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Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?

Lung Health | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (3552)
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@bruce999

Hi Gabriel

I am happy to find this group. I have shortness of breath that started when I had my right shoulder replaced in October 2023. It effects me stand or sitting, and usually goes away when I am lying down, usually in a few minutes. (But sometimes it takes an hour or two). I can't find anyone who can help with this, unfortunately. I have GERD, a hiatal hernia, sleep apnea. Switched acid reflux med to protonix. No detectable change. I saw a vid on you tube about exercises to keep the hiatal hernia from exerting pressure on the diaphragm (is that correct??? can the hiatal hernia do that) that can potentially cause shortness of breath. The video wasn't a medical person. I've been trying those (stomach breathing, stretching) to no effect. My blood oxygenation is 96% while I am having these. BTW is usually starts about noon and goes through 10pm (bedtime). I usually don't have it in the mornings (about 1 in 5 days I do). It is interfering with life. Any suggestions would be welcome.

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Replies to "Hi Gabriel I am happy to find this group. I have shortness of breath that started..."
vic83 | @vic83 | 2 days ago

You mention you have Gerd. That is a risk for pulmonary fibrosis which will cause shortness of breath.

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Gabe, Volunteer Mentor | @gabrielm | 1 day ago

Hi @bruce99, your situation sounds very similar to mine!

That is interesting that it goes away while lying down. Mine is usually worse while lying down, but this effects people differently. I've heard of the possibility of the vagus nerve being irritated by acid reflux which affects breathing. Mine didn't go away when I started treating with GERD either, but when I started doing breathing exercises and reduced breathing, that's when things got better.

The fact that your symptoms are up and down throughout the day can indicate that, like me, you have a functional breathing dysfunction, either caused by the other issues you mentioned, or they all contributed to dysfunctional breathing.

I would start by mentally reassuring yourself that you're ok, this isn't going to harm you. I know it sounds strange, but the mental aspect is a big part of it. When my symptoms get worse, I check my heart rate and O2 saturation with a pulse oximeter and it reassures me that I'm ok and breathing normally. Then I do daily breathing exercises which regulates my breathing such that the air hunger goes down over a few days and weeks and my body can get back to a normal breathing pattern.

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