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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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had it for 10 years now. i'm ready to live with it knowing i can pop myself in the head if it ever gets really bad. oh well.
hey. i hope you see this. although it wont be helpful. i just wanted to say that i have the same thing and it's been 10 years now since it started. i am resigned to living with it. i can get through the day just fine with all the distractions, going to bed is the scary part...when its just me and my thoughts. i went to one doctor that told me it is a "chest cramp" he gave me a medication and a chest ointment but i did it for 4 days and stopped cause it seemed pointless...if you see this message. try and get back to me. i am going back to the doctor to try the treatement for good this time. if it works i'd like to tell you about it.
i know a lot of people say "i know how you feel" when they actually don't, but you described exactly what i've been living with for the last 10 years. all i can say is to be strong. accept it for now. you wont die. it cant kill you. it's just uncomfortable.
Bro you were my inspiration I saw your video talking about buteyko. Buteyko kept me perfect for months but it came back two weeks ago. I was trying to find you on Facebook to ask you what your mistakes were that the SOB returned. I haven’t lost faith, I know hvs is the cause and buteyko is the cure, I think though the body goes through old symptoms at certain Cp levels. It makes me sad to know that I might never be rid of this all year round. But we both know what buteyko can do, feeling no sob for months. I’m going to talk to buteyko teachers soon, but I’ve seen buteyko rebound mentioned where the body wants to get rid of C02 so it gives you a feeling it knows will cause you to take deep breaths be that headaches, anxiety, feeling unwell, or for us SOB. I felt this return of symptoms after a day of doing the most buteyko ever, stayed for a week until I stopped doing buteyko and breathing heavy through nose my nose felt quite stuffy but I didn’t feel the sob. Came back though I believe it’s from a reaction of change in the body, and such changes in c02 happens so much when you are an overbreather your C02 will go very low to low. And that causes you to breathe more which puts you in an endless cycle of a few hours or moments of complete relief until you breathe more. If I can get your name on a different platform id really like to keep in touch, be that reddit or discord (both have a huge buteyko community). Any advice also to get rid of your returns of sob
Have your spine checked for bulging discs perhaps? I had a breathing problem due to that. Good luck
Hi! Sorry about the delay. I haven't checked this forum in a while
Let me send you the link again. I am still in that program and I am doing a bit better but it does take time and patience. The big key is that the breathing issue is a learned/sub-conscious breathing pattern that isn't correct. He calls it an interference. Alexander (who came up with the Alexander Technique) also calls it that. And this interference leads to this need to take a deep breath and a sensation of breathlessness. So the whole course is intended to use the mind's eye (visualization) to release tension in the areas that lead to the breathlessness. But you will learn to release tension in your body as a whole. It's a very relaxing practice called constructive rest. The big key is that when you are super focused on something, the sensation goes away. That is huge and it makes sense that it is something that I am doing that is causing the breathing issue. Unfortunately, what we do is very sub-conscious and in order to reverse it, we need to become aware of the habits and interferences and undo them. Anyway, that's a summary. So far it is helping a little, but something makes me think this is the solution to my problem personally. It checks most of the boxes.
https://www.simonspire.com/breathing
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1 ReactionAbout a month ago my breathing all of a sudden became worse. Nothing helped except lying down when it would return to normal. I have since gone on oxygen but not all the time. I only use it after exertion (cleaning, cooking) and don't need it sleeping. I am hoping to ween myself off, if I can. Here in Canada the government pays for this service. I am hoping my doctor has some answers for me after my scope in January. Good luck and Merry Christmas!
@edgarc, thank you for sharing! I am glad that you are improving and have found what effects you. Knowing this, you can work in the cause and continue to improve. I'm sure many people will benefit from your story and seek to find if it's GI related. I too had an endoscopy done years ago and found I had GERD so I continue to treat that daily.
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2 ReactionsHi @goran, Yup sounds pretty similar to what I went through. Though now I seem to have the symptoms at bay for the most part. It's always there to some degree but it's fairly mild and manageable from day to day.
When you exercise it seems you push yourself pretty hard. At the end of 2017, I was also running pretty hard and had an episode where I couldn't catch a deep breath while running and it has remained ever since. So now I do mild to moderate exercise with controlled nasal breathing.
Do you breathe through your mouth a lot? Whether during exercise, at night, while resting, etc. I had to learn to nasal breathe all throughout the day and during any activity. When this all started for me, my O2 levels were also 100%. When I realized I was overbreathing, breathing through my mouth and trying hard to get deep breaths, I surmised that this reflected in my O2 levels when they read 100%. When I learned to slow and calm my breathing and learned nasal breathing, my O2 levels dropped to around 93-95% which is normal for me.
Are you aware of any other health issues or anything going on such as GI issues, allergies, nutrient deficiencies, etc.?
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2 Reactionshi Goran. do u have a pulse oximeter to actually check ur PO. I've had the extreme shortness of breath just moving around in our one story house. when I was sitting inbetween activities I would desat to hi 80s. even happened at pulmonologist office with no concern from them. I finally read all the hard copies of my chest xrays since 2016 and thecommon thread was some mild atelectasis in the base which has only increased thru the years. my PFTs are normal..... after using an 02 ring i am now using 02 24/7 as it and sleep study showed desats to 79% and also 80s during the day. since I started 02 I can move about the house, go up stairs, ride my bike and walk the dog. I have more energy and my BP has come down too! it's so frustrating when drs aren't listening or following up on things.
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1 ReactionGuys please make sure the gastro puts a long camera thing down your throat, I was awake, but I do know some sleep you, please do not settle for just opening your mouth. The first gastro just told me "open wide" said nothing blocking airways And gave me an allergy spray called Flonase it has another name but that's also what it's called. please rule LPR out.
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