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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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Hi @jasullivan3, sorry about what you're going through. Did this come on suddenly? Anything you think happened that could've caused the onset of symptoms?
For your tests have you gotten a lung function test done?
I definitely hope that this isn't going to be your life going forward either. While it was a struggle for me for some time, I've been able to manage the symptoms and live a normal life though the issue hasn't gone away completely. It does seem to be improve little by little as time goes by.
It sounds like you started with your primary care doctor, which is a good place to start. Then from there, they order tests or recommend specialists for further evaluation. I had multiple tests done myself early on and most everything came back normal. If the breathing issue persists, that's when I would look into what other tests could be done until you've done all the tests you can do.
It's definitely a large thread with lots of responses from people. Some people have come to a solution for theirs, others deal with it still, and some others have done various things to improve the condition. If you have time, it would be worth it to skim through a few pages of the comments to see what others have said. There's probably too many to get through each comment/page, but at least skimming through a few might give you some ideas.
Thank you for your quick response. I've reviewed all the comments and really appreciate this forum.
This happened following an upper respiratory infection, possibly Covid, although my test results were negative. However, I did experience a loss of taste and smell for over a week.
Initially, I suspected asthma, but I quickly realized it was unrelated. My primary care doctor, leaning towards asthma, prescribed steroids, which unfortunately made the SOB come on worse.
I then saw a pulmonologist who conducted a lung function test ruling out asthma, COPD, and other common respiratory issues. She couldn't definitively diagnose but suggested possibilities such as an allergic reaction or anxiety. I don't experience frequent anxiety, and the symptoms don't fluctuate. My sleep is fine, and mornings are generally symptom-free. The SOB tends to come on toward the day's end. Interestingly, two of my siblings have encountered similar issues—one persisting for years, while the other's symptoms went away after a few weeks.
I appreciate your insights. I'm currently seeking a specialist at a major hospital in Chicago, but my search has been somewhat challenging. Any suggestions for what type of specialist to see? From reading these forums it does appear that this does become more manageable which is good to hear..
Hi, I developed shortness of breath after having Covid Twice last yr ,It's mostly on exertions ,but I have Had a sleep study and sleep with a CPAP every night,but due to a career of 24 yrs Welding I also have Asbestos in my lower lungs,so I have a great lung Dr here in South Carolina and he is now trying something he told Mayo Has researched,which is 30 days Azithromycin 1 Daily,for 30 day periods I just started this so we will see if it helps my lung infections and shortness of Breath .
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1 ReactionHello All,
I have been following this post for over a year and finally decided to comment in hopes that we can figure out what's causing this annoying symptom.
I first experienced this problem back in March 2021. I was in bed watching a movie when I felt the need to take a deep breath/yawn. I remember not being able to complete the yawn since it would get stuck at the last part . I didn't pay much attention to it but felt the need to yawn again a few moments later. The same thing repeated until I was able to get a deep breath. I assumed it was over once I took a deep breath, however, I had the same feeling of taking another deep breath a few moments later. It was a long night followed by my first panic attack. I remember laying in bed until I was finally able to fall asleep. The next morning I woke up and the feeling of taking a deep breath was still there. I tried to distract myself with work, but the feeling would not go away. I was so desperate that I asked my wife to drive me to the ER in hopes that they could sedate me and force me to sleep. Once I got to the Hospital, the nurse ran some blood tests and everything came back good. They mentioned that it was probably anxiety causing the urge to take a deep breath and prescribed me a low dose of Lorazepam. I don't know if it was the effect of the medication or how my body reacted to the panic attack, but I shut down. I didn't feel like doing anything and was just in bed for a week. I was also not able to eat without feeling nauseous. I felt numb during that time, but the feeling of taking a deep breath was still there. I decided to stop taking the medicine since I assumed that my low energy and depressed mood were a side effect of the medicine. I started using over-the-counter options instead to help with the anxiety that the panic attacks have created. However, the over-the-counter options were not as good since anything that would affect my breathing would trigger a medium-sized panic attack. I also started seeing a psychiatrist who recommended me to a Panic Group. The Panic Group helped me learn a few tricks to keep the panic attacks away. I managed to not have a panic attach for a few months, but the feeling of taking a deep breath was there daily, some days better than others. The feeling is not there when I'm busy doing something, but it comes back when I have time to think. For some reason, it's always there when I'm stuck in traffic, when I sit down to eat, or when I lay in bed at night. Not overwhelming, but it is there.
