@laurasue, @jerry6966- Good morning and Welcome to Mayo Connect. SOB is a terrible feeling. I am a 22 years lung cancer survivor and know well the feeling. There are many many causes. Here are some:
Shortness of breath has many causes affecting either the breathing passages and lungs or the heart or blood vessels. An average 150-pound (70 kilogram) adult will breathe at an average rate of 14 breaths per minute at rest. Excessively rapid breathing is referred to as hyperventilation. Shortness of breath is also referred to as dyspnea.
Doctors will further classify dyspnea as either occurring at rest or being associated with activity, exertion, or exercise. They will also want to know if the dyspnea occurs gradually or all of a sudden. Each of these symptoms help to detect the precise cause of the shortness of breath.
Causes of shortness of breath include asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, pneumothorax, anemia, lung cancer, inhalation injury, pulmonary embolism, anxiety, COPD, high altitude with lower oxygen levels, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, subglottic stenosis, interstitial lung disease, obesity, tuberculosis, epiglottitis, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary artery hypertension, pleurisy, croup, polymyositis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, sarcoidosis, rib fracture, carbon monoxide poisoning, and aerobic exercise.
Shortness of breath can be associated with symptoms of chest pain, pain with inspiration (pleurisy), anxiousness, fatigue, dizziness, fainting, cough, wheezing, bloody sputum, neck pain, and chest injury. (https://www.medicinenet.com/shortness_of_breath/symptoms.htm)
Have either of you seen a GI guy? The reason that I ask is that some people on here have solved their issues because of stomach problems. I hope that you all ga back and read the numerous posts. A lot of your questions can be answered on them, including tips and other suggestions.
@merpreb There's one more thing that I would add to your list of things that affect breathing....Thoracic Outlet Syndrome... because for me it causes tightness in the chest and can prevent the muscles from fully expanding the rib cage properly. It involves the scalene muscles which are accessory muscles for breathing and emergency breathing in the neck. I have had muscle spasms that cause ribs to twist slightly. TOS can be caused by poor posture or an injury like a whiplash. It's like living in a straight jacket and can even cause a functional scoliosis of the spine. I did have that, but physical therapy helped straighten it out and later MRIs don't mention it anymore. Physical therapy with myofascial release often helps TOS and get the body moving better. I've been doing MFR for a few years.
Here are some links that reference breathing issues with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and MFR treatment.
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
https://www.painscience.com/articles/respiration-connection.php
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/CVC/997ThoracicOutletSyndrome.pdf
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/