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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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@jwiegers17 look into the Buteyko breathing method of breathing exercises if you haven’t already. It helps me manage my symptoms and it might do the same for you. Learnbuteykoonline.net is where I learned the method.
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1 Reaction@jwiegers17 @pc72 If you think you may have a physical issue with chest movement contributing to your breathing issues, you may want to look at physical therapy and myofascial release as methods to loosen tissue and muscle restrictions. I have physical issues with my breathing from fascial tightness where one side of my chest restricts proper rib movement, and I don't move my lungs enough. My chest tightness extends from my neck to my pelvis, and that tightness between the rib cage and hip does affect my diaphragm movement a bit. I have also had painful muscle spasms in my chest that restrict breathing. I have thoracic outlet syndrome which is a nerve entrapment of the bundle that passes through the chest between the collar bone and rib cage, and it can frequently cause my first rib which is at the base of the neck to be elevated which makes it difficult for me to breathe. I have been able to improve my breathing and drop my heart rate by doing my stretches and MFR. It has taken me a long time (years) to get this far because of how much was tight. The nerves that service the lungs are passing through the neck and shoulder where it all gets tight, and I might be taking pressure off them and I am mobilizing my first rib. I showed my therapist how I was stretching and she confirmed that. She has been mobilizing my first rib when my breathing is too shallow and my chest is too tight. Here is the link to our discussion which has lots of information. There is a provider finder on the MFR website. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
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1 ReactionHi everyone! Please help if anyone of you has found a cure to it! For me it started like 10 days ago and i have lost the will to live already! I cant focus at work! I cant focus on anything! Let’s just say the end point of the yawn that feels really good, it feels like i am searching for that “good satisfactory feeling” but i cant! I find it imperative to mention that i moved to another country like 20 days ago and this just started 10 days ago! Sometimes i forget about it and the other times i try seven or eight times n then i get that good end point feeling! N then i find myself yawning a lot! Sometimes while yawning i stop inhaling n i get that goood feel! N when i dont get that satisfying breath i panic like literally my uneasiness begins and my heart starts pounding! Sometimes i yawn twice back to back! Well It started at 1am midnight when i drank water n lay down i felt heavy i got up panicked n tried to take the deep breath but it wasnt fulfilling n since then it is going on! I hope someone helps me! Also i have a bad digestion problem! Whenever i eat i feel pressure between my shoulder blades and that time it is impossible to take that deep breath! I have tried so hard to take a deep breath that now it hurts when i take a deep breath! Hurts as in, hurts at the end point! My i feel my mouths getting numb! I am too old to cry but i did! Coz i am new at this place and instead of finding ways to adjust here i am searching for ways to breathe! Something i am supposed to do by default!
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1 Reaction@uzairkashtwari92- Welcome to Connect from your new country! By the sound of this, things seem pretty desperate to you. You must have been scared when you took a deep breath and found that the air didn't seem to be there for you. When you move to a different country the air, temperate, ecosystem, foods, smells and so forth changes. You might just be allergic to something there. On the other hand to rule out something more serious I would like to suggest seeing a doctor. I encourage you to read as many of these posts to see what might jog your memory as to the cause or for a solution. If you slow your breathing down, walk slower, inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth slowly you can gain control so that you don't run out of breath and panic. And panic is what happens when you can't breathe, so it's very important to practice this, a lot! This happened to me when I was getting off a plane and I held up a whole line of people. I had a bronchial spasm.
Do you have a cough or fever? There is a very bad virus going around.
Thank you so much! I feel very relieved that i got an instant reply! I have taken so many deep breaths that now sometimes it pops at the back! I mean a popping sound comes! Well i went to a doc, he gave nebuliser but it doesnt do anything as i dont even have a congestion! I feel like a knot between two shoulder blades due deeeeep breaths! However, i have loads of friends n cousins who are doctors, everyone just says it is anxiety but i am kinda stuck between the two cases, is this caused by anxiety or anxiety is causing this? I was fine for two days, totally fine but suddenly this happened again! I do have digestion problems that is for sure! May be you’re right i am allergic to something here! May be the sand! Well let’s hope everyone who has this problem gets rid of it easily! There’s just one thing which makes me think that it is all in the head, that is, sometimes when i am busy and my attention has diverted, i realise i have been breathing actually pretty fine!
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1 Reaction@uzairkashtwari92- No problem, this is what we do at Connect. I know how your feel wondering if someone will respond quickly. I'm here to help you. Nebulizers take a while to work, even over a space of days. They aren't instant remedies. Then I would see a GI doctor. Perhaps weight is your problem. Did you bump into something that might be causing this? Have you had a cold or virus recently, maybe within the past couple of months or so?
Also i would like to mention that i dont run out of breath! I can breathe yes! But I just want to take a deep breath that feels goood! There is a difference between the two! To be honest, i want to stop breathing so deep in search of finding that good end point feeling! And yes i dont find myself panting unless i am scared and panicking!
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1 Reaction@uzairkashtwari92- Try practicing the breathing exercises that I suggested. There are also some on yourtube you might want to check out.
And no! My weight is fine! I havent been to gym since a couple of months coz of a neck injury that I recovered from but i didnt resume gym! I dont even know if it is the same problem as people who are posting here! There is a reason i mentioned good end point feeling to see if people are having the same problem! N i was all happy and excited to be here until this happened! Now i hate every smell, even ac or outside air makes my nose go slight blocked ( dry ) n that makes me feel heavier too! I am sorry for so many posts but i am just mentioning whatever i remember!
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1 Reaction@uzairkashtwari92- Please continue reading and breathing more slowly. It's terrible to move to a new country and not like it.
There are many tricks that can help. Hopefully, @gabrielm; @jwiegers17; @helena4000 would like to chime in and help @uzairkashtwari92.
Perhaps this will help also. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/shortness-of-breath/basics/definition/sym-20050890