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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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@helpnywhereucan Great info. Thank you!
@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.
I came across this thread and I am suffering from the same thing. I have to yawn in order to take a deep breath. 2 times out 10 I am able to get a satisfied deep breath, the rest it feels like my air gets stuck on my chest and then I get frustrated and panic. I start overthinking and then I think I wont be able to take my next breath. I try to swallow and even that feels like I wont be able to do. The fear intensifies and I start crying. I work out 6 days out of the week and while walking I am trying to catch my breath, while lifting I tend to forget about it a bit until I rest between sets. At nights it gets worst, I get anxiety all over my body and it takes me forever to fall asleep- I have no idea when I fall asleep. My husband tells me I am breathing fine while asleep. I do wake up in the middle of the night and stress about it. I am so frustrated with this feelings and emotions. I have had them on and off for a long time but for the past two weeks its everyday all day. I have made a doctors appointment for tomorrow and will see what he tells me. Reading all of your comments makes me feel like I am not going crazy and I am not the only one suffering with this.
@star_ruby3
I have the exact thing going on and the past month it has consumed my life.. i get panic attacks beczuse of it, Nd been to the er 2x just for them to say everything is fine.... my doctor is telling me its stress. I dont buy it. He told me to start taking zoloft, but i have had bad experiences with those meds in the past. I decided to try benedryl..... it got better after i took a few doses. Not sure if that was a coincidence or really an allergy there. I read and it says benedryl also helps stress too. Maybe try taking benedryl!
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1 ReactionThank you for replying. I don't want to be on meds as trials and see if it will fix it. I do have allergies but maybe I need to figure out how to run an allergy test and see if what I am consuming is making this worst.
Hi @star_ruby3 you are certainly not alone! Keep us updated and let us know what the doctor says. Get every test that you can to rule out as much as you can. How long have you had this? Do you have any GI issues; heartburn, GERD, indigestion, etc.? Are you allergies seasonal or chronic? Maybe if enough people have similar issues, there might be a link. I haven't found one yet, but still always looking.
To cope with it in the meantime, when you feel like you can't get a deep breath, try to relax and calm down as much as possible. I know it's hard especially when it's bad, but tell yourself that you're not going to die and that you'll be fine. Another coping strategy is to learn Buteyko breathing method. That has helped me a great deal and it helps manage my breathing today.
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2 ReactionsNo, no coughing or phlegm. Just sob. It ended up causing a panic attack and I wound up in the hospital. Which is now leading to doctor appointment after appointment and so far everything is coming back okay. I see a pulmonologist in two weeks but the chest x-ray and cat scan at the hospital came back clean. The cardiologist I see doesn't think it's related to my heart. Which makes everything more frustrating
Thank you. It's a wonderful feeling to know there's support out there of people who are experiencing a similar thing
I have the sob and I just feel like when I'm breathing it's not going into my lungs. I even wake up randomly throughout the night feeling like I'm not breathing. My boyfriend said when it happens that I am breathing but I make this gasp as I wake up almost like a shocked or scared sound. There's no coughing or phlegm being produced. I ended up in the hospital for it and everything came back good. I've seen a cardiologist and he doesnt think its related to my heart. Next step is a pulmonologist.
@jillian22, Did this come on rather suddenly? I ask that because of my own experience. My background: I am a liver/kidney transplant recipient and I take immunosuppressant medications for 10 years. A couple of years ago, one of those meds, prednisone, was discontinued and that is when I began to experience my SOB.
I have always struggled with uphill hiking, and blamed it on not training enough. However, I had been doing real well until the prednisone was lowered. (In hindsight, the belief is that the prednisone had been masking my exercised induced asthma and when it came back it hit me particularly hard) We were hiking and I couldn't catch my breath, even walking was strenuous and I needed frequent sit-down breaks. I made an appointment with my PCP and saw him as soon as we returned home. My PCP acted quickly and arranged me to see pulminologist and cardiologist. Lungs and heart checked out perfectly. The pulmpnologist was able to narrow my problem to being exercise induced asthma - I am not suggestion that this is what you are expereincing, however, before he helped me get it under control, I was experiencing a tightness in my chest and could not get enough air into my lungs. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/exercise-induced-asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20372300
Now back to my original question-Have you made any recent changes to your environment (new location, new bedding or furniture, medications, detergents)? My symptoms are triggered by heat and humidity, and the pollen and grass.
I know that you are afraid. I hope you can get some answers soon. When do you see the pulminologist?