Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?

Posted by Gabe, Volunteer Mentor @gabrielm, May 31, 2018

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.

@metonya

Did this work for you? Also what is Jar-Vacuum system?

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@noxext - I am also wondering what the jar-vacuum system is. I've googled this term and searched on you tube but could not find anything about it. Is this something that you were told to do by your doctor? Is it done at home or do you have to be hospitalized? Or is this the exercise to help firm up your stomach to help support your diaphragm?

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@bbspore12

Has anyone found a link between your shortness of breath and GERD?

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connection is your stomach position which can be too low or too high *in my case was too high which was bad for my diaphragm

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@merpreb

@noxext - I am also wondering what the jar-vacuum system is. I've googled this term and searched on you tube but could not find anything about it. Is this something that you were told to do by your doctor? Is it done at home or do you have to be hospitalized? Or is this the exercise to help firm up your stomach to help support your diaphragm?

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hey Merry, it is technique mostly used by old women's which learn that from their mothers generation by generation. They are doing twice in 3 days without any charge since they consider it as a gift from God. You can pay if you want but noone force you.
I sent you link on private message and also I mentioned in my post that I doubt that anyone know to do it in USA. As soon as they finish you feel relief and It's not painful at all. I saw couple youtube videos where people shows how to do it by urself but didn't try it. You must search on my language if you want I will send you on pm.
Also old women told me that I can not raise my hands above my head next couple days, to avoid at all cost anything heavy *which is probably cause of my hiatus hernia* and to avoid stretching.

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@abidaisl

I'm glad you found a solution!

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I feel your pain mate.
about breathing in my case it was hyperventilation so you must force urself to breath in as much as you can, then hold your breath as much as you can (for example I can do it 30 seconds, regular is maybe 10 seconds keep doing it, in time you will improve ur time very fast) and breathe out. You will see immediate improvements in less and less need to take a deep breath to feel the whole cycle of breathing . I already write in my previous post try on youtube austin goh it is very nice explained and easy to do it.
Also you can try to mediate. Think something nice when you breath in and think on something unpleasant when you breath out. For example beautiful sunbeams and grey smoke.
Dont forget to check do you breath normal. Lay down put one hand on stomach and one on chest. Breath in and check, if you are stomach is raising you are good, if chests you must teach urself to do it by ur stomach.

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I just got a full endoscopy and colonoscopy... will update on here. The only thing I noticed that makes breathing worse is stimulants

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@noxext

hey Merry, it is technique mostly used by old women's which learn that from their mothers generation by generation. They are doing twice in 3 days without any charge since they consider it as a gift from God. You can pay if you want but noone force you.
I sent you link on private message and also I mentioned in my post that I doubt that anyone know to do it in USA. As soon as they finish you feel relief and It's not painful at all. I saw couple youtube videos where people shows how to do it by urself but didn't try it. You must search on my language if you want I will send you on pm.
Also old women told me that I can not raise my hands above my head next couple days, to avoid at all cost anything heavy *which is probably cause of my hiatus hernia* and to avoid stretching.

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@noxext- Thank you for posting this explanation. At Connect we advocate science-based medicine. But I am glad that this worked for you. I think that posture, especially as I get older goes to pot along with some extra weight. We should not forget this to help with better breathing

Are you still having it done?

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@ecassidymitchell

I just got a full endoscopy and colonoscopy... will update on here. The only thing I noticed that makes breathing worse is stimulants

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@ecassidymitchell- What do you mean by stimulants, your environment, your mood, or medicine?

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@jenniferhunter

@felicityr I would like to offer some observations in my own experience and things that are easily overlooked that relate to breathing issues. I am a Mayo surgical patient. I have allergies and asthma and a physical problem that affects breathing because of thoracic outlet syndrome. I had a whiplash injury about 20 years ago and worked a high stress desk job. I developed TOS, but it was unrecognized for a long time. I had neck stiffness for years and eventually C5/C6 ruptured and collapsed with an osteophyte complex pressing into my spinal cord. I came to Mayo for spine surgery. I had been working with a physical therapist for several years before the spine problem was evident and continued again after recovery from surgery. My PT does myofascial release and has shown me how to self treat and I do. My pattern of fascial tightness is from the left side of my jaw and neck, through my chest and rib cage and into the left side of my pelvis. All of that affects my ability to properly move my ribs enough on the left side and can pull my pelvis out of alignment, and I was getting a repeating pattern of chest infections because of trapped phlegm. Stress can cause more tightness in these affected muscles. I have made a lot of progress, and I think my chest movements are better now. Previously, I have had muscle spasms that start in the neck and go into the chest near the sternum that can cause my heart to jump a little bit, but stretching out these spasms manually resolves this. The first time I experienced this, I was evaluated at the emergency room and found to have a chest infection, but no heart problems.

