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Posted 10/15/2007 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there!

   I read here quite a bit but first time posting in this forum.  Anyone suffer from asthma have chest pain with it?  I suffered from severe asthma as a child but as I got older it got more mild.  For a long time it was just a seasonal thing associated with the spring and fall allergies I get.  about six months ago I started getting these sharp pains in the upper left chest around the heart area, which was as you can imagine scary!  Doc checked out the heart and all is good there, and he said it was spasms associated with my asthma. 

   I've only ever had an asthma attack with wheezing, but now I find myself short of breath all the time, with chest tightness, no wheezing at all, and these horrible chest pains.  I'm very puzzled as to why the asthma has changed.  Anyone ever had chest pains like this? 

Kimber

Posted 10/15/2007 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have asthma (my son does) but I hear that chest pain is common in asthma sufferers. The sharp pains you get, is it when you take in a breath? Have you ever looked into Pleurisy? This is when the lining of your lungs become inflammed. Usually the docs will prescribe pain meds to deal with the pain and it will settle down once the asthma is controlled. Do you use an inhaler or any other asthma med?
Posted 10/15/2007 8:16 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Sherry,

    It hurts whether I take a deep breath or not, although taking that deep breath does intensify the pain somewhat.  He never said anything about pleurisy, I'll have to ask him next time I go.  Right now I am using albuterol which was what I was using before on a seasonal basis but now he wants me to use it everyday.  It does seem to be helping somewhat with everything else except for the chest pain itself. 

Posted 10/16/2007 1:40 AM (GMT 0)

Kimber,

I have severe asthma.  Only severe asthma patients get Xolair approved by the insurance companies because it is around $10,000 per year on top of all the other asthma/allergy medications I take.  I am telling you this to let you know that my asthma is pretty bad and I don't get the chest pains.  I will get soreness if I have coughed a lot, but not what you are talking about.  I get the chest tightness a lot.  For instance, today was trash day and by the time I rolled both my trash cans around back, my chest was tight and I was very short of breath.  Probably if I had used my nebulizer first, that wouldn't have happened.  I'm a little stubborn.

I'm also wondering if you might have some pleurisy mixed in there.  I've never had pleurisy, so I don't know what it feels like, but I think I would definitely have it checked out.  I'm sure there must be a treatment for it, so we can get up and going again.

Please let us know what you find out.

Take care!

Carla

Posted 10/18/2007 9:49 PM (GMT 0)

Carla,

    Thanks for sharing and I am sorry you have to deal with asthma like that, my goodness.  The pain seems to have subsided for now, hasn't happened in a few days.  I'm hoping that it won't come back again for a while, but if it does I'll make sure to ask about the pleurisy that you and Sherry suggested. 

    Congrats on your recent mod postition tongue

Kimber

   

Posted 2/15/2008 7:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, I have been having the exact same pain, upper left chest, with shortness of breath. I was beginning to think that I was having heart failure or cardiovascular disease (Though I'm not even remotely close to being at risk). Just like you I was diagnosed with asthma as a kid but as an adult didn't really deal with it much. So during all of my chest pain episodes I never though about asthma and thus never bothered thinking about my inhaler. One day I finally decided to use my inhaler...and viola! No more chest pain or shortness of breath. I'm no doctor but your symptoms and history sound very similar to mine and the inhaler pretty much took care of this issue and my heart disease fears. Check with your doctor about managing your asthma.

God Bless
Posted 2/16/2008 4:37 AM (GMT 0)

ronivy,

Welcome to HealingWell.  We are happy to have you join our little family.  Please keep posting and getting to know people.

Take care!

Carla

Posted 2/19/2008 7:04 AM (GMT 0)
Just prior to being diagnosed with asthma a little over a year ago, I had a sharp pain in my chest accompanied by shortness of breath and sweating. It only lasted for about 3 minutes but it got my attention. I wound up in ICU until I had a stress test with dye and my heart was fine. Once released from the hospital, I developed a cough that just didn't go away. After a methacholine challenge test it was determined that I was asthmatic. I have often wondered if the sharp chest pain was just an early manifestation of the disease. Your post seems to support the possibility.

Tom
Posted 2/20/2008 2:57 AM (GMT 0)

Hey Tom, welcome to HealingWell.  We are glad to have you as a new member.  As you can probably tell, we are like a big family around here.  I hope you will continue to post.  We are here to support each other and we learn so much from each other.

Again, welcome,

Carla

Posted 3/4/2008 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
My asthma recently got a lot worse too. It was pretty severe when I was a child, got slightly better, and then gained almost 30 new allergies and my asthma got worse.
I've definately experienced that sharp pain, and it is scary because it doesn't feel like anything I'd normally associate with my attacks. I almost always have a sore feeling when I breath in or out deeply. However, this pain is sudden and in a way knocks the breath right out of me. I guess I treat it by staying on my regimin of meds, excercising to maintain lung strength and capacity, and trying to breath slowly and deeply when I'm having dificulties.
Posted 3/4/2008 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
I know where u are coming from. I have chest pains all the time with my asthma. Along with it I have shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. I have only had wheezing like once or twice and both times was right before I felt like I was gonna pass out. But my chest pains are also mainly in my upper chest and they hurt so bad sometimes I cant even move and it hurts worse when u try to breath in.
Posted 5/5/2008 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
New Member Here.

