Breathing problem--what's wrong with me?

I figure you guys are smarter than most doctors, so perhaps I can submit my symptoms and see if I can get some opinions. Consider it a sort of a riddle.

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve had difficulty breathing and chest pains. Anything more than mild activity causes panting/wheezing. The difficulty breathing is always worst in the morning when I get up; the chest pains creep up later in the day. It rather feels like a continuous bear hug, and sometimes my lungs feel like they’re rumbling or bubbling. Coughing never brings up anything.
-A pulmonary function test says I don’t have asthma. Even though it feels like I’m not getting enough air, my blood oxygen level was at 100% when I spent some time in the ER.
-Chest X-Ray, EKG, and CT scan turned up normal. All blood tests turned up normal, though one was “slightly elevated”, hence the CT which turned up normal.
-I had a previous episode in March, in the middle of Wisconsin. I believe it was triggered then by very, very cold dry air. This time it may have been triggered by very, very hot dry air (mountain climate).
-Other possible triggers include two cats (with which I have had no problems for three years previous), and mold in the basement, which my mother killed with some sort of horrible chemical. I consider the horrible chemical the likliest trigger, though I was having trouble before that.
-I was prescribed an Albuterol inhalor. I rarely use it, because it makes me feel bad, but when I do it doesn’t always make me feel better. I’m not certain if this is because of my lack of a “spacer” (which I believe is really just a way for pharmaceutical companies to part me from my money), though I have been told is “absolutely necessary” in order for me to get the “right proportion of medicine and air” into my lungs.
-Other than my lungs, I am young and healthy, though admittedly sedentary. It’s too damn hot to go outside…

So, anyone got ideas?

Oh, and this is my first post. Hi!

IANAD, and you should probably see a doctor (standard disclaimer).

How’s life, any stress?

I have a friend who had difficulty breathing for a couple of weeks, turns out she had blood clots on her lungs. Not sure what test showed the blood clots but apparently her lungs were lined with them. Can be very bad if not caught in time.

I have seen a doctor. Several. The results of the their tests are “Well, you look normal…how about taking this test instead?” It’s getting a bit tiresome.

As for stress, well, I’m unemployed with the big black prospect of school debts. Other than that, I have very few responsibilities or worries. (Yay for being young!)

Oh, I forgot to add I have no known allergies except to penicillin. Just saying.

Do you smoke? Have the Drs. checked for COPD? My sister has GERD (reflux) and it made her feel like you do. I forgot what medications the Dr. gave her. Hope you’re feeling better soon.

Welcome to the boards. :slight_smile:

We are pretty smart :smiley: , and that means we know that seeing a doctor is much better than a bunch of anonymous posters attempting to diagnose symptoms when we’ve never seen you (and don’t know your gender, age, weight, lifestyle, medical history etc).

Hope things clear up.

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hmmm… maybe a good place to start. I have cat allergies, and let me tell you, the asthsma can hit me pretty hard depending on the cat.

Have you had a thorough allergy test recently, and are you sure all that mold has been removed?