OMG!
The title of this thread is part of the health horror I experienced 2005-2008.
In 2000 I was diagnosed with asthma. 2000-2005 I carried an albuterol pump and my life was fine. In the summer's heat and humidity I did notice the need for one, maybe two shots from the pump. Other than that, asthma was not even a blip on the screen.
In December 2005 I read a newspaper story involving an asthamtic city-worker and it revealed to me the dire consequence of asthma. (I will not go into specifics regarding the consequence.) My life changed forever. I got rid of my cat, bought anti-allergic houseware and items, and visited my pulmonologist for every chest tightness. I went on sick leave from work and never ventured out of neighborhood because of fear of asthma. Mix this with a fear of getting a heart attack (in my early 40s)--I was in bad shape. I fortunately found a free CBT therapy session on health anxiety and this literally saved my (mental) life.
Now over those years I had been seen by several pulmonolgists (due to changing the dr or being seen by the covering physician when he was on vacation.) I also have been examined by my personal MD who took care of my parents. He has been my MD for 20 years and I take his word as law. Two camps emerged: those who say I do not have asthma (inc. my MD) and those who say I have asthma but it is very mild.
As time went on since the CBT sessions, I eventually didn't care anymore because if the pro-asthma doctors are correct then, at worst, I have very mild asthma. I look back at those years and wonder about many of the "asthma" episodes and wonder if it was asthma or anxiety.
If a person has very mild asthma and anxiety, it can be difficult to differentiate because of the overlapping symptoms of chest tightness and shortness of breath. If you don't wheeze with your breathing--a sure sign it is probably asthma--then it adds to the mystery. I have never wheezed (thankfully). Also, perplexing is if your chest is tight but your breathing is normal. This occurs with me. Lastly, it can be like the chicken and the egg--which came first: the asthma causes the anxiety or vice versa?
For the past two years, I have Xanax and an Albuterol pump. When "episode" occurs, I trust my mind to decide if I should take a small piece of Xanax, or use the pump.
My recommendation would be--if your asthma is mild--is two be seen by two different pulomonoglists. See how they diagnose you. I wouldn't mention you have anxiety because some doctors will just right it off as anxiety. You want to know what your lungs are doing and not to have their judgment clouded by "oh it's anxiety."
