Is there a cure for chronic hyperventilation syndrome?

Joining this thread. Like all of you, I suffer from CHVS and GAD. I was 25 when the symptoms started and I am now 38. The symptoms have gotten progressively worse over time. When it started, the symptoms would come and go. Now theyre there all of the time. Like many of you, I have had numerous tests trying to identify the underlying cause, but everything comes back negative. At this point i have sort of come to accept it . I am constantly short of breath, tight chest and neck, head tension/pressure, dizzy/lightheaded, bloated and stomach discomfort. Starts as soon as i wake up everyday and is there all day/everyday for 10+ years. I have tried all kinds of meds and would caution everyone on benzos. Thought I would share, so others could rest assured that they arent alone.

Ask your doc for a full work up to detect, "Ankolosing Spondylitis". I have lived with CHVS for 24+ years, and been recently diagnosed with AS...There is causation and correlation between the two...A spinal x-ray may not show it as yet, because nervous problems may exist many years before an x-ray is revealing, but there are other tests...DO NOT accept this is just all in your head, and you are neurotic...Now, go for tests, and please spread this reply!

Hi JayJay,

When you have an urge to take a breath, swallow instead. Try that . Also, I read someone's suggestion on this feed which is to close one of your nostrils. I can actually see the reasoning behind that, so I am going to try that. I know exactly how you are feeling by the way. Every day is such a struggle but I will keep trying new ways of trying to get it better. I only joined this forum yesterday and I can't believe how many other people are experiencing the same thing. The only thing I can say is that when I do have the odd moments of not thinking about my breathing and my breathing being ok again, I am the happiest person in the whole world!!!! It makes me appreciate those moments so much. I have tried many, many things to try and alleviate it and I would say the swallowing instead has helped me the most. I will keep researching this topic and if I find anything that hasn't been mentioned, I will post it. I do hope you can have some lovely moments this evening.

I'm sorry that we are all feeling this way but I'm so relieved that I'm not the only one feeling this.

I had my first panick attack when I was 17. Treated with medication for a while but then stopped because I wanted a "normal" life. But this air hunger is stuck with me ever since. I actually don't even remember the times that I could breath normally but I definitely miss those days lol

I actually learned to live with it. But obviously, with this world we are living in right now, my anxiety is back and back HARD! This air hunger and shortness of breath is hunting me. I was actually thinking about going to a doctor just to make sure this is anxiety because sometimes I think that it's something else but I don't feel any other symptoms. I started on anxiety treatment and hoping that this will work. But also I came here and saw so many responses with advises and I'll try them. (I will probably go to the doctor too just for a peace of mind) but I'm so anxious with this air hunger that is taking me so many good times with my husband and son.

Hope we find our answers and this will get better soon! All of us.

Get tested for auto-immune disorders ASAP! I have had CHVS for 25 years, along with other things along the way. Now, I have widespread joint pain, and skin mottling on the sides of the neck, that should have been picked up on years ago! I will be getting tested for Lupus, et al.

I was taking 3 Aleve tablets a day, to get some relief from the joint pain, and then the symptoms from CHVS almost totally disappeared!! I am convinced they are related. The Aleve only worked for 3 1/2 weeks. That could also explain why, when I was on chemo for cancer, the CHVS eased off. (The chemo suppressing the immune system.) DO NOT ALLOW THE DOCTOR'S TO MAKE YOU THINK YOU ARE CRAZY IT WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY!!! PLEASE SHARE.

ive suffered with CHVS since my mid twenties. At first it was situational, but over the years it progressed to a constant state. I'm about to turn 40, so as you can imagine the last 15 years have been a bit of a nightmare. Like everyone else, I spent the first few years hopping from Dr to Dr and the exhaustive tests ruling everything out. I've tried just about every drug out there with little to no success. In my 15 years Ive had two moments of symptom succession. Profound hours of unbelievable normalcy. The first 7 years ago. The latter about a year ago. Ive searched the ends of the internet trying to find a cure. Fortunately, ive managed to live a semi normal professional life. My days are all the same. Wake up with a dull headache, most of my day spent with increasing neurological symptoms, never being able to take a satisfying breathe. My head feeling like im not getting adequate bloodflow and a mild lightheaded dizzy feeling all day. Im relatively fit, but i have High BP now, which Im 100% convinced is a result of this prolonged condition. I would encourage you all to Google Amitriptyline and CHVS. There is supporting evidence that it is a key to thos whole puzzle. I went on it a year ago, 8 days before my second symptom free day. Unfortunately I had a rare reaction to the drug, causing my BP to spike into stroke range. This is very rare, so I would encourage you all to look it up. Im currently on Duloxetine, which helps dull the pain, but does nothing to address the CHVS. If this helps one person, it will have been worth it. Wishing you all a miracle!

hi jayjay, im very curious on how your symptoms are now. i recently suffered an attack and all my tests were normal as well...feels very depressing knowing how people on this forum are suffering from this terrible dyspnea air hunger feeling for that many years. i want positive hope and assurance to see if you have had some symptom m relief

Hey JayJay. Ive been going through this for almost a year as it started in June of last year and I can completely understand what it feels like. For me it has worsened massively, especially in the last month. I was on Ativan and I somehow got worse without realizing it. Now I'm going through major withdrawal over something that I feel was not even working. I feel like crying all the time, but I too, cant breathe. I dont know when this will end. I would love to talk to you.

Im on 15 months overbreathing. Have you recovered? If so, can you tell me how you did it?