Aa
Can't get a deep breath / Difficulty Breathing
Hi - I've been having difficulty breathing for at least the last 9-10 years...and it's a daily thing. I am 31 years old, am healthy (exercise almost daily, eat healthily, am not overweight, do not smoke, and only drink socially), and yet I always feel like my breathing is extremely laboured. I constantly yawn to try to catch a satisfying breath. There are some periods throughout the day where it's not laboured and I feel as if I breathe normally, but then it creeps up on me and I have to start yawning again. My nose feels very clogged all the time and my chest, stomach, and back muscles feel very constricted when breathing. It's especially noticeable when I am working out...especially running and lifting weights. I have to stop every once in a while just to yawn (frustrating) to stop from getting dizzy. It's also noticeable as I am trying to go to sleep and/or when I've had a glass or 2 of wine. I was "diagnosed" with exercise-induced asthma 9-10 years ago, but I think this was a mis-diagnosis as the inhalers never work (I've tried all sorts) and they usually end up making me feel worse. After using the inhaler I always end up coughing up fluid and my breathing sounds gurgle-ly (so I don't take them any more unless I feel I really need to...note that I have never had a full blown asthma attack). I'm worried that it could be something else (was exposed to TB as a teenager, but took the "horse pills" for 6 months and was told I was fine), but none of my doctors will really listen to me. They see that I am slim and active, and they dismiss me - I live in the UK (free socialised healthcare - so not a lot of time to spend with patients). Has anyone else experienced this? I see lots of threads on here with the same topic, but they all have to do with taking medications, being overweight, being a current/past smoker, being depressed/having anxiety, etc. Please help - I'm tired of living like this. I'm worried that I could be living with something undiagnosed that could rear it's ugly head one day.
I could not understand what the diagnosis that I went online and found
If you could please expand on diagnosis and treatment
Thank you
If you could please expand on diagnosis and treatment
Thank you
Hi everyone,
As I've read most of these comments and stories are from a few years ago. But I've gladly came across them. I've just turned 23 years old in July. And my symptoms are the exact same as most of you all. This has been a long battle for me, just like most of you all on this. I've had these symptoms for over a year now. Although, not like many of you. I can guess what brought my symptoms on. Ill add that I did used to be a smoker, but only a part time one and had regular intervals of a couple months without smoking. I stopped immediately for good once my breathlessness started. At the time, they're was a lot going on in my life, I had got into a new relationship, a new job as cabin crew, my parents were separating, and I lost my brother and family animal in the same week. it was a hectic time. But to be honest I never felt stressed once, I felt like I was handling each situation very well. rarely cried and just got on with it. Anyway back to the symptoms. I first felt the sensation when I was at work, and felt that little panic of not being able to catch my breath. so I would relive my waistcoat thinking it was maybe too tight. bearing in mind I was not over weight and relatively healthy for my age. I started thinking it was hayfever, and that possibly because of the cabin pressure I was finding it difficult to breath. From then on it came In spells. Every so often I would get this overwhelming feeling of panic when I couldn't catch that breath. I also suffer from hypochondria which I've just recently been diagnosed with. This connects ever so slightly to what I'm going through. I started thinking of the worst case scenarios and very quickly thinking, lung cancer, collapsed lung, heart disease, tumours, blood clot in the lungs. And because of my hypochondria I would rush myself to A&E and cry out that I may have been having a heart attack ( at the age of 23 is bizarre) but these symptoms gave me this impression. Of course normal maybe people will worry and be tested for these symptoms however my hypochondria jumps straight to worse case scenario and I think I'm dying.. so I've always been a little more dramatic. These spells of breathlessness then stuck around for weeks at a time, every day and would only seem to disappear when I eventually fell asleep. but as soon as id wake up it started again. I had long nights on the phone with NHS 24 as I genuinely thought I wasn't breathing.. and it was officially them that started with the anxiety chat. I had heard of this but never knew much about it, And thought there's no way that what I'm feeling is a panic attack. I've been suffering from breathlessness for weeks now. I found myself going for baths one to two times a day. To help relax my muscle's as I was hyperventilating that much trying to catch that breath that my back and chest started hurting.
