hollyh Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 What do you think this could be? She has been complaining over the past 2 weeks about 4-5 times that her chest feels like she can't breathe as well. It's had to get a good description from a 5 yo, but she says her lungs can't get all the air she needs. She says it does not hurt and it is not in her throat. She is not visibly gasping or anything. She is otherwise fine and I wouldn't have a clue except she is complaining about it. The first few times it was in the car as she was getting into her carseat. Today it was at a restaurant. No other symptoms that I can think of. I'm wondering if this could be asthma? Do you think so? Any other ideas? Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I was wondering If it was asthma. It certainly needs to be checked out. You don't want it to get to a point where she struggles for air! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garddwr Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Asthma comes to mind from her description--certainly worth having a doctor look into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassoonaroo Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Another vote for asthma, which is not always dramatic gasping. Have her tested please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 When kids are having problems breathing and there are no other symptoms, doctors should be the ones diagnosing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 That is exactly how my asthma felt when it wasn't so bad that I was wheezing. In fact, it still feels that way sometimes. Please have her checked out. Asthmatics often end up with a flow meter to measure their lung capacity (just a little plastic thing you blow in) and the first sign of a flare up is that the amount they blow out goes down. This is before wheezing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armom Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I would check with your doctor. I agree that it is possiblely asthma? My son is 11 and recently complained several times of chest pain. I did discuss with our doctor. I explained to him that I listened to his chest when this was happening and heard no wheezing.(I am a nurse). The doctor feels like it is asthma related. He only complains of chest pain and no difficulty breathing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Just to be different, my DD sometimes complains of chest pain with constipation or a stomach ache. I have IBS and sometimes get the same thing. I'd certainly get her checked out for asthma. If she said it while or right after eating, I might suspect GI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Sounds like asthma. I'd get her in to the doc as soon as possible so that if she has a severe episode you have inhaler on hand instead of having to rush to the ER. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) My 14 yo was complaining of the same thing a couple months ago. We gave him an allergy med (Allegra) and it worked. So, in him, it must have been allergies. ETA: After reading the next response, I wanted to say that my ds had just had a full cardio work up when we gave him the allergy med. So, we knew it wasn't that. Definitely take her in and have her checked out. Edited July 28, 2012 by Jennifer in MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 THat certainly sounds like it could be asthma, but it could be other things too. Either way, asthma or other issues (it could be cardiac), need a doctor's diagnosis. None of us can diagnose on the web. Please take her to a doctor. From your questioning if this is asthma, it sounds (and I hope I am wrong), that you think asthma is a minor disease. It can be fairly minor but it can also be life-threatening. So please take her to a doctor. From a mom who has had to deal with both breathlessness from asthma and from circulatory problems in my children and myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Rain Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Please take her to the doctor. :grouphug: Breathing problems can become life threatening quickly. It could be asthma, or it could be something easier to fix, but I'd get her checked today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I agree, your dd needs to see a doctor. If they don't find anything physically wrong, it sounds like the way I feel when my anxiety gets bad. You think you're breathing in all the way, but because your muscles get so tight, you really aren't. Using those guided meditation things that help you relax can work wonders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchel210 Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 my son had swelling of that cartilage in his chest...the dr. said it was very common in kids...although none of my other kids had ever experienced it. It is worth asking about. He had pain with deep breaths and lots of pain when the dr.s pressed on that area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomatHWTK Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I was wondering If it was asthma. It certainly needs to be checked out. You don't want it to get to a point where she struggles for air! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Very possibly allergy-related asthma. It sounds like how my asthma can start off during allergy season, and the past two summers, it has escalated nastily until I've gotten steroid inhalers. Allergy meds help keep it down too. DS1 had a few episodes like that last summer. He'd stop and take a deep breath or two, though he didn't wheeze or complain that he couldn't breathe. I ended up taking him to the doctor (actually the PA), who didn't find anything wrong, but she did a bunch of bloodwork to rule out anemia (which can also cause shortness of breath) and such. Didn't find anything, and the symptoms largely went away, but then we saw a new doctor, and she thought it sounded like allergies. She sent him to a fantastic allergist who did testing and measured his peak flow. The allergist found some environmental allergies, and he prescribed meds for that and an inhaler as needed for wheezing. So I vote for seeing a doctor, even an allergist if you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I agree that you should get her to the doc fairly quickly, because uncontrolled asthma is nothing to play around with. But I also wanted to ask if she's been swimming or otherwise holding her breath a lot this summer (lots of water play, other weird kid games). If my kids have been in the pool for a long stretch, they often complain about how their chests feel the next day. I remember the feeling myself from my childhood. Also, I wonder if she might have silent reflux, which can make me sometimes feel like I can't inflate my chest fully. It usually happens hours before I feel heartburn in my throat, so she may not be connecting the two. I hope you can figure it out. It's scary to think your child might be able to breathe :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 I agree with the thoughts of reflux, allergies (post-nasal drip), asthma, or even a sinus infection. Sounds like a trip to a doctor is in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeldaRules Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Someone mentioned anxiety...but if it isn't asthma...does she have anxiety problems? Anxiety could lead to difficulty breathing, chest hurting. Either way, have her checked by your doctor. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyh Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 Thanks everyone. I will get her in to the dr. (Just fyi, I always planned on taking her in, just wanted to get an idea of what others thought it could be) I am suspecting allergies or asthma, but admittedly don't know much about either. I didn't think much of it the first few times b/c it was when we were putting her in her carseat and figured she was just being finicky about the seat belt being too tight over her chest or some'n. But now that she complained OUT of the car I am more concerned. To answer a PP, she has not been swimming. I'll make an appt for her in the AM. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 I'm wondering if this could be asthma? Do you think so? Any other ideas? Thank you! Two things come to mind: asthma. You breathe at higher lung volumes to increase the retraction on the bronchioles, you feel, when you need to take a deeper breath, you can't get air in. (Anxiety can do the same). Or, she has gotten "bruised rib" and is aches a little and she is loath to suck in a deep breath and feels it. If we don't sigh rather frequently, we start to feel suffocated. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 My son had similar issues with difficulty breathing. Turns out he has allergy-related asthma. Usually if he takes his allergy meds he's fine but he has an inhaler in case he needs that. He's only needed that once in the past few months and only because he didn't take his allergy meds. :glare: I'm glad to hear your dd will be seeing the doc about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 my son had swelling of that cartilage in his chest...the dr. said it was very common in kids...although none of my other kids had ever experienced it. It is worth asking about. He had pain with deep breaths and lots of pain when the dr.s pressed on that area. To read more, google costochondritis. Very very common in adults, and causes much upset (people think it is a heart attack). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyh Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Thanks for your thoughts. We did take her in and the dr. said what you said - either seasonal allergies or upper respiratory virus- which is supposedly going around. Although she felt like she couldn't breathe all the way, her oxygen levels were 99% and lungs completely clear. It was a good excuse to get a referral for an allergist though, which was something I was wanting for other reasons. So yay for that. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Both my daughter and I were recently referred to an allergist with suspected asthma with the same symptom - feeling like we couldn't get enough air into our lungs. It turns out that neither of us have asthma but we both have vocal chord disfunction. Basically, in response to allergens or irritants the vocal chords tighten and restrict air flow. Apparently it is not uncommon and frequently misdiagnosed as or overlooked when presenting with asthma. Unlike asthma, an inhaler doesn't 'fix' it but learning to relax your vocal chords helps immensely. A daily anti-allery medication helps, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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