Chest tightness
I am not sure if I am so anxious about my breathing in this hot weather, that I am making the top of my chest tight, it is as if when doing anything I tense up just waiting for the sob. All I know is it is making me struggle more and so anxious. Does anyone else get this?
Hi nanspoppet and thanks for your post. From what I've seen over the years taking care of patients, chest tightness, and the perception of chest tightness, can be challenging to manage.
First, identifying the cause may help and then, what to do about it! For some folks, it may be a symptom of the disease and can also be accompanied by shortness of breath (SOB), as you said. In some of those cases, treatment with prescribed medication (metered dose inhalers (MDI's), or hand held nebulizers), can provide relief.
For still other patients, anxiety can also play a role. If that is the case for you (as you have offered), sometimes engaging in a distraction may prove to be helpful.
I see that Intruder286, already responded and shared his own personal experience managing all this.
What do you think?
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)I really think I am just waiting for my sob to get worse; I have had COPD for 4 yrs so why this all of a sudden is happening. I will take your advice Intruder286 and try not to think about it, I am not as yet on a nebulizer, I take trimbow and Ventolin. I am due a COPD review, so I might mention it, not sure if that will be in person or telephone, but my Drs are really good and do insist on seeing me every now and then, especially if the chest infections are close to each other. Although the last one was really scary. Thank you so much for the help, I just feel so alone with it all sometimes, and just don't like to bother anyone, breathe easy my friend take care.
Thanks for your response, nanspoppet, we appreciate it. Please do check back and let us know how this all turns out for you. I will wish you 'good luck!' at your upcoming COPD review.
If there is anything we can do to assist you, please let me or any other moderator / team member know. You are always welcome here in our online community.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
@Intruder286, thanks so very much for your advice, I have been managing much better it has really helped. I actually haven't had it again, and have had a couple of day down family's homes, I went down on my mobility scooter. I have to go down a flight of stairs to get out, and I am normally a total mess by the time I get to the bottom, but I was fine, out of breath yes but none of the awful feeling in my chest, so thank you so very much, my life is a tiny bit better
Anxiety can really work on you and make matters alot worse in this heat I use anxiety meds at times South carolina has been a sream bath so far this summer
