Ernie Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Hi,Whenever it is cold outside I have trouble breathing. I feel like I am choking. Then my bronchi hurt and I cough when I get inside a building. My lungs burn. I did a Pulmonary lung function test today and I don't have asthma.Do any of you have the same problem?Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delphicdragon Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 You may have asthma that is induced by the cold. I don't show up as asthmatic on PFTs anymore, but I do have asthma that reacts to the cold and to mold. What you need is a methylcholine challenge test. In this they give you small amounts of the chemical to induce the shortness of breath. It only causes shortness of breath in asthmatics (I think). Ask about that.Sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliegee Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Hi Ernie,I have trouble breathing at times too. Sometimes cold sets me off, but sometimes I have no idea why my chest is tight. It hurts when I take a breathe in, sometimes it hurts a lot. I also had a lung function test that showed quite a bit of impairment that did not reverse with albuterol. My allergist has also prescribed Xopenex via a nebulizer- no help. I use something else now, Atrovent, and that does help a little. DD is right, a methocholine challenge would be a more definitive test for asthma. My docs decided not to do it for me beacuse of my history of idiopathic anaphylaxis. I have the feeling that it wouldn't be a good test for you either If your breathing improves when you are warm, I'd just try to avoid extremely cold weather (easier said than done.) If your breathing doesn't improve when you are indoors, try some of the meds like albuterol, xopenex, or atrovent. I also get good relief from sigulair. My mast cell specialist thinks this is just anothet manifestation of my mast cell disorder. Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all4family Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Hi Ernie,I also have trouble breathing, and a chronic cough. Mine is all the time though. Not just in the cold. But someone else made a good point to me. It's hard to get enough oxygen when your heart is racing so fast. I also had 2 pft's, and both were not asthma. The inhaler did not improve anything for me. What did the pulmonary dr that did the test say? Suzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunibenuni Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I had a chronic cough for a couple of years and it was always worse in the cold. My allergist tried a bunch of inhalers but they didn't do much. I also used to be a figure skater and I remember that if I started skating to fast in the cold rink, it would be hard for me to breath and the cold air would hurt my throat and my chest. I never was able to do anything but wait for it to go away. I hope you find some relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Csmith3 Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Yes, I've had this on and off for as long as I can remember, though I suspect mine isn't nearly as bad as yours from the description. I have never got it investigated as it is transient and it's not that cold here most of the time. When I went to see an allergist, he said I didn't have allergies, but I had vasomotor rhinitis because my body didn't like cold air (and other things, but mainly the cold) and overreacted to it. I know what you mean about it being worse when you go back inside and I thought it was change in temperature that was the problem, but it was suggested to me that it just seems like this because I'm not usually outside for very long. A couple of doctors have said I should cover my face with a scarf when the air is cold to warm the air I breathe in. It never occurred to me to mention the breathing issue to them, but I wonder if it's part of the autonomic don't like cold air problem. I have nothing to substantiate this, it was just a thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxine Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Ernie,I have trouble breathing in the cold also. I have to put my scarf over my face, and can only be out in the cold for a few seconds. My husband bought a car starter for this reason, so the car would be warm in the winder, and cooled in the summer. This helps prevent a POTS crash before I get to my destination.I don't have problems to the same extent you do, but it think it varies with different people. My ANS system just goes crazy.I hope your winter gets milder soon---- We have a nasty one this year---lots of snow, and single digit temperatures.Take care of yourself Ernie.HUGSMaxine :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jump Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 OMG I have this problem too!!!! I'm sorry you have this, but I'm also partly relieved because I have been really really struggling with this and I had been thinking it wasn't related to ANS dysfunction, but it would be a relief to think it might be, if only to have an explanation for it.I struggle to breath in any cold, dry situation (which makes winter rough). I have chronic chest pain related to breathing 365 days a year, but it gets much worse in the cold, to the point where I feel like I can't fill my lungs because it's so painful. I