[Hunny]

So, yesterday during Easter dinner I started to feel this feeling in my chest like my lungs were going to explode. I've had this many times before and was recently tested for asthma and allergies.

But, yesterday my h, who I had to ask for a signature was in the room and so I told my daughter I thought I was having a panic attack as this feeling in my chest was not going away. (Just determining how I feel is a major even as I have to check with all that is happening within). I waited a few minutes and then told her I was going to use a puffer that I recently received a prescription for, as I thought it might help. I do not have asthma but seem to be extremely allergic to sulphides. The pressure wasn't going away and I was starting to feel a bit sick.

I read the label on the back of the juice I was drinking. It didn't say sulphides but the drink was cranberry/grape and I know there are naturally occuring sulphides in grapes to a lesser or greater degree. I had only had one medium glass of the juice by that time. Last September I drank some Lipton Iced Tea in those little packages and well about 15 minutes later we had to call the paramedics as the feelings were just not going away. I had taken a anti histamine but it was taking time to kick in.

Anyway, yesterday, never having used a puffer before, i tried it, then kind of forgot about it. My daughter reminded me later by asking me how I felt. I told her I felt nothing, which is a good thing because I realized that pressue had been released.

So, I am wondering if it was one thing or another or perhaps a combination of the two events.

I feel like I should know the answer to this because I am old enough to know. The answer probably is both things contributed. Has anyone else had this kind of compounded anxiety and breathing issues from allergens. It's all kind of new to me. I also have a thing called tachychardia (mild form) which when the anxiety/allergic reaction was happening I didn't know if it was that too. *sigh* Perhaps it's an age thing? Or is the therapy dislodging things so that I can know more about me? another *sigh*.

Thanks,
Hunny

[slowinmi]

((((((((Hunny))))))))),

I'm very sorry this happened to you, but it sounds as if you did the correct thing. I have been a Respiratory therapist for over 25 years now and have done testing for asthma and for sulfite sensitivities. Grapes (and wine) are treated with sulfites as preservatives. That would be my guess as the thing that started the chest tightness and shortness of breath. This happens because your body has an allergic type of reaction to the sulfite. It makes your breathing passages swell on the inside which makes it harder to breath. The swelling can cause a feeling like pressure in the chest. As you become short of breath, your heart must work harder and so it beats faster also - causing your tachycardia.

When you take your "puffer" or inhaler, that medicine is designed to work quickly (will start to work immediately and have peak effect in about 15 minutes - other inhalers have different actions) to reverse the swelling in your air passages. As the air passages open and you breathe easier, you will relax and your heart rate will slow.

I don't know about your therapy dislodging things. I'm still new at that yet. I hope you get things straightened out soon. Take care.

slow

Thanks for sharing, slowinmi.

[Hunny]

Thank you Slowinmi:

Oh, my goodness, I can't tell you how helpful this has been, first because the Doctor who tested me said they don't test for sulphites and also because you stated this: "It makes your breathing passages swell on the inside which makes it harder to breath. The swelling can cause a feeling like pressure in the chest. As you become short of breath, your heart must work harder and so it beats faster also - causing your tachycardia." Another person I know had previously mentioned this narrowing of the breathing passage and I kinda thought the tachycardia was linked to that in some way too. So your are confirming this and I really appreciate you telling me this.

It is a priviledge to have you respond with all your knowledge. I told them I didn't think I would have asthma because these were isolated incidents and they were getting progressively worse. I felt somewhat deflated after the testing for asthma because I was pretty sure I didn't have asthma, and I don't, and if they couldn't test me for sulphites then well I was at the beginning again. But ruling out 'stuff' is important too, I rationalized. I proceeded to request a puffer from my General Practitioner, just in case, anyway. Fortunately, she complied and yesterday I was glad I had it. I am usually pretty watchful of what goes into my body and now I will watch for this kind of mixing grapes like in this juice as well. I wonder if this juice really did have sulphite but that there may be no requirement for juices to have 'contains sulphites' written on the bottle. I do not drink wines or any of those other fancy bottled alcoholic beverages, like coolers They do say there is sulphites in them. It is too risky. I'm super cautious even about wines that say sulphite free. I am drinking a lot of herbal and decaffinated tea lately.

I am wondering how one does do a test for sulfite sensitivities? I feel our testing here may be somewhat backward, so I may need to find a special location. Also, as far as the psychological aspect goes, if nothing else, I can attribute quite a lot to my getting this testing done to my good therapy that has caused me to like myself more and choose to look after my body, mind and soul, sort-to-speak. It has been instrumental in my even attempting to folllow up on my general health, so in that regard I know it has made a great difference!

Thank you again and I hope you can find your needs met here on PC too. The people are amazing!

Best wishes,
Hunny

Originally Posted by slowinmi

((((((((Hunny))))))))),

I'm very sorry this happened to you, but it sounds as if you did the correct thing. I have been a Respiratory therapist for over 25 years now and have done testing for asthma and for sulfite sensitivities. Grapes (and wine) are treated with sulfites as preservatives. That would be my guess as the thing that started the chest tightness and shortness of breath. This happens because your body has an allergic type of reaction to the sulfite. It makes your breathing passages swell on the inside which makes it harder to breath. The swelling can cause a feeling like pressure in the chest. As you become short of breath, your heart must work harder and so it beats faster also - causing your tachycardia.

