Possibly attained Asthma

[KayFly]

Recently, I started seeing a psychiatrist, because my primary care doctor and my T recommended it and I had been having severe anxiety and depression problems. I was put on a beta blocker Propranolol for anxiety, and Wellbutrin for Depression. and I have developed a breathing problem that I have never had before. Shortness of breath, especially when anxious, sometimes to the point of hyperventilating.

I told my psychiatrist in the beginning of my skepticism of taking any drugs and he basically just recommended group therapy, and that scared me so I decided to take the drugs.

And...Now I have a breathing problem. 

I stopped taking all of the medication prescribed, but the problem has persisted (could be that it's not out of my system)

My T thinks its a good idea for me to stay on the Propranolol, but i don't want to be on any of these medications after all of this happening, and my Primary Doctor thinks a beta blocker Propranolol (blood pressure medication) will not be good for my breathing, because it slows your heart rate. My T and the Psych Doctor seem to be pushing the medications on me and it's making me feel very misunderstood, unheard, invalidated and untrustworthy of the team who is handling my care.

I just got an email from my Primary, with a diagnostic of Asthma and a prescription for a more regular inhaler, as opposed to the "emergency" one I was using. I haven't cried this hard in a long time.

I am a performing arts major, which requires stage time, and lots of nerves/anxiety, and not to mention breathe. The anxiety is what has been causing breathing problems. Today at school, I could hardly breathe, and after getting that email, it made me think that I possibly need to give up on my dreams (which is primarily something that has kept me alive). I'm devastated.

[mourningdove]

That must be horrifying.

Please don't give up your dreams. Even if you stopped the drugs, they will likely affect you for a while. But that doesn't mean this is permanent.

I'm also sorry you feel pressured by your T and psychiatrist. They have no right to pressure you to do anything. They are not living your life; you are.

I'm wondering how long you were taking the Wellbutrin, because it might be dangerous to stop taking it abruptly if you've been on it for a while.  You might want to taper off.

I have personally had many horrible experiences with psychiatric drugs, so I really appreciate what you are going through. You are not alone. 

[woodsgnome]

This is awful...I feel terrible for you, for this on top of the  emotional roller-coaster ride of the last year. Unfortunately, the emotional side can be the biggest factor in the creation of breathing troubles. I know--it was/is a big part of my journey as well. 

Asthma is awful, tricky, and flies under the radar despite its apparent rise in cases. Plus it seems like even p's and t's are quick to prescribe without consideration of side effects. Beta blockers for sure have no part in being prescribed for asthma patients, from my limited experience with them.

Maybe you have to assume it is asthma and go from there? Whether that means seeing an asthma specialist or not, it may have to be your starting point. But first, doesn't the school have a health service of its own that could provide an alternative assessment? I mean they're more attuned (one would hope) to the student population's needs than a general md or psych or T would, for that matter.

But if the emotional meds interfere with the breathing, you might want to deal with the breathing before it gets worse, and start with the assumption it is asthma and work from there until you find its definitely not what's going on.

A good asthma specialist might be more aware of the emotional meds interactions, better than the gp, psych or T would; I had experience with one, and that was definitely the case, plus he'd had asthma himself. My question for you would be--have the psych meds made a distinctive difference? Do they seem totally necessary to get through the emotional side? If not, then maybe you can back off.

Let me cycle back to the school. I once was part of a study program for a new asthma drug via a center tied to a university in a metro area a bit distant from here, but they actually paid a stipend and travel to be part of it. I can't say it helped a lot, but can't say it was a bust either--for that time and place, it was an option. Since then, it's mainly my life style and diet that have worked out the best.

I so hope you can find some relief from this; it's awful to have something so automatic for most people flare up without notice. Feel like I'm not much help but please know you are supported and understood. 

[KayFly]

Thank you both for your empathy. I'm doing everything I can to move forward, and maintain a positive outlook about my future and dreams and have been researching how people have cured their asthma, what supplements and diets work, etc.

Mourningdove I was only on wellbutrin for a couple months. I was on a low dose. I went off both meds abruptly under medical guidance because of the severity of my breathing problems.

