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Anxiety or copd

Posted , 3 users are following.

helen09754
helen09754

Hi all,

After having a hysterectomy last year I have been experiencing terrible air hunger and it's getting worse to the point it's happening all day everyday. I have been excessively yawning to get more air.

I now have a pain in my sides.

I am a smoker, I run daily and am pretty fit.

Are these symptoms sounding like anxiety or copd I'm panicking

Any advice very much appreciated... thank you x

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • jane75220
    jane75220 helen09754

    Posted

    Are you taking HRT?
    • helen09754
      helen09754 jane75220

      Posted

      Hi Jane,

      Yes I was put straight into hrt as I had a surgical menopause and was told I would need to take it till I'm 50. I did go to the doctors once and she told me anxiety was a symptom of hrt. It's however gotten much worse since then.

    • jane75220
      jane75220 helen09754

      Posted

      Helen I was put on hrt and it had to be discontinued due to blood clots.It is no use my hiding that . You need to be checked out thoroughly.
    • helen09754
      helen09754 jane75220

      Posted

      Wow Jane, that's something I guess I should look into. I've made a appointment to see a doctor end of week. I'm taking 2mg elleste solo as hrt. It seems strange that all this anxiety or whatever it seems to be that I'm suffering with, seems to have started whilst being on the hrt.

    • jane75220
      jane75220 helen09754

      Posted

      I agree. 

      It needs checking out. The tests done are a D Dimer plus ctpa lung scan.May be different if you are in the US.

      However if you have an increase in blood pressure, leg heaviness or pains, any headaches then hrt should be discontinued immediately if not before!!

       

    • jane75220
      jane75220 helen09754

      Posted

      Helen Have you read the PIL, Patient Information Leaflet on this drug. There is a warning about breathlessness.

      ​Perhaps your GP will discontinue this drug?

    • helen09754
      helen09754 jane75220

      Posted

      Yes I have Jane and it does say that it can cause anxiety.

      When I seen her about it a while back when I had a few symptoms she was reluctant to change the hrt to another as apart from anxiety it was working. I do feel now though that it's got so much worse since then to the point it's making lay life a misery. I'm wondering also if I have pain in my sides because of my struggling with the over breathing.

    • jane75220
      jane75220 helen09754

      Posted

      Helen I think that you know that you have to chase this one up. The overbreathing needs investigating. You know the trap of blaming everything on anxiety. How does anyone know without checks.
    • jane75220
      jane75220 helen09754

      Posted

      even causing or exacerbating anxiety are grounds for stopping the drug. Anxiety is crippling .
    • helen09754
      helen09754 jane75220

      Posted

      Yes Jane you're right. I know I need this investigating I can't go on like this. I am supposed to be going out with a friend this evening and am already trying to think of excuses to cancel as my breathing is awful today. It's affecting my life now so the sooner I see the doctor the better. I guess I'm worrying as I'm unsure as to what they will say.

    • jane75220
      jane75220 helen09754

      Posted

      I understand but you  need to get this sorted outmas an urgeency. If you go to a and e they should arrange a scan for you. If you do not want to go there try a private hospital with a walk in centre . Are u in the UK or the US?
    • jane75220
      jane75220 helen09754

      Posted

      when did you start taking the hrt?

      Please ring 111 if in UK.

    • helen09754
      helen09754 jane75220

      Posted

      I am in the U.K. Jane. I started the hrt in April but the air hunger type breathing has been getting much worse the last couple weeks
    • jane75220
      jane75220 helen09754

      Posted

      You definitely need to go to a and e or a walk in clinic if you can afford it , you need a dr who is listening to you.

       

  • jill67883
    jill67883 helen09754

    Posted

    If you're jogging then you need to think about what is happening with this "air hunger".  If you had a true medical condition, I don't think you could jog!  It is definitely NOT COPD, you can barely walk let alone run with COPD.  Pain in your sides could be muscle related due to what you are doing to "get air".  BUT, having said all this, with these symptoms you should probably see your Dr. about this.  Meanwhile, try to calm down.  When you find yourself starving for air, take a deep breath and then let the air out of your lungs through pursed lips while counting.  Try to increase the "count" number as you do this.  If this is psychological, that will help.

    • helen09754
      helen09754 jill67883

      Posted

      Hi Jill,

      Thank you for reply and advice.

      My grandfather had copd many years ago I'm not sure it's genetic or not.

      As I can run without getting out of breath I hadn't thought it anything like copd before but just wondered if it starts as mild then maybe gets progressively worse?

      I've been trying some breathing excercises and yoga and also cut out caffeine.

      I am very grateful for your advice and taking the time to reply. I will call gp today to arrange an appointment.

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