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Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?
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.
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My oxygen hasn't gone under 98% either, but I still feel like something is stopping me from being able to get a deep breath. It's like the breathing path only opens periodically and also (most of the time) when I'm yawning. Given that I've barely been sleeping in a month and a half, you'd think I'd be yawning constantly.
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1 Reaction@helena4000- Your O2 shows that you have plenty of air. You have a couple of things going on and until they subside you might feel like you can't get a full breath. Everything is irritated. Why do you think that you arn't sleeping now?
hi all, it has been a while and thought I would check in. Since all my physical health checks have come back fine, doctors are leaning more and more towards GAD (generalised anxiety disorder). They tried me on Sertraline, which didn't sit well with me and have now changed me over to Mirtazapine. I think the breathing is getting slowly better, but it is still an issue, although nowhere near as bad as it was in the beginning. If it turns out that this is all because of anxiety that is fine by me and I will get a handle on it. I know a lot of you have had docs say the breathing issues could be because of anxiety but you feel there is something more because you don't feel anxious. I was exactly the same. I have not felt anxious at all, apart from 3 wks ago where I did suffer from a few panic attacks. But since I hadn't felt anxious since the beginning of this, I thought I couldn't possibly be anxious. I have since found out this could be wrong, ie just because you don't feel it, doesn't mean its not there. I wont go into detail as it would take a long time, but the last 10 yrs have been quite difficult and long story short ended up with me becoming my mothers sole carer while she battled breast cancer for the 3rd time in her life, and eventually I lived in hospital and hospice with her for 4 months until she sadly lost the battle March 2018 (she was only 64). Of course this was a horrible time and very stressful and I saw a therapist for a while during and after, but I thought on the whole I had handled my emotions pretty well. The breathing problem started 2 months before the 1st anniversary of her death, and the panic attacks started on the anniversary. I am not one to seek a magic pill to fix my problem, in fact I stay away from medications if I can, but if it is going to help me here, then I am all for it, but hope to resolve my possible anxiety issues and get off the Mirtazapine. I know anxiety may not be the case for anyone here, but if it is being suggested to you, it might be worth opening your mind to it and giving it a go, it can't hurt!
A few reasons. Sometimes when lying flat the pressure in my chest is too great, so I sit up, sometimes I wake up suddenly gasping for air, sometimes I get this overwhelming wave of just dysfunctional breathing and start this involuntary rapid breathing. It's attacks like this that feel the worst.
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2 Reactions@helena4000- What does your doctor say about this?
For me the definite things seen on my scans have been subsegmental bibasalar atelectasis, pleural effusion, and "possible" pericarditis. All of my symptoms started on Feb 23, 2019 after I had gotten really, really overexerted due to running. Since then I have actually felt like I'm in a perpetual state of getting overexerted--but all the discomfort I'm feeling is only on my right side. You know that feeling when you run and you can't get a full, deep, satisfying breath after? It is like something in your chest is just saying no I'm not going to let you take a deep breath. That's what every day has felt like along with chest pain. The doctors have called all of this pleurisy. I am researching diaphragm dysfunction along with pleural effusion. I think it's possible I may have had some sort of pleural effusion prior to running which caused the atelectasis. (Atelectasis is caused by pressure on the lungs.)
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1 Reaction@robert95 I also have asthma which is the allergic type and to control that, I have to control my response to the allergens that are all around me. What helps is using HEPA filters in my home, allergy shots, good housekeeping to eliminate dust, encasing my mattress and pillows in dust mite proof coverings, and keeping a mask with me so when I am exposed to something that triggers my asthma, I can put it on and prevent some exposure. We built a home with no carpet and only have hardwood or tile floors, and the building insulation is free of formaldehyde. We have some area rugs, but they can be removed and cleaned and none are shag type deep carpets. I have a HEPA filter blowing on my face at night when I sleep and this is when a person is most vulnerable because laying down, the phlegm doesn't clear, and if you are sleeping on a mattress that is not protected against dust mite build up it just adds to the problem. I have to change my bedding often because I have cats who like to hang out there and I keep it covered with sheets. I am allergic to my cats, but we can coexist. they get wiped down for dander and I do my best to clean everything and I do allergy shots for cats. It helps me to also sleep in a disposable surgical type mask and I don't have my lungs building a lot of phlegm at night. Doctors usually recommend not having pets in the bedroom at night, but I have been able to manage.
I have had repeated respiratory infections because the allergies and phlegm create the perfect environment for bugs to grow. Keeping allergies under control is key to avoid those infections and the recent changes I made helped me break that cycle. Sometimes allergy shots are not enough if there is a lot of exposure, such as high mold spore levels, and I will take an antihistamine in addition. If I start to get a respiratory infection, I notice my heart beating faster and having palpitations and I have gone to the ER to have that checked out. I've never had numbness in my face or hands connected to allergies and that makes me wonder if facial swelling could do that. that might be something you should mention to a doctor and keep track of when that happens and what you were exposed to. It could be a different health issue that should be evaluated. I would recommend allergy proofing your mattress and pillows and bedding as best you can and see if you improve. The masks I use are from 3M #1820 procedure mask with greater than 99% bacterial filtration efficiency of 0.1 micron particles which is equivalent to a HEPA filter. Lungs are very fragile and can be damaged by inflammation and disease, so prevention is key. I also have a steroid control inhaler that I use when I know I will be somewhere that causes problems like in public where I am exposed to fragrances. Everything I use at home is fragrance free such as laundry detergent and I don't use highly scented cleaning products. All of that would bother my breathing. I find that as long as I'm not struggling to breathe, exercise does help improve my lung function. I also have food allergies and have to avoid those triggers, or it can trigger my asthma too.
He mentioned yesterday that it could be some kind of exercise induced issue. I have to call him today so I'll have more information later.
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1 Reaction@helena4000- What does your doctor say about this? Is this any better than when you left the hospital?
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1 ReactionOne thing that feels a little better since I started the methylprednisolone pack after the hospital, is the rapid breathing at rest feels better. I just finished the pack yesterday though. So I'll see what happens now.
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