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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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I have this. I'm 38, RN, and have had this happening for years on and off. For me, it's a psychological breathing disorder. I too would feel this uncomfortable sensation in my chest that begs for a deep, satisfying breath. But giving into that need only causes too much oxygen to enter the blood and in response: an increase of CO2 output. Low CO2 levels in the blood cause this to become a vicious cycle- we need this in the proper amounts. And the more deep breaths I allow myself to take, the faster the whole cycle can begin again, even after feeling normal for a time. More deep breaths cause more air hunger because your body knows exactly how it needs to breathe and you must let it autonomically do this or the blood gasses destabilize. Blood chemistries aren't alarming, but I wonder what your blood gasses would look like when you're really having a hard time. When I feel that need to take a deep breath, I do, but then I wait a few seconds before inhaling again to allow the CO2 levels to go back up. Then I tell myself, I'm not doing this, and distract myself so that my body can resume its natural breathing. And it leaves me alone for the most part. But it's there, sometimes flaring up yet I have control of it now that I understand it.
I'm really glad to see I'm not alone, thank you so much for your post! Let me know how you're doing and I hope this helps some.
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1 ReactionHello
I know these comments are from 2019 but I recently came across them and I have the same symptoms! I am constantly hungry for air and feel the need to yawn or take very deep breath to satisfy my needs for air!
I went to the doctors and everything came back 100% okay and I do not have asthma.
I was wondering if everyone has found a solution to this?
Thanks in advance
I am 28 years old and I'm having the same problem. It happens on and off can last for weeks, couple days, a month. I would say it's been going on for probably at least six or seven years maybe even longer.
Like I read that someone said it's shortness of breath accompanied by yawning or sighing or even feeling the need to burp sometimes I guess to try to get air, I'm not sure.
When I try to take a deep breath it's like I can feel my chest getting really tight right before a deep breath would happen and then it doesn't happen. After a while of trying and not being able to get a deep breath it starts to really starts to become an issue. If I do any kind of work or physical activity while this is happening after like 10 minutes I feel exhausted and like I need to take a break and of course yawn and try to take a deep breath but I just feel completely wore out and of course, out of breath. I don't know how else to explain it. If I'm doing something physical then I feel like it kind of helps me keep my mind off of it so it's not as bad but it still continues to happen. But then if I like lay down or sit down for a long period of time I feel like I focus on it more and it makes it even worse and it makes me want to freak out. If I lay down it makes it even harder to try to believe because I feel like my chest is heavier or something. This it has happened continuously for long enough that I've went into full-blown panic attacks on multiple occasions.
I don't have allergies I don't have acid reflux I don't have gerd I don't have sinus problems or anything like that. And I do have depression and anxiety but I feel like for some reason it might not be the case. Cuz it happens even when I'm taking my medication. But I feel like even if it was the case it would only happen when I'm having an anxiety or panic attack or maybe hours prior to that or hours after.
Thank you for caring and sharing. I'l check it out. Happy New Year
Hi @judiesears, I'm sorry to hear about the stresses you have going on. I'm confident you guys will get through all this and will turn out ok. You're in my thoughts and prayers.
There are a couple discussions related to LPR that might be helpful that should have information that might be able to help you;
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gerd-my-story/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mucus-in-throat-but-lungs-and-sinuses-clear/
I think there are people who are going through something similar that may have insight on treatments and what medication is helping.
I know I am under a tremendous amount of stress and the triggers are many including a husband fighting cancer that can only be managed and having to work with lengthy responses for help, plus running out of time to find a place to live. We are running out of money and live in an area a long way from health and cancer clinics There are other stresses as well. I have lpr and want to know if it can last as long as my stress does? I live in Ontario Canada and cannot qualify for assistance with living accommodation or financial assistance. My husband's cancer will accelerate if he worries about me. All this to ask if lpr can last as long as my stress factors? I am already on numerous prescriptions and prefer to minimize new prescriptions or time on them. Can you suggest a medical method for treatment?
