Unable to fall asleep, can't catch a full breath unless I put hands above my head

[sleeplessBen]

I struggle for a satisfying breath, but am unable to find it.  I constantly strive to find it by inducing a long sigh/yawn but most times feel myself fall just short of catching a full breath.  Even with the hands behind my head, I cannot get a full breath every time, in fact I fail most of the times.  This has kept me up at night several times.  I am a 22 year old college student who less than a year ago was capable of running 5k's or a sub-6 minute mile.  I haven't tried this recently, but would guess that it is out of the question now.  Also, I stopped smoking cigarettes a year ago so I was able to do the athletic achievements I mentioned while I was still smoking cigarettes and marijuana on a more than daily basis, but have shortness of breath once I stop?  Please help me!

[CARWIN]

HI SLEEPLESS BEN
HERE IS WHAT WORKED FOR ME
    PLEASE EXCUSE MY ALL CAPS.
     I JUST POSTED A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT COULDNT WAIT ANOTHER DAY FOR DOCTOR SO I WENT TO SMALL TOWN EMERGENCY.  MY BLOOD PRESSURE  WAS CHECKED AS WELL AS OXYGEN LEVELS IN BLOOD AND ALL WAS FINE.  
     MY DOCTOR SAID I WAS WHEEZING A BIT AND THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE INFECTION. I ALSO SAID IT COULD BE ALOT OF DUST IN MY HOUSE AS I LIVE ALONE AND YOU KNOW WHAT GUYS ARE LIKE DUSTING.  ALSO I AM NOT HOME MUCH WHEN I WORK SO IT COULD BE THAT.
      HE ALSO PRESCRIBED AN XRAY FOR A FEW DAYS DOWN THE ROAD AS TECHNICIAN HAD GONE HOME HE SAID IT WOULD TELL IF ANY IMPROVEMENT. LUCKILY I LIVE IN CANADA SO NO COST TO ME.  
     HE PRESCRIBED PENICILLIN FOR 14 DAYS AND GAVE ME A CFC FREE INHALATION AEROSOL SALBUTAMOL SULFATE. IT WORKED A BIT LAST NIGHT. AND TODAY I AM BREATHING BETTER.  
     DONT  DISMISS THE PANIC ATTACK AS PART OF THE ONGOOING PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL BUT THERE SHOULD BE AN UNDERLYING CAUSE.  THIS HAPPENS TO ME FOR ALOT OF YEARS BUT ONCE I HAVE HAD A FEW PUFFS OF THAT BREATHER THEN ALL SEEMS GOOD FOR A LONG TIME.  AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS COLUMN THIS IS QUITE COMMON.
      I SUGGEST A DOCTOR TO LOOK AND CHECK YOUR OXYGEN LEVELS ALSO IF YOU SEE DUST THEN OPEN SOME DOORS AND PUT A FAN AT YOUR DOOR AND GET THAT OLD STALE AIR OUT OF THE HOUSE. I SUGGEST THAT FOR PIECE OF MIND AS MUCH AS FRESH AIR.
      I LIVE IN NORTHERN ALBERTA SO WHEN IT IS COLD I DONT GET OUT MUCH WHEN I AM NOT WORKING AND WHEN I SMOKE TOO STRONG A CIGARETTE OR GET TOO MUCH DIESEL FUMES I FEEL LIKE I HAVE HUGE RUBBER BANDS AROUND MY CHEST CAUSING PRESSURE AND I DONT DOUBT THAT A GOOD PORTION IS IN MY HEAD.
     BUT IF YOU GET ONE OF THOSE INHALERS I BET IT WOULD HELP AND WITHIN A DAY OR TWO YOU WILL FIND YOU WONT NEED IT.  
     TRY THAT IT HAS WORKED FOR ME IN THE PAST AND I FEEL IT IS WORKING AGAIN I AM SURE ONCE I USE IT TONIGHT TO SLEEP THAT WILL BE LAST TIME FOR A FEW MONTHS OR NEXT TIME I BUY CIGARETTES TOO STRONG OR INHALE DIESEL FUMES FOR A HOUR OR TWO WHEN I AM WORKING.
     ANYWAY TRY IT AND I HAVE A FEELING YOU WILL FEEL BETTER.  IT SURE WONT HURT YOU AND IF YOU ARE LIKE ME ALL WILL BE GOOD IN TWO DAYS
TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK
CARWIN.

[crazymom2011]

I have the same symptoms and my doctor says its panic attacks and let me tell ya.. i am so sick of the doctors saying that because i know what  a panic attack is and it is not this.. it just comes out of nowhere and wont go away. I am still looking for the answers myself.

[EroToo]

It's probably panic attacks, but you should check it out.  If it is panic attacks, ask the doctor to prescibe a medication for you to help solve the problem

Karen