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Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?
I will try to make this as short as possible, but this has been going on for over 5 years, so it might be farily long.
Beginning in summer of 2012, I began having shortness of breath (SOB) with no other symptoms. I felt a constant need to yawn, and every few breaths wouldn't satisfy the SOB. I would take a deep breath, and felt like it would get "stuck" before satisfying the air hunger feeling. About every 3-5 deep breaths would satisfy it, only for it to return a minute later.
I got an endoscopy and other tests done, which revealed that I had some esophageal erosion due to acid reflux and a slight hiatal hernia and was diagnosed with GERD. I had always have bad heartburn, so I was prescribed with Prilosec, which I have been taking daily since them. I've tried stopping it a few times but the reflux always comes back a lot worse.
Lung tests and x-rays were normal. Heart tests normal. Blood test revealed a slight anemia but otherwise pretty normal.
I did some research reading forums where someone suggested taking vitamin B-12. Strangely, I took it and the SOB disappeared almost instantly. However, it only lasted a few days for it to return just as bad. I then started taking an iron supplement, which again made the SOB disappear quickly- same thing; symptom returned days later.
After further research, I came across a breathing exercise method called the Buteyko method. Essentially you do a lot of breath holding to build up CO2 and reduce breathing as the theory is that I had chronic hyperventilation causing too much CO2 to exit my body. After applying the method and reducing my breathing, the SOB disappeared after only 2 days and I felt completely normal. I continued the method a few more days then no longer felt the need to pursue the exercises. I was normal for a whole year when the SOB once again returned with some chest tightness. I applied the method again and the symptom went away, this time with a little more effort; after about 3 weeks. I included physical exercise which also helped with my breathing.
After that, I was normal for about 2 years. I mistakenly stopped or at least slowed down exercise and the SOB returned once again. I applied the method and began running for exercise but the SOB kept getting worse. It got so bad, I had multiple panic attacks and the feeling of completely empty lungs with the inability to satisfy it with deep breaths. I had to stop exercise altogether, apply the Buteyko method and do breathing exercises very carefully with very light and slow exercise. This helped, but it took many weeks for the SOB to improve. Then, it was almost normal when over a year ago as I was running, I couldn't get a deep breath to satisfy exercise-induced SOB. I have had SOB continuously since then (a year and a half).
I once again started doing breathing exercises and slowly building up physical exercise, but I can't do any prolonged cardio activity because the SOB gets to a point where deep breathing will not satisfy it. While the breathing exercises have helped, they have had very little effect compared to previous efforts. It seems that every time the symptom returned, greater effort yields few results.
I suspect there is something, some underlying cause that is causing the SOB that has alluded me this entire time.
So for the past few months to a year, the SOB is worse on some days, better on others, but never gone. There's no rhyme or reason or pattern for it. It's just there, sometimes affecting my sleep. I sometimes can't get a deep breath to satisfy it every now and then, but for the most part, a big gulp of air will satisfy it. But it returns seconds to minutes later. It's as though every breath doesn't deliver what it's supposed to, the SOB builds up, and then I have to take a big gulp of air to get rid of the feeling, pattern repeats. My breathing pattern is normal, however. I don't feel like anything physical is happening, but sometimes it feels like my airways and nostrils are slightly inflamed due to allergies, but when I don't feel inflammation the SOB is still there.
Recent lung function tests show normal- I don't have asthma, or any other problems with my lungs. Heart tests are normal though I did have about a two week bout of heart palpitations which came and went. Haven't had any for a while- it just mysteriously started happening then stopped. Blood tests are normal, though tests always show a slight elevation of biliruben which my doc thinks is Gilbert's disease.
I don't have sleep apnea (normal test), bloody oxygenation is normal, heart rate normal.
I recently saw local naturopath (since mainstream docs aren't able to help) who immediately suspected a liver problem when I described my SOB, possibly liver inflammation. He used an electrodermal testing machine to test his theory which did seem to show a problem with my liver and gallbladder. He gave me digestive enzymes and a gallbladder formula to help clear a bile duct clog, thus reducing liver inflammation. He also determined with the machine that I have an egg sensitivity so I've been avoiding eggs.
Been taking this and avoiding eggs for a couple of months, but there has been no noticeable improvement. Everything else is normal. Emotionally I'm normal- no anxiety, depression, etc. The SOB seems to be the only symptom of something, but always comes back worse, until a year and half ago when it came back and has remained since. I feel like I shouldn't have to do breath holding exercises every day just to maintain my breathing well enough to do every day things.
Does anyone have any idea of a possible underlying cause?
2021/2022 UPDATE:
Since my original post about 3-1/2 years ago, a lot has happened, so I’d like to update the post to share with others who come across this what I’ve done since then.
I have maintained a weekly Buteyko method breathing exercise regimen where I do a few of these breathing exercises 3-4 times a week in the morning. This, in combination with daily light to moderate exercise (specifically weight lifting, with 1 or 2 days a week of walking and light jogging), I feel has kept the air hunger symptoms tolerable and manageable. I have mostly good days with some not-so-good days, but doing a breathing exercise and knowing that it’ll get better again helps me get through those times.
I also have sinus inflammation which can exacerbate the symptoms, but I’ve also managed this, which in turn reduces the severity of the air hunger symptoms.
So, while I haven’t found a cure nor is the problem completely gone, I have been able to maintain normalcy in daily life and manage the symptoms through the strategies I described.
This discussion remains active, alive and well through the comments section where others who have similar symptoms have shared what has helped them as well as suggestions for possible solutions to explore.
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Hi @leelou03. This is definitely a good thread to learn some information on the air hunger/SOB. Have you gotten many medical tests done to rule out other possibilities?
