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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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I took another picture of my larynx. The doctor told me that you have laryngeal muscle tension, but it is not severe. He said that you should see a speech therapist. I went but it didn't work. Some speech therapists suggested laryngeal massage, but I massaged my own larynx. When I moved my larynx left and right, my breathing problems got worse and my voice got better. I decided not to use my larynx for a while, that is, not to sing and only to speak normally occasionally. Normal talking helped a little, although I had difficulty breathing deeply and yawning, but it was more tolerable. Now, if I sing again, this problem becomes severe, but normal speech does not cause a problem. I had a good voice, but I could not raise and lower my voice like other singers, and if I try for this, the yawning and shortness of breath will intensify, I think This laryngeal muscle tension is formed to protect the trachea from acid. What do you think?
Next I want to see a stomach specialist and do some tests. I definitely know I have lpr but I want to check more closely
Hi there, I read through most of these pages and thought of sharing my struggles in hopes to get advice, feedback, or guidance. The original post seems to suggest a similar experience to mine, however, mine doesn't get alleviated, no matter what I do.
My symptoms, in detail:
I sigh multiple times a minute gasping for air (3 times on average). 1 out of 10 sighs I take feel like I got air inside my lungs. I sigh while sitting down, laying down, relaxing, walking, talking, and especially after eating. It is lowest when I go to sleep at night and start again badly 40 minutes after I wake up – but it is 24/7. I get sore in my upper lungs and upper back frequently during the day when attempting to get air in. I do not struggle to breathe out (I know what asthma feels like), I struggle to get the air IN, because it feels like there’s a barrier blocking the air from going through my throat (tightens) into my lungs. There are times I’m eating and choke on my food because I try to take a deep breath. My throat is sore, I do not cough, but do swallow saliva all day. There's time where it helps to stands or sit up and even hold to furniture to push the breath in.
My history:
I moved to Florida in 2012 after being raised in a brick/concrete house in the mountains of Madrid, Spain. Along this time, I took 8 months of antibiotics for a possible exposure to tuberculosis I had that ended up being false (x-rays). When I moved to the condo in Miami, which had mold in it, shortly after I started to feel tightness in my chest and dizziness that would make it incredibly uncomfortable to walk on the beach along the shoreline.
On 2013 I moved to a college dorm and got rashes everywhere (Dermatitis Hepertiformis). Turned out I have Celiac Disease and adhered to a strict GF diet where I use a portable tester to make sure my food has under 20ppm of gluten. My shortness of breath happened mainly outside in the heat and humidity and inside with the sensation of “missed yawning.”
On 2015, I moved to a different, older building and noticed thick postnasal drip accompanied with severe chest tightness. On 2016, I went back to live with my mom at a condo in the beach and had extreme episodes of tightness in my chest, sighing and not getting a breath in despite multiple attempts including a sore back and lungs. Upon going to the ER, oxygen was normal, X- rays normal, the one thing the Dr. noticed was a lot of mucus running down my throat.
Later, 2016, I went through an endoscopy that came out with severe burns in my stomach from acid & was put on antibiotics for 5 months and continued with Omeprazole for the next couple of years until I moved. My symptoms, however, persisted. Moreover, I went to a ENT who looked at my Vocal Cords and prescribed speech therapy for Vocal Cord Dysfunction. Some of the exercises I apply today. The measured success rate is the following. Note that -1 represents an attempted breath, 0.5 a half breath, and 1 a breath that feels satisfying.
2:08pm -1
2:08pm -1
2:08pm -1
2:09pm -1
2:10pm 0.5 (with speech therapy exercise)
2:10pm 1
2:11pm -1
2:11pm -1
However, it is not reliable each time:
2:20pm 1 (breath taken without speech therapy exercise, mouth wide open)
2:21pm 0.5 (breath taken with speech therapy)
2:21pm -1 (breath taken without speech therapy exercise, mouth wide open, sore in back and lungs)
2:22pm -1 (breath taken with speech therapy)
2:22pm -1
On 2018, I decided to move to a cold, dry climate in Colorado. This helped about 20%. Then, I started seeing a holistic doctor and tried a low histamine diet, eliminating foods I’m intolerant to such as eggs, corn, lentils and tomatoes (through IGG blood tests) and antihistamine supplements like Quercetin and Cromolyn Sodium as well as moved out of moldy homes into new ones and tested them for mold. I felt a change in my energy levels but still struggled immensely with not getting a breath in. And nothing, no change after 1 year and a half of following this rigorous plan. Not even with the lowest histamine foods such as air fried sweet potatoes with salt and nothing else would help my breathing. I still gasped for air. I also had severe IBS episodes, one resulting in an ER hospital visit where I needed 7 bags of fluids because of how dehydrated I was.
On 2021, I did a sleep study that appeared to be normal. Then, had a heart monitor on my body for a full month and they saw some arrhythmia with my heart speeding (there was one result where it went to 130 in middle of the night) but the doctor deemed results as normal and moved on. My heart ultrasound appeared normal as did my gallbladder. Blood tests appeared normal all these years aside from inflammation markets that are quite elevated and at times a white cell count that was elevated.
Recently, 2021, I went to a Pulmonologist. When performing breathing tests, he would ask me to “breathe normally” after multiple failed tests until I forced it down and the results show no abnormalities. Also, a CT scan indicated my lungs are inflamed. I went to the Gastroenterologist and again, acid results. The normal scores should be 14, and I’m at 24. I have been taking Pepcid twice a day since then (a month ago) but have no visible results. I still sense my throat closing sighing 3-4 times a minute. I tried taking aspirin and it seemed to alleviate but not long term. I also take a steroid inhaler named Symbicort twice a day, and it helps, but again, not enough. It is still so, so bad I have a need to grip to furniture and push to help my lungs receive air.
