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Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?
Lung Health | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (3422)Comment receiving replies
You are describing an issue I have been having EXACTLY. Yours is the only post about SOB the describes the deep breath getting "stuck" so preventing you from getting a satisfying full breath. Also, the fact that it comes and goes and is not associated with anxiety, it just happens randomly. And (although sometimes is worse than others) it is not unbearable SOB, I am able to live with it.
The weird thing is, all my tests are also normal except for a continuously slightly elevated bilirubin.
I am actually an ICU nurse so I have some knowledge about these things, and if a patient asked me about a correlation between SOB and bilirubin, I would also probably brush it off as anxiety. But since I know my symptoms are not anxiety related, I don't know what to think. It is not a normal clinical picture.
My theory right now is actually that the SOB is musculoskeletal in origin. I also have some minor upper back and rib slipping issues - and since your ribs play a crucial role in lung expansion, I thought maybe it has something to do with it. I find the most relief from the deep breaths getting "stuck" when I put athletic tape on my sides and physically pull on the tape outwards (while also leaning forward) to help my lungs expand. It's the only thing I can do to help if I want to take a deep breath.
Another (lesser, but still possible) theory is subconscious panic issues. It is possible to have physiological panic attacks even when you do not actually think you "feel" anxious. It has more to do with some kind of issue in your amygdala - making it a neuro issue. This would involve extensive neurological testing that still might not even result in a conclusive answer. (I have heard of people having this issue correlated with spontaneous anger issues as well - since the amygdala sort of controls emotions).
I have no answer at this point. But I was struck by our similar symptoms and the elevated bilirubin. The bilirubin is not something I have thought too much about.
Have you ever had any back/rib/sternal pain? Or anger problems?
Replies to "You are describing an issue I have been having EXACTLY. Yours is the only post about..."
@ilikeearthtones I have thoracic outlet syndrome and for me, it causes one side of my chest to be too tight which doesn't expand enough, and it causes muscles spasms into the chest and ribs that can twist which does create pain to the sternum or the back where ribs connect to the spine. Stress can bring that on easily. It is a physical problem and my physical therapist helps by releasing the diaphragm and doing myofascial release. It mostly involves neck and chest muscles being too tight and compressing nerves and blood vessels to the arms. I do my part in self treating at home with stretching. TOS is easily missed and misunderstood by a lot of doctors. Here are some links. The discussion on Myofascial release will give you a lot of resources. This MFR therapy helps me a lot.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353988
https://www.painscience.com/articles/respiration-connection.php
https://trainingandrehabilitation.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
@ilikeearthtones My bilirubin levels are normal at times, but I have something called Gilbert's Syndrom, which is a minor problem with how the liver processes bilirubin. But it's a non-issue and my doctor couldn't think of any correlation with that and SOB. Your theories seem sound, though with any of these theories there seems to be no obvious cause or reasons for why this is happening. I personally have never had back or rib pain, nor anger problems or anxiety.
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Is your air trapping happening on the inhale or exhale? Mine happens when I go to exhale. This is due to having COPD. Other lung diseases can also give you problems with air trapping or impede the ability to breathe normally, for example diaphragm issues. Air trapping can cause that SOB feeling, as well as panic/anxiety attacks. These attacks often occur with patients who have lung issues, and it is a result of a malfunction in the brain. A misfiring of neurons in the brain if you will. They don't know why this happens, but it does. I was told by a Mayo dr that the feeling of oxygen deprivation is the brain not registering the oxygen. I had one such attack and it landed me in the hospital for three days. I feel certain that deep seated subconscious things can bring on these symptoms as well. If you suspect that is your case; you may want to look into hypnotherapy.