounds stupid but it does help. I can not wear anything touching my throat, T-shirt, neck tie buttoned up shirt are all out. Good luck, I will be praying for you, Ken
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Post by sue on Aug 2, 2018 19:16:59 GMT -5
Hi James! I'm sorry you're going thru that right now. Are you familiar with pursed lip breathing? It can help you get control of your breathing. If you're new to the meds, it is a trial and error unfortunately. Stress doesn't help either and it sounds like you have a bunch of it. I have my share of that...
Please feel free to ask questions, we will try and help you
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