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Can't breathe when I am active.

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Posted 4/18/2011 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
I notice that when I walk up hills, exercise, jog, play sports... I can't breathe. It's not after 10 minutes or a reasonable amount of time, it is after about 30 seconds. I went to an allergist who said I had good lung capacity and therefore I don't have an issue with asthma. Is this true? Can checking lung capacity while inactive indicate that I am not suffering from asthma?

Does anyone else know of anything that could cause this shortness of breath? It is not a new thing, I have had this my entire life. I've never been able to run or jog further than the end of the driveway. I've always gotten winded during sports when I was younger but I used to be able to do stop/go sports and function but lately, I can't because it takes me too long to get the air back. It seems like no air goes into my lungs when I am winded and I can't catch my breath. My fiance says it is normal and because I don't push myself hard enough. He believes if I kept trying I would eventually beat this. He said when he was in the military he saw a lot of people get past the inability to breathe.

Posted 4/18/2011 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
It could be exercised induced asthma.

www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise-induced-asthma/DS01040
Posted 4/18/2011 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, this is similar to what I have. Only happens when I exercise. Of course people will assume it's because you're out of shape. The most frustating part is that no matter how much I exercise or how in shape I am, I still deal with the symptoms.

The weird thing is, it says prednisone can be used to treat this and I was no better while I was on prednisone.

Posted 4/18/2011 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
If you see a pulmonologist, he/she might prescribe a steroid inhaler for when you get out of breath. This will open the airways so you can take a deep breath.
Posted 4/19/2011 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice Sherry. I will see if I can get in to see a pulmonologist. I've never even heard of that speciality before but it sounds like what I need.
Posted 5/15/2011 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
I got an inhaler!! I hope it helps.

I will let you know Monday when I go to exercise.

If it doesn't help then I conclude that I am just pathetic and lazy. That or it was from the blood being so bad or the drugs.
Posted 5/15/2011 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
no no no ... your finance is wrong and don't ever think that about yourself. since you not a professional sports person, you can swim, walk and do light sports. don't push yourself. (look at professional foot ball players now suffering brain damage) ... at least they made MONEY and LOTS OF IT.

you are not in the army and your finance sounds like a frustrated drill instructor.
Posted 5/17/2011 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Joan, that's exactly how he seems to me when it comes to exercising.

I used my inhaler yesterday and I was a bit better but still not great. I will try again when the rains pass. I hope it helps. I really would like to be able to jog without feeling like I am going to pass out.
Posted 5/18/2011 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
the advice is to use the inhaler and then sprint along and stop when you can't work out any more. BE CAREFUL NOT TO USE THE INHALER TOO MANY TIMES...can lead to heart attacks.
Posted 5/24/2011 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
I am no doctor but i will tell you about my case and may be (not sure) you have the same case i had. You see a lot of people get asthma when they are very young. Now i will not explain the details (not that i know it well lol) but what happens is that some people adapt to the lack of oxygen automatically and their bodies or lungs when very very young adapt to that and it does something that has to do with CO and oxygen and you no longer get that shortness of breath that asthma does to people who use inhalers for the rest of their life. according to my parents i had that when i was very young but now i don't even remember that. I have a very normal life and don't use inhaler. BUT, according to all the reading i did when the body adapts it also lessens your capacity of oxygen. you have enough for daily activities, but not enough to do the extra work out or running or so. So may be you had a minor case of Asthma when you were very very young and now your body adapted. If you can work, study , eat , marry and SMILE that is good enough. Why run when we have cars lol.
Posted 5/24/2011 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Today I did a hike and it was really bad.

I used my inhaler this morning but no allergy pill. I am not sure that this inhaler is for me. I still felt like I was unable to walk up the mountain without gasping for air. Other people were passing me and weren't weezing. I've been doing these hikes for months so I know it's not an issue of being inactive. It feels like I can't get any air into my lungs when I am going up a hill.

Is there anything else out there that could cause this inability to breate or anything else that is worth trying to correct it?

The inhaler I have is Albuterol.
Posted 5/24/2011 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Do you notice a difference when you do take the allergy pill in conjunction with the inhaler? Have you ever tried Singulair? Yes there are a couple of asthma inhalers you can try for maintenance but very few for acute attacks. You might need to be on a maintenance med to help control the amount that your lungs spasm.
Posted 5/24/2011 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking zyrtec when I remember, do you think there is a better option for allergy pills? I think it is helping a little but I expected to be able to hike up a mountain without feeling like I was going to die and I still have so much trouble breathing.

I will look into singular. The inhaler I have is not for acute attacks, the script he wrote says to use it 20 minutes before exercise. I've been doing this and I still can't breath well when I am going up hill. I have to stop a lot and it feels like I can't get any air into my lungs when I breath. It's very frustrating when you're trying to do something good for you and you can't because you can't breath :(

Thanks for all your help Sherry. I don't think I would have gotten as far as I have with treating this without your help.
Posted 5/24/2011 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Albuterol is actually a rescue inhaler. I believe that Advair and Spiriva are maintenance inhalers - don't quote me on that, perhaps look them up. The Singulair, taken at night, every night, can help keep your airways open which in turn can make it easier for the inhalers to do their job. Not everyone does well on Singulair, but it's one of those things - either it will work or it won't. I take Singulair for my allergies - it's a dual med in that aspect.
Posted 5/24/2011 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Advair and spiriva are maintenance inhalers. I'm on advair to control my asthma flares. I'm allergic to anything that grows outside. I also take zyrtec daily. Singular didn't work for me.
Posted 5/25/2011 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, no wonder it doesn't help. Do you think that the albuterol would help more if I took it with me on the hike and use it when I can't breathe? The problem is that I can't breathe a few times per hike and as Joan said, you dont' want to use it too often. I think I need Spiriva or Advair. I really wanto to be able to exercise without gasping for air. This has held me back since I was young and it's only gotten worse as I get older. My doctor said I need to see a specialist.
Posted 5/25/2011 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
If you are having to use the Albuterol more than once during a certain period of time, then your asthma is not controlled. Albuterol works by opening the airways when they constrict and should be used primarily as needed. It shouldn't be used repeatedly because it can increase your heart rate. While doing anything strenuous, your heart is pumped up enough. So during that time, it's best to be on a safer asthma med such as the Advair or Spiriva. IF in the event that the maintenance med does not work like it should, that is when you use the Albuterol.

But I agree, it might be best to see a specialist about this.
Posted 5/25/2011 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
I see a lung specialist for my asthma.
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