In August of 2022, I had another panic attack after dealing with the feeling of taking a deep breath constantly for two days. I had stopped taking my over-the-counter medicine for anxiety a month before the panic attack, so I believe that was on me. I started taking teas every day which is supposed to help with stress and anxiety. I have not had another panic attack after this one, but the feeling of taking a deep breath is still there.
For some time I believe this issue was caused by anxiety since both times that I felt the worse, I was going through some stressful times at work. The first time I experienced the issue, my department had just been outsourced and my senior techs had quit since they were not happy with the company's decision. Our new company brought in new people with no experience which required some time to train. The second time that I had the feeling of taking a deep breath every few minutes which caused the panic attack, I received news that our already short staff was going to be reduced more. However, I'm not so convinced it's caused by anxiety anymore since things at work have been more stable. I have also been taking time off to disconnect from work and go on road trips with my family, but the feeling of taking a deep breath is still there.
The main reason why I no longer think it may be anxiety is that I have noticed that the symptom feels worse when I eat junk food or red meat a few days in a row. I feel the need to take a deep breath more often than "normal" if I don't pay attention to my diet.
I have been comparing the bad days with the first time that I experienced the issue and I have noticed the following.
- I am overweight. 182 then, 160 now.
- I do not take care of my diet. I was eating lots of junk food during the pandemic which is why I gained so much weight. I also stop paying attention to my diet on the good days or weekends.
- My bad days seem to always be a Monday or Tuesday. I'm guessing due to all the junk I ate during the weekend.
- Bad days seem to happen when I'm dealing with constipation, which is often lately. I often need to burp too.
Based on the things that I have noticed, I believe my problem could be related to my stomach. Maybe GERD?
I did try to use some supplements to clean my colon a while back when I had not been able to use the restroom for a couple of days. I only used the supplement one time since my stomach ached and had to constantly use the restroom while at work. However, I do recall that the shortness of breath was 90% to 95% controlled the next day or two. I didn't think much of it at the time since I tend to ignore things when they are not bothering me.
I decided to try the supplements again to clean my colon since I have been dealing with constipation since the weekend. I have also needed to take deep breaths constantly since Monday. I think this will be a good time to try it and see if it actually helps. I'm planning to do the whole 15 days as mentioned on the bottle this time. I will update this post in a few days to confirm if it's helping me.
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1 ReactionYour sudden onset sounds a lot like mine. I wrote a whole article about it but I haven't posted it anywhere. If you're interested, I can message you.
I don't have a solution yet but I am working on one.
I mentioned LNB before on this thread, not sure how many people saw it but this is the closest I have found to a solution to this issue.
Have you thought about meditation?
The breath is the connection between the body and the soul xox.
I would love to read your article. I saw the video as well and I have to agree, it makes a lot of sense. I’m looking forward to reading your article. Thank you!
Thank you so much for posting this. I would also love to read your article.
It sounds like it's possible that it could've been caused by getting Covid, but not for certain. I've heard of something called "long Covid" where some the symptoms either linger for a long time after the onset of initial symptoms or it leads to other symptoms that linger over the long term.
Yes I believe there are many ways to deal with the issue and improve it over time, and maybe even eliminate it.
Have you been able to exercise or do you normally exercise and how does the breathing issue affect that?
@dcasta1, your situation sounds like mine from years ago when my breathing issue first came about. The panic attacks are definitely not fun. There were times it was bad and it triggered the feeling of panic so I had to learn how to calm down and deal with those.
I'm glad you were able to learn some things to keep the panic at bay. Have you looked into breathing exercises? As were a lurker in this thread, were you able to read about any breathing methods mentioned here? The one I always recommend is the Buteyko breathing method. There are a few people who teach it, but out of everything I've done, this breathing method is what helped me the most. It helped the air hunger go away completely for a couple of years early on when mine first came up, but I still use it today to keep the air hunger at bay. I especially learned "rescue exercises" which helped if I felt a panic attack coming on.
I've been able to do physical exercise which has also helped with the breathing greatly. Are you involved in any sort of exercise routine?
You mentioned about a possible link between your diet and air hunger symptoms. Sometimes eating a lot of food or eating heavier foods can cause some interference with the diaphragm, which could exacerbate the underlying air hunger. It does the same thing for me; if I eat too much I find it more difficult to breathe, so early on when I was looking for ways to manage symptoms I would eat smaller meals spread throughout the day or fast for hours in the day or a few days. That seemed to help me a bit.