feel like my lungs are burned all the time.I had a methylcholine challenge test and my doctor feels certain I don't have asthma, and for once I'm pretty sure she's right because I don't have trouble breathing OUT, I have trouble breathing IN. Plus this constant, dull pain is not indicative of asthma. And while I found parts of the test difficult (it hurt my lungs to keep taking deep breaths) the asthma-triggering chemical itself didn't affect me at all. Also, I have no allergies so I know in my case it's not related to that.Even though I feel like the cold/dry makes it worse, I haven't really found anything that makes it totally better. I've tried sitting in a steamy room, drinking lots of tea, putting a warm, damp compress on my chest -- nothing seems to really help all that much.Unfortunately I can't see a pulmonologist (sp?) until March, but if I find anything out I will be sure to post it here in case it could apply to someone else.I hope you find some relief, Ernie, and if you learn anything about this please share it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shimoda Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 LOL - cold air actually helps me. I often get up in the morning and (try to) take a walk in the cold morning air. It wakes me up and makes me feel better.Sorry, I guess that didn't help you out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted February 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Hi,Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.I went to the hospital with my husband this morning. It was about 10F. He had no trouble breathing and I had to stop walking every 20 feet or said to take my air in. I was wearing a fur coat and breathing in the fur and even then I was hard.I also have trouble eating cold. I have to eat a room temperature otherwise I get sick.I will mention it to Dr Low and see what he thinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DADofPotsSon Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 I have had this cold air problem for a long time. As a Child I had spring allergies, and a few times per year in the spring the allergies would cause an asthma attack. This lasted until my late teens and for some reason the asthma just quit happening. The spring allergy continues to the current time in my life and it has improved and now nearly under complete control with singular. About 15 yrs ago I was walking on a very hot summer day with high NW Ohio humidity and walked into a super air conditioned office and i had a total stoppage of air going into my lungs with severe pain and spasms in my chest. My first reaction was to go outside and i then got some immediate relief. For a second my first thought was a heart attack.Not only do I now have trouble with summer time air conditioning but about 5 years ago I developed the same problem in the winter outside. The colder and the dryer the air is the more trouble I have. The home air conditioner and car/truck AC does the same. I am in good shape physically, I have horses and do get good excersise taking care of them plus I do a lot of bike riding too.Asthma has returned in my life but just in the spring time with the allergies before I went on singular. These cold air spasms are a real problem and can be very pain full in the bronchi too.Things I have found that help, I have a real nice neoprene/fleece type mask that has tons of coverage and velcro's in the back, Advill(2) one or two hours before going outside when doing physical work, also the abuterol inhaler used about a half hour before going outside helps too. The inhaler does not work after I have hit the cold air, it is useless then. The only thing that helps then is hot humid air or steamy air. Not sure why the advill works? I find myself going outside to the barn holding my breath nearly as much as i can til i get to the barn or my truck. (next one will have a remote starter). I may have to look at getting a winter cab for my tractor too.There is a big difference between the asthma and the cold air problems. Asthma seems to be air that can't get out and is more in the lower part of the lungs and the cold air seems to be air that will not go in and seems to be more in the upper part of the lungs. I have been to the pulmonologist and will return in late february, but he calls them cold air spasms, and may or may not be directly related to the asthma. I have a neice who has this exact same problem with the spring allergy and the winter cold air, she is 23, but none of my children have the problem. The No. 2 son who has NCS/POTS and he really likes the cold air, he said he has less POTS symptoms, he just can't take the heat in the summer or a hot steaming shower(causes him to pass out). In the summer time he likes to open up the freezer and breath in the cold air and it does help him, you won't catch me doing that DADofPotsSon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted February 5, 2009 Report Share Posted February 5, 2009 Dr Julien Stewart is looking for POTS patients who suffer breathlessness for some of his new studies I believe.Its a fairly common symptom in patients with sympathetic overactivity and they have a few theories on its cause. You should check out their site: www.syncope.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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