So to attempt to cut a story short. The battle has been like most of yours, I've been for many tests and because of my age they rule out pretty much everything. First off ill describe in detail exactly what I feel. I have this overwhelming feeling of NEEDING to take a deep breath very regularly. So when I start to feel "breathlessness".. every 3-5 normal breaths I then gasp for a deep breath. And when I cant get it I wonder why!? and my body sometimes goes into a panic. So when I cant get these larger breaths. I then yawn yawn yawn all day trying to catch they deep breaths.. that I really do not have to be taking. I only found this recently.. I started watching everyone around me and noticed that no one takes deep breaths unless they're running/exercising or yawning because they are genuinely tried. so why am I taking noticeable deep breaths every minute? My chest is now hurting my upper back is now hurting because of the strain, I'm now frustrated and feel like crying.
so only a few months ago, very oddly when laying in bed with the TV off, ready to sleep as the most relaxed anyone can be. my heart starts racing and thumping like I've done 30 star jumps. I immediately get out of bed and PANIC. I don't understand why my hearts palpating when I've been laying in my bed ready for sleep. I'm not stressed, I'm not over thinking, I'm ready for sleep. why is this happening? so as I do.. I call NHS 24.. and they send me up to hospital that night for an EKG scan. As ironic .. my hearts fine and I'm not having a heart attack. so why is this?
All in all, I've been for 2 EKG scans, numerous asthma tests, a respiratory test. And any terminal illness tests I've thought I may have. And they've all came back satisfactory. I've also been provided with two inhalers, they also don't seem to work as they should. Maybe something to do with the fact I do not have asthma. I got myself a personal trainer as the thought of being In a gym myself and working out whilst having this shortness of breath game me the fear. And I was scared in case something happened and no one knew what to do. So i started with my PT and very quickly id be out of breath and sometimes even go into yet another panic because i couldn't catch that breath, would be extremely dizzy on some days. but this would usually be put down to being unfit.
If your symptoms are anything like mine, shortness of breath, feeling that urge to over breath and take deep breaths, yawning all day because you cant catch it, sometimes it last for weeks at a time, and then can disappear as quickly as it started. Then as much as I hate to say it.. do major research on Anxiety. most people think anxiety is just panic attacks and whatever else. And don't know enough about it. but I genuinely used to think this as well. until I read loads about it. I've done so much research on it. And it could be that the reason most of you are around the same age and or same age when these symptoms have started is because you've been going through subconscious stresses. In other words stresses you've not been aware your stressing about. And so the symptoms most of you are having relate to what anxiety makes your body do. If you think about it this way.. imagine yourself wrapped up in bed with the light off... and think of spiders under the covers.. your body will react to this and you'll start feeling tickling on your legs and or nipping like sensations.
For a year and a half. I thought I was faced with every critical illness there is. But what I found just recently .. Is distraction is the answer .. my new partner is very distracting for me, I could be having a bad day (shortness of breath) and I'm aware of my breathing, so its continuously happening until I maybe speak to him on the phone or face to face.. and as soon as I'm fully distracted it disappears and I'm breathing normal.. but the minute I start to think of it, it comes back. That's why doctors will be telling most of you, to exercise, its not just to become fit and healthy but because its a great distraction!
Anxiety is very common, its just unfortunate most people don't know a lot about it. And brush it off. Chances of us all having the same symptoms but nothing showing up on tests and it being an undiagnosed critical illness is very slim. however I would never rule anything out. One of the symptoms of anxiety is that you feel like your the only one in the world with unique symptoms. Honestly look it up. Doctors cant test you for anxiety they can only judge from satisfactory tests that we may have had for other similar causes.