My current medications include Pepcid / twice a day, 2 aspirins/ twice a day, Reactine /twice a day, Symbicort /twice a day , and Claritin nasal spray, hydroxyzyne 2 tablets before sleep. Some of these medications are Canadian as I am currently visiting Montreal, Canada and got about 10% worse than in Colorado. The building i'm staying does not smell moldy and was built last year.
Nothing has really alleviated the problem. I feel desperate. Insights welcome. Thanks
PD. Oh... and for those that believe in alternative stuff... I have a positive Lyme disease test suggesting chronic lyme and mold toxicity illness. On 2020 I did the Double Dapsone protocol for 3 months without antibiotics.
Hello @sussistrikesmichelle and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. That is sure a lot of history to unpack and quite the journey you have been on in seek of some relief and answers. I commend you for all of the lengths you've gone to in seek of alternative environments that may better serve your health, or at least not aggravate it. I think that is so brilliant and you are very fortunate to be able to do that.
All that said, I think you are so right to keep seeking answers and untangling the web of symptoms and health diagnosis to see if there is an intersection at which point your shortness of breath can be explained.
I would like to bring in members who may be able to support you. Members such as @amirreza @vfparker @gabrielm and @gentlehelix1 have all been recently active sharing their experiences and/or updates. I am hoping that they can share more with you after reading your experience.
As well, I am guessing that you've tried nearly everything in your power already, however, I wanted to share this article just in case. If there is even one suggestion in the article that could minimally help you in the interim, that would be wonderful.
- Home Treatments for Shortness of Breath:
https://www.healthline.com/health/home-treatments-for-shortness-of-breath#drinking-coffee
Did you move as a youth or young adult from Spain out of curiosity? Just wondering if your age and change of environment may have played together.
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2 Reactions@sussistrikesmichelle As I was reading through your story, I couldn't help thinking about allergies in addition to food allergies. Have you been tested by an allergist? I have allergic asthma, and do allergy shots for molds, dust, weeds, grasses, ragweed, and cats and they help me significantly. I do have cats, but I manage OK and have HEPA filters.
Another problem I had came as a bit of a surprise. I was creating excess phlegm in my lungs and I have a physical problem with one side of my chest being too tight and not expanding properly, so I was trapping phlegm and it would progress to a chest infection which I noticed when my resting heart rate went up. I also had old dental work. All of my silver amalgam fillings had been removed several years ago and they can release mercury vapor. I used to get a sore throat after chewing my food which stopped happening after those fillings were replaced. I also had old root canals and crowns because of breaking my teeth as a kid, and the root canals were starting to fail. Eventually I went through the process of replacing those teeth with Zirconium dental implants which are a type of ceramic and they contain no metal. It is a long process of healing bone before implants can be placed, and then more healing before they are solid enough to attach new teeth. As soon as the bad teeth were removed, my breathing improved dramatically and I no longer had the extra phlegm all the time. For the first time, I had no metals in my body and I could breathe.
Then 3 months later, I broke my ankle badly, and I needed titanium plates and screws to fix it. Again, I had breathing issues with excess phlegm, and I also developed chronic hives and my ankle hurt with the hardware on it. It's a year later, and I just had the hardware removed, so I am back to being metal free again, and I am breathing much better in spite of my allergies. If you were living at higher elevations in Colorado, there is no ragweed and a lot less mold, so that could account for the improvement you had, however, Colorado has had poor air quality due to wildfires this year and last which has actually spread across the entire country. It sounds like you have serious allergies to molds, and I do too. Even with doing my allergy injections for molds, if there is a piece of fruit in the kitchen that grows mold, I will have a lot of symptoms until I find it and remove it.
Have you been seen by an environmental medicine doctor? I have been helped a lot by a doctor in this specialty. There is a provider search button on the top right page of the AAEM website at https://www.aaemonline.org/
I had a lot of problems with out-gassing of new building materials. Carpeting and pressed wood products like plywood or masonite release formaldehyde vapors. We built a home with formaldehyde free insulation and I seal coated all the plywood floors before the hardwood flooring was laid on top of it to greatly reduce formaldehyde. We have no carpeting. That has helped me a lot and some people need to avoid things like this.
Have you considered environmental allergies as a possible cause for your symptoms?
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3 ReactionsI’m not sure if singing would make it worse. I don’t sing so I wouldn’t be able to tell. But I have heard that singing improves some breathing conditions from others who have done Buteyko due to controlling the breath during singing
That’s interesting! It seems like there is a connection in your case, to the larynx. Manipulating the larynx generates some sort of response to your breathing. Perhaps seeing other speech therapists for a second opinion might help to see what else could be done to help with the tension
How is your diet? Do you consume a lot of dairy products? The things that can help you are breathing through your nose, getting enough sleep, not doing hard exercise, not putting pressure on your larynx, and talking normally.tell me youre life style
@ sussistrikesmichelle thank you for sharing your experience. Have you tried breath holding techniques to see if that helps? That’s part of the Buteyko breathing method that I’m sure you read about but curious if you tried it. That method is what helps me the most. They teach a rescue exercise where you hold your breath while taking steps or hold your breath while sitting still for as long as you can, and you repeat this a few times. It helps build up the CO2 and calms the breathing. I don’t think it would hurt to try.
It sounds like there are some issues that may be contributing to the air hunger such as inflamed lungs. Have you tried and anti inflammatory diet?
Have you ever moved your larynx left and right to see if it has a negative effect on deep breathing?