1. < Lung Health
Mentor

Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?

Posted by Gabe, Volunteer Mentor @gabrielm, May 31, 2018

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.

deanna1015 | @deanna1015 | Apr 12, 2019

Hello everyone! I am so happy to have stumbled upon this thread, because i feel like many of these posts are SUPER relatable, especially since sometimes these symptoms are so hard to explain.

I too have been experiencing "air hunger" symptoms for two years now, but recently over the past year I have been having severe panic attacks associated with them. My symptoms include air hunger, feeling like I need to yawn or sigh to get a "good" breath in, and if i'm really struggling with the breathing I will start to feel dizzy, heart racing, sweat, panicky, and also issues with swallowing/fear of choking. I've seen multiple doctors and they all seem to think its anxiety... which I dont disagree... but I think the "air hunger" is CAUSING the anxiety, not the other way around. I've been prescribed xanax which definitely helps calm me down and helps with the panic, but the air hunger, yawning, sighing... that never goes away, which makes me think its not just anxiety.

I am really wondering if I have this "silent reflux" like so many of you have posted about. I have an appointment with a pulmonologist and allergist this month, I think if I get no answers from them I will consider scheduling an appointment with a GI doc. otherwise Im not sure what else to do. I definitely feel defeated and hopeless, as this interferes with my life on a daily basis. I am a graduating physician assistant student, and it has been awful during job interviews. I obviously dont want to yawn or sigh often during an interview, so i have not been obtaining my sufficient deep breaths, which causes me to have these AWFUL panic attacks while interviewing... makes me very scared for my future as a medical professional 🙁

I have noticed that when I am focused on something or busy with my hands its not as bad. Thinking about it definitely makes it worse for me. Does anyone else have things that make the air hunger better or worse?

Thanks again for letting me join in, it feels so good to find others who experience something similar, as I feel that everyone around me thinks Im crazy.

REPLY
1 reply
mcresh | @mcresh | Apr 12, 2019

Hi Gabriel,

I have had the same exact problem for over about 10 years now, except I'm not a runner. But the same shortness of breath feeling, sensation of not getting a full satisfying breath, excessive yawning, and even tingling of my lips and fingertips. I've gone to numerous doctors and have had every test imaginable. All tests come up perfect every time. No heart problems, no lung problems, no asthma, and no allergies that they can find. Every doctor is stumped and I have been told the same - that it's either caused by hyperventilating, or some have said I'm having an anxiety attack. I feel the same way about myself in that I am a very easy going, calm person and that it just can't be anxiety. And breathing into a bag didn't help. NOTHING helped! SO, I decided to take matters into my own hands and start messing with my diet, because I really feel this is a reaction to something. To make a long response a little shorter, I will cut out the trial and errors of the diet and just say that I quickly found out that caffeine was the culprit, in my case. I came across your article and wanted to share with you what I have found to be the answer. Try cutting out all caffeine and give it some time to see if it works. I found that once I stopped, it took a few weeks of drinking water and clearing out my system for it completely go away. Coffee is the worst! I can sometimes have a glass of iced tea or a soda without any ill effects, but if I get out of hand with it, I find myself getting the "breathing problem" again.

I truly hope this helps you! I know that it is soooo annoying and just awful to deal with.

REPLY
2 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 13, 2019
In reply to @mcresh "Hi Gabriel, I have had the same exact problem for over about 10 years now, except..." + (show)
@mcresh

Hi Gabriel,

I have had the same exact problem for over about 10 years now, except I'm not a runner. But the same shortness of breath feeling, sensation of not getting a full satisfying breath, excessive yawning, and even tingling of my lips and fingertips. I've gone to numerous doctors and have had every test imaginable. All tests come up perfect every time. No heart problems, no lung problems, no asthma, and no allergies that they can find. Every doctor is stumped and I have been told the same - that it's either caused by hyperventilating, or some have said I'm having an anxiety attack. I feel the same way about myself in that I am a very easy going, calm person and that it just can't be anxiety. And breathing into a bag didn't help. NOTHING helped! SO, I decided to take matters into my own hands and start messing with my diet, because I really feel this is a reaction to something. To make a long response a little shorter, I will cut out the trial and errors of the diet and just say that I quickly found out that caffeine was the culprit, in my case. I came across your article and wanted to share with you what I have found to be the answer. Try cutting out all caffeine and give it some time to see if it works. I found that once I stopped, it took a few weeks of drinking water and clearing out my system for it completely go away. Coffee is the worst! I can sometimes have a glass of iced tea or a soda without any ill effects, but if I get out of hand with it, I find myself getting the "breathing problem" again.

