Wheezing

[Eve]

I've had a wheeze on breathing out (more on the end of the breath), but in the throat area, rather than the chest, for about 3/4 weeks now.

I saw a GP the week before last and he listened to my chest and had a quick look down my throat and I had an asthma review with one of the nurses. It doesn't feel like a usual asthma wheeze though. He said to wait and see but its still there.

My peak flow has actually improved a lot since my last asthma review, under what it should be but not too far, early 400's I think it was so nothing to worry about there I don't think. My asthma doesn't really trouble me much save if I get a bad cold/chest or on exertion.

I also got checked out earlier this year by respiratory about a genetic thing and making sure the RA drugs hadn't done any damage and my chest x ray and breathing tests were ok save my lungs being a little smaller than usual and a random harmless extra lobe.

Has anyone any idea what it could be? One thought on my mind is whether it could be related to the Enbrel I'm on for RA.

I kept thinking it was a precursor to a cold or something but no sign yet.

[Old_Geezer]

When I get a wheeze, which I did for a short time a little while ago, I tend to assume a mild infection (well it is almost winter) swear at it, and wait for it to go (or develop into a full blown cold).

[Copacetic]

Do you smoke?

It could be a virus, there are a lot of them around at the moment.

[Eve]

I do smoke, about 15-18 menthols a day.

I keep waiting for it to turn in to some kind of bug so maybe it's just a really slow burning one.

The last bug earlier in the autumn I had which went on my chest too and then turned into a cold took a few weeks to come out properly and a while to get rid of, was weeks in the end. Lots of bugs going round at the moment though it seems.

[Sqad]

You have accurately described wheezing and we can now get on with what might be causing it.

I am not convinced by it heralding the onset of a cold......3-4 weeks is a long time.

Enbril?.........no.

R.A and wheezing gets me more interested, although your recent chest X-Rays and breathing tests were normal.

I agree with your Doctor...........wait and see what happens.

"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."

[Eve]

Thanks Sqad, I will see how it goes. Am hoping it's just something that disappears. I appreciate your advice. I think it was around the beginning of the year when I went to respiratory and they checked out if the RA or meds could have had any impact on my lungs then which was good.

I'm still not overly sure what RA can do to them though, do I want to know?

[Eve]

Ps. I meant to update you, I got an earlier appointment to go back to ENT and they found my grommet in my ear canal which will explain why it wasn't working any more.

They have put a larger one in for me. Had a none too pleasant experience when they went in under local without numbing the area enough...not something I ever want to go through again and I have quite a high pain threshold!!! Thankfully they numbed it enough to get it in after that and working fine :)