shortness of breath during menstrual cycle

[katlc]

what could cause shortness of breath during my menstrual cycle?  this began when i was 11 years old and i've now been dealing with it for 28 years.  some months are worse than others.  it usually just lasts a few days but is miserable.  it can begin a few days before my period starts or during my period.  it seems to be a hereditary thing.  my mother and grandmother had the same problem and my daughter also seems to have it.  i've asked doctors about it and nobody seems to have any clue.  i feel like i can't take a deep enough breath.  i have to make myself yawn or lean over (in a tripod position) to be able to take a deep enough breath.  

[Karen0919]

THANK YOU FOR THIS POST!!!!!!!!!

[candi010]

I also have this happen to me!!! I really thought I was crazy!!!! Its happened for so many years, and only last year did I finally put the pieces together, that it happens during my period. I actually thought for a number of years I was allergic to vodka !!!!! LOL!!!! I am 43 years old, and I am so serious when I say, it was only last year, I realized these horrible episodes were during my period. I also have been to the Dr, and the ER, many times thinking I was having a heart attack> I've had asthma my whole life, and when I would go to the ER and they wold give me a breathing treatment, I would get SOOOO frustrated, they didn't understand, this was not an asthma attack!!!!!! Just recently, I finally shared this with my dad, who googled it, (DUH) never thought to do that.... and he found this!!!!I was so thankful I wasn't insane!!!!! One person mentioned they take xannex...... that doesn't work for me!!!! the older I get the worse it gets, ITS SO HORRIBLE!!!! however..... I think I may have found something that works!!!!! there are many theories on here, who knows which one is right???? Someone had mentioned low oxygen due to losing so much blood. That really doesn't make sense, being that, myself, and many others commented it starts a couple days before the period actually starts. Who knows?? Anyways... first let me say, I am not trying to sell anything for personal gain. I bought this stuff on amazon!!! A friend had turned me on to a product, the maker is metagenics. VERY EXPENSIVE products. Can only be sold by a person licensed to sell metagenics. Protein shakes, vitamins, ETC. I, unfortunately for my bank act, am addicted to buying these damn products. Recently, I got tired of never being able to log in the my persons site to purchase some things. so I looked on amazon, and sure enough, they sold so many of these products, stuff Id never even heard of !!! I was SOOO excited! after looking through many products, I came across Hemagenics. Support for red blood cells.Just a bunch of vitamins really.... but for $20 for a 2 month supply, what the hell??? Maybe its all in my head, I don't know.... but my symptoms started a couple days ago, I seriously wanted to cry.... I took an extra one of these crazy vitamins, and I swear.....I was able to breathe!!!!  It hasn't been completely normal, but It DEFINITELY has been so much better than normal! I know I sound like an advertisement, but I really just people to get the same relief I'm feeling. Again.... maybe its coincidence, Im crazy, IDK... but so far I have found some relief. For anyone interested.... go to amazon, search metagenics hemagenics.  many to choose from. It should be about $20 a bottle

[pinklavenderkg]

Hi Ladies,

experience the same thing, however there has been about two cases where I had actually been saying my "into thine hand I commit my spirit oh lord" prayer. I had one as recent as last friday. These two episodes happened in the wee hours of the morning, awaking me from sleep and it is always accompanied by a racing heart. Does anyone else get the racing heart too?

[sylb7]

I have exactly the same symptoms, I went to the hospital several times to the emergency , I got my heart full check up all came out fine, The only thing that help me is taking half a pill of 2mg of Xanax (alprazolam) when I feel short of breath and dizzy and works like magic , all the nasty symptoms are gone and after about a week my period start

[Clauny]

I have noticed this symptom more and more as I get older, I'm 48. I mentioned it to my doctor, she said it's not common, well I guess judging by this thread it is. Thank for all these posts!

[sadiedoc]

I too have been experiencing shortness of breath before, during and sometimes right after my period.  It has gotten worse as I've gotten older (I'm 45), as have may of my PMS symptoms (especially headaches and mood swings).  It's funny though. I remember feeling these symptoms when I first started my period at age 10 through my early teens but by late teens, 20s, 30s it wasn't quite as bad. I think I experienced the symptoms but didn't put 2 and 2 together because it didn't happen with every cycle. But now that I'm perimenopausal, it seems happen with every cycle.  I'm a physician so I've done a lot of self-diagnosing and come to the conclusion that it has to do with the fluctuation of hormones and possibly pulmonary endometriosis.  What makes me really upset is that there are no studies out there that I know of that are actively investigation PMS and the havoc it wreaks on women's lives.  I know if this were a condition that affected men, there would be countless studies (and probably cures).  I think it's a shame!  I believe if studies were done, we would find out that many conditions/symptoms that women suffer through (from depression to shortness of breath to migraines to insomnia) can be linked to hormone imbalances. Anyway, I'm glad that we now have the internet as a forum to discuss these issues and to discover that we are not alone.