I am 53 yrs old and was diagnosed with asthma about 9 years ago. I've always had seasonal allergies when I was a kid.

I am on Advair 500 / 50, Combivent (rescue), Duoneb (nebulizer), Spiriva, and Theophylline for my asthma. I am on Accolate and Zyrtec for my allergies.

I have recently being experiencing intense chest pain especially after walking for 30 minutes or so such as going to the store. I will use the nebulizer (Duoneb) and the pain subsides but is still a bit achey. The other day I had three episodes of pain, within 4 hours, across the full length of my chest like someone had hit me with a switch. The first time was more intense than the last time.

At what point should I see medical attention (including going to the emergency room)? If I went everything I had a chest pain I'd go two or three times a week.

 

Posted 5/7/2008 12:25 PM (GMT 0)

First time post looking for help with Asthma/Chest pain

I had really bas Asthma as a child. It seemed to of gone away. Lately I have had very bad chest pain. Ache in my chest hard to breath. I can't seem to get my lungs to open up. I went to the doctor, and was put on a five day cycle of Prednisone a steroide to strengthen my lungs. That worked, but only temperally. I went back to the doctor and was prescribed Advir (that was way too exspensice $120 after insurance) Advir is a long acting bronchodilator + steroid inhaler. I did not get that ,but I have started singular with is a long acting bronchodilor + allergy medication inhaler. It seemed to work at first. Im using albuterol 3-6 times a days. That is crazy because I barly used at all in the last several years. Looking for any advice. My Asthma is affecting my day to day living. I hope anything I said helps you with your Asthma.

Posted 5/7/2008 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have taken prednisone many times over the past 10 years. Each was a 10 day supply. I'd usually got a new prescription of it every 3 or 4 months. My pulmonologist says I should never take it again. (weight gain and body swelling). One of my first medications I took for allergies / asthma we Singulair but it never helped me.
Posted 5/7/2008 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah I don't ever plan on taking Prednisone ever again either.

I don't think the Singular is helping my asthma. However it is helping with sesonal allergies.  

Any thoughts on trouble shooting asthma related chest pain when nothing is working ( singular, Prednisone, Albuterol)

Posted 6/21/2008 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Singulair is helping with my allergies but not the asthma. I had nothing but chest pain about 5 months prior to full blown asthma. I went to a cardiologist and he said it was non cardiac related, then a gastroenterologist and finally a pulm when my breathing trouble began. I actually started taking Nexium and it did help. But now I know the pain was most likely associated with my lungs. I still have the sporatic chest pain as well. I haven't found any pain reliever that can help it. I took aspirin to try and relieve it before I knew I had asthma, and it got worse. So definately not that. It seems the pain would be from the spasms I am guessing. It is really common.
Posted 6/22/2008 1:10 AM (GMT 0)

Allison,

Who treats you for your asthma?  An allergist? Is it chest tightness?  Does your chest hurt all the time or just if you touch it.  Do you hurt any where else?

I may be sending you on a wild goose chase, but check out the article about fibromyalgia.  If you think the symptoms fit, we have a  great fibromyalgia forum right here on HealingWell.  I have severe asthma and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia several months ago.

http://www.ask.com/web?o=kw&l=zu&q=fibromyalgia

Let me know what you find out.

Take care!

Carla

Remember, I am not a medical professional, just a volunteer.

Posted 7/2/2008 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
I too suffer from Chest pain, I've had asthma since I was 3 and the last time I went to the Dr regarding my asthma they asked me if I had experienced any chest pain (at that time I hadn't). So I said no, should I? And they explained to me that taking "emergency" inhalers only treats part of the problem and over time scar tissue build up in your bronchial tubes, thus causing the pain. Then they recommended I switch to advair which treats the whole problem. I declined as advair is too expensive (and at the time I had no pain). Unfortunately you have to remember western medicine is flawed, since prescription drug makers give Dr's a lot of perks for "sending them business" and pharma companies know there is more money in the treatment than the cure. So I have began looking into hollistic medicine to get out of the loophole. I'd recommend www.earthclinic.com, they have a few treatments for asthma, and other conditions. I'm currently practicing "oil pulling" and the pain has increased (which I was told would happen as my body fights off the problem) but I will endure in hopes that it will eventually be cured.

Hope that helps others
Posted 7/15/2008 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
 

I am being treated by a pulmonologist and I am going to see an allergist. I did find out the source of my chest pain which is GERD. The meds for asthma that I'm on are actually making it worse. I am taking Zegerid daily but it doesn't really seem to help. I am going to try and look into surgery for it because I can't take the constant shortness of breath I am almost sure is caused by GERD triggering it. I know you can also get it from uncontrolled asthma but I have only had asthma symptoms for 2 months and the pains much longer.

