Hi, everyone. Thanks for opening this thread. I have suffered from this specific type of SOB for the last 4 years and this thread seemed like an oasis in the desert for me. Makes me feel less lonely or crazy knowing there are other people out there suffering from the same thing.

Just wanted to ask everyone (and hopefully help you) if you have checked any of your hormone levels , specifically cortisole ( the stress hormone ) and also thyroid hormones as well as testosterone/estrogen. I will explain why I am asking shortly.

My SOB started about 4 years ago when I also tested positive for PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome - increased androgens in women which affect our period).
Initially, the SOB came and went. First year, I had for some days here and there. I also had some trouble burping here and there, like the burp wouldn't come out. Second year, SOB for a week or two here and there. Third year, I got severely sick for about a month with some sort of gastroenteritis which stressed the hell out of me and after that the SOB is constantly around with some days just being better than others. I also can't finish yawns and manage to take a deep breath in 1 out of 4.
I have been stressed a lot in the past ten years. I had panic attacks just by drinking a lot of coffee and energy drinks around the exams period in uni. So it makes sense to me that all this could be because of accumulated stress.

I was just looking at some old blood tests of mine and I stumbled upon one that I had 4 years ago when I was undergoing all these tests to check for PCOS. It seems that my cortisol was a bit elevated, above the normal range. I was pretty sure then my lack of period was because of stress as I had just lost my dad, and I always had problems with my period when stressed. I never had insulin resistance or inflammation to blame for my PCOS, like other women do. So maybe that could have been the first sign for me.
Now I was on the pill for about 2 years and going on and off of it gave me some fluctuations on my SOB as there is some correlation between cortisol and estrogen.

Now I know this isn't the case for everyone but maybe a cortisol test could help as it affects our flight or fight response and consequently SOB.

Having being tested by 4 Pulmonologists (3 spirometries), 1 Cardiologist, 2 Pathologists, 1 Gastroenterologist ( I even had 1 gastroscopy as I was told initially that my symptoms were due to GERD as many of you - came out clear , no damage to esophagus or anywhere else) and 1 endocrinologist throughout these years, apart from having PCOS (high androgens and recently some thyroid nodules) all my blood tests are beyond great and healthy. I am now very sure that this is because of anxiety.

I have measured my blood sugar many times, I have measured my blood pressure, my pulse, my oxygen saturation, even my saturation while working out (always above 96!). Even though it's difficult for me to work out I have noticed that my breathing is kinda better sometimes while dancing(!). So considering my tests, readings and not getting any worse I assume it's not heart or lungs.

The last pulmonologist I visited said that a lot of people, and particularly young people, had similar feeling of SOB after COVID. He told me that if it was asthma I wouldn't have the feeling ALL day but it would just come and go. Trying an inhaler didn't help either. When I left his office I was really calm and the SOB had gone away for some weeks. I was really happy. Then I went to the gym and overexerted myself and it came back (maybe cortisol rise?)
Cardiologist said I wouldn't be able to do the slightest at the gym if it was heart, but even though I had SOB I dint feel tired lifting weights or anything.
My pathologist was the first one to tell me it was anxiety and that I should drop taking Omeprazole and other medicine for GERD as I had none of it. Am so glad I listened to her as she was right and I was missing on so much great food for so long.

Am kinda ashamed of having been through all that but I really hope that this can help someone else to skip dragging oneself through this suffering and seek the right help.