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Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?
Lung Health | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (3422)Comment receiving replies
I have had shortness of breath for over 7 months straight now. I have been to a pulmonologist and ENT, two cardiologist and my 2 primary care drs. I’ve had several test done and been to the ER around 15x. They all tell me I’m clear and after they couldn’t find anything they told me it appeared to be anxiety ( which I really wonder) I had a very peaceful, calm life before this. It all happened one early morning. I just woke up gasping for air and it never went away. How did this shortness of breath start for others ? Also has anyone found a solution ? One more thing recently I have been getting this head pressure every now and then.
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@laurasue, sorry that you have been dealing with this. So many of us know just how you feel! It's not a fun thing to have. Do you have any gastro issues that you know of? GERD, heartburn, esophagus issues, hiatal hernia, etc? Any thyroid issues that you know of? Asthma, lung function tests- I'm sure you've been tested for those? Anxiety is pretty much the 'catch-all', 'make-you-go-away' answer from doctors when they have no answers. We've all gotten that response a few times, so we've convened here for answers!
Mine, if I remember, started fairly gradually but I just noticed one day that I couldn't catch a deep breath and it never went away. It just kept getting worse. I took vitamin B-12 and iron and it seemed to temporarily make it go away, but I have no explanation for that.
Something that has helped me greatly is the Buteyko breathing method; https://www.learnbuteykoonline.net. It likely won't cure the issue but it does help a lot of people, including me. It made my SOB go away from a good couple of years, but then it came back, but I applied the method again and it helps. At this point it makes it manageable while I still search for answers.
I have had the same symptoms since June 2018. Have been to so many doctors (pulmonary, heart, GI, ER). They all believe it’s mental but I am positive there is an underlying health issue. Thank you for giving me the idea to visit an ENT. Will explore that option and keep you posted.
The more doctors I see who just say it’s allergies the more I am starting to think mine is from silent acid reflux. I have been reading a lot recently on how to cure it with natural supplements and not medications that haven’t worked yet for me. Have you looked into any acid problems? I have had no symptoms but think I am starting to recognize I do have some like the feeling of a lump in my throat and some possible burning is starting to happen. I am going to try a high alkaline diet to see if there is any improvements from that. Just can’t wait for it to stop once and for all. Every now and again I have a day where I don’t have it and it is so wonderful, and so freeing!
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laurasue, I have had something similar to what you describe for about 2 years now. It started with a cough and lots of phlegm. I had an xray of my lungs which didn't show much of anything. I went to a doctor that advised a cat-scan, that an xray will not do the job with the lungs. The cat-scan did reveal that I have IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) similar to COPD. There is no cure but I'm on OFEV to slow the process of the lung scaring. I've had to slow down some but I am still active and coping with it. Hope this helps.