When you take your "puffer" or inhaler, that medicine is designed to work quickly (will start to work immediately and have peak effect in about 15 minutes - other inhalers have different actions) to reverse the swelling in your air passages. As the air passages open and you breathe easier, you will relax and your heart rate will slow.

I don't know about your therapy dislodging things. I'm still new at that yet. I hope you get things straightened out soon. Take care.

slow

[slowinmi]

Hunny,

I'm glad that I was able to answer your questions but really, you are the one who is the star. We always tell people to be in charge of their health care and you have done that by having the asthma testing done and then asking for the puffer. Then you didn't panic and you used it appropriately.
Way to go!

Testing for sulphite sensitivity is fairly easy, just time-consuming. The patient does a baseline breathing test, then drinks a solution containing a very small amount of sulphites ("metabisulphites" in the lab). You wait for about 15 mins, then repeat the breathing test. Then drink another solution with a slightly stronger concentration of sulphites. This process repeats with up to 5 solutions. If there is a significant change in the breathing or you have finished all the solutions, you stop and give the patient a puffer.

I'm not sure this information is still current, but sulphites were used extensively on salad bars to prevent the browning of the lettuce, on potatoes to prevent browning, in Chinese food, and in wines(which you already know to look for). I had one patient that ate a whole bag of Doritos and had to go to the ER.

It sounds as if you are doing an excellent job managing your healthcare. I hope you get answers soon. I agree that your therapy has given you inner strength. I am learning at PC. People have been very supportive and helpful. I hope that soon I also can say I have inner strength. PM me anytime if you like.

slow

[Hunny]

Originally Posted by slowinmi

Hunny,

I'm glad that I was able to answer your questions but really, you are the one who is the star. We always tell people to be in charge of their health care and you have done that by having the asthma testing done and then asking for the puffer. Then you didn't panic and you used it appropriately.
Way to go!

Thank you Slowinmi. Caring for myself is a full time job these days it seems and sometimes I lack the motivation to go forward. But you have been a wonderful encouragement sharing your knowledge.

Testing for sulphite sensitivity is fairly easy, just time-consuming. The patient does a baseline breathing test, then drinks a solution containing a very small amount of sulphites ("metabisulphites" in the lab). You wait for about 15 mins, then repeat the breathing test. Then drink another solution with a slightly stronger concentration of sulphites. This process repeats with up to 5 solutions. If there is a significant change in the breathing or you have finished all the solutions, you stop and give the patient a puffer.

This process seems like a similar process to test for asthma. I had to take the morning off as I recall. I don't know why the Doctor would not have mentioned this test to me. I will go back to the regular doctor and ask to be sent for this test now. By the way, just the thought of injesting these sulphites makes me feel my breathing is stifled.

I'm not sure this information is still current, but sulphites were used extensively on salad bars to prevent the browning of the lettuce, on potatoes to prevent browning, in Chinese food, and in wines(which you already know to look for). I had one patient that ate a whole bag of Doritos and had to go to the ER.

I didn't know this or if I did I forgot. I haven't seen too many salad bars lately where I live. They used to be in abundance. I didn't know that it would be used in Chinese food. I know msg plays havoc with some people so maybe sulphites are in msg. I avoid products with msg too. I just wish if they put it in these products that they would list it for those of us that are affected.

It sounds as if you are doing an excellent job managing your healthcare. I hope you get answers soon. I agree that your therapy has given you inner strength. I am learning at PC. People have been very supportive and helpful. I hope that soon I also can say I have inner strength. PM me anytime if you like.

Thank you for your encouragement. It seems to take one step at a time. Big steps and little steps. A lot of it is thinking it through, then being motivated and then doing it. The crazy thing is that if one doesn't take these steps, it could be their last breath if the wrong thig is injested. Lately, there is added anxiety regarding work, aging, fitness/eating healthily, relationships, so, as I say, it is a full-time job.

slow

Thank you and take care.

Hunny

[Lisa Michelle]

Wow, what a great coincidence hunny that you posted about this and slowinmi happens to be a Respiratory therapist!!

This really made me smile, lol
Thank you slowinmi for sharing your knowledge and for reassuring hunny!

Hunny, I hope you can avoid drinks and foods like this in the future so it doesn't happen again (or less often at least). It's great you have the inhaler and know now that it works for you.

x

[Hunny]

Lisa Michelle,

That is awesome and thank you, Lisa Michelle for your being encouraging toward Slowinmi. It is a 'great gift' to be an encourager!

Cheerio,
Hunny

Originally Posted by Lisa Michelle

Wow, what a great coincidence hunny that you posted about this and slowinmi happens to be a Respiratory therapist!!

This really made me smile, lol
Thank you slowinmi for sharing your knowledge and for reassuring hunny!

Hunny, I hope you can avoid drinks and foods like this in the future so it doesn't happen again (or less often at least). It's great you have the inhaler and know now that it works for you.

x