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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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Are you able to provide an update on your status as I just received the same diagnosis with these exact symptoms. Thank you so much!
In my case I do think it partly the unseen stress in my life. I am from all fronts, mostly calm but it is the inner reaction that is weak. I maintain my fitness regardless, but some days I am left with little energy.
I was reading through all the posts since Gabe originally posted in May 2018.
Interestingly, I could relate to many of those feelings and will in time experiment. However, for me I also
came across a post that said not to think to much about taking another deep breath or yawning.......try to be dismissive of such feelings and 'get on with it'. Giving into this creates another cycle and lasts for days, weeks,
and at this stage for me, most of this year.
If you can distract yourself (yes, it is a hard thing to do) and as I do, work on brain to lung function, in other words, calm the anxiety. Ask if it is your brain taking over from normal lung function. This last week along with Buteyko morning and evening, I have been working on distraction and it has certainly got me out of a cycle that was leaving me with little energy and wondering what next.......
Hope this helps.
Sharon
I saw a video recommending an ice pack to the neck with symptoms of impending panic attack.
I guess it redirects the nervous system and shuts it down?
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1 ReactionI too have noticed that when I'm distracted I don't focus on the breathing and don't notice the problem. Luckily with a large family and lots going on, I am often distracted. As well as engaging in hobbies and activities where my mind is focused on a particular task, helps me not focus on my breathing.
It sounds like you've identified things that help you and know when and how symptoms might occur. Obviously we all would want all the symptoms to go away, but at least identifying triggers and things that help is a major part in managing the condition and working towards a solution. Especially dealing with this later in your life but knowing how to manage it the best you can I think will give people a lot of hope and courage in managing their own symptoms.
I now have a small tank of oxygen and when I really cannot breathe, I lie down and intake oxygen for 30 minutes which helps me to breathe.
Hello everybody! I'm amazed how many pages are under this post, it seems like this particular problem is not so rare as it seems.
(I want to apologize beforehand for any mistakes, English is not my first language)
I, too, have this problem with breathing. It started 3 or 4 years ago when I've started working, and my job was really stressful for me. First 6 months I was so stressed that I was constantly tired, I was seeking out for long conversations with my friend and mother for support. A few times I even cried at work for intense fear and stress.
It was that time I've started this particular feeling every few breaths that I couldn't get enough air into my lungs, so to find relief I was trying to breathe in as deep as I could, sometimes it would work and I would find relief, sometimes it wouldn't. Sometimes it wasn't a deep breath, but yawning (this is really important! This symptom seems to happen to a lot of us). This state would plague me almost for a whole day, it was really exhausting. What was remarkable was that I was okay while sleeping. And what was really annoying when I woke up, was happy to breath easily and... a few breaths later this problem started anew!
Slowly, very slowly this condition passed, especially when I quitted the job and got into university again. But it seems that I'm not safe. At some times, really stressful, like times before exams, this state returns. For now it's not that severe as 3 years ago, but it's really annoying and, I'm sad to admit, it's in fact connected to anxiety. I don't have any particular problems with lungs or heart, but I have mild allergy (it seems to happen to a few of us, but it can be not connected) and atopic dermatitis... that flares up when I'm stressed... What it leads to... that I wanted to believe that I'm not an anxious person (I can compare myself with a friend who's really anxious, and I seemed really chill... compared to her...), but it seems that I totally am! (what can prove that I AM an anxious person is the fact that both my parents are also anxious, that have different reactions: my mother has irritable bowel syndrome and my father has coughing as reaction to stress). xD It's just that I don't experience emotions as intense or even mildly as other people, so I have difficulties with monitoring them, identifying them and properly managing them, so my low-key anxieties tend to manifest as physical aches or reactions, the most annoying of which is this hyperventilation without hyperventilation (I found this term in some article about physiology of hyperventilation).
I once asked my friend about it, who's a psychiatrist, and she just told me "it sounds like a panic attack". Just this panic attack is milder and longer. Really annoying.
I don't seek any answers or diagnoses, I'm pretty sure it's stress-induced. Just wanted to share, so that other people, who don't even know how to call their condition and how to search for that, don't feel as confused and alone in their quest to understand their condition.
Hi Gabriel,
To further this conversation, it is known asthmatics have lower levels of carbon dioxide and by practising the Buteyko method, it helps to raise carbon dioxide levels which then act as the bronchial dilator.
I thought I would mention another part of my Buteyko method used each night as it might be useful to those who are also mouth breathers.
Regardless of having a broken nose twice and thought I would never survive this method,
just before I go to sleep I place a piece of tape over my mouth. (Don't laugh) It is now
literally the width of the 1" tape x 1/4". Covering the whole mouth is now not necessary as it becomes a reflex reaction to keep mouth closed when trying to open it through sleeping.
I now never wake through the night. It takes practice for it to become the normal, and eventually makes so much difference.
Some of the benefits are:
the air is filtered
the air flow is more regulated
the breathing becomes more rhythmic
the air temperature is regulated
it does not dry out the saliva in the mouth
it reduces the chance of sleep apnea
it reduces the chance of snoring
there is less struggle to breathe
The benefits are endless and you can read up on many other benefits from creditable medical
websites.
I hope this might help others who are willing to try for a period of time.
Coopstar1949
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1 ReactionHi @tiggyq, I'm sorry you've been dealing with this for some time. Your symptoms sound pretty similar to mine when they were bad. I'm glad you've thought about things and found that anxiety could be a contributor or even the cause. Luckily there are a lot of good resources out there in dealing with anxiety. I've had luck with breathing exercises to help regulate my breathing, especially when I feel like the air hunger is getting out of control.
Do you have any breathing exercises or other things in your toolbox to help deal with stress and anxiety? I feel like having a few tools not only helps with the symptoms because of those, but also the peace of mind knowing that you've developed some skills to help alleviate symptoms.
Glad you found us here in the this forum- we're definitely here for support and to provide any sort of advise or just listen (virtually) to what you're going through and support you through that.
Yes, that is indeed a part of the Buteyko method, and taping my mouth at night helped a great deal! It helped me breathe shallower and less, and thus also helped with eliminating snoring. But yes, as you mention it helps regulate the breathing rhythm and gets you in the habit of nose breathing instead of mouth breathing. Many benefits to this- thank you for sharing!
You are lucky!!