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Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?
Lung Health | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (3432)Comment receiving replies
@katgts @ashleyh I have allergies and asthma and do allergy shots for many things including my cats, so I thought that was under control. Apparently, it was not, and I would have repeating bouts of excess phlegm that would build up and get stuck in my lungs causing the same pressure and ache in my chest, and then it would turn into a chest infection and get my resting heart rate over 100 beats per minute. The problem seemed to be that the swelling of airways from allergies was preventing the normal clearing of my lungs by the cilia (hair cells) that line the airways to move the mucous. I don't smoke, and smoke causes the cilia to become paralyzed impeding phlegm expulsion. I also have thoracic outlet syndrome which causes tight tissue and fascial restrictions because it prevents proper movement of the rib cage and I do PT for that.
My suspicion is that for @katgts, there may be a fascial restriction that wraps around the esophagus and trachea since these are right next to each other passing through the neck and chest. Something must be restricting the burps. A hiatal hernia can also do this. A physical therapist who does myofascial release work can help if fascia is the cause. A gastroenterologist might be able to figure out if there is a hernia. Lung tissue is also fascia with blood vessels for oxygen absorption, and this fascia is an interconnected web that threads through everything in the body. I have resolved my lung issues with better allergy prevention, and I wear a disposable surgical mask when I'm near my cats, and that works, a good one made by 3M #1820 which is as good as a HEPA filter. I also have several HEPA filters running in my house. I have created a discussion about myofascial release (MFR) with a lot of information. Fascia does not show up on imaging, so these problems go unnoticed, and many doctors are not aware of this type of physical problem, and of course, everything looks normal.
Here are some links-
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353994
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiatal-hernia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373379
Replies to "@katgts @ashleyh I have allergies and asthma and do allergy shots for many things including my..."
I would add that a thyroglossal duct cyst may also be a possibility. If you are a lady but have an Adam's apple, it's most likely a thyroglossal duct cyst.
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Hey, How did you get your thoracic outlet syndrome diagnosed? @jenniferhunter . My Physical therapist has told me the same thing but I'm going to a neurologist to get a proper diagnosis.
Let me preface by saying that I also have GERD, and during my barium swallow testing an elevated right hemidiaphgram was found where paralysis was ruled out during a sniff test. I'm seeing the neurologist to get the thoracic outlet (nerve) in my left arm, pec, shoulder etc diagnosed as well as do phrenic nerve testing.
I also experience exactly what the OP wrote and can't run either because it feels like i have something constricted down my esophagus which leaves me with an air hunger feeling and when I can not satisfy it creates massive anxiety. I also find myself feeling the need to take deep breaths to satisfy, and have my own conclusion that this may be related to the GERD / LPR especially, if you're speaking of allergies, and if you've done a trans nasal endoscopy and see inflammation in the larynx you can ascertain that its causing "airway reflux / inflammation" and the possiblity of a hiatial or diaphgramic hernia causing the "constriction" like feeling you're left with when experiencing the air hunger.
I also find myself belching ALOT and have noticed that a good way to align this with GERD is to see if you do worse off PPI's or betterr with them. I have seen high dose PPI help with the breathing and air hunger feeling but still haven't dared to run with all other tests coming out perfect. A hiatial hernia can cause a lot of issues as air hunger comes from diaphgramic breathing and if there is a hiatial hernia "getting in the way" this may be the root of your symptoms. I would not down regulate the GERD at all.