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Shortness of breath for weeks, not sure what’s happening

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logjam
logjam

Hey all!

Looking for some advice, info, or whatever information you can give me in this situation. I will give some info on what’s happening and hopefully someone can give me some direction here.

For the past month now I have been dealing with some shortness of breath feelings. First it started out intermittent, now its a constant from the point I wake up until the evening or when I am sleeping and cannot tell. I am not gasping for air, I just feel like something is stopping me from getting a full breath. Along with that I get the chest discomfort and some lightheaded disoriented feelings. Within this past year I have had an echo, multiple ekg’s, blood work, seen and ENT twice, and all they can seem to find is allergies and some occasional PVC’s, and acid reflux. My primary doctor at this point does not feel it is necessary to do any further tests because we have done so many. She said I could do a pulmonary function test with at metho carbonyl...not sure I spelled that right challenge to see if its an asthma thing. I am scared of that because...well, they try to make you have an asthma attack. They gave me an albuterol inhaler but my doc feels that would cause me anxiety due to the increase in heart rate. I have a Kardia EKG machine and do EKG’s on myself more than I should probably and they are all fine. I monitor my blood pressure and its typically normal, occasionally elevated. I exercise daily, HIIT and running on a treadmill and I can make it through it without issue. Sometimes I get a bit lightheaded from straining myself but I don’t die during a workout. I journal frequently and see that at the same time last year I experienced similar symptoms, but I’m still here. I try to keep my head out of the clouds and not believe I am dying, but, man! Why would I experience these symptoms for no reason??? I take medication and go to therapy for my anxiety and am working at it. My life is disrupted for fear of something happening to me while this is happening. I don’t smoke, but I grew up in a smokers home. I try to do some breathing exercises and other stuff to help but it just screws with me. I am fatigued all the time and feel fluish constantly. Someone please tell me there is something that can be done here? My family thinks I am just crazy, although they don’t say it. I am tired of these physical symptoms getting in the way of life and not having any answers. Please group, help!

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • steven47549
    steven47549 logjam

    Posted

    I went for over a year, convinced I was unable to breathe properly.  It came about suddenly as I was driving one day, without warning I become overly aware of my breathing and focused on it to the point where it triggered massive panic attacks that culminated with an ER visit, and several follow up GP visits.  

    My oxygen levels were always normal, my lung and heart scans were always normal, my blood work was always normal, etc. etc.  Eventually I was sent to a therapist, because my doctor couldn't medically justify any additional testing.

    I noticed that when I was on sedatives at the hospital, I would be able to breathe just fine.  This was part of what began to convince me the breatheless sensation was in my mind.  I eventually overcame it, but it was definitely an arduous journey.  During that period of time, I realized I was unconsciously hyperventilating a lot, which was definitely a behavior triggered by anxiety.  

    I've been in your shoes, and depending on your state of mine, there's likely nothing I can personally say that will totally alleviate your fears.  You are not crazy, you are suffering from an affliction that is more common that society at large is willing to admit.  Many people suppress their anxieties, ours just happen to manifest in more intense ways.  There will always be people who don't understand, because their definition of anxiety is so drastically different from what we experience.  Unfortunately some may think we're just feable people who can't cope with feeling a little nervous, when what we experience is so much more than that.  

    Best of luck with your struggle, I'm confident you will overcome it with time.  

    • steven47549
      steven47549

      Posted

      *state of mind.  Excuse the typos, my ability to focus has been compromised lately by my own anxieties, lol.  
  • shane_81689
    shane_81689 logjam

    Posted

    The problem with anxiety is that it throws the breathing pattern out of sync..

    When people get problems with shortness of breath and dizziness it is not normally that they can't breath it is because we are breathing too much and the level of oxygen in the blood is higher than normal

    Best thing that help me get over the breathing anxiety was to search on the Internet breathing techniques for anxiety and practice them 😆

    Hope this helps

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