I truly hope this helps you! I know that it is soooo annoying and just awful to deal with.

Jump to this post

@mcresh- Welcome to Mayo Connect. I'm very glad that you found us. There are many people in this group that have discovered that something in their digestive system has acted up, putting pressure in their lungs, or causing irritations that can cause pain and swelling. It's extremely important to see a GI doctor to see if the cause of the SOB and pain is coming from there.
Is your problem all resolved?

REPLY
Mentor
Gabe, Volunteer Mentor | @gabrielm | Apr 14, 2019
In reply to @deanna1015 "Hello everyone! I am so happy to have stumbled upon this thread, because i feel like..." + (show)
@deanna1015

Hello everyone! I am so happy to have stumbled upon this thread, because i feel like many of these posts are SUPER relatable, especially since sometimes these symptoms are so hard to explain.

I too have been experiencing "air hunger" symptoms for two years now, but recently over the past year I have been having severe panic attacks associated with them. My symptoms include air hunger, feeling like I need to yawn or sigh to get a "good" breath in, and if i'm really struggling with the breathing I will start to feel dizzy, heart racing, sweat, panicky, and also issues with swallowing/fear of choking. I've seen multiple doctors and they all seem to think its anxiety... which I dont disagree... but I think the "air hunger" is CAUSING the anxiety, not the other way around. I've been prescribed xanax which definitely helps calm me down and helps with the panic, but the air hunger, yawning, sighing... that never goes away, which makes me think its not just anxiety.

I am really wondering if I have this "silent reflux" like so many of you have posted about. I have an appointment with a pulmonologist and allergist this month, I think if I get no answers from them I will consider scheduling an appointment with a GI doc. otherwise Im not sure what else to do. I definitely feel defeated and hopeless, as this interferes with my life on a daily basis. I am a graduating physician assistant student, and it has been awful during job interviews. I obviously dont want to yawn or sigh often during an interview, so i have not been obtaining my sufficient deep breaths, which causes me to have these AWFUL panic attacks while interviewing... makes me very scared for my future as a medical professional 🙁

I have noticed that when I am focused on something or busy with my hands its not as bad. Thinking about it definitely makes it worse for me. Does anyone else have things that make the air hunger better or worse?

Thanks again for letting me join in, it feels so good to find others who experience something similar, as I feel that everyone around me thinks Im crazy.

Jump to this post

Hi @deanna1015! Glad you found us. Let us know how your appointments go and what they find.

REPLY
Mentor
Gabe, Volunteer Mentor | @gabrielm | Apr 14, 2019
In reply to @mcresh "Hi Gabriel, I have had the same exact problem for over about 10 years now, except..." + (show)
@mcresh

Hi Gabriel,

I have had the same exact problem for over about 10 years now, except I'm not a runner. But the same shortness of breath feeling, sensation of not getting a full satisfying breath, excessive yawning, and even tingling of my lips and fingertips. I've gone to numerous doctors and have had every test imaginable. All tests come up perfect every time. No heart problems, no lung problems, no asthma, and no allergies that they can find. Every doctor is stumped and I have been told the same - that it's either caused by hyperventilating, or some have said I'm having an anxiety attack. I feel the same way about myself in that I am a very easy going, calm person and that it just can't be anxiety. And breathing into a bag didn't help. NOTHING helped! SO, I decided to take matters into my own hands and start messing with my diet, because I really feel this is a reaction to something. To make a long response a little shorter, I will cut out the trial and errors of the diet and just say that I quickly found out that caffeine was the culprit, in my case. I came across your article and wanted to share with you what I have found to be the answer. Try cutting out all caffeine and give it some time to see if it works. I found that once I stopped, it took a few weeks of drinking water and clearing out my system for it completely go away. Coffee is the worst! I can sometimes have a glass of iced tea or a soda without any ill effects, but if I get out of hand with it, I find myself getting the "breathing problem" again.