Recently, I also realized how much dental issues were affecting my breathing and the amount of phlegm that was my baseline. I have been doing allergy shots compounded specifically for me by my doctor for several years. I had the old silver amalgam dental fillings removed and replaced which improved my thyroid function. I have hashimoto's and the blood tests could not measure the level of antibodies because it was off the charts. After the fillings were gone, the blood tests could accurately measure the antibodies which were low, but still present, and my dosages of desiccated pig thyroid could be reduced.

As a kid, i broke my teeth which had resulted in a lot of dental work over the years with 4 root canals, crowns and bridgework. One of the root canals failed after my spine surgery, and the infection ate a hole in my jaw bone. I thought it was sinus problems, and it progressed pretty far before I realized what was happening. An oral surgeon cleared out he infection to save the tooth which was about a year after my spine surgery. Recently, a second of the root canals began failing and I realized this was just going to continue with the affected teeth. I made the decision to have the 4 teeth extracted in preparation for dental implants that will be bio-compatible zirconia. As soon as all of the root canal teeth were removed, I could breathe much easier, and my baseline of excess phlegm wasn't there any more. I still am affected by allergies and asthma, but not as badly, and I can get it under control much faster and get my lungs clear. I breathe at a slower rate now as my norm.

I mention this because physical problems in breathing are easily missed and a lot of doctors are unfamiliar with the benefits of myofascial release therapy which gets tissues re-hydrated and moving properly. No one ever questioned how a dental infection could impact chest congestion. TOS is aggravated by poor posture which tightens the front of the chest and the scapula wing out instead of staying where they belong and tight muscles tend to pull up on the first ribs holding them there. My pattern of breathing wrong is to try to use my neck and upper chest muscle rather than the diaphragm, and doing that does increase anxiety. I am one of those patients who likes to figure out how things work and I read medical information. My parents wanted me to be a doctor and I earned a pre med biology degree, but I chose not to go into medicine and I worked in research instead for awhile. When I came to Mayo for spine surgery it was after I found medical literature with cases similar to mine. All of the local surgeons who evaluated me missed understanding the problem and would not help me.

Here are some links that may be of interest and my patient story.

https://www.painscience.com/articles/respiration-connection.php
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
https://mskneurology.com/how-truly-treat-thoracic-outlet-syndrome/ (there are lots of good articles on this website)
https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2019/01/09/using-the-art-of-medicine-to-overcome-fear-of-surgery/

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Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for sharing this. You have been through a lot and figured out some important things.
I appreciate your links too, especially the one regarding myofascial release.
Some years ago I found a breathing specialist and while I have put in place the breathing methods and exercises and they have helped, I don't feel they have sorted the underlying problem that I have with my "clicky breathing".
One of the most important things I realised, many years ago, was that I was a mouth breather.
My symptoms were "blamed" by a respiratory physician, on mouth breathing so I went home, shut my mouth and breathed through my nose from that day on. The first few weeks were hell but I adjusted and now cannot imagine breathing through my mouth - it just feels wrong (and having a blocked nose during a cold is awful because it forces me to mouth breathe)
Unfortunately however, nose breathing did nothing to solve my "clicky breathing" problem.
Like you, it is important for me to find answers that make sense to me given my experiences and circumstances.
All the best. FelicityR

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@tonyagregg

30 years ago did you see a doctor and blood test taken? If so, what did they diagnose you with? I have notice my breathing is rapid and shallow and some days i am constantly trying to take a deep satisfying breath. I am so tired of feeling this way. I am going back to the doctor next week for more test.

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Hello guys...m going through the exact same problem since a month now...turns out its because i started breathing from the chest...doing some belly breathing exercises helps alot...i started yesterday and already noticing the difference...the thing is breathing from the chest doesn't let you take enough oxygen... google "belly breathing vs chest breathing"...do some rnd ... you'll get it. Hope this helps

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@artheadshubham- Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Yes, I agree, belly breathing fills up both upper and lower lungs. Being able to breathe in more air is as important than exhaling Co2. Do you have any idea why yours began?

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