Other possible symptoms of anxiety:
Sore/tight chest
Sore/tight upper back
yawning
breathlessness
heart palpitations
burping
dizziness
headache
dry mouth
tingling sensations in fingers and toes
fatigue
nausea
rash
blocked nose
I hope that this does help a lot of people
If your unsure but want to read a bit about it anyway. visit Anxiety.uk
As I've read most of these comments and stories are from a few years ago. But I've gladly came across them. I've just turned 23 years old in July. And my symptoms are the exact same as most of you all. This has been a long battle for me, just like most of you all on this. I've had these symptoms for over a year now. Although, not like many of you. I can guess what brought my symptoms on. Ill add that I did used to be a smoker, but only a part time one and had regular intervals of a couple months without smoking. I stopped immediately for good once my breathlessness started. At the time, they're was a lot going on in my life, I had got into a new relationship, a new job as cabin crew, my parents were separating, and I lost my brother and family animal in the same week. it was a hectic time. But to be honest I never felt stressed once, I felt like I was handling each situation very well. rarely cried and just got on with it. Anyway back to the symptoms. I first felt the sensation when I was at work, and felt that little panic of not being able to catch my breath. so I would relive my waistcoat thinking it was maybe too tight. bearing in mind I was not over weight and relatively healthy for my age. I started thinking it was hayfever, and that possibly because of the cabin pressure I was finding it difficult to breath. From then on it came In spells. Every so often I would get this overwhelming feeling of panic when I couldn't catch that breath. I also suffer from hypochondria which I've just recently been diagnosed with. This connects ever so slightly to what I'm going through. I started thinking of the worst case scenarios and very quickly thinking, lung cancer, collapsed lung, heart disease, tumours, blood clot in the lungs. And because of my hypochondria I would rush myself to A&E and cry out that I may have been having a heart attack ( at the age of 23 is bizarre) but these symptoms gave me this impression. Of course normal maybe people will worry and be tested for these symptoms however my hypochondria jumps straight to worse case scenario and I think I'm dying.. so I've always been a little more dramatic. These spells of breathlessness then stuck around for weeks at a time, every day and would only seem to disappear when I eventually fell asleep. but as soon as id wake up it started again. I had long nights on the phone with NHS 24 as I genuinely thought I wasn't breathing.. and it was officially them that started with the anxiety chat. I had heard of this but never knew much about it, And thought there's no way that what I'm feeling is a panic attack. I've been suffering from breathlessness for weeks now. I found myself going for baths one to two times a day. To help relax my muscle's as I was hyperventilating that much trying to catch that breath that my back and chest started hurting.
So to attempt to cut a story short. The battle has been like most of yours, I've been for many tests and because of my age they rule out pretty much everything. First off ill describe in detail exactly what I feel. I have this overwhelming feeling of NEEDING to take a deep breath very regularly. So when I start to feel "breathlessness".. every 3-5 normal breaths I then gasp for a deep breath. And when I cant get it I wonder why!? and my body sometimes goes into a panic. So when I cant get these larger breaths. I then yawn yawn yawn all day trying to catch they deep breaths.. that I really do not have to be taking. I only found this recently.. I started watching everyone around me and noticed that no one takes deep breaths unless they're running/exercising or yawning because they are genuinely tried. so why am I taking noticeable deep breaths every minute? My chest is now hurting my upper back is now hurting because of the strain, I'm now frustrated and feel like crying.
so only a few months ago, very oddly when laying in bed with the TV off, ready to sleep as the most relaxed anyone can be. my heart starts racing and thumping like I've done 30 star jumps. I immediately get out of bed and PANIC. I don't understand why my hearts palpating when I've been laying in my bed ready for sleep. I'm not stressed, I'm not over thinking, I'm ready for sleep. why is this happening? so as I do.. I call NHS 24.. and they send me up to hospital that night for an EKG scan. As ironic .. my hearts fine and I'm not having a heart attack. so why is this?
All in all, I've been for 2 EKG scans, numerous asthma tests, a respiratory test. And any terminal illness tests I've thought I may have. And they've all came back satisfactory. I've also been provided with two inhalers, they also don't seem to work as they should. Maybe something to do with the fact I do not have asthma. I got myself a personal trainer as the thought of being In a gym myself and working out whilst having this shortness of breath game me the fear. And I was scared in case something happened and no one knew what to do. So i started with my PT and very quickly id be out of breath and sometimes even go into yet another panic because i couldn't catch that breath, would be extremely dizzy on some days. but this would usually be put down to being unfit.
