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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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@alexm1994- Good morning. SOB or dyspnea can certainly produce a lot of anxiety and a lot of times it can be a "what came first" scenario. And it's especially disconcerting that it has come at a time of a pandemic. Shortness of breath is definitely one of the early symptoms of Sars-CoV-2 but if you had the virus most likely you would also have a temperature and dry cough.
As far as omeprazole is concerned you have to give it a while to work.
https://www.goodrx.com/blog/shortness-of-breath-first-symptom-of-covid-19/
Have you tried logging what you eat or what you eat? If you do lie down after dinner, try sitting up for an hour or so. Sorry to ask this but if you are overweight this might be the cause!
@gabrielm just to introduce myself, I am a 28 yr old female who is otherwise healthy..
I can't believe I'm just seeing this thread now. Everything youve described in your original post is everything that has been happening to me, except my sob started August 2019. It came out of nowhere and has never went away. Originally I had went to the ER and the doctor was convinced it was a blood clot. They did blood work, chest xray, TWO CT scans (one with oral dye, and one with intravenous dye) , and also had an ultrasound of my heart to make sure no build up of fluid. The only thing they found was on my chest xray there was a very small amount of air in my chest cavity. I was sent home being told it would resolve on its own and they set up a follow up appointment with a thoracic surgeon to make sure it was clearing up.
I saw that specialist about 3 weeks laters, and had another chest x-ray done. They air was still there but they were still confident it would resolve on its own. I went back a month later, air was gone (or was at least so small now that it was undetected on yet another chest x-ray) and now I had a new symptom; when I laid on my left side (which was the side with the air stuck) and I was propped up with a pillow under me, say, sitting on the couch, when I took a deep breath I could feel these little air bubbles coming up under my ribs, I could hear it sometimes too, it sounded like actual little burps coming from my ribs. Doctor said that was the air releasing, yet to this day, I still have that symptom.
Went back 3 months later because although the sob never completely went away, it was manageable, and some days I forgot it was even there, and then I had a "flare up" and it was quite bad one week so I returned to the specialist. Had another chest x-ray done and it was normal. He did not know what was wrong with me. He said he would schedule a pulmonary function test. This brings us to April 2020 and with covid-19 , I cancelled because I didn't want to go to a hospital. However a week after I cancelled, I had another bad flare up so I called and booked the test.
Pulmonary function test came back completely normal.
Next thing the doctor wants to do is a bronchoscopy.
I'm so frustrated. I feel like my deep breaths won't catch. It's all I ever think about. I'm always so focused on my breathing which I'm sure isn't helping.
It's reliving to know there are others like me out there..
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1 ReactionHey there - welcome to the thread where everyone has SOB and nobody has a cure (said in the Whose Line is it Anyway voice). I'm sorry to hear about your problem but rest assured you're in good company. You'll find lots of good theories in this thread as to what may be causing your SOB. The issue is that there are thousands of issues that could be the potential cause. I've more or less given up on doctors even though I'm not sure that's the best advice. It's hard to know what specialist to even go to... is it a lung issue? A GERD/Reflux issue? Is it anxiety? All three of these issues would require a different expert. You'll see a lot of people in this thread have some sort of GERD... I'm currently taking Omeperazole but I'm not entirely sure it's making a difference. I'm tried changing my diet, losing weight, taking vitamins and supplements, working out, and just about everything in between. I have a new theory though that's been working for me. First, if you're having a really bad spell I find it helps to lay on my stomach with a pillow underneath my abdomen. I'm not able to take great full breaths but it's a lot more consistent. Your lungs are more so present in your back than in your chest so it frees up that area when you lay on your stomach. Secondly, I've been having a lot of success doing upper back stretches. The last week I've been stretching out real good multiple times per day in that area and my breathing has been noticeably better. I'll do a child's pose for a few minutes and a variety of other positions. I'm thinking of booking an appointment with a chiropractic because apparently spinal alignment issues can put pressure on the lungs and cause breathing difficulty. I'll leave a comment if I keep seeing progress but please keep us all updated because if we all are constantly investigating it's likely we'll eventually get some answers.
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1 Reaction@robkern3 thanks for your reply! I already have so much I want to research just by reading a couple pages of replies.
