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Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?
Lung Health | Last Active: Oct 23 10:20am | Replies (3405)Comment receiving replies
I am beyond glad that I found this post. I am always a bit wary of just googling my symptoms. I recall having this strange SOB sensation a little over a year ago; it came suddenly and obviously left suddenly because I can't remember the exact dates. In the midst of COVID it made me very anxious, but I had zero other symptoms and otherwise felt well.
Now in February I did test positive for COVID with mild symptoms, none of which were SOB. After clearing that, I started experiencing a tight chest, and SOB feeling. My doctor attributed it to COVID. It wasn't the winded feeling that I did experience during Covid, it was a strange SOB that would come on suddenly whether I was going up the stairs or just sitting still. The best way to describe is picture yourself taking a nice deep yawn, and NOT catching that last satisfying gulp of air that ends the yawn. That's what I feel throughout the day. Doctors are still giving me steroid inhalers in case asthma is involved, allergy medications, as well as anxiety medication in case it is anxiety. None of it seems to be helping. I do feel anxious and frustrated when I take those breaths and can't find that final gulp of satisfying air. I am not a big fan of lots of medications and would greatly prefer something natural, but for now this strange shortness of breath that comes and goes is quite tiring. I find myself yawning continuously sometimes just to see if I can get a complete deep breath. Or walking with my arms stretched upright to extend my torso. Going on 4 weeks with this sensation.
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Yes, you explained it clearly… it’s horrible. I’ve experienced this past year, as well. I recently had ACDF surgery on C 5/6 Because I was short of breath upon minimal exertion for nine years along with becoming off-balance and my thumb had gone numb. Finally after going to Cleveland clinic Johns Hopkins Hershey medical and all around Pennsylvania, a doctor that took a spinal x-ray upon my husbands request and discovered that I had a bulging disc and it was taken care of. There’s only three months ago but I’m hopeful that since the symptoms that were discussing now came on just this past year and perhaps it was related to that and once I’m completely healed it will be healed as well. I’m a little anxious that it may be due to another bulging disc at C3/4, Which would mean another surgery. But taking it a day at a time and thinking positive…
@camomma, I’m so sorry you’ve been dealing with this, but I’m glad you found this forum of people who have a similar experience. I know this makes you anxious as it did for me early on, but I just want to reassure you that despite the sensation, you are still able to get enough air and the symptoms are manageable. You mentioned you got bloodwork done- were there any abnormalities or nutrient deficiencies? How is your breathing during physical activity and sleep?
I can, and do, very much relate to your experience with this SOB situation. Mt personal journey with my SOB began three weeks after my first COVID vaccine which was May of 2021. Long, typical, story short...After three ER visits, numerous visits to my primary care..two different Pulmonologist's Dr's, Pulmonary function test, Chest x-rays, cat scans..Cartiologist exam to include EKG with a Stress test. Having prescribed various inhalers, allergy medications, anxiety medications. No determination was made for cause and, nothing has ended the SOB. Every test came back negative for abnormalities. Basically..EVERY specialist has told me I'm in perfect health and, can not recommend any further testing. As you made mention, my SOB comes and goes. I am a very active person physically but, I have found it most noticeable when simply sitting or, after a large meal. I must admit, the one medication I have been prescribed which, genuinely has helped, is Pantoprazole for, possible, Acid reflux. Could our SOB be gut related ? I've viewed several articles that it could be the root of this problem.
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Holding your arms stretched out above your head while laying flat, also seems to extinguish sob. I do think that our environment has changed drastically since the 1960’s - more pollution, processed foods, less down time, increased stress - has all contributed to the inflammation in our bodies - and dampered our immune systems………