WoodsgnomeBi am assuming it as asthma so I can prepare myself. I see my doctor in the morning, and will see if he can recommend a specialist. I can get through the emotional stuff without psych meds. I am not open to using them right now. Not after this. Inhalers and supplements from a clean company along with water and exercise will be where I turn.I think I'll try a Paleolithic diet as well. It cured this guy's asthma above all. http://jdmoyer.com/2010/07/17/how-i-cured-my-asthma-with-one-simple-lifestyle-change/

I appreciate your guys' support. This was alarming and very hard to hear, but made sense since I have had so much trouble breathing for months. It's probably not always going to be easy but I am determined to do whatever I can to make it go away.

Thanks for reading and sharing 

[woodsgnome]

What a fantastic website you found--WOW!! It echoes much if not all of what I do. Thanks  for posting that link. Following a regime along what he says was the best approach I ever found (my "change" followed advice from a "protein power lifestyle" book; I can't find it right now, but it was a married couple who co-authored it).  I recall once, when I was in some low-fat dietary kick, I had some bad breathing stuff going on, then one day splurged and downed a ton of "paleolithic" sorts of foods. Bingo--asthma dissipated.

The inflammation seems to be a key. I love his pic of "eat real foods"--so simple and easily overlooked. In my case changing the diet to follow his path even tended to wash over to the emotional needs. And/or the psychology of doing it my way supported the notion that I could get a grip, if not entirely by myself, at least following an easier route.

I've had only 2 setbacks, but they were huge--a night of an ambulance run a decade ago and some years before a bout of pneumonia, where I ended up with some broken ribs just from coughing. But guess what? The only sure cause I came up with (the docs were mystified) was the cptds ef/trigger effect. I'd had severe flashbacks going on before both occasions. It scared me this last weekend when I had an enormous ef pounce but I weathered it and the asthma didn't take a dive; and that diet helped, as far as I'm concerned.

His dairy (except for "real" butter) and bread recommendations--yup. I'll still do limited bread intakes like thin rye crackers, maybe; but bread only occasionally. And pasta combos, like he discusses, cut 'em out. Plus I only hit restaurant food on rare occasions nowadays.

So glad you found this site; wish I'd followed that path when younger. There might still be some trial/error in getting a handle on it, but you're showing some great resolve with the steps you're taking ! I hope you can come up with a good doc who can speak in more than meditalk terms. Be upfront about the emotional part, 'cause md's tend to discount it; just my own experience, but they always were hand-in-hand---I couldn't deal with one fully without the other factored in.

Take good care 

[KayFly]

Woodsgnome,

I'm glad you liked the website. I found it really helpful. I even ordered Evening Primrose Oil, Magnesium Citrate, and some Garlic (although I think it's better raw) and extra Omega's from my vitamin company...I am moving forward full throttle with Paleo right now, no bread, no dairy, etc...I need to spend more time researching, but for now I want to see how it improves if I have a strict diet, and with the supplements.  I'm determined to make it go away. If it was onset in adulthood, it can be cured in adulthood ( or at least dissipated for the most part ) IMO

I'm going to make a pineapple smoothie for breakfast. He talks about how there is an enzyme in pineapple that is good for inflammation. Luckily I bought a bunch yesterday. And I suppose I will be grateful for the inhalers for now.

Sorry to hear about such immense setbacks including the pneumonia and broken ribs.  Great idea that I tell my doctor about how much I struggle emotionally so much. I feel like my asthma is really emotionally driven.

Thanks for being there for me through this process. Gotta get ready for the doctor and school! Have a great day!

[arpy1]

hey Kayfly, hope your day goes really well. you have a lot on your plate at the mo, but you should be proud becos you're taking such a lot of positive steps. much respect to you.

i can recommend the paleo thing, altho i don't follow it strictly becos i still have a little bit of dairy. my problem is microscopic colitis, and trying to stick to roots/shoots/fruits, fish/flesh/fowl has made a lot of difference to that and to the osteo arthritis that started to be a problem but has more or less stopped being one now. it is true, it seems to be about inflammation, gut or lungs or joints. i'm generally a bit of a sceptic but i have  to say this thing has really helped me. so i hope it does you to.