I understand the wanting to give up on doctors. I'm not even a year into my mysterious sob and I already feel like it's a waste of time going to see my current specialist. However I know doing more tests will at least rule things out. But I do think it's almost time for me to say goodbye to my lung specialist and seek other options out. Time will tell I suppose. I will definitely laying on my stomach with a pillow under me next time it's bad.
For the last 4 months I've been doing workouts at home and the last two months I've incorporated yoga, but with a bad flare up two weeks ago, I've been scared to work out again. Maybe I'll start with some light yoga and try some upper back stretches.
Thanks again for your reply. Just knowing there are others struggling like me helps.
Hi @tamaracaitlin welcome to the thread. When I posted the original post two years ago, I never thought it would get so much response from people with similar issues! But here we are, pages and pages later full of posts of people seeking relief. That's interesting about the air bubbles in the chest cavity. I wonder how it would gotten there- I guess I didn't know there wasn't supposed to be air there. But when I was at your point with my air hunger problem, I was also seeking doctors and specialists just to rule things out. I would keep getting various tests to rule out as much as you can. But now I am managing it on my own. The Buteyko breathing method I mentioned in the original post is what is helping me to manage the issue along with mild to moderate exercise, as much as my breathing will allow. I hope yours goes away entirely, but there are many things to try to at least manage it to where it's not so bothersome all the time.
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1 Reaction@gabrielm yes I'll definitely be looking into the buteyko method.
Air , from what I've learned, can get trapped in your chest cavity, it can cause pneumothorax (or collapsed lung) , spontaneous pneumothorax can be caused by a blister or a "bleb" (yes that's the Actual medical term! Lol ) bursting on your lung, and the air, instead of being pushed one way, it goes another way and can cause sob or can cause your lung to collapse. So originally this is what my doctor thought it was. But I think that's becoming less obvious since I still have sob and it doesn't seem to be getting better. (I guess these things tend to resolve themselves within 6 weeks.) Maybe it was a coincidence that they found the air trapped in my chest cavity and it has nothing to do with my sudden sob, or maybe it does! Who knows. Certainly not my doctor lol.
I feel like I'm learning more reading through everyone personals experiences on this thread than my doctor ever told me.
Happy to be here!
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2 ReactionsDo keep us posted as you make progress and found out anything new!
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2 ReactionsI'm 75kgs and 170cm, so on a BMI scale I'm deemed overweight but I have a higher than average muscle mass and less than 15% body fat. I generally workout intensively 4-5 times a week, and can do a 5km run in 30 minutes and 100 burpees in under 12 minutes. So it isn't a fitness or conditioning issue. I'm 100% sure I had covid-19 February/March, as I lost my sense of taste and smell for weeks, was super fatigued, had some cold and sinusitis like symptoms. But I isolated for 3 weeks with that, and have since been isolated since back in the Welsh countryside. So I don't believe this is an after effect of COVID.
I went to the GP on Friday, as I wanted some form of action plan - my stomach was also feeling tender and upset. Went to the doctors, she believes its GERD that has moved up. She prescribed Lansoprazole, I've been taking for 5 days now - it's definitely better now than it was this time last week. But I'm severely hopeful that this will completely clear it. As I'm feeling slightly fatigued and lacking motivation to do my regular exercise. I challenged myself to start doing some lower impact stuff such as a 10km walk and yoga, my breathing was ok in these. So I'll try some weight and HIIT training today.
@gabrielm- Good morning. I want to thank you for all the support and compassion you have given to those of us who have SOB. Your patience and clear explanations have helped make this discussion very helpful and insightful. I especially love your encouragement in telling people to never give up, and to find a solution. I want to especially thank you for helping me to understand more about dyspnea, the medical term for shortness of breath, and for all of your help in answering posts. You are truly what Connect is all about. Thank you
@alexm1994- Welcome to Mayo Connect. My husband is like you, or you like him. Whenever something slows his workouts and he's ready to start up again he pushes like crazy- way too soon and too much. You probably should come back more slowly if you have taxed your lungs and thinking that you have had COVID then I would suggest being even slower than usual. If it was COVID then your lungs are probably very irritated.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/exercise-induced-asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20372300
https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pulmonary-function-laboratory/overview/ovc-20398545
If your symptoms do not improve I suggest seeing a pulmonologist for lung function tests. Were you ever tested for Covid-19?