Please Help
Posted , 3 users are following.
Ill try to make this as short as possible.
Sudden feeling of chest congestion one evening. Like my lungs were full of phlegm but I couldn't cough it up. I was not sick. Suddenly short of breath 24/7. This happened two months ago and has not stopped. ECG normal, chest x ray clear, blood work OK. Ventolin and Flovent don't help. Trialled double dose of pantaprazole in case it was due to reflux; didn't improve at all. Allergy nasal spray; doesn't change anything. NOTHING is helping. I feel like im suffocating 24 hours a day. I cant even function. Anyone have a situation like this? My doctor thinks its an anxiety disorder that came out of nowhere over night? Could this actually be related to anxiety? It doesn't seem that way to me? PFTs booked for Jan 21, CT Jan 18. Please help with any suggestions or experience, Thank you
0 likes, 2 replies
sasical72 Amber062499
Posted
Hello,
This must be scary for you. Obviously we are not doctors on here so difficult to say.
Shortness of breath is a very common symptom with anxiety but best to get everything checked. Did you get your iron and ferritin checked? Anemia can cause SOB.
Did you get your B12 checked?
My Mum is currently suffering severely from SOB and is going through some testing. The doctor mention problems with thyroid as another possible cause. Have they checked that?
dip58448 Amber062499
Posted
Hi Amber,
I have something similar now for 8 months. I have to consciously breathe. I'm always looking for a deep breath, and hyperfocused on it. Sometimes I get the deep breath, sometimes I don't and feel suffocated. Inhaling takes a lot of effort for me. I also get the sensation of being short of breath, randomly at rest. And my ribs feel like they can't expand enough. Not sure if any of this sounds familiar?
Like you, I have tried inhalers and acid reflux meds. I think the acid reflux meds helped a little, but nothing fixed it. I just did my pfts, which shows borderline mild asthma, and my doc said mild asthma doesn't usually require treatment or bother people.
Anyway, I'm quite sure it's a type of anxiety. Although I have no stress right now. But since getting my COVID vaccine, I've felt on the edge. How did your symptoms start?
It's very slowly getting slightly better, but nothing close to normal. I have read of others on this forum who have this, and SSRI meds like Prozac and Zoloft did help some of them. I haven't tried these because I'm looking to get pregnant.
Just wanted to let you know you're not alone. Hope things start to get better for both of us!