I feel much better mentally and emotionally, but physically I feel horrid!

I have a very hard time breathing and the least bit of exertion puts me down for a long time.

I can't even remember how long this has been going on.

I am a little anemic, but there is no way a little anemia could make me feel this horrid, could it??

I have mild postgranulomatous changes (whatever the heck that means). I wish they would tell you these things in words

that are understandable. I have a very basic knowledge of what it is, but still does not tell me why I feel so horrid.

Next trip is for a pulmonary stress test. This is what scares me.

Then to a gastric dr. for a scope.

I am so tired of this.

I use to be able to push through just about anything.............NOT ANYMORE!!!

I'm gonna go take an ativan, see if that helps get rid of this rock I feel in my chest.

BEV FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO GIVE YOU BIG HUGS SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YOU MUCH. I WAS WONDERING DO YOU THINK MAYBE ITS THE BC PILL DOING THIS TO YOU? WHEN I WAS ON A HRT I FELT LIKE CRAP. WELL ANYWAYS I HOPE THEY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS I REALLY FEEL FOR YOU I WOULD BE FREAKIN IF I WAS FEELING CHEST DISCOMFORT. A LITTLE ANEMIA CAN MAKE YOU FATIGUE YES BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOMTHING ELSE DOING IT. I WISH YOU THE BEST SORRY I COULDN'T TAKE IT AWAY I WISH I COULD. BIG HUGS TERRY

Bev,

I know you haven't been feeling well, and I am so sorry!! I was hoping you would have some answers today! I looked up that postgranumatous thingy and couldn't make hide nor hair of it!

Thank you, Terry. I know you have been through a whole lot this past month, but yet you have been here to support everyone here. Please take care of yourself. You deserve the best!

Love,

bev xoxoxo

Kathie, from what I understand there is scar tissue in one of my lungs. He said most everyone has it. He even has it, so I'm assuming it's no biggie. I asked for further explanation and he just said it could be caused by fungus. I said, "Could it be the mold in my house?" He just kinda shrugged his shoulders and hemmed and hawwed like he really doesn't know.

When this kind of thing happens you leave there feeling like this is all in your head and they think you are a hypochondriac.

Just like last year when I was in such pain and NO ONE could find a freakin thing wrong with me!!

NO PLEASE!! Not this again!!

Tidalwaves,
I feel so bad for you. I hope your tests come out with some answers. Sending you hugs.
Robin

(((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))) I hope you get some much needed peace.

Put me on a breathing machine or something!!!! I just need to breath!!! What's so hard to understand about that???

I really should just go ahead and say this to my dr. shouldn't I!!!

why are you having such a hard time breathing?

I really don't know for sure, Ladybugs, but I suspect the mold I discovered recently might have something to do with it. Or could be a combination of things. Just trying to eliminate them one at a time.

Oh My Bev, I'm so sorry you're strugglig with this. Did you get the pulmonary function test? How did they find the scar tissue on your lungs? Did you get the mold looked into? I know how it feels to struggle to breathe. I've had a few bouts of it myself that lasted for several months then goes away. I did have everything checked into.

Hugs,
Karen

No, Kar, I haven't had the tests done yet. Still sitting here waiting, like a good patient should, for my dr. to call me back with the referrals. I'm beginning to think my dr. really doesn't know what he's doing or he just doesn't care................ooooooooooorrrrrrrrr, he thinks I'm faking it!!!

I know he's busy, aren't we all, but that's the way I felt when I left there last Friday.

Something kinda strange last night; I dragged myself out of the house to go for a walk with my parents. Had a very hard time breathing the first mile or so. The last half of the walk, I seemed to do much better.

What's with that???

I don't know, but you could always take yourself to the Emergency Room - perhaps they can get the test done for you sooner? I wish I had an answer that would help you. What tests have you had so far that they found mild postgranulomatous changes? Did you say they found scar tissue on your lungs? How is your pulse ox...they put that thing on your finger to find out how much oxygen is in your blood?

Praying you find answers.

Hugs,
Karen

[quote name='kar4242' date='May 13 2009, 11:15 AM' post='284362']
I don't know, but you could always take yourself to the Emergency Room - perhaps they can get the test done for you sooner? I wish I had an answer that would help you. What tests have you had so far that they found mild postgranulomatous changes? Did you say they found scar tissue on your lungs? How is your pulse ox...they put that thing on your finger to find out how much oxygen is in your blood?

Praying you find answers.

Hugs,
Karen
[/

I have actually thought about going to the ER, but this is really not an emergency. I'm annoyed by it mostly. They did chest xrays........ heart and lungs. The changes were in my lungs. Said everything is within normal limits. My pulse is low, which either means I am in tip top shape (which I'm not) or I have something wrong. Didn't seem too concerned about that either. Yes, the scar tissue is in my lungs, but he says most everyone has that. Didnt say what my blood oxygen level is.

just a thought but perhaps the breathing problem is actually a type of fatigue problem...that is..... something is causing this type of fatigue which is in turn causing the breathing problem...

hey, I hate to harp on this, but honestly it is always good to check the thryoid as is causese SO many problems body-wide (low blood pressure is often seen with thryoid problems)....when I had severe thryoid problems my breathing was also effected...I would get out of breath easily.......I also wonder about the adrenals.....feeling better after a walk could be that once the blood and heart get going more blood is pumped, oxygen get moved to the muscles and the brain and adrenals are working and you often DO feel better.....this happens to me ...but it is not consistant...sometimes I feel worse......one thing I have to say about menopause the symptoms and when you get them, how you get them, how strong they are, what they are, is ALWAYS changing! In any case, adrenals or thryoid may be worth a check...also make sure you are keeping a good diet not too high on the carbs (or bad carbs)....well, easier said then done....I am struggling with this myself! Joan

I want to second what slowbear says. I was going to mention thyroid, but sometimes I'm afraid I appear to be a one-note-Nellie with thyroid, but after being Dx 2 years ago, and finally starting a med last year, I can confirm that even marginally low thyroid can cause breathing problems and low pulse. My labs were technically within normal limits, but docs who really understand how to read them, and who correlate them with symptoms, know that with some of us, even those levels can make us miserable.

