Chronic hyperventilation syndrome
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi. I've just been diagnosed with HVS. I'm 38 years old. I have a busy stressful life. I've always had anxiety. Can i ask if it's common to have pain in your chest? specifically my upper back and scapula. I've had other tests which were fine to rule out anything else. I keep feeling that there's something seriously wrong because of the pain. Obviously this makes the anxiety worse! Its a viscous circle. I'd love to hear from others suffering this syndrome. At the moment i feel quite alone with it.
0 likes, 14 replies
Shalane64124 gemma70611
Edited
Hi, I have pain too but it seems to happen most when I'm anxious or start to panic. It's like a squeezing sensation in my upper right side below my breastbone. My doctor suspects it's a muscle problem. I have noticed that their seems to be a relationship to my breathing. The area seems to hurt or relax when I breathe a certain way.
gemma70611 Shalane64124
Posted
Hi, thank you for your message. I think the doctors thing I have had HVS for over a 8 months now. I had a ct of my chest and spirometry etc which were all normal, and no allergies. Its the pain in my upper back, scapula area and a kind of burning sensation. Perhaps just where I am overworking everything and breathing in more than out. I just find that I'm in pain daily. I've read that pain is normal with this condition. Its just scary. You're right in the sense that the more anxious you are the worse it is! Have you found anything to help?
sophies77 gemma70611
Posted
I'm feeling exactly the same today with chest pain, its been 11 weeks now, some days better than others. today is quite a rough one but I've been super anxious the last few days worrying other things. so probably the reason my chest is hurting, I also get pain in the upper back, sometimes hurts in my collar bones too.. I've also had tests done to rule out heart issues - ecg, chest xrays and bloods done. doesn't stop you worrying and thinking the worst though does it because I'm always worrying its still my heart. you're not alone in regards to that. I also find I sometimes have to catch my breath but only when I'm actually thinking about it or scared / anxious. its definitely all anxiety but being a health anxiety sufferer it's hard to accept.
gemma70611 sophies77
Posted
Hi Sophie, I'm the same. The more i worry it's something more serious, the more anxious i become and the worse the pain. How old are you? Apparently this condition is more common in younger women. Have you had this continuously for 11 weeks?
sophies77 gemma70611
Posted
yeah I'm exactly the same, its horrible and I have a whole lot of other stuff with it all too yet every test keeps coming back clear and I never believe it. it's a hard one, pretty much continuously yes, I had a few good days and they are days I'm not so anxious but days where I'm really anxious and worrying (even without realizing) the pain is at its worst, I go round in circles constantly thinking it's my heart despite xrays, blood tests and ecgs showing my heart is fine. I'm 27.
david76205 gemma70611
Edited
Hello Gemma, I am sorry you are having difficulties. Anxiety can cause pain in your chest and amplify any other symptoms you may have perhaps by something else. I would go with the simplest explanation first. Which is; do you know if you have allergies? This is a common ailment this time of year and its possible you do not know you have it. What an allergy does is infect your sinuses and possibly you upper respiratory system, by creating mucus that may clog your head, and drip down into you chest via something called post nasal drip. It can irritate your throat and enter your lungs causing pain and discomfort. You may feel this chest pain in both your chest and back as your lungs are big and touches both your chest and back on the inside cavity. This is most likely your problem and complicated by your anxiety. An over the counter allergy/sinus medication will help (such as claritin, alegra, zertec, sudafed, benadryl, etc.) and a decongestant to get the mucus out (such as mucinex) should help you. If you think i am off base and i am wrong, then contact your GP and have some tests done. But i would recommend trying what i suggested first and see if that helps
gemma70611 david76205
Posted
Hi David, thanks for your response. I've been tested for allergies but have none. Ive also had tests on my lungs which came back as normal functioning. Just larger than 'normal' I've been diagnosed with chronic HVS. It does feel that my lungs are 'big' and heavy in my chest, with pain across my upper back and sometimes the bottom of my ribs at the front. When i get these sensations it makes the anxiety and therefore the problem worse. Do you suffer from this condition?
david76205 gemma70611
Posted
wow, never heard about anyone with enlarged lungs before. How do you handle the hyper ventilation? paper bag? Very interesting. I am sure your anxiety is off the charts and i am so sorry for you. Did they give you any meds to keep you calm? Can they do anything to decrease you lung capacity? Steroids perhaps ? I hope you make out okay. But you should relax and you are not going to die, so keep that in the back of your mind. Do you keep your mind busy to keep it stimulated and off your problem?
gemma70611 david76205
Posted
To be honest its closely linked to high anxiety. I suffered from quite bad PTSD 4 1/2 years ago which i think may have triggered this constant state of panic (i nearly lost my son in an accident). I've had quite invasive therapy for it but it still simmers in me. Hopefully one day it will calm down. I don't really have episodes of hyperventilation, it's more like a constant state. I'm under pulmonary rehab to use different breathing techniques and try to relax more so fingers crossed.
david76205 gemma70611
Posted
My god thats terrible. No wonder you feel like you do. Have you tried medication for your panic ? Or is the lungs a complication that they wont take the risk of giving you meds? That really stinks and i am so sorry for you. Traumatic experiences often set off anxiety. I have never heard of such a severe case like this though and i feel i should be asking your advice and not trying to give it to you. You obviously have been through the ringer and are still living there. I wish there was something i could do and i pray you find relief soon.
gemma70611 david76205
Posted
Thanks David. To be honest i could have meds to calm the breathing down. Its not really a medical problem having HVS, it's just more of a mental struggle and physical discomfot daily. Hopefully one day it will pass!
david76205 gemma70611
Edited
Then why not make life a little easier an get your doctor to prescribe you a benzo (xanex, valium, adivan, Kolonopin, etc) for times you have a panic attack. Panic attacks are scary to begin with and with all you have through dont you think you deserve some relief, even just a little bit? Life is full of surprises and you dont want to let your anxiety rule your life. You deserve better, you deserve to enjoy life, not to worry about your next episode. Just get your GP to give you a benzo, then maybe see a therapist or psychiatrist to get your worries out on the table so you dont have that burden on your shoulders. Must be a heavy load, you need to lighten that load. You will feel better getting stuff off your chest and feel better with a medication that will calm you quickly in case of another anxiety attack. Thats just my opinion. I take xanex for my panic attacks, it works in as little as 15 minutes to calm me down.
hypercat gemma70611
Posted
What is HVS?
gemma70611 hypercat
Posted
hyperventilation syndrome