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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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Found this discussion forum while googling for SOB. I am experiencing SOB for about 2 months now. It started for no reason I know. I went to see my primary care and did an xray and ekg. EKG was fine and xray was clear. My doctor thinks it could be GERD related so he prescribed me prilosec. Been taking it for a 2 weeks now. The first 4 days my SOB was a no show and was so glad to be able to breath normally again. However, after that, the SOB came back. I noticed that my SOB attacks happen mostly later in the day. The other thing I noticed if I burp or release gas (by a lot) it relieves me. At the moment, it is still a big mystery on what's causing it.
Does your SOB go on all day? Or just a night?
I strongly urge you to investigate Babesiosis as the cause of your air hunger. It is what caused mine. Many people who have Babesia duncani and other species have air hunger. The testing isn't that great, and you would need to see a physician that specializes in treating tick borne infections (even though you can get Babesia via blood transfusion or via maternal transmission in utero...and possibly even mosquitos because Babesia is related to Malaria, but this mode of transmission is only speculative).
So it sounds similar to what would happen to me. How have breathing exercises helped if you’ve done any? How has any physical activity been? Do you exercise frequently and would you say you’re an active person?
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1 ReactionHi @cookie2009, I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with this. Did anything happen a month ago that you think might have caused this, or did it just come about randomly?
Some people may have found at least some answers or at the very least, coping mechanism but there are certainly a growing number of people dealing with similar symptoms.
What other tests have you done and do you have any other health problems you’d be comfortable sharing here?
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1 Reaction@doracledba, how would you describe your overall diet? Are you aware of any foods that might cause you to feel bloated?
Breathing exercise help me but not for long time,after doing them maybe i feel 20 30% better for 1 or 2 hour
I was going to gym last year
And before my sob happen i was runnig every 2 or 3 days
But now ! No
When i go up the stairs or when my activity become little more i feel my sob getting worse
Im 99% sure anxiey cause it، at least for me
But there is questione
Why its getting worse in Intense activity ?
I think when im more anxious its get worst altough when i feel good it still there
Im confuse
I would start ssri medicine for it, my doc Has prescribed for me ، i havent other choice
@gabrielm all I can think of was the reason I went to the doctor in the first place was because I had thought I had a little bit of bronchitis, I did smoke and usually around the colder days I sometimes get bronchitis. I don't smoke a lot maybe half a pack sometimes less. I have been smoke free for like 2 weeks now. Started smoking when I was 21 I am now 31. But never had anything like this. Like it was more out of no where. The day before we did do a little laser tag with family. The next day I took my daughter to her 24month check up for her last immunizations for now. I had also started drinking some nutrition energy tea from some nutrition place and that evening boom felt like I couldn't breathe. Told my husband and he drove me and my daughter to the ER. And they said everything looked normal. Vitals, blood work, xray. They gave me a breathing treatment, a steroid tablet, and a prescription for advair inhaler. And the next fews days it felt better and better and then i was like back to normal on like the 5th day. So I went out with some friends that evening and i rarely ever even go out. All we did was play pool with one another and a drank like half of a beer. It was smoky in there though and at that time i have not quit smoking but i had cut down some and i smoked 1 that night because I felt a little breathless again. And I was ready to ho home. Went home and next day felt pretty normal and felt it slowly coming back that evening, and it just got worse the next 3 or 4 days so I go again to ER but a different one. and they did more blood work. Another xray and an EKG. All was normal. Oh yes and I stopped the energy teas the first ER visit because I thought it could have been caused by that. I quit smoking cold turkey after the second ER visit. I'm supposed to do the advair for 28 days and I've been doing it and it doesn't help at all. I though it was helping the first time but then it all came back. I've always been pretty healthy female besides smoking which I no longer am. But never had issues before. No surgeries. I didn't have any complications birthing my daughter. When Ever SOB started again it just won't go away. I thought the first one was just some fluke thing and now it's been a month. I go see a pulmonary specialist may 2nd. But idk if he can help me or not. I feel like this is really taking away time from me and my daughter and my husband is having to do more and I feel so bad. All the doctors want to say I may be anxiety but this is something that lasts all day even after a rest. And I'm not an anxiety person either. My doctor prescribed me vistaril and I tried it and it didn't help me either.
@mostafamahjoori, It's good that the breathing exercises are helping even if a little. That means progress! It might take some time for the body to adapt to the exercises and I think you may see some more improvement.
Have you looked into other ways to deal with anxiety? There is an effective method of dealing with anxiety and other issues called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I believe this may help reduce your anxiety over time, and something I would suggest looking into. There are online sessions to learn CBT, and I think would be worth a try!
I feel you. I was dealing with the air hunger in much the same way as you- feeling like it was taking away a lot of time from my family and activities. Have you looked into breathing exercises like Buteyko Breathing Method? There is an online course through https://www.learnbuteykoonline.net/, and this is where I learned the technique and coping mechanisms.
I, too, ruled out anxiety early on when I realized the air hunger persisted whether at rest, active, anxious, or not. But the breathing exercises still helped me to calm down if I had some anxiety due to the breathing issue.
Do you have any GI issues that you're aware of, such as GERD, dyspepsia, ulcers, etc? Many of us with the same issue seem to have GI issues so I'm wondering if there is a connection there that we're just not aware of.
Do you consider yourself a mouth-breather even before this issue came about?
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