Hi @dav3. Your post caught my attention because I can relate to the shortness of breath issue. Mine started many years ago and is not as bad today but thought I could maybe offer a little help at least with that particular symptom.

I am by no means a medical professional, but have done research throughout the years to find links and treatments for the shortness of breath issue. Mine is more of an 'air hunger' where I can't fill up my lungs all the time, but one thing the doctors found back when this started for me in 2012 is that I was anaemic. I think it can affect breathing depending on the type of anemia, and mine was due to low iron. The body needs iron to produce hemoglobin which helps transport oxygen through the bloodstream. Low iron can hinder this process a bit causing a shortness of breath sensation as well as fatigue.

I've learned to do some breathing exercises over time which has helped with the breathing issue. There are many methods and types, but some that I've either done or looked into are the Buteyko Breathing Method, Alexander technique, Winhoff method, and simply belly breathing as well as learning to meditate to help calm the breath. The basis of the Buteyko method is that you do breath-holding exercises to build up CO2 in the blood, which temporarily dilates the blood vessels and 'opens things up' including airways.

It'd be interesting to see if you have any mineral deficiencies. When I took iron supplements back some years ago, the breathing issue went away, although it did come back, so I can't help but think that the iron supplements helped improve my breathing.

If you don't mind sharing your results when you get them, it'd be interesting to see what the doctors discover especially with the mysterious cough.

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