>>Anyone have any personal experience with this condition? I have had 3 major episodes, and a handful of "minor" ones, in the past couple years. A few days ago was the worst one yet. I honestly thought I was going to die. So did the other people who came up to me and asked if they should call an ambulance. You know what kept me going? The thought during the whole thing that I had no health insurance. Ok, this isn't about not having health insurance, but rather about Pulmonary Edema, but I mention it because you were thinking to yourself that if it was that bad, I should have gone to the ER. Funny (strange) what we think about when we wonder if it might all be over. I've had 2 stents put in, and those were no fun, but this was a whole other thing. Very scary. I realize now that it is probably how I will die, and that is truly a bitch. Not being able to breath. Just wondered if anyone else was intimately familiar with this condition.
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>This article is very informative:
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>http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pulmonary-edema/DS00412/DSECTION=symptoms
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>I'm no medical specialist, but according to the article, regardless of your health insurance status, I would beat feet over to the hospital and get checked out. They have to treat you if it is a medical emergency. Just do like thousands of others do. What most people don't realize is that hospitals, e911 services, doctors and clinics almost all except a payment plan. As long as you pay something monthly, they will not hassle you.
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>Keep in mind that it can be caused by many things and you may be able to avoid these episodes completely if you can find the cause. One cause is a severe allergic reaction to something (allergies).

Not an allergy in my case. I've been to the doctors when I had insurance and it is due to fluid backing-up into my lungs because the heart can't handle the blood flow properly. There are a number of things that can trigger it at different levels; stress, exertion, being too full (gas and stomach), elevated blood pressure, um, certain forms of excitement (blushing), or a combination of things. Sometimes in my case something as simple as going golfing and the excitement/anxiety before I tee-off can set it off. Those are usually minor, though the people with me probably don't think so. The other day was a big one. Just was trying to find someone else who may have gone through it. I have had lots of scary things happen, and other than facing a gun or certain death perhaps, I'm not sure I could have been more scared.