asthma attack?

A long time ago, when I was a little girl my mom took me to the Dr. because I couldn't catch my breath. I said it felt like my lungs weren't expanding at the base. I will never forget the Dr. listening to my back and proclaiming me a faker. "Oh she's just doing it for attention" were his exact words.

I am pretty sure that was the age I decided I didn't like Drs., At the ripe age of 10 I was appalled and that was the last time I had my breathing checked for many years. I learned that yawning helped rid me of that feeling of smothering.

But then about 13 years ago it got bad again. I went to the Dr. (obviously a different Dr. this time) who ran a variety of tests and explained that my lungs weren't emptying out like they should so I was holding "stale air" in them, which every few breaths would make me feel like I was smothering or my lungs weren't filling. Made sense. I went with it. Went on an inhaler for a while, but it never really helped. I went back to my breathing techniques I had taught myself.

Now it's gotten worse. Last Thursday was so bad I couldn't do anything. I was lightheaded all day. Sunday was better. Today is worse. My back aches. My lungs ache. There are black circles under my eyes. I am hurting. Breathing in is sending shooting pains through my lungs and they don't feel like they are filling up.

I am sure it's an allergy attack (something I don't typically deal with) gone haywire . The Claritin hasn't been touching it so I picked up some Zyrtec this afternoon.

So I suppose it seems like I am whining, but really, I'm not. I'm just really feeling for all of you allergy sufferers. This is miserable.