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Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?
Lung Health | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (3422)Comment receiving replies
I am going through something amazingly similar. The inability to take a deep breath. Forcing a yawn- when I even can. It was on and off for a while and I thought it was GERD and I went on Prevacid and a million other gerd medications for 2 years. At first I thought I had solved it. But then it came back. I have been to a million doctors who first said, yeah it could be GERD but then said no, doesn’t really sound like GERD as I have no other gerd symptoms. Thought it was post nasal drip but now I’m on an antihistamine and 2 nasal sprays and while the post nasal drip is much better, the SOB is about the same. I have been to my primary care doctor, cardiologist, 2 ENTs, 2 allergists, psychiatrist, and chiropractor. The main answer I have gotten is “it’s anxiety.” Well I do have anxiety but I’m on medication for it and the breathing issue does not seem to be timed to my anxiety and and often times the breathing issue IS the cause of the anxiety. This problem occurs intermittently all day long and also when I’m sleeping at night. I don’t notice it when I’m distracted, exercising and talking seem to improve it. I find it’s easier to breathe when I’m leaning slightly forward. But it’s a real thing, I’m not making it up. I’m worried it’s impacting my health in some way. And everyone I know is tired of hearing about it and writing it off to my hypochondria. But I need some help. Has anyone solved this?
Replies to "I am going through something amazingly similar. The inability to take a deep breath. Forcing a..."
Hi @arikalisanne, have you gotten a blood test done?
At least you ruled out many things by getting the tests done. The symptoms don't seem to line up with your anxiety- are you aware of anything that it could align with or does it come and go seemingly randomly?
Also, what kind of exercise do you do?
I have gone to a million different doctors as well asking them if they’ve ever heard of air hunger. My primary doctor if talked to a bajillion times and he says it anxiety. I, like you, get the anxiety from the inability to get a good breath. I have even done a nuclear stress test and it came by good. I’ve always thought it was my heart causing it but I have a healthy heart. I’m currently taking 50 mg of Benadryl and boy does it have me feeling short of breath causing major anxiety. I complain to my husband about it and bless his heart he tries to help but it doesn’t help lol. He just doesn’t understand where I’m coming from. I thought I was the only person in the world that has this problem. When I’m distracted, I don’t notice it, when I sleep, it doesn’t wake me up. Sometimes going to sleep, I will jump and get startled because of my breathing. I get short of breath talking and it’s embarrassing. I don’t want to live the rest of my life like this as this is no way to live. I pray all the time for Gods help.
You just described how I feel exactly! I'm so sorry you're going through it. It is horrible, distressing and, indeed, causes a great deal of anxiety.
I wish we could find out the cause of this disorder that is making our lives bitter, so that we can find a solution.
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I was put on Zoloft for depression. The Zoloft got rid of the inability to get a deep breath. I, too, was constantly hungering for air, forcing a yawn, just couldn’t get a deep breath. The Zoloft helped for years then suddenly quit working. I went off the Zoloft and was put on Lexapro but the Lexapro didn’t help. A couple of weeks ago I started back on the Zoloft and I’m doing much better. I don’t know if this will help you but it is certainly helping me. Hope you can find some relief soon as this disorder is terrible and definitely took away my quality of life.