I ended up in the ER once with sudden breathing problems, and they detected a wheeze similar to that of asthma. I have never in my life had this happen before, but after researching and talking to other women with thyroid problems, I discovered in studies that low thyroid affects the muscles of the diaphragm which in turn affects breathing. My friend's asthma miraculously disappeared once she was on an optimal dose of thyroid meds.

So do consider that as a possibility, but understand that most docs don't do the correct tests and thus many thyroid problems are missed in women.

Thanks ladies, for all of your input! I appreciate it very much!!

I see a gastro doc end of this month. I'm also wondering if I may have a hiatal hernia that could possibly be causing my breathing problems or could be a combination of things going on.

I'm anxious to find out, that's all I know. I'm getting to where I don't trust dr's much at all, I'm sorry to have to say.

It just takes SOOOOOO long to get anything done.

I'm hopeful though.

Thanks a bunch!

bev

Dear Sariah
I really enjoy reading your Posts as they are always full of great information.
My question is could my constant Sinus problems be related to my Thyroid.It is almost daily running nose,with a stuffed up feeling and lots of Mucus.I have been to an ENT Specialist who diagnosed 'Allergic Rhinits'-sorry for spelling.He has had me on antibiotics several times plus anti histamines but the symptoms keep returning.I am also told that I snore heavily at night which is also something new for me.

Thanks in anticipation and if you think there could be a Thyroid connection what Tests should I ask for?.
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

Beve, I hope you feel better. I too suffer from that heavy chest, difficulty breathing a lot. I have been every year for 4 years now to get it checked out. I had heart tests, lung tests, all sorts of stuff and sometimes I can hardly breath, some times worse than others.
Feel better

It's horrible, isn't it bchgirl?? I take the trash to the curb..........and have to sit for an hour or two to recuperate!!! How horrid is that!!! I feel like an invalid!!!

Hi Elizabeth,
Sinus issues can be due to many things. Low thyroid can be a factor, but especially low adrenals. If your adrenals are not putting out adequate amounts of cortisol, then you will have increased inflammation. It is cortisol that dampens down an overreactive immune response and also reduces the congestion and swelling of the nasal membranes.

Also, low E and high P can cause it. I remember I was plagued with a stuffy nose throughout my pregnancy when P was high. Then during meno, when I used the P, I noticed it happened again. As long as I use E, my nose does not bother me as much.

Wheat and dairy will definitely cause similar problems for me, so I avoid them, maybe ingest them a couple times/week, any more and I can't breathe.

Is this a year-round problem or seasonal?

I used to get sinus infections quite frequently, they were the bane of my existence. Sometimes I would have to do 3 rounds of antibiotics before they would go away. And I could not sleep since I couldn't breathe through my nose. It was miserable.

I've always used supplements to heal almost everything, but these sinus infections were resistant. Until I researched and started adding Serrapeptase enzymes in between meals. I would take 2 of them 3 X/day for a week or two, in addition to using a few other supplements I have found to fight infection. It was like a miracle. I never get the infections anymore. Taking enzymes between meals allows them to 'digest' mucous and other inflammatory substances instead of digesting food.

My BIL also had frequent sinus infections that were quite severe and lasted months. He'd no sooner get rid of one and then would get another. He has always pooh-poohed any suggestion of taking supplements, but he was so desperate that he was willing to try my approach. So I gave him a bottle of Serrapeptase, and knowing he would not swallow all the other stuff that I use, I told him to take Airborne every 3 hours for a couple days. He is now a believer and was amazed that he no longer has to go to the doc.

The enzymes seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle and the catalyst for everything else to work well.

Also, using a high potency digestive enzyme prior to eating (DigestGold) will help break down the food more efficiently so that there is less chance of undigested particles becoming assimilated and causing allergic responses.

HTH

Hi Sariah....Its interesting what you say about sinus issues.

I have had a 'stuffed up nose' for quite a while now (several years, maybe up to 10!) especially at nights, I have to use a 'breathe right' strip to help, even though it doesn't always help.

I don't eat wheat anymore...I do eat dairy, but in moderation...and I know it isn't that because I cut it out for many months and my nose was still stuffy.

I have higher cortisol levels.....and my adrenals are kicking out too much E, P and T, so they are high too.

I am beginning to think I have a food intolerance that I don't know about, as my recent adrenal stress test showed my post prandial insulin level was <3......(fasting was normal) I can't afford to fling $$$ at a food allergy test, as I don't think its covered by insurance (?).

Well....sorry for hijacking this thread!

caz

I have my pulmonary function test scheduled for next week and the week after that, I will see the gastro.

I got some great news today too!! I tested positive for the h pylori virus. Now I can get started on anti-biotics!

It gets pretty old when they can't find anything wrong and you know you feel like doggie doo doo all the time.