I truly hope this helps you! I know that it is soooo annoying and just awful to deal with.

Jump to this post

@mcresh, thank you for taking the time to write here about your solutions! I really appreciate that. Been thinking about doing some kind of elimination diet to see if any food or drink has anything to do with it. How long did it take to improve when you cut out caffeine?

REPLY
1 reply
alureon | @alureon | Apr 15, 2019
In reply to @gabrielm "@mcresh, thank you for taking the time to write here about your solutions! I really appreciate..." + (show)
@gabrielm

@mcresh, thank you for taking the time to write here about your solutions! I really appreciate that. Been thinking about doing some kind of elimination diet to see if any food or drink has anything to do with it. How long did it take to improve when you cut out caffeine?

Jump to this post

Since it's been almost a year since your original post - I'm curious - have you made any progress? I'll have to try the caffeine thing, although my caffeine intake is pretty consistent, so it wouldn't explain the whole good days / bad days thing. Like you, I have been journaling for about a month now and there is honestly no rhyme or reason to it that I can discern. I just went on vacation recently and completely changed almost everything. Diet, activity level, climate, etc. It was the same! I had some good days and some bad days.

It's definitely a really frustrating problem and my heart goes out to all of you in this thread. The only thing that I have found that makes ANY real difference is exercise. On days where my activity level is really high it seems to be a lot less. I'm not sure that it works that way for everyone else, but typically a lot of activity cures my SOB. The problem with this is that I'm a student and I have a desk job, so it's very difficult for me to get a lot of movement in. It can't be quick either, it has to be like 30 minutes of sustained movement. Usually on days where I'm very active, the SOB gives up at some point and I feel better. It doesn't give up without a fight though, it's usually there fighting for a while. On the weekend I jog on the treadmill for about 30 minutes. Sometimes the SOB is annoying during the entire workout, but it's usually better by the end. Other than that, I haven't found any magic pill. I should also note that I've been exercising for years so I doubt that it's just going to "go away" randomly because I was out of shape. I guess it just gets the blood pumping and opens my lungs giving me temporary reprieve.

Anyway, I'll keep trying things and keeping everyone posted. I was hoping the climate change, diet change, the vitamins I started taking, fish oil, meds from the doc, or SOMETHING would yield some serious results I could report back but I've got nothing.

REPLY
1 reply
allisonl | @allisonl | Apr 16, 2019

Hi! I'm new to the group but I must share my story! I began exercising and losing weight. After 7 months of this new lifestyle I decided to reduce my smoking from a pack a day to 1 cigarette a day. I then went on vacation and the day I came back I went for a run and had this feeling I couldn't take a deep breath. Its been 4 years now and this sob hasn't gone away. I've had every test possible. Lung function, ct scan of lungs, thyroid, so much blood work, MRI of the back and head, hormone testing, put on allergy meds, xanax, acupuncture, breathing therapy, vocal cord function tests, swallow study, omeprazole, diet changes, and probably more that I'm forgetting. Nothing has helped my sob. I never felt it was anxiety but after an awful year of deaths in the family and all sorts of other stressors my breathing didn't get worse or better. Xanax also doesn't help. I haven't smoked in 3 years now. I'm not a drinker. I eat healthy and organic and I don't drink alcohol. I've tried everything. I have another appt coming up with my allergist to try a different set of meds. I don't have sneeze or anything but I was told from the skin test o have some allergies. I've had my house reinspected, water tested, and air quality tested. I don't know what else to do. I have good days and bad days but the sob is always there just sometimes its worse than others. Its a feeling I can't get a good satisfying breath and then I force it and sometimes o get one and sometimes I don't. If I don't I start to get dizzy and start yawning. Its very depressing to struggle with this. I'm also sick of being told its anxiety when I've had this all day every day from the second I wake up til I go to bed for four years. The few times I have drank I still have this...and I'm def not anxious when I've been drinking. I've also been to the gi and had a colonoscopy and abdominal ultrasound. Also an EKG and echo. All check out fine. Please help!

