Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?

Posted by Gabe, Volunteer Mentor @gabrielm, May 31, 2018

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jul 21, 2020

In reply to @qbug "I haven't handled it well. This is the first time I've used an AD to tackle..." + (show)

@qbug- Good morning. Do you have any idea what started your SOB? Was there any particular incident, or is it just the progression of OCD and most people wind up with it?

qbug | @qbug | Jul 21, 2020

In reply to @merpreb "@qbug- Good morning. Do you have any idea what started your SOB? Was there any particular..." + (show)

I've had it before. I had it in 2014 for about a month. Went to the ER and it was deemed anxiety. It went away on it's own. I also had it in January of this year from stress and it disappeared after Propranolol. This time I had a huge panic attack in April and that's where it stemmed from.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jul 28, 2020

In reply to @qbug "I've had it before. I had it in 2014 for about a month. Went to the..." + (show)

@qbug- Hi! Wondering how you are feeling.

joefocus | @joefocus | Jul 30, 2020

Hi guys!! New update and what i discovered.
The last time i posted on this issue, i stated that i took flagyl and got huge relief for one day and then it came back. The past few weeks have been hectic for me as it got worse. These are what I discovered:
First, my eating habit is very poor.
2, I was having chest heaviness especially after eating. It feela like I had a sore/wound in my osoephagus.
3. I have had 2 refluxes while sleeping in the past.
4. At a point when i drink water, it was like the water passed through my heart. Which means a wound in the throat.
I consulted people and went to the doctor. They all said it's ulcer. I agreed with them cos of my past experiences with refluxes and acidity.
In order to confirm my ulcer, i went to do blood test which confirmed I had H.pylori bacteria. I have started using the right antibiotics and I am getting huge relief. I also identified some food triggers like pepper, acidic food like oranges etc makes life worst. I have cut them off until my esophagus heals.
In summary, if you know you have a poor eating habit, then this mysterious shortness of breath is linked to GERD, Ulcer, reflux esophagitis and the other of its families.
Omeprazole/proton pump inhibitor also played huge role.
At the end i bought the complete ulsakit drug which contains omeprazole and other two antibiotics which works better than flagyl for matters regarding stomach and intestine.
I hope this helps someone outhere.

joefocus | @joefocus | Jul 30, 2020

It's time to change your eating habit buddy. From your previous experiences with refluxes and esophagitis, eliminate pepper and acidic food and spicies. Eat well at least three times a day and on time. Do this till your esophagus/ulcer wound heals

joefocus | @joefocus | Jul 30, 2020

You can as well go do the H.pylori test for confirmation

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 30, 2020

In reply to @joefocus "Hi guys!! New update and what i discovered. The last time i posted on this issue,..." + (show)

@joefocus, I appreciate getting the update and am really glad you found some answers. Surprisingly, a fellow member @ kidprodigy had a similar experience only a few days ago with getting an H. pylori infection diagnosis. You may wish to join the discussion and share experiences here:

- The Right Diagnosis: H. Pylori infection https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/the-right-diagnosis/

This will most certainly help someone out there. What changes have you made to your diet?

joefocus | @joefocus | Jul 30, 2020

In reply to @colleenyoung "@joefocus, I appreciate getting the update and am really glad you found some answers. Surprisingly, a..." + (show)

That's great to hear. For now, i have cut off pepper in every form. Pepper is damaging to an open sore/wound. I have cut off spicies/spicy food too.
I'm from west Africa where we eat soup made with pepper all the time. To avoid eating that, I now eat jute mallow and okra(lady finger) as my soup with no salt or spicies.
I cut off citrus fruits too.
Bananas and other alkaline fruits are great alternative.
With these experiences, I'm planing going full vegetarian or never going back to eating with articificial spicies again.

ptaylorboyd | @ptaylorboyd | Aug 3, 2020

In reply to @helpnywhereucan "It started @ February. It was terrible. I would have fits of it that were so..." + (show)

@helpnywhereucan

It started @ February. It was terrible. I would have fits of it that were so bad I could hardly do anything but focus on the fact I couldn't breath. Tears, no sleep, bag breathing, emergency room...where I was told I was in perfect health other than a slight potassium deficiency that wouldn't cause SOB. Primary care gave me a script for anxiety that I never took. I knew it wasn't caused by anxiety. I did have slightly low iron. I spent nights researching everything I could, determined to leave no stone unturned. If you read my previous posts, at times I'm sure I sounded like a mad scientist trying different things in order to figure it out. I came to the conclusion that my issue was tied to minerals/ electrolyte deficiency. I had struggled over the years with things that are related to acidity...heartburn, stinky underarm odor, morning stiffness etc. When you are acidic, your body burns through minerals. I tended to be high strung, constantly busy, couldn't shut my mind off at night (or during the day for that matter). If you read up on minerals, they provide a buffer for acids created by our lifestyle. I considered myself to have a decent diet beforehand but the little voice inside always knew I wasn't getting enough veggies. And now with our soil so depleted in minerals, it's bound to happen to a lot of us.

