Tightness of the chest

[DamselODistress]

For about two months now, maybe a little longer, I've had sort of a knot of pressure in the center of my chest. My therapist and I figured it was probably stress, as it was not a very good time to be me. After a couple of weeks, the tightness progressed to slight difficulty breathing. I can't take a full breath, and I can't exhale completely without coughing a little. Kind of like when your big bear of an uncle hugs you too tight and the air is forced from your lungs with a little cough, kind of cough. Not an 'I'm coming down with something' cough.

The breathing trouble fades sometimes so I can breathe normally, and when I wake up in the morning the tightness is almost never there. It's been getting worse, though. I know I'm an idiot, and should have gone to the doctor from the start, but there's been so much else that needed doing first.

Dad thought I might have developed asthma, so I went looking up the symptoms. It doesn't really fit. Then today I jokingly told mom that with my luck in the past two weeks, I've had pneumonia this whole time. I also don't have any of those symptoms. It's not bronchitis, either. I don't have a fever, and I'm not coughing.

Then I wondered if it might be my meds. I only started the wellbutrin about a month ago, so it can't be that because this has been going on longer than a month. So I looked at the side effects for lithium again. And I saw that two of the symptoms of an allergic reaction are tightness of the chest and difficulty breathing.

Thing is, I've been on the lithium for longer than this has been a problem. Could I have developed an allergy? Please please please tell me allergic reactions to lithium are really rare, like one in.....a very large number. The lithium is working. I don't want to fight to find another stabilizer and be miserable while waiting to see if they work. My current cocktail has me feeling blissfully normal. I really don't want to lose that. Am I just overreacting because I saw the problems listed there? I really hope I've got pneumonia.

[Guest Vapourware]

I can't really talk about lithium allergies, as I've never taken lithium before, but tightness of the chest and breathing issues can be caused by a multitude of issues.

Stress can indeed cause tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. If you have a fever, that might indicate an infection. It also depends on what sort of cough you have - i.e. dry and non-productive vs wet and productive. You could also be allergic to something in the air.

I think it would be prudent to discuss with doctor about these issues, because there's a lot of reasons for the symptoms you are describing.

[HAL9000]

Stress and anxiety can do things to your breathing. In my case its holding my breath for others its shortness of breath. Talk to your doc about it to find out whats causing it because it can be caused by so many things. A small percentage that you would want to know about sooner rather then later.

Good luck!

[muriel]

It could be a whole slew of things from serious to not serious. Get to your GP! This is what they are around for, and do it sooner rather than later.

[DamselODistress]

Thanks! Your answers have been both comforting and not.. I knew there was a chance I was freaking out about the lithium without cause, because I've been on it far longer than I've been having this problem and it would seem unusual to me to develop an allergy after at least three months on the med. I just had to ask..

My gran kept threatening to take me to the ER. She was misunderstanding me completely, thinking I was short of breath and sort of panting. It's not that, I just can't fully inhale for a regular breath, and sure can't take a deep breath.

I'm currently hunting for a new GP because the one my mom insists we go to is an idiot and I don't feel like dodging dates with the guy's son when I'm there for a medical reason. He's easy because he's walking distance. Soon as I find a new one, I'll have an appointment set. Meantime, I see my pdoc next Monday and can ask his opinion too.

[muriel]

Seriously, trouble breathing is a big deal. An ER isn't an appropriate place, but an urgent care or doc in box is a good idea if you won't go to your current GP. I wouldn't wait on this just in case.

[Anna]

I agree urgent care might not be a bad idea.

I'll also add that most lithium allergies show up as rashes and hives and things like that from what I've read, not difficulty breathing. I'm not a pdoc but I doubt it's the lithium honestly. Could be WB I guess, that med can be activating and anxiety producing and stuff, but again, I don't really have much clue here other than DON'T let this continue on. You need to figure out what the cause is, even if it means dumping a med for a bit to see...... and get checked out for the physical stuff, it could be completely unrelated to the meds.

Anna

[DamselODistress]

I now kinda doubt that it's stress, because I just got the exact details of Boyfriend's nearly-fatal car accident on Thursday, and yesterday I was breathing fine. Today it's back.

I'll be asking my pdoc Monday, and if he isn't helpful I'll be calling the GP I don't like when I get home from pdoc. Really hope GP doesn't try to set me up with his son again.. that's gotten really old.