Constant Shortness of Breath

[zambrotta19]

Hi,im a 22 year old male and i've been dealing with this constant shortness of breath for over 6-7 years now. I written on a forum about this before but just hadd to write one again. Its hard to say but doctors have no idea what's wrong with me.I see so mnay people dealing with this problem and it seems like theres no diagnosis. It just strated outta the blue I went to take a deep breath and i couldnt get that last bit of hair to satisfy the breath and this whole vicious cycle started. After that for about 2 years i was constantly taking deep breaths and not able to get a satisfied breath. I WAS CONSTANTLY YAWNING>SIGNING AND TAKIN UNSATISFIED DEEP BREATH ALL DAY LONG. I had reached the point when i was staying home in my bed just hoping i would die so it would stop.  After 2 years or so it seemed to just go away. It then came back right after i smoked a cigarette . Ever since then its been an ongoing struggle. I feel as if i have no control of my life, and im constantly thinking of my breathing. I feel hopeless and feel as if no one understands what im going through or that i have this disease that doctors cant detect. My doctor has put me on xanax for anxiety and it seemed to cut the edge off a lil but its still there. Its not as bad as when i first got it but it still disrupts my life. I can only work 2 days, i don't go to school  and i don't have much of a happy life .I've gone to cardiologist, ent's, gi's, pulmonary doctors. I've gone through xrays, PFT, EKG, stress tests, endoscopy . Only thing i have is GERD/LPR with sinsation of lump in throat and a very small irregular heart beat. I also am constantly clearing my throat.I heard that can be because of the Gerd/LPR. I just took a new PFT test and my breathing is normal. i did have a deviated septum but got that fixed..My lung specialist says its just all in my head and that i have this because ive become aware of my breathing pattern. i've used advair, singular and breathing pumps for asthma with no results. when im sitting or laying down its seems to be fine but when i stand up or move it kicks in more. I'm losing hope on what's going on with me. Does anyone have this?If so can anyone recommend anything else i should look for? the only thing i really want to do is a MRI or CT scan but doctors say 99 percent sure nothing will show.Has anyone heard of chronic hyperventilation syndrome? or phrenic nerve damage? if anyone can be of help please email me or post a message?

[papote53]

Hi Dalgal60,

I'm no expect on this and just like you I have breathing problems and even light headed 24/7.  This breathing problem started 2 weeks ago but the light headed started 45-50 days ago.   Now, as for deep breathing if you can inhale for 4 seconds and exhale for 8 seconds you can do this.  You can also inhale 4 seconds, hold 7 hold and exhale 8 seconds. The exhale part is the easy part because all you have to do is close your lips a little so the air gos out slowly. Repeat these steps 4-8 times at least 3 times daily.   Like I said, I'm no  expect but I did learn this from my biofeedback classes. Don't try to hard, just do this sitting or laying back with a pillow between your legs. Keep in mind you inhale the air to the stomach, not the chest so put one hand on your chest and another on your stomach and make sure only the hand on the stomach is moving.

[papote53]

Yes, this all sounds familiar- Just 45 days ago I stopped using Lyrika for nerve damage which Used for 4 months because I wasn't having the symptoms so I'm glad for that- But the next day I had an anxiety attack for no reason because I have a beautiful life free of stress. Then I realize this medication is also used for anxiety and depression so apparently now I need anxiety pills as well. Well, to make a long story short I now have to take xanas o.5 once daily because I'm running out of air ( specially after I eat) and I'm light headed 24/7 and the Primary Doctor thinks is anxiety but my Psychologist thinks is a 50/50, little anxiety with real medical conditions. Then my allergies thinks the anxiety is caused by the 24/7 light headed and the short of air which is 30% of the day is anxiety. I do not concur because now is really aggravated after I eat. I also have recurring sinus and I believe this is the other part of the problem which my ENT does not concur.  Xanas helps me a little but right now the 0.5 I take is not working as it did the first 45 days so I might need to increase which is not something I want to do until I'm completely clear that the problem is anxiety.  Now, I also take biofeedback classes which helps a little but not much if you ask me.  Is a temporary fix that last very little. But is always good for your longs. I have a Abdominal CT this Thursday because I also lost 45 pounds and I have tie abdominal feeling which in this case I agree with my GI which thinks is just stress from all these unsolved problems. I the last 9 month I was diagnosed with HBP, Nerve Damage and COPD.  I took control of my BP and right now my cardiologist is about to relieve me from the low dose of Amlodipine I take for this, I also eliminated the nerve damage medication (Lyrika and Gabapoentin) and at the end I never had COPD, Doctor said I past the test with flying colors which every other Doctor agrees when they check my blood oxigen level and longs. 98-100 always.  Now I have this next task which is to control y anxiety but first they have t clear me from any doubt as for the heavy breathing because I think my sinus is part of the problem.

[mistertrooth]

Wow - i am blown away by all these comments - i've been experiencing exactly what you're all describing for some weeks now ... I know that my anxiety is deeply rooted in my fear of cancer (my mum died of cancer when i was ten) and my frustration at being addicted to cigarettes, even though im not a heavy smoker. I had a similar episode some years ago, and discovered to my amazement that it was anxiety after i called an ambulance. I have believed since then that i had the issue sorted, simply because i knew it for what it was, but clearly that's not the case. I've been through an extended period of unemployment and have had relationship issues with my partner who is alcoholic - so the current contributors are pretty obvious - what amazes me is that despite this, the creeping effect of stress still holds sway, despite constantly reminding myself that it's probably all (or at least mostly) in my head. It's astonishing. I'm massively reassured by what I've read tonight, and thank you for your honesty and clarity. The brain is a crazy place! Hang in there :)

[dalgal60]

I am a 60 year old woman who has had anxiety issues ever since I can remember. I used to have a single panic attack, then it was over. But now, I deal with constant nervousness and the breathing issue. It is so weird. I gasp and gasp for air and can't breathe. I ruin so many events because I have to leave abruptly. I too have had tests done and nothing is wrong. Plus, I look younger than I am and I look healthy too so nobody believes me...nobody understands the constant inner turmoil. I do know that when I am absorbed in a task, whether its computer work or clipping coupons, my breathing problems disappear. I need a way to deal with this in public so that I don't have to run out of a store or restaurant. I can't really do deep breathing when I can't get a deep breath! I don't know what to do.

[Bobsassoo]

Interesting... Recently I went to see a homeopath for a natural remedy for my GERD, and she supplied me with a couple pills to take before bed. It made my GERD much worse, but it also has now triggered a shortness of breath which I wound up in emergency..... I since stopped taking those homeopath pills, and my GERD appears to be normalizing unde the perriot pill, but I still persist with the shortness of breath. I am hoping this will clear up in short order, but what I find truly interesting is how many short breath sufferers have GERD!
This is not a coincidence, or is would assume not.

[mirandalea]

Wow! I feel for you!  For the past month or so I've been short of breath and in January I was diagnoses with bronchitis / borderline pneumonia.  My breathing was fine til then I started taking the inhaler. (That's what they gave me, that and two other perscription) for weeks I was taking it every four hours and I think I've grown dependent on it.  So now im constantly taking deep breaths. At least I can do that. And my chest does feel tight.  I dont think im going to keep going to doctors. No insurance for one. And my last urgent care trip yielded nothing nothing but a z-pack. And that my lungs and bronchial tubes are clear.  So for now im covering myself in prayer and Im gunna try the deep breathing thing. Good luck :)