Posted 7/15/2008 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
I also get chest tightness as well. Most of the time after I eat or stress.
Posted 7/16/2008 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I have very, very bad asthma. I have had it since I was two and up until about five years ago it was mild and controlled (I used to have about one attack a year when spring started) Now though, im almost constantly on Prednisone and always out of breath and coughing and taking medicine. three years ago I actually had such a bad attack that my lungs collapsed and i was paralyzed and put into a coma for 5 days in ICU. (ambulance rides are SO not fun!!)  More recently, I got a cold and with it, my asthma flared up. Its been two weeks now of chest pain, wheezing, coughing, puffers and nebs. I get pain all over my chest - its not really isolated to one spot. Its worse when i take a deep breath in (though that is almost impossible at the moment.) It feels more like my lungs are full and I cant get all the air out, so when i try and breath in, my lungs will only allow so much more air in. I'm going to the docs tomorrow to get his opinion on everything, but i doubt he'll change anything anyways. I'm currently on Qvar, Serevent, Singulair and Prednisone for my astma (along with Losec for my stomach) Does anyone else get that full lung feeling? like you would do anything to relieve the pressure? (I always think it would be great if I had a tap connected to my chest that I could just open and the pressure would shoot out like steam... lol)

Also, does anyone else get really horrible back pains when the asthma gets worse? The entire top of my back gets really sore and i can barely lift my amrs when it gets really bad...

Thanks!

shadow

Posted 7/18/2008 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
I have gotten pain in my upper back, usually between the shoulder blades, when things are bad. This is in addition to the chest pain and other problems with an attack. Even when I am not in some sort of crisis my ribs and back are very sore.

Feel better,

Tom

Posted 7/19/2008 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
So I got to the doctors the other day and he put me on 50mg of Prednisone for 5 days, then 45mg for 5 days, then 40mg and so on, dropping off 5mg every five days. I hate this stupid drug... but, its working wonders! I feel so much better! (not 100% yet, but better) I always get the pain between my shoulder blades when i'm bad - thats normaly the sign i look for to tell me i'm getting into trouble. BUT, the pain in my chest and back is almost gone and I can almost go to work without having major problems. (sleeping is still an issue though - im still waking up atleast twice a night coughing and wheezing) I'm so happy the rib-cracking feeling is gone! I can cough now and it doesn't feel like my ribs are breaking! (GO ME!) Asthma just sucks. But, like I told my doc a few years back, Asthma is something I have. It does not define me. It is not who I am. I'll carry on living my life the way I want to and the asthma can either tag along for the ride and behave itself or just go away.
Posted 7/19/2008 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
I get the pain in my upper back a LOT!!!! I have only had asthma for a year and half and I had my first asthma exacerbation about 2 months ago after a case of bronchitis. I was on prednisone for 2 weeks and it helped but every since my exacerbation I have had horrible back pain when my asthma starts to flare.  As soon as feel my asthma start to flare up I start to get some chest tightness and I get short of breath with any extra activity and soon after my back is killing me. It seems like thats becoming my main symptom. Sometimes I even sleep on a heating pad. It seems ever since I got sick 2 months ago my asthma has just gone crazy. Im getting frustrated b/c I have always been really healthy. For the first time 2 nights ago I woke up with cramps in both calves....it took me a while to get back to sleep. I dont know if thats related to asthma or what. My asthma was bothering me that night and my back was hurting.
Posted 11/16/2008 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I am new and very grateful to be here. I have had chest pain for about a year but have a history of heart attacks (3) and had an implantable cardio-defibulater "installed" last April. So, I always attributed shortness of breath and chest pain to my cardiac symptoms but, guess what? -- the symptoms didn't go away - just got worse! So, about 6 months ago I finally saw a pulmonary guy and was DX'd with asthma. I do not wheeze. I just hurt like heck in the afternoon and and at night. If I just sit around I'm OK but if I do any type of exercise, like going out and getting the mail out of the box across the street, my chest hurts! I have a dry cough at night and that really causes chest pain. I also have Lupus and have been told the asthma is lupus-induced. Well, fine - at this point I don't care where it came from, I just want it to stop!! I am on Singulair (good stuff), Symbicort, and Combivent for ER relief. Of course, I'm on lots of other meds for my heart, also. I also notice the cold air causes an almost immediate bout of chest pain. Unfortunately, I am an avid hockey fan so am in a cold arena two or three times a week. I always use my inhaler before a game and wear a turtle neck shirt under my regular warm clothes so I can cover my mouth and nose if I feel the pain start. This helps quite a bit. So, I am 62 yrs old and brand new to this disease. Again, I am very grateful for this chat room. Thanks for letting me vent,

Sundog
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