I started with a good plant based multivitamin. Vitamins can be acidic so you have to be careful with the ones you take. I like plant based ones better or ones with calcium and magnesium in sufficient quantities because those minerals are alkaline. I didn't drink alcohol or coffee so those weren't an issue for me. Then, I focused on getting sufficient quantities of potassium. I started eating more greens, vegetables and taking powder greens like wheatgrass, Kale powder etc. I drink carrot juice, eat potatoes....sweet and white...to maintain my potassium levels. I eat low fat, "healthier" potato chips. They're a good balance of sodium and potassium. I have a banana in my smoothie every morning that includes other healthy things. I drink low sugar orange juice for potassium and I also take one small dose of a potassium supplement per day. I choose to get it from food. Potassium is a very alkalizing mineral, but be careful with supplementation. If taken in large quantities it can cause heart arrhythmia for some people. I tested the limit and found out it's true, Lol. I had a few scary minutes.

Little by little I started switching to more of a plant based diet. As I read up on the Alkaline/ Acid in the body it resonated more and more with me. Now I try to juice daily, eat more salads, make veggie burgers and plant based meals. For example I boil a bag of frozen butternut squash, let it cool, throw it into a blender with almond milk, bone broth and a few cashews and some seasoning, blend it up, pour it into a bowl and voila, soup in minutes. I mash garbanzo beans, add in a tablespoon of spelt flour, a little quinoa, onions and fry it in a little oil for a tasty burger along with my soup. It's a lifestyle. I'll do anything to not have that wretched SOB come back. So far it's working! I make healthy/ alkaline deserts. My new fav are brown rice krispie treats.

Bicarbonates are also important when it comes to buffering acids. Fruits and vegetables help the body maintain bicarbonate levels. Mineral water also has bicarbonates. If all else fails there's plain old baking soda in water. I don't tolerate it very well. Neutralizes my stomach acid and gives me gas. Sigh. Some people take a pinch daily, some take it with lemon. I try to include more baked goods with baking soda in the recipe. When we were kids no one heard of acid reflux. I think it's because we ate more vegetables and fruit and more baked goods...they all contained a little baking soda. We also drank water out the tap and not man made water. Tap water contains minerals and bicarbonates. Just my theory anyway. I do still filter my water.

Lemon water is also alkalizing. I keep lemons in the kitchen. I cut back on my oatmeal consumption since oatmeal is slightly acidic. I replaced it with quinoa. Tastes just as good and is more alkaline.

Meat is acidic but some people need the protein. I still eat it here and there (no more than once per day. I do meatless Mondays and fish on Friday) but quite frankly haven't missed it that much. I'm starting to see food as medicine in a way. If it's going to turn on me, I'll try to pass or only indulge a little. I now only eat natural sugars...honey, agave, maple syrup. Sugar is highly acidic.

So yeah...it's a commitment but I'm getting used to it. Sliced cucumbers, onions and tomatoes sit on my plate now, just like they used to sit on my mom's and as a teen I'd think how gross...I'll be at the nearest fast food joint. Caught up with me big time.

So my advice to anyone dealing with SOB, find what works for YOU. It could be an issue with a pathogen, could be vitamin D levels or something else. But I say a solid eating foundation is a good place to start. It might seem overwhelming at first but just pick one thing and start there and see if you have any improvement. Best of luck to all of you.

Jump to this post

Merry
Thank you for your post
I had reoccurring feeling of air leaving my chest and curling into a faint. Emergency room doc tested me. He said had a sodium deficiency. I told him every doc in my life said stay away from salt. For 20 yrs I ate no processed foods, no fast food, never touched a salt shaker, ate popcorn and corn on cob without salt.
He said cant do that. I said then docs should quantify their directives because some of us follow to the letter.
My question to you: I need th o know of there exists an electrolyte water WITHOUT SULFATES/SULFITES as I'm allergic. Water must have significant sodium level.
Nooooobody knows. Thank you. Pauli

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Aug 3, 2020

In reply to @ptaylorboyd "Merry Thank you for your post I had reoccurring feeling of air leaving my chest and..." + (show)

@ptaylorboyd- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm glad that you found us. I don't have a sodium deficiency that is bad enough to warrant taking extra salt. However, I'm glad that you asked this question because if I need it I know where to look. I can't recommend any particular one but if you google electrolyte water WITHOUT SULFATES/SULFITES you will find some.

I just found this: Another possible cause for SOB! The ER doctor did well by you! I really hope that it works for you.

http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/hyponatremia-low-sodium.aspx

Did your doctor tell you how much sodium and in what form to take?

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