Breathing problems only better when lying down!
Posted , 67 users are following.
I have suffered with asthma for decades and from infancy - before the invention of Ventolin! My asthma is accompanied by noisy wheezing and only alleviated by using medicines and sitting backwards on an upright dining chair and leaning over the back of it. My asthma has historically never lasted more than 2-3 days and has become much better after being prescribed Symbicort inhalers a couple of years ago.
Recently however, I have been getting symptoms of breathlessness and coughing, with NO wheezing. This only gets better when I lie down flat! My asthma medication does not help, nor a course of antibiotics in case it was a chest infection. My doctor keeps saying it is probably my asthma but I have never experienced this before. It is lasting for weeks at a time and I am worn out! Help
2 likes, 116 replies
sully58 minimemo
Posted
after 5 years I still have the same problem however the severity is more mild than it use to be. I do think I got some relief after i received a couple of heart stents sooooo, maybe its my heart and not m to lungs?
dave50473 minimemo
Posted
i have similar issues. ive been misdiagnosed twice and im tired of wasting money on doctors who dont have a clue. i get relief if i hunch forward over a couch arm . very weird. i used to get relief from certain stretches but that is becoming less helpful. i do have one leg which is about an inch shorter than the other and i think everything is slanted. muscles could be twisted and squishing nerves but i was ok for 35 years?? a few months ago i got that balloon feeling in my chest and neck as if i was gonna blow up. also thought about hyperbaric oxygen therapy but its hard to get in because its usually for burn victims. anyome try it or have access to it?
saoirse43378 dave50473
Posted
Hi Dave,
Have you been checked for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome?
I have posted about this further along in the thread if you are interested.
the feeling that your neck is going to blow up may be indicative of a surge in blood pressure such as in Hyperadrenergic POTS also.
I hope you feel better and find your answers.
d15909 minimemo
Edited
I'm glad to see this thread on here. I'm about to lose my mind. I've never been to the doctor so much in my life. I had a couple flare ups last year that lasted a week or so. Then about 6 months ago it started again and has not gone away. One thing though that i didn't see on here was problem with what feels like constant drainage in back of throat. I feel like i have to constanlty clear my throat to clear my lungs...if that makes since. I have had pain in my chest area the whole time, like its just there. At first they told me my lungs were sore from coughing though i didn't really feel like i was coughing hard enough for that. Then they treated me for a sinus infection. Went back again did some blood work. Went back yet again and was sent for a tread mill stress test. It was okay. Went back AGAIN this time the Dr. had me breath into something and that was off so he sent me for a PFT. That came back showing Restrictive Lung Disease. He sent me to the Pulmonologist and he didn't seem to concerned about it. He gave me a nasal spary and did more blood work CBC, huge allergy panel etc. The "cough"( i feel its more me trying to clear my throat.) The chest pain, feeling like I can't clear my lungs and get enough air. But yet when i lay down i get relief! Again making an appt to go back to primary doc to see where to go from here. I just know i'm at my wits end with it.
dave50473 d15909
Posted
have you tried major streching? pull your shoulders and hips all over could be a nerve being pressed or spinal subluxation.
d15909 dave50473
Posted
I've done some stretches on my left shoulder, I've had issues Rotator cuff. Doesn't really feel like a pinched nerve. But I guess it couldn't hurt to try some stretches. I've been walking more this week. Went back to primary today and he started me on prilosec for reflux. I'm getting a little aggravated I just feel like they just keep throwing meds at it and I'm just not big on taking all these meds especially when there's really no definite diagnosis.
nadi8765 d15909
Posted
Hi. Any updates on your symptoms? i am having the same exact issues especially with the feeling of something stuck in the back of my throat making it feel hard to breathe. i only cough when i am trying to clear my throat of this feeling. i have done an xray of my chest ans my sinus and both looked normal.
saoirse43378 d15909
Posted
Hi d15909,
Have you been checked for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome?
I have posted about this further along in the thread if you are interested.
I hope you feel better and find your answers.
joeseph47893 minimemo
Edited
Hello, I have also hard time breathing sitting up and it gets better lying down but I have no conditions to my knowledge and I´ve had this for 1 year but haven't been as bad as the last month so I´m finally going to see my GP this monday and ask for tests etc. But me googling this just made it worse all the causes to platypnea(other name for this condition) because there is not many causes I found and all the causes I could find had like 5 years life expectencey with treatment etc and im only 22 years old. I´m really scared now 😒 Is there anyone here with the same condition but not a dangerous cause? Im panicking
saoirse43378 joeseph47893
Posted
Hi Joeseph,
Have you been checked for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome?
I have posted about this further along in the thread if you are interested.
I hope you feel better and find your answers.
chantelle53585 minimemo
Edited
hi love, just wondering if you ever got any answers! i am experiencing the same thing but with all the corona virus going around they will not see me at the doctors!!! any tips on what helps??
Pomsteroonie chantelle53585
Edited
Hi all,
New here, same issue, constant dry cough, must cough every few minutes, as soon as I lie down, it all goes away.
I've had a nagging cough for a few weeks and then a few weeks ago had slight case of chills/very mild temp, since then had a really dry cough, a slight shortness of breath (not sure if that was me just panicking about the Coronavirus) but really want to get to the bottom of it.
I've had a chest x-ray that came back clear, doc has me on omeprazole in case it's stomach acid related.
Only real symptoms are the cough, I keep feeling cold (ok if I have a hot drink or something to eat) and I've noticed that I'm waking up at night with a dry, sore throat, mouthful of water and then I'm good. When I get up in the morning, within ten minutes of being up, the cough starts.
I'm just really worried that if I catch Corona whilst this is going on it may be an issue.
Any ideas or feedback would be appreciated.
Annayk chantelle53585
Edited
Any updates?
I have the same symptoms. Shortness of breath that improves when laying flat. It gets so hard to handle at times- the suffocating feeling. It seems better when I first wake up, but as soon as i start moving, it is worse. I had a calcium score scan done and that was zero. Next is an echo. I almost want them to scan me sitting upright, because i am better when I am flat and I am worried they might miss something. I am really getting depressed. It is just every single day.
I wish everyone here for answers and a miracle intervention because this is hard
jeff75920 Annayk
Posted
Do you use any preventative sprays?
jeff75920 Pomsteroonie
Posted
have you tried asthma prevention spray? I can't recall the name but in AU it's in a purple container. I seem to be having some relief
Annayk jeff75920
Edited
Hi Jeff
I have a pulmonary function test in the morning, so that may be something that they may try depending upon the outcome of the test; a bronchodilator if it shows that i benefit from it. I hope something helps.
kim49628 Pomsteroonie
Posted
oh I could have written this! Have you had any luck??
meredith51390 Pomsteroonie
Posted
what did you end up figuring out??
Pomsteroonie meredith51390
Posted
still figuring it out but looks like it could be stomach acid gas escaping and causing me to cough
susanbourge Annayk
Posted
I have the same thing, been sick for at least 3 months. Cough worse when standing or sitting.
I am a dental hygienist and wore the N95 mask for the past year. That is the only thing different I am doing. I've never had asthma or any type of lung/breathing problems. very depressing. I can't seem to get well. I am 59 years old and have always been healthy. I have seen Dr more in 3 months than I have my whole life. help.
michael90217 Pomsteroonie
Posted
hope youre doing better. im experiencing the exact thing you've experienced as a 31-year-old, otherwise healthy man. i noticed mine after playing basketball and lying down is the closest i get to relief. its been about 2 months of this. did you ever figure it out?