Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Why do I have recurring periods where I feel like I can't breathe?

I am 19 years old and I often have periods where I have difficulty breathing and chest tightness. It feels as if someone is crushing my chest. So far I haven't found a trigger for these episodes, one morning I'll just wake up and realize that it's hard for me to breathe. Typically this feeling lasts for 3-4 days, and when it does it's debilitating. Doing something as simple as walking across the hall to the bathroom or holding a basic conversation becomes a difficult task. Using an inhaler doesn't seem to help, and when my doctor sent me for a pulmonary function test my results came back normal. Though I've never gone to the hospital for it, I frequently contemplate the idea while I'm in that state. Sometimes I wonder if it's actually my heart and not my lungs, but my echocardiogram showed nothing but trace regurgitation.

It's also important to mention that I have other symptoms on a daily basis as well. I've been chronically suffering from constipation, facial flushing, body aches, and heart palpitations. I had my appendix removed when the doctors found a carcinoid tumor back in January, but none of my symptoms improved. They recently did a gallium-68 PET scan and found no other tumors or metastases, so they believe my symptoms are unrelated to the carcinoid tumor.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what my symptoms could all mean? For the most part, I can deal with everything I'm experiencing, but it's the difficulty breathing that truly gets to me. I'm often sent home from work because I'm short of breath, gasping for air.
0 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Respiratory Disorders Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out what causes asthma, and how to take control of your symptoms.
Healing home remedies for common ailments
Tricks to help you quit for good.
Is your area one of the dirtiest-air cities in the nation?
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.