I really know how you feel as I have suffered with this a lot in my life. Thankfully I don't get it a lot these days as I discovered what caused it for me just from keeping track of what I eat. I did lots of food allergy tests and they were all negative. I know that my SOB is from food, especially soya, preservatives and sulfites.
About 12 years ago I took some Omega 3 capsules, every day for a couple of weeks, I then noticed that I was feeling more anxious, very short of breath, inhalor didn't work and could feel the adrenaline flowing though my body. I could barely walk I had to bring my mother from overseas to help me with the kids. I stopped taking the Omega 3's and over the next few weeks the symptoms went away and the anxiety stopped. One thing stayed with me though and it was shortness of breath, it was so bad I felt like I had half the lung capacity and I couldn't do even the slightest exercise or walk fast. After a few weeks of this I decided to look at what I was eating. I was eating these crackers every day which had soya flour and sulftes in them. I cut out soya (oil/protein/Lecithin) completely and within 3 days my SOB thank G-d was gone! I had 100% lung capacity and that feeling of not enough air dissapeared. So on the rare occasion I'll eat a bar of chocolate without checking for soya protein and I'll feel like I have SOB. It's not asthma, I don't wheeze, its that my lung muscles feel tight and I cant get a full breath. This lasts for and hour or 2 until it wears off. I really suggest to everyone here, keep a food diary for few weeks. Write down everything you eat and write down when you feel SOB. It could be preservatives, sulfites, soy, dairy anything!!!! Read all the ingredients including the e-numbers. Look for a pattern. I think for me is that the Omega 3 was in base of soya oil, and my body reacted to it in a certain way and then from then on it trigged a reaction when I ate some. Hope this helps someone!
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1 ReactionPlease have an X-RAY or MRI done of your spine. I had a pinched nerve causing my particular breathing problem.
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1 ReactionHi @roberto9319, thank you for sharing your story. I've had my air hunger for about 10 years as well. I know what you mean about going to bed. I've noticed that I tend to focus on the air hunger more when I'm trying to sleep and it seems to be worse if I'm lying down. So now I start my night sleeping sitting up in a recliner then move to the bed when I know I can fall asleep quickly. I've learned to live with it, but doing breathing exercises and physical exercise definitely helps to keep symptoms at bay. So I can live a normal life, just not do certain things like high level physical exercise or climbing up long flights of stairs. Things like that where if I push myself too hard, then I really feel extreme air hunger.
Definitely let me know how your treatment goes! It's always good to hear from others how things are going with them and how various treatments affect symptoms. I hope that the treatment helps you.
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1 ReactionHey @yessir321, I'm glad you haven't lost faith. I think it's paramount to keep up hope and keep searching for answers especially for a mysterious condition. I know it makes you sad that symptoms could come up, but I encourage you to remain optimistic that there are solutions that will keep symptoms at bay. Mine comes and goes throughout the year, but am still able to maintain a normal life despite the symptoms increasing a little bit. But there's the knowledge that they will come back down.
As far as mistakes, I would say the only mistake I made or the thing I wish I would've done was to keep up the breathing exercises and physical exercise even when the symptoms were pretty much gone. Early on back in 2014, I thought of Buteyko as a bandaid and not something I needed to keep up with, so when the air hunger came back then, it came back with a vengeance and was more difficult each time to get rid of. So now I'm stuck with it, but it is at least mild most of the time except for when my sinuses are bothering me. I wonder if the air hunger would never have returned had I kept up with regular exercise and breathing exercises.
A lot of variables can affect breathing, such as how much you exercise, your diet and lifestyle, how you respond to stress, etc. So I think there are many things to consider when trying to get rid of the symptoms, like improving the diet, exercising more, finding ways to positively respond to stress and keep a positive mindset. But it seems like you're keeping on top of it the best you can. How's your physical exercise routine? I think this is an important aspect of Buteyko; moderate exercise with controlled breathing.
Thank you for sharing your story and let me know how you progress.