Hi there. I'm posting here to get a bit of advice or reassurance, but also to prepare for my upcoming doctors visit.
I've been dealing with shortness breath, chest pain and trouble taking deep breaths for years now. I've compiled my symptoms and the tests I've done in the bottom of the post.
So it all started 12 years ago where I experienced chest pain and shortness of breath when exercising but only in my right lung. I was checked for asthma (negative) and also had an X-ray. I was offered an CT-scan, but was advised not to do so by my doctor (he said it wouldn't show anything and that it would be bad when I had to sign an insurance in the future) so everything kinda stranded there. I figured it was maybe something to do with my back pain and me overworking my chest muscles in the gym.
But the problems persisted.
Two years ago I read through my doctors file and noticed, that the X-ray results had a comment about "notable signs of emphysema" which obviously freaked me out. I contacted my GP and asked to have a new X-ray and also be checked for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency which can cause emphysema. My blood work was negative (as in no deficiency) and my X-rays looked normal. Later I've been informed that your alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-test can give you a false results if you've recently been sick, which I had when doing the test. I've also done a lung capacity breathing test that was hard for me to do, but my lung capacity came out normal.
I never got another diagnose though and the problems with breathing has persistent - and gotten a bit worse. I've experienced two or three episodes of what I would call 'flare ups', where my problems breathing has gotten worse. I don't do any medications though.
Now I've booked an appointment with my doctor in two weeks to demand that I either get an CT-scan or get referred to an pulmonologist to get a clear answer once and for all, that I fear they missed something when I got scanned two years ago.
In the meanwhile my mind is racing, so I just wanted to ask: is there anything I should remember to ask my doctor? And is there any possible differential diagnoses I should be aware of?
Also has anyone experienced something similar?
My symptoms match emphysema quite perfectly except that I only experience trouble in my right chest and lung. There has ben cases of unilateral emphysema though. I don't cough though and my age (31 years old) and the fact that I've never smoked does not support emphysema either, but I honestly can't figure out what else it could be.
My symptoms in short:
- Chest pain/tightness in right chest/lung
- Shortness of breathe when walking in a brisk pace, eating, walking on stairs, biking, exercising. Sometimes quite severe.
- Trouble taking a deep breathe (only in right side). Feels like somethings blocking my lung.
- Frequent muscus in throat
- Lack of energy and tiredness
- I suspect I also could have slightly clubbed fingers, a sign of emphysema
I don't cough nor have I ever smoked. There's no family history of emphysema, but my dad and brother both have asthma.
Test's done:
- Two x-rays (one 12 years a ago, a bit sus, one two years a ago, clear)
- Asthma (negative)
- Lung capacity test (normal)
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-test (no deficiency)
- Other blood work (normal)