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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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Yep! All bloodwork is normal, scans normal too! I have started yoga now, but I was an active dancer also-- so on the exercise front I think I am good!
Have you also been cleared of other possible conditions such as anxiety, sports asthma, inflammation, etc.? Do you have acid reflux or allergies?
I know for me, inflammation can be a factor, whether sinus inflammation due to allergies or esophageal inflammation due to my GERD. Symptoms from those can exacerbate my air hunger at times.
Hi there, I came across this post because I too, am struggling immensely. I am wondering if it ever got better. I’m unable to sleep at night due to the constant need to take deep breaths and not being satisfied. I’ve had this before in my life but never to this extent all day for weeks on end. I was sick with a chest infection a few weeks ago and this started directly as I was improving with the condition. I am a mom of three and this is ruining my life. I’m exhausted. Please tell me it got better for you.
Hi, I’m wondering if you got better. I’m struggling to much now and it’s making me miserable. It goes on all day this air hungry feeling.
Did you ever get over this? This is exactly what I’m feeling and it gets worse and worse everyday
Please tell me what happened. I’m desperate. I too quit heavy vaping one week ago and am having this awful experience with the deep breaths and yawns and it’s debilitating me. Please please tell me what you did or if it went away
Hi @staysee321, I'm sorry that you're going through this. How long have you been dealing with your symptoms?
I know this is a large thread with many comments but it might be worth it going through as many as you can to see what others have done to help alleviate their symptoms. There are many options and many things that doctors can look at to rule things out or explore.
Let me know more what you're experiencing, I'd like to help point you in the right direction.
Hi thank you so much for your answer. I in fact went through pages and pages and I read similar stories only no real concrete solutions. I didn’t hear from anyone who said that it “went away”. I suppose when people don’t write back they have gotten better but I don’t know.
But I will share my story.
I’m a mom of theee (ages 8,6,2). I work two full time jobs(I’m a teacher and run my own business on the side). I am under a lot of pressure for sure - as I am the main breadwinner for my family. My husband works too but with my business I earn more.
I’ve struggled with anxiety my entire life but it’s never caused physical symptoms- other than lacking in appetite. This is very scary for me.
I became sick with a bad cough about 4 weeks ago and continued going to work as I didn’t want to use my sick days. One day, the cough was so bad that I had to leave work and didn’t return for 5 days. When I returned, I still didn’t feel well. The doctor told me this was asthma and prescribed me puffers(ventolin and the orange one) as well as prednisone. Those didn’t help the breathing problem.
After I returned to work, symptoms with breathing got worse where I felt I could not “catch my breath” all day long. Like others have said, I could not get that deep satisfying breath and had to keep yawning all day which is exhausting. I wound up in the ER on Friday evening where they told my blood pressure was high likely due to stress, but ruled out any other major physical problems through x ray and heart pictures. I was told asthma and pumped with ventolin. I went home and still couldn’t breathe and I went back to the ER Sunday. Sunday I was told the same thing and pumped with more inhalers and given an atavan. Told this could be panic and anxiety.
I took the Ativan and went home fell asleep at 4am. Since that day I have had trouble breathing and intense difficulty sleeping which is ruining my life as I just want my life back and to enjoy life with my family to the fullest. I panic in the evenings and feel every gasp of air. I took Ativan 4 nights in a row to sleep but I don’t like that I took it. Two nights I managed but it was torture getting to sleep. I just don’t know how I’m ever going to get over this.
One more thing to add is that I was a heavy vaper for two years prior- once I got the cough, I stopped vaping and things have gotten worse with breathing since then - it’s likely that the vape was suppressing my anxiety.
I don’t drink or smoke cigarettes or do drugs. I am healthy not overweight at all and try to stay active.
I do have a lot of stress in my life probably suppressed over the last 4 years including a miscarriage, financial stress, my dad recently being diagnosed with cancer, a brutal principal who’s been antagonizing me for a year, someone trying to sue my business, but still it’s hard to believe that my breathing could be caused by this as it feels so real and scary.
I do recall this type of breathing in my life before, but never ever for days on end and it sort of sat in the background and I forgot about it and it didn’t impede my life. I’ve been on anti anxiety medication in my life before which has helped and so I have started taking it now again I’m on day 4. I’m also seeing a virtual therapist. I’m also going for a CT scan tomorrow.
I’m sorry I’ve rambled I just desperately need help. Thank you for listening.
@staysee321, thank you for bravely sharing your story. It helps to know a lot of the details and symptoms you've been experiencing to help point you in the right direction.
I know the feeling of desperation. When my air hunger began for me, I too was desperate for answers. Not know the cause or what was going on is definitely stressful, but still had to search for some kind of solution/answer.
I also have young children; 9, 7, 5, and 18mo. Mine started before we had kids, but still was an issue when our first was born. So having to deal with sleepless nights and the stress of being a new parent along with the uncertainty of the air hunger situation all contributed to likely higher stress levels.
Have you tried to do anything to deal with the stress/anxiety? I know there's a lot out there in terms of how to deal with this, but wondering if you have seen anything you might like to try.
As I'm sure you read through comments and in the original post, my go-to solution has been breathing techniques, my favorite being the Buteyko Breathing Method. I've used it for years and while it hasn't made the air hunger go away completely, it's made it much more manageable. I started off doing intense breathing exercises for a few weeks and tapered off as my symptoms improved, still applying some of the techniques to this day. I think this may have helped calmed my own nerves as well as fixed some bad breathing habits I had developed over the years.
The idea behind it is that some people develop bad breathing habits unconsciously due to many things like certain diseases, stressors, anxiety, etc. And the method aims to correct that. So it's something I recommend if you get around to researching it.
The chest infection may have thrown off your breathing as well, or exacerbated what was already there. One other thing I suggest, is to get one of those finger pulse oximeter to monitor your O2 levels and heart rate. Having this early on for me helped me identify when I needed to do breathing exercises and get my O2 levels down from 100% to a normal 93% (sounds strange, but 100% O2 indicated high oxygen due to overbreathing).
I just caught this strand in my weekly updates and did not go back more than a few pages, so if I'm redundant, I apologize. 6 years ago, I was diagnosed with COPD and Lung Cancer stage 2B. I went to Mayo for surgery with follow-up chemo (it had spread to one lymph node). I have remained cancer free, and the only sign of COPD is when I carry something heavy in front of me or try to hike up more than a small hill or 1 or 2 flights of stairs. This year I noticed my normal pulse was increasing, but not to the level that concerned my doc. Then, I had an episode of shortness of breath. I got issued a rescue inhaler and was sent to the pulmonologist, who tested my lung function and said I was worse than I realized and gave me Trelogy. A month later I renewed it but called to say that if anything, I was worse. So, she said keep taking it and added prednisolone. Meanwhile, now my pulse was routinely hitting 130, which I used to only see in an exercise class. So, my doc did an ECG. He said there were no issues but if I wanted, he could give me medicine or a heart doctor referral. Thankfully, I opted for option 2. I had to wait 2 1/2 weeks and by then I could not get down my driveway without shortness of breath and I was using the rescue inhaler to go to sleep, When I got to the cardiologist he repeated that test and asked me if I would be willing to go downstairs to the Emergency Room for more tests. Absolutely! It turns out my blood flow that should be 50-60% was down to 12%. I spent 5 days in the hospital while they started me and then adjusted me on several meds. I seem to be doing well now but need to wait until January to retest my heart function.
I'm sharing this because we did not realize mine was a sign of heart, not lung. So, if applicable to anyone else, keep it in mind.
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