1. < Digestive Health

If I walk 23 steps I get totally out of breath and heart rate goes up

Posted by sandsun @sandsun, Oct 29, 2011

I literally cannot do any thing anymore. I go to the mailbox which is 23 steps and I get shortness of breath and my heart rate starts beating rapidly. The pulmonologist has run tests and has said lungs are clear. The cardiologist has run tests and says heart is fine. Anyone else having these problems have any ideas.
I have to take a shower in steps and immediately lie down with towels over me to dry. I cook a small meal for my husband and have to rest several times. I do not clean or do laundry anymore. I am 69 and use to swim daily and/or bike or walk daily. Now I can't walk up the street and back.

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chrisbomstad | @chrisbomstad | Apr 29 5:08pm
In reply to @birdsong "I am having the same problems and have just got out of the hosptial for it..." + (show)
@birdsong

I am having the same problems and have just got out of the hosptial for it with same tests results. The only test evelated was dimer and lungs and heart test out fine. I've had these problems before. I was diagnosed with low IgG sublasses, the total count was in the normal range and I take IgG infusions for this and I have low alpha-1 which those transfusions have to be given weekely and so far the research isn't good. I rarelyt run a fever even when I have major infections because my immune system doesn't kick in as it should. I am currently takin an antibiotic, Levaquin even though blood counts for white cells are normal and I am feeling somewhat better and have more energy.

Jump to this post

Hello: I am being prescribed Levaquin for extremely low white blood count do to my first Doxorubicin treatment. Have you had any side effects from it? @chrisbomstad

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rktdog | @rktdog | May 1 11:27am

Hi
I'm 60 yo and experienced very similar symptoms.
I went to see my PCP who ran a gamut of blood test to find I was severely anemic! Never had an issue with iron in my life. My hemoglobin level was 1/3 the normal and was admitted into the ER for two blood transfusions and an iron transfusion.
I was an extreme case because I ignored the symptoms and thought it was menopause coming on hard!

I took breaks when showering to catch my breath, winded at the top of a 12 step flight of steps and so so fatigued all the time.

Have your doc run some blood tests for a general idea of where you at.

Good luck! Feeling this way is daily slog....not to mention stressful.
I'm feeling better every day as I rebuild my iron count and regain my energy.
Rktdog

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1 reply
Norm Dreyer | @ndreyer | May 3 9:47pm

I can empathize with you. Has anyone mentioned long COVID to you? I am also 69 with Parkinson's and I get fatigued very easily.
I mowed my lawn today with a riding mower and it took me 2 hours to recover! I'm not sure how much of this is due to PD. I'm very frustrated like you. I am going to see a naturapathic doctor.

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christina3444 | @christina3444 | May 4 11:10am
In reply to @rktdog "Hi I'm 60 yo and experienced very similar symptoms. I went to see my PCP who..." + (show)
@rktdog

Hi
I'm 60 yo and experienced very similar symptoms.
I went to see my PCP who ran a gamut of blood test to find I was severely anemic! Never had an issue with iron in my life. My hemoglobin level was 1/3 the normal and was admitted into the ER for two blood transfusions and an iron transfusion.
I was an extreme case because I ignored the symptoms and thought it was menopause coming on hard!

I took breaks when showering to catch my breath, winded at the top of a 12 step flight of steps and so so fatigued all the time.

Have your doc run some blood tests for a general idea of where you at.

Good luck! Feeling this way is daily slog....not to mention stressful.
I'm feeling better every day as I rebuild my iron count and regain my energy.
Rktdog

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Has your MD determined what’s causing your anemia? A 60 year old woman isn’t losing blood/iron through menstruation. I’m glad your numbers are getting better but I think you should determine what caused the drop.

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standinginfaith | @standinginfaith | May 4 2:35pm
In reply to @6021neal "I feel your pain, worst feeling in the world...... breathlessness. I can't do anything, taking a..." + (show)
@6021neal

I feel your pain, worst feeling in the world...... breathlessness. I can't do anything, taking a shower is a major undertaking. However, I know what caused my problems....... 55 years of smoking cigarettes. I am 70 years old, and finally threw the darn things away three weeks ago, I have no desire to go back, but the damage is done, and it is devastating. I am starting pulmonary rehab. next week. Hoping for a miracle, I guess, but, maybe they can help me a little bit. Obviously, your problem is not the same as mine. But the end result is the same. Maybe you should see another doctor....... at least I know why I had to pay the price.

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Applause to you for quitting!!! I am 71 and have smoked since i was 14.. I tell the nice "little" nurses ..I've smoked longer than you have been alive.. which is a revelation..!! Praying God will heal your lungs!! And you will be strong and stay quit.. I am encouraged now to try harder!! So your post has helped me!! (I have alot of gastro issues..statring to have some heart issues to.. iI better thro these things out..) God bless you and thank you for posting!!

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blessedwildapplegirl | @blessedwildapplegirl | May 4 3:30pm

I’ve been feeling the same way, and mine is from acid reflux. At least that’s partly it. When I walk, I get pressure in my upper abdomen and then I feel like I can’t breathe. I went for a walk the other day and couldn’t go up the hill and I had to keep stopping to catch my breath. This never happened until my stomach started to hurt last November. I’ve never had acid reflux in my life and I think I have SIBO. But of course all the doctors want to do is a colonoscopy and endoscopy and I really don’t think that’s going to fix anything. I’m assuming you’ve had your thyroid checked. I fixed my low thyroid by eating iodized salt. It turns out if you eat food that is salted by the food industry, it has no iodine in it. I hope you can find an answer. Life is difficult enough without being able to get up or do anything or eat. Take care.

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plume | @plume | May 8 11:21am

There's a rare autoimmune blood disease that causes the red blood cells to burst. My mother died from the disease in 2004 but there are probably better ways to treat it today. It's called Cold Agglutinin disease but, I think there's a warm type also. Without enough red blood cells to carry oxygen, my mother couldn't breathe with the smallest exertion. Oxygen and blood transfusions didn't help because her body broke the transfused blood cells and the oxygen was useless because there weren't enough red blood cells to transport it. Having a CBC should be routine. A very anemic result should be investigated.

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katherinedonahue | @katherinedonahue | 2 days ago

See a cardiologist. They are the same symptoms I have. Diagnosed with inappropriate tachycardia. I take metropolitan and amalodapine. Good Luck

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