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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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Hi there. No no CT scan yet. For some reason, none of the doctors I have consulted with recommend it. I live in Canada so insurance would not be an issue. I have a doctor friend (Pulmonologist), who lives in Europe, and interestingly even she does not think it would be beneficial in my case.
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1 ReactionOccasionally, i do have mild stuffy nose although I always thought that could be a side effect of the Flovent inhaler.
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1 ReactionSorry just one more comment. It seems like your symptoms are very similar to mine. And all my doctors, even my pulmo friend think this is (most likely) anxiety related. Now this is my question: is it really possible that anxiety will trigger this condition from one min to another so much so that I will experience it pretty much constantly and chronically with varying intensity?? I am no doctor but i would think anxiety could only cause me to have occasional, intermittent symptoms depending on the level of anxiety. Since my SOB started 2.5 months ago, there has not been a single day when I was symptom free. Even on the best days, I can always tell that this issue is still there living inside me even if the symptoms are tolerable. Has anyone heard of cases when it was confirmed that anxiety was responsible for long term/chronic SOB (perhaps to the patient's suprise)?
My family dr suggested antidepressants treatment and as much as I wish it would resolve the issue, I simply cannot rationally believe it would and I am afraid it will be a waste of time.
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1 ReactionHi I am new to Mayo connect. Prior to January I was hiking and working out at the gym then out of no where I became SOB and had tachycardia. I had an abnormal EKG, abnormal stress test but a normal angiogram. I had a normal ct scan of my lungs and a normal echocardiogram. I saw the pulmonologist and he said that I had asthma and put me on asthma meds. The meds made no difference for my tachycardia and SOB would return when I tried to be active. The cardiologist doesn’t think that it is asthma and my pulmonologist doesn’t think that it is cardiac related. I don’t know what to think but I know that something is wrong. Does anybody have any ideas?
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1 ReactionIt’s hard for me to imagine this is just anxiety either for same reasons you mentioned. Plus, I’ve had anxiety attacks in the past and this is nothing like that.
I was diagnosed with pre-asthma as a kid but never had to use an inhaler and when I used a daily and emergency one they didn’t provide relief for more than a couple minutes. So maybe since we both have asthma of sorts this SOB is in fact connected to that? Just not sure why it would flair up so bad. Maybe climate change and weird weather this year. Any chance you’re in the same area as me...southwest?
Also have you had your iron or bilirubin tested? Any abnormalities? Allergy test? I have yet to do that.
Sorry for all the questions, I’m just determined to figure out a diagnosis and/or solution. The SOB is taking a toll on me.
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1 ReactionSimilar symptoms but my heart rate is crazy slow and my heart beats early apparently. Had a lot of abnormal heartbeats while wearing monitor for a week, EKG ok, they did say some of my heart walls not moving like they should...but oddly no reason for alarm according to them. Going back in 6 months. Said women tend to have arrhythmia. Everyone is telling me it’s anxiety. But no clue what would trigger this to happen every single day multiple times a day. I wish I had answers but seems everyone in this group is here for the same reasons - no idea what is going on.
Have you been tested for COVID antibodies? I tested negative but think maybe I should do it again, even though I never got sick and my X-ray and CT was good. The SOB is just so bizarre.
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2 ReactionsI don’t produce phlegm either. Do you have a random dry cough that pops up every so often? I never had this and I randomly do every couple weeks or so...but I only cough like 1-2 times total in a day.
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1 ReactionJust wanted to update all you guys, I had the first dose of the covid vaccine (Pfizer) two days ago and am feeling better than ever.
I've been taking pantoprazole and famotidine for about 3 1/2 months now and felt a lot of relief with my throat tightness, and a bit with breathing and frequent yawning but it never completely kicked it.
I think I wrote a few months ago saying that all these symptoms (shortness of breath, excessive yawning) started after a case of viral pneumonia/chest infection after a friend/co-worker of mine traveled overseas to a wedding with people showing up from all across the world, came back and gave it to me and everyone he was around, I suspect it was covid. This was December of 2019. Never was able to get an antibody test because my doctor recommended against it saying at the time (early on in the pandemic) that they were not reliable and most likely last only a few weeks to maybe a couple of months. Interested to hear if anyone else has had the vaccine and felt better (?)
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2 ReactionsI do have dry cough every now and then, but just because it happens so rarely, I did not think much about it/did not take it seriously.
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1 ReactionI did not have asthma when I was a kid or later in life until this (sob) showed up 2. 5 months ago. My doctors do not believe this is asthma because 1. my lung function test (spirometry) was normal 2. i produce normal and consistent results on my peak flow meter (average 650), and 3. i have my symptoms at rest and not on exertion.
I live in Canada, northwest, in a very different climate than southwest.
No bilirubin, iron, or allergy test yet.
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