There are a lot of pages of comments, but would be worthwhile to skim through what you can and learn about similarities you have with others and what they've done to manage the symptoms.
Hi @ sheebacat , my case close to ur case , i believe am having long covid, i reject anxiety medication, i went to so many doctors, all happen with on 4 day of having covid on 2020. I feel tight throat that only get relief by taking deep breath or yawning. So i yawn or take deep breath every 2 min. Am depressed because it never go now for 3 years. I tried zoloft for couple of weeks but i stoped it as i felt symptom increased. Still scare to go for antidepressants . Did you get relief right away when started prozac? Was ur symptoms close to mine? How about side effects
Some people here talking about anxiety and CBT. I tried cbt didn’t work for me in particular. More importantly I couldn’t see how it would help me, cause it felt like the symptom were the problem And the more I tried to do anything even in my mind about the symptom it would just get worse.
But that led me to discovering the anxiety recovery that did work for me. The teaching that the more importance you give a symptom the more important it will be. It says you need to allow this to be here and bring it with you in every part of your day. Once you become indifferent to it your body won’t be able to make it happen because your anxiety(survival alarm) only alarms for things you tell it might affect your survival. It’s all about the response and not the symptom. If you deem its success off the symptom going then it won’t. To try convince you that this may work for you I’d ask you to think of a time when you had it the least since you first felt it, I suspect at that time you either worried about a different anxiety symptom (either another physical symptom like tight throat I heard someone mention or heart palpitations or something) or you got so busy with life that your focus had no time for the breathing symptom you had anymore. Theanxietyparadox on Instagram is what taught me this the best.
But as gabe says everyone here are just unqualified people, go to your doctor they are in charge of your health.
And gabe if you just fully become indifferent and stop trying to get that 80 percent gone to a hundred percent gone. I’m certain it’ll go. It’s a paradox the more you try to get rid of the symptom the worse the symptom will get.
This is what worked for me, might be what will work for you idk. I am not a therapist though or a doctor. You and your doctor are in charge of your mental and physical health.
Good luck
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1 ReactionHello HOPING this gets to the right people and maybe expert ???
don't know if this will get to the right people or doctors, BUT !!
I have had a cough for over ten years,mostly after eating, no pain and then it gets under control, it started with having a bad cold or bronchitis and each time it took longer to get rid of the cough, also when I exercise causes "fatigue and shortness of breath! never had pain , eventually went to pulmonary doctor, extensive tests, showed no asthma , clear lungs, etc. then "google" said it could be heart related, had not been to a cardiologist in many years ( have always been an athlete,but in getting older, slowed down, but love sports, still fatigue and shortness of breath and severe cough. then doctor sent me to an allergist, blood work showed no allergies, except to bahia grass !!?? what NONE around here. SO, this young,brilliant cardiologist did 6 tests ( even though I told him I hoped I was there for a "wellness" test to eliminate any heart issues ( which caused cough ???) and on the 6th test ( he must have suspected something and didn't give up !!WOW !! a cardiac catherization exposed a triple blockage, needless to say I was shocked -so open heart surgery (which is overwhelming but HE saved my life ! and he is only 36 yrs. old - a genius in my opinion ) and so I recovered in 8 wks, back to tennis /pickle ball (in moderation of course
and THEN !! the cough came back. SO, I took myself to a gastro doctor ,endoscopy showed a hiatal hernia ( gave me photos of it ) ,then had to find a surgeon who does hiatal hernia surgery ( not many ) and he said yes, I feel I can fix your cough, but first I require two more tests with another gastro dr. called Manometry and a Bravo test, done separately under anethetic. After those tests this gastro dr. said he did not see any hiatal hernia !! so now I do not know what to do !!! sure don't want surgery, and have not heard back from the surgeon as of now !!! In hearing about all the complications of people of have had the surgery and then other worse complications, I am thinking I will live with this cough, although I would like to exercise longer (playing sports) without fatigue and shortness of breath !! I "think" and this is my own laymans opinion, however one knows ones body !! - that my fatigue and shortness of breath is caused by the supposedly or not !! Hiatal hole between lungs and esophagus somehow causing this "leakage of breathing ?? !!!!
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1 ReactionI know I'm trying to find out what's causing my sob and chronic cough. So many things have loo alike symptoms. Good luck
Well, again, I've had it for over 10 yrs. and NO doctor sent me to the correct specialist ! Pulmonologist, NO , Allergist-NO ! Cardiologist ( I took myself, thank goodness, but open heart surgery repaired the blockage, and hoping it would stop the cough but "saved my life" but NO !! still cough, so I took myself to a gastro dr. and well if you read the whole piece I wrote, you see I am back to square one.
All great information and so glad I found you. Symptoms are identical except I have sleep aptnea for years and finally treating my t, but symptoms are still present. My pulmonologist is running tests. I will post results and tests when complete. Thank you all for your openness.
Scott1998
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1 ReactionI hope you can get the hiatal hernia fixed! That probably would help to reduce your symptoms.
I’m going through the exact same problem right now; it’s been going on for a month, I’ve had to stop mma training and I can barely keep up with my class, I was able to do 3x3 minute rounds before fine, now I can barely do the warmup, doctors done xray and blood test, checked vitals etc. everything is fine. I genuinely don’t know what to do my life was going really good then this happened for some unknown reason, it’s made me depressed tbh I don’t know what to do.
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1 ReactionI am expierencing this too along with the panic attacks from my lungs feeling empty. I am so scared. Docs cant find anything wrong me. This happened to me before years ago but not to the severity of this time. I’m praying it goes away soon. I am going to try the things you mentioned. Thank you