If your symptoms are anything like mine, shortness of breath, feeling that urge to over breath and take deep breaths, yawning all day because you cant catch it, sometimes it last for weeks at a time, and then can disappear as quickly as it started. Then as much as I hate to say it.. do major research on Anxiety. most people think anxiety is just panic attacks and whatever else. And don't know enough about it. but I genuinely used to think this as well. until I read loads about it. I've done so much research on it. And it could be that the reason most of you are around the same age and or same age when these symptoms have started is because you've been going through subconscious stresses. In other words stresses you've not been aware your stressing about. And so the symptoms most of you are having relate to what anxiety makes your body do. If you think about it this way.. imagine yourself wrapped up in bed with the light off... and think of spiders under the covers.. your body will react to this and you'll start feeling tickling on your legs and or nipping like sensations.
For a year and a half. I thought I was faced with every critical illness there is. But what I found just recently .. Is distraction is the answer .. my new partner is very distracting for me, I could be having a bad day (shortness of breath) and I'm aware of my breathing, so its continuously happening until I maybe speak to him on the phone or face to face.. and as soon as I'm fully distracted it disappears and I'm breathing normal.. but the minute I start to think of it, it comes back. That's why doctors will be telling most of you, to exercise, its not just to become fit and healthy but because its a great distraction!
Anxiety is very common, its just unfortunate most people don't know a lot about it. And brush it off. Chances of us all having the same symptoms but nothing showing up on tests and it being an undiagnosed critical illness is very slim. however I would never rule anything out. One of the symptoms of anxiety is that you feel like your the only one in the world with unique symptoms. Honestly look it up. Doctors cant test you for anxiety they can only judge from satisfactory tests that we may have had for other similar causes.
Other possible symptoms of anxiety:
Sore/tight chest
Sore/tight upper back
yawning
breathlessness
heart palpitations
burping
dizziness
headache
dry mouth
tingling sensations in fingers and toes
fatigue
nausea
rash
blocked nose
I hope that this does help a lot of people
If your unsure but want to read a bit about it anyway. visit Anxiety.uk
1 Comments
This started for me after a period of stress in my life. I had just turned 23 (I'm 26 now) and this began while I was working out at the gym. I was a runner and I noticed I suddenly couldn't get a normal breath. Totally out of the blue. I was experiencing money problems, graduation from college, and death in the family all at once at the time. Really stressed me out and wore my body down. I now suffer from adrenal exhaustion, which is causing the "air hunger". Chronic stress doesn't only give you a heart attack, it causes these symptoms too. Hope you're better.
FINALLY! I promised myself to come back and write here, if I will find out the reason, so I am here and the reason of constant shortness of breath is BABLO (found it on forum too, and made test, which was positive). Had many of "diagnosis" (aniexy, depression, it's in your mind, eat more ferum, sport more,..) ant eated so much drugs, which didn't help...
Good luck for you guys and please come back and write here, if you find out also, becouse it could help for others, us it helped for me (thanks :)).
Good luck for you guys and please come back and write here, if you find out also, becouse it could help for others, us it helped for me (thanks :)).
hello !
i've been suffering the same since March 2013!
i'de like u to contact me
mail : morgan_mm***@****
thanks
i've been suffering the same since March 2013!
i'de like u to contact me
mail : morgan_mm***@****
thanks
I too have the difficult deep breath thing. It seems to go hand in hand with
working with my left hand such as waxing the car or shoveling. This cause
pain under the left side of ribcage and the next day difficult breathing.
working with my left hand such as waxing the car or shoveling. This cause
pain under the left side of ribcage and the next day difficult breathing.
Ohh my freaking holy cannoli's! I am in tears. and lol I actually seem to breathe better when I'm panicking or hyperventelating. God I hope you, him her find a cure. Cause I'm going out of my freaking mind, and I've only had this for 3 months and i just want to die. I've had soo many tests, blood xrays ekgs pulmonary gastro endoscopy i hate this soo much. i'm the calmest person anyone knows and this def creates panic and anxiety+
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