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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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@cmohai- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It does sound as if you have allergies and because of global warming, it seems as if there is a lot of humidity everywhere. You mention GERD and anxiety. They can come in stages.
A lot of us wear masks to help control dust mites. Have you tried this?
Have you done anything about getting them under control? Have you had any tests done?
@yaramarthe- It sounds as if you are having a miserable time. I would be too with the symptoms that you have. I imagine that you have had a slew of tests and scans and blood work. Have they shown anything other than allergies and Hypertyroidism? That's a lot of weight to lose. Is there another doctor other than your allergist looking after you?
I'm unfamiliar with Hyperthyroidism but Connect has a discussion going on in the Diabetes/Endocrine system that I hope you will check out.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hyperthyroidism-4/?pg=1#comment-452461
Did you ever get your peppermint allergy reaction to stop burning and itching?
@yaramarthe You gave me an incredible gift last December by posting a reference on functional medicine and MAST cells that has led me on an amazing journey of learning and discovery. I'd like to return the favor. One of THE most valuable things I have ever read or seen in my 74 years is a nine part series on the connection between the gut and brain. It is being replayed this weekend for free and can be accessed at start.gutbrainseries.com. You'll also get two free e-books. Conventional medicine helps a lot of people, but it also is not helping a lot of people who are getting shuffled from doctor to doctor looking for answers. Rather than treating symptoms by giving a pill or performing an operation, functional medicine practioners are looking for root underlying causes of diseases and treating them. This incredible series includes interviews with 30 of the country's best functional medicine practioners, including doctors, nutritionists, psychiatrists, micro biome researchers, etc. Rather than treat symptoms, they look "under the hood" to see what is really going on. They are finding more often than not problems in every system of the body like inflammation, depression, anxiety, IBS, obesity, asthma, etc start in the gut. They begin by healing the gut by adding herbs and nutrients the body is missing, removing toxins and dietary foods causing problems, and changing lifestyles to let the body heat itself. I strongly urge you to watch this program and find a person near you who practices functional medicine. The case studies in the programs are truly awe inspiring and should give you hope. I did a google search to find a functional medicine practioner near me and found that one of the leading ones in the country, Dr, Will Cole, lives near me. His website is a gold mine of information, and he has several tests you can take on your own to evaluate different things. Most of his practice is done over the internet in case you can't find someone near you who practices functional medicine. Good luck. Nancy P.S. a lot of conventional doctors think leaky gut is nonsense...but a lot of people though the earth was flat at some point
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2 Reactions@yaramarthe One particularly good article from Dr. Coles's website https://drwillcole.com/gut-health/how-to-fix-poor-gut-health.
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1 ReactionI hadn’t really connected it, but I have not experienced this in a few weeks, and I’ve been keeping up with my supplements for gut health. I’m going to try to keep a log and see if I notice a correlation.
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2 ReactionsSo I've been on famotidine + pantoprazole for a week now along with sleeping on a wedged pillow and kinda watching what I've been eating and the shortness of breath and yawning is WAY WAY less frequent throughout the day, almost nonexistent until the end of the when the medication starts to wear off later in the day. I think I have finally found my answer.
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2 Reactions@isnotanxiety. Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. It's really nice when people have good news to share; and I hope you continue to do well on this plan. Nancy
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2 ReactionsThank you so much !
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1 ReactionHello, I just started having this same issue with not being able to take full breaths and weirdly, I just started exercising on my new treadmill for the past 5 days. I had this issue when I was pregnant and the doctors said it was due to my hormones. I was totally fine after pregnancy but now all of a sudden I can’t take a deep breath and am constantly yawning. I also started taking Nutrafol supplements two days ago when this all started so I’m stopping that ASAP. Has anything worked for you?
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1 Reaction@itsnotanxiety- This is just wonderful news. Please be aware that these medications can cause bone loss so make sure that you are also doing weight-bearing exercises too. What a relief this must be for you!
WHat changes have you made to your diet?