I have suffered with asthma for decades and from infancy - before the invention of Ventolin! My asthma is accompanied by noisy wheezing and only alleviated by using medicines and sitting backwards on an upright dining chair and leaning over the back of it. My asthma has historically never lasted more than 2-3 days and has become much better after being prescribed Symbicort inhalers a couple of years ago.
Recently however, I have been getting symptoms of breathlessness and coughing, with NO wheezing. This only gets better when I lie down flat! My asthma medication does not help, nor a course of antibiotics in case it was a chest infection. My doctor keeps saying it is probably my asthma but I have never experienced this before. It is lasting for weeks at a time and I am worn out! Help
Asthma is a disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, which will cause you to wheeze and cough. You will feel breathless because it will be difficult to move air in and out of your airways. Position is important in air flow. Most asthma problems are at night, even if your disease is controlled. Some people have worse breathing problems when lying down. A lot of this probably depends on body types, asthma severity and if one has some anxiety struggles with anticipating asthma. You can try grape seed extract, try amino acid lysine to tackle this situation.
Paul.
Paul, Thank you for your response, but I don't believe you "listened" above. Breathing is EASIER when lying down. I am experiencing the same thing. I was born with asthma, had it all my life, and recently find difficulty breathing without the wheezing and easier to breathe when lying down. I will try your suggestions, but am still concerned why I can breathe better when lying down which is the opposite of how to breathe during asthma attacks.
Have you found out what is causing this, I have just had bronchitis and have had a cough for sometime, having chest xray on Monday. I too feel better when lying down, short of breath when I get up
Hello, I have been having these same symptoms. Did your symptoms ever resolve or did you get any answers/treatment? Any info appreciated!
Paul, I have over 50 years first hand experience of asthma....this is NOT my asthma..
Hi, had loads of tests all negative...I am baffling the experts and am now being referred to a specialist...will keep you posted, it's a long slog though...
Still having tests, the ones I've had are negative...being referred to specialist will keep you posted....
i have had the same problem for over a year now, since im a smoker all the doctors did was check my lungs etc but to no conclusion. While visiting my wife's physician, he told me to get a complete blood test or cbc. When I sent my report to the doctor he called back and told me to donate 3 bottels of blood, in the next 45 days!! I showed his prescription to the donation center they refused to do it, instead told me to take 3 month intervals. But after the first bottle donated i started feeling better and got so well that i forgot to donate the next or the third but after three months the problem recurred, so went on and donated another, it gave me 9 months of a good breathing period but again came back this december.
The doctor said my body was making more blood due to some reason resulting in high blood pressure and extra pressure on heart to pump the blood which is more than the veins aretries can take.
hope this helps
Similar situation - mycoplsama was diagnosed after a swab 4 months ago having felt horrendous for a while. 3 weeks of antibiotics saw off that (they haven't reswabbed) but I was left with a constant tightness of the chest/virally feeling and I'm short of breath after climbing a few floors (different symptoms from those of pre-mycoplasma). X-ray of lung area showed only over inflated lungs. Never had asthma, was prescribed the two enhallers and after a month another course of antibiotics just in case and hardcore steroids for 7 days. Blood tests all clear except lacking in vitmanin D. No change in symptons. Off for further exploration next week, will report back. Empathise, I'm also knackered. Terribly dull.
I am currently experiencing this. I breathe better in fact feel fine laying flat. When I get up I begin shortness of breath and fatigue that gets worse. When you are laying down flat is the least load on the heart. In my case it is my heart caising this. So although there may be other issues don't over look the heart. Have any heart issues ruled out.
Steve
You need to firstly find the reason behind why this is happening. Get yourself checked, probably you can ask your doctor to change your medications. Maybe that should help you in a way. There is also a possiblity that these symptoms that you are facing recently may subside after few days. Contact your doctor for asthma treatment and its medications.
Sorry, I know this was a while ago but have just stumbled upon this thread as I am currently suffering exactly the same symptoms after a bout of bronchitis. Did you discover what was causing the ongoing shortness of breath? Has it resolved itself?
Hi Cheryl been fine for months but just today has started again! Just in time for christmas! I have a pass to get me admitted straight into hospital so the respiratory specialists can hum and haw and hopefully tell me what is wrong... How have you been recently??
Been fine for the last few months...had all kinds of tests done on heart and lungs...no answers....and then today...it's back!! However if it gets worse I have a pass to get admitted to hospital to be seen by the respiratory specialists first hands...as by the time my appointments came round to see them I was better!!!
I've not smoked for almost 20 years but dont have high bp and my heart has been checked and all is well....still baffled and it's come back today!!
Hi... having same issues... when I am up walking or sitting up my chest fills tight shortness of breathe but when I am laying down it goes away
Might I suggest looking into something called hepatopulmonary syndrome.
The sensation of dyspnea (or shortness of breath) in the upright position is called platypnea. This symptom could be suggestive of a problem in your lungs caused by abnormal intrapulmonary shunts, resulting in a ventilation (oxygen flow) and perfusion (blood flow) mismatch. As this syndrome primarily affects the base of your lung, when upright, the mismatch is more pronounced and you have difficulty breathing.
any update on your condition? my wife is having the same symptoms (no asthma) and currently on the same path as you, with frequent hospital visists and negative tests. She is also having a lot of neurological problems/sensations that are thought to be unrelated.
Hi steve, i was wondering if you can explain more about your heart problems. Did you receive a diagnosis or get any treatment?