REPLY
2 replies
laurasue | @laurasue | Apr 16, 2019
In reply to @allisonl "Hi! I'm new to the group but I must share my story! I began exercising and..." + (show)
@allisonl

Hi! I'm new to the group but I must share my story! I began exercising and losing weight. After 7 months of this new lifestyle I decided to reduce my smoking from a pack a day to 1 cigarette a day. I then went on vacation and the day I came back I went for a run and had this feeling I couldn't take a deep breath. Its been 4 years now and this sob hasn't gone away. I've had every test possible. Lung function, ct scan of lungs, thyroid, so much blood work, MRI of the back and head, hormone testing, put on allergy meds, xanax, acupuncture, breathing therapy, vocal cord function tests, swallow study, omeprazole, diet changes, and probably more that I'm forgetting. Nothing has helped my sob. I never felt it was anxiety but after an awful year of deaths in the family and all sorts of other stressors my breathing didn't get worse or better. Xanax also doesn't help. I haven't smoked in 3 years now. I'm not a drinker. I eat healthy and organic and I don't drink alcohol. I've tried everything. I have another appt coming up with my allergist to try a different set of meds. I don't have sneeze or anything but I was told from the skin test o have some allergies. I've had my house reinspected, water tested, and air quality tested. I don't know what else to do. I have good days and bad days but the sob is always there just sometimes its worse than others. Its a feeling I can't get a good satisfying breath and then I force it and sometimes o get one and sometimes I don't. If I don't I start to get dizzy and start yawning. Its very depressing to struggle with this. I'm also sick of being told its anxiety when I've had this all day every day from the second I wake up til I go to bed for four years. The few times I have drank I still have this...and I'm def not anxious when I've been drinking. I've also been to the gi and had a colonoscopy and abdominal ultrasound. Also an EKG and echo. All check out fine. Please help!

Jump to this post

Allison hello. I have been going through the exact same thing as you. I as well lived a healthy lifestyle and stopped smoking and a few weeks later woke up with the feeling of air hunger. I have seen many specialists as did you. I was told by many of them they don’t think it’s anxiety but they could find nothing wrong. I am very discouraged. I feel like my life has no joy anymore. It’s all suffering. I have been dealing with this for over a year. That being said I am going to the Mayo Clinic in May and hoping to find answers. Good luck to you and if anything get resolved I will share for sure

REPLY
2 replies
helena4000 | @helena4000 | Apr 16, 2019
In reply to @laurasue "Allison hello. I have been going through the exact same thing as you. I as well..." + (show)
@laurasue

Allison hello. I have been going through the exact same thing as you. I as well lived a healthy lifestyle and stopped smoking and a few weeks later woke up with the feeling of air hunger. I have seen many specialists as did you. I was told by many of them they don’t think it’s anxiety but they could find nothing wrong. I am very discouraged. I feel like my life has no joy anymore. It’s all suffering. I have been dealing with this for over a year. That being said I am going to the Mayo Clinic in May and hoping to find answers. Good luck to you and if anything get resolved I will share for sure

Jump to this post

Please let us know what the specialists say about your symptoms. I've been going through pleurisy with associated pericarditis, pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, having issues with my breathing and taking a deep breath is difficult. It's awful. I'm sorry you are going through it. Do you think your breathing issues could be due to a raised hemidiaphragm?

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jerry6966 | @jerry6966 | Apr 16, 2019

I have had this for 3 months all day every day. It is hyperventilation syndrome and is related to anxiety (even if you don't think it is). The anxiety can be because of the breathing that you've become overly aware of. You need to take amitriptyline - it's the only thing that works. I have had and ECG, x-ray of my lungs, CT scan of my lungs, spirometry test, seen a psychologist, hypnotherapist, respiratory physio (which did help - you only need to breathe very very softly preferably through your nose) and numerous GP visits. Then I came across this paper (which I printed out and took to my doctor) and have been taking 10mg of amitriptyline for 2 weeks and have just gone up to 15mg and I cannot tell you how much better I feel. That urge to take the deep breath has nearly completely gone. I can feel myself getting better each day. Good luck - give it a go it has been like a miracle for me! Just discovered I can't post the link - google "The-beneficial-effects-of-oral-amitriptyline-in-anxiety-induced-hyperventilation-syndrome-a-case-series". It is on a website called "oatext" where scientific papers are shared.

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