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Shortness of breath terrified all the time!!

Posted , 112 users are following.

luke08690
luke08690

What does everybody's shortness of breath feel like? I even feel really really out of breath even when I talk which worries the c**p out of me!

I wake up with it and go to sleep with it every night, I feel I have got to catch my breath every few minutes just to make sure I can get air into my lungs I have this like pulling sensation in the middle of my chest that makes me want to catch it every few minutes which dosnt go away at all which drives me barmy! Also feels like I have something lodged right in the middle of my chest that I'm breathing around awful feeling.

This all started after I had 2 full blown panic attacks 10 months ago and I woke up with all these crazy Symtoms the day after I had them is this normal?

Im on medication mitrazpine and propanolol which I'm thinking of changing the mitrazpine because I was on this while I had these attacks they put me on propanolol the day after I had these attacks 3 a day 40mg and I'm having CBT therapy.

My therapist says I should stop trying to catch my breath all the time as I'm feeding my anxiety but even when I try and stop doing it it will catch itself so I can't win which makes me think there is something wrong with my breathing!

I have tried breathing exercises which don't help. I have had a X-ray which was all good and 3 ECGs which were good and chest lisend to and oxygen levels tested to everytime I'm are the doctors which is always good, I just just can't take this no more!

I feel I'm on the brink here I can't live like this another day😢 Is this ever going to go away? or am I going to feel like this forever I feel trapped in my own body.

I posted this about ten minutes ago but I think it has been deleted for some reason nevermind.

7 likes, 309 replies

309 Replies

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  • wesley78520
    wesley78520 luke08690

    Posted

    I have this too any help please or someone to talk to that has this ? Message me please 
  • luke52257
    luke52257 luke08690

    Posted

    I feel exactly the same, ive had chest X-rays, multiple blood tests ect. They tell me im fine but im so constantly terrified that its really hard to breathe. I cant stop thinking about it, as soon as i wake up it starts all over again. Im on medication just recently and have appointment with a therapist. Im just too scared to go. I dont know how to deal with this anymore.
    • Bex1994
      Bex1994 luke52257

      Posted

      Hi Luke,

      I’m Rebecca and I’m 23 and I’m feeling the exact same way at the minute, you aren’t alone. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder when I was 17 and this was caused by me also being diagnosed with a heart condition that causes my heart to beat faster than normal due to me having an extra electrical pathway. Understandably this was very scary for me when I was 17 and they attempted to correct this twice which wasn’t successful. I went through an extremely bad bout of anxiety for around 5 months which eventually subsided due to medication and me deciding that I can’t let this control my life anymore. Almost 2 weeks ago now I was at the dentist and this seemed to have triggered off my anxiety again sad  I went to A&E and they did ECGs & bloods and found nothing. I went to A&E again on Thursday as my heart was racing and with my past I thought I had better get it checked out. Again, they did an ECG and multiple blood tests and the only thing they found was that my phosphate level was low. I was kept in overnight and put on a 12 hour drip, bloods were then repeated and I was sent home as nothing else was an issue and they have put it down to anxiety. I have been referred back to cardiology as a precaution but I know that they won’t find anything and this is all in my head. It’s the worst feeling in the world.

      I’m off work at the minute, the hospital prescribed me with propranolol to be taken once a day and I have been taking 50mg of Sertraline for almost 6 years now and this seems to have done the trick. However, I am seeing my GP tomorrow as I feel this needs to be looked at to determine why my anxiety has come back so severely. Can I just ask have you lost your appetite? I’m barely able to eat at the minute cause I’m so focused on my breathing, it’s the worst. The only time I feel like I get complete peace is when I am sleeping. So please know you are not alone. In the past I was referred to a mental health agency and they are good people to talk to. I don’t want to have to do that again but at the minute I feel like I may have to. I hope you are doing okay and please keep me updated as to how you are feeling. So glad I found a forum of people who are feeling the same way as I at the minute. 

    • luke52257
      luke52257 Bex1994

      Posted

      Hello, i hope you're feeling okay!

      I have started to eat a lot less lately, just because im so focused on how im feeling day to day, but at the moment its just really hard to sleep. So much racing through my head all the time.

      It is really nice to have found somewhere to talk about this kind of thingsmile i hope everyone can feel a bit better and help them to relax by talking to people and finding out they are not alone, as i thought i was.

  • shanelle81646
    shanelle81646 luke08690

    Posted

    Hi everyone I feel the exact same way I had a huge panic attack 3 months ago because I felt like I couldn’t breathe since then life’s been extremely difficult I

    Go days feeling like I can’t take a deep breath in I have good days and bad but mostly bad I go to sleep short of breath and wake up short of breath it’s worse after eating I have had the ambulance come twice and been to the hospital had 3 ecgs blood work chest X-ray lung function test all normal I get get muscle aches including chest pains I’m waiting to get an endoscopy cause my dr thinks it could be GERD as I have lots of belching and severe sore throat and lots of Red spots on my uvula witch can be caused by severe acid reflux burning my throat anyone else have these symptoms along with there shortness of breath or maybe any other symptoms u would like to share would be nice to get to the bottom of this could be anxiety related but can b very scary 

  • troy14605
    troy14605 luke08690

    Posted

    It is so reassuring to have found this discussion thread. It’s like I’m seeing my own story over and over from people sharing the same problems.  I had a heart attack last July at age 54 and they put in two stents.  Said no significant damage and heart was functioning fine.  Put on typical meds, but beta blocker was knocking me out and causing all sorts of fatigue and breathing issues.  Went in two weeks later and had another angiogram and they said  everything was fine with my heart.  So they took me off the beta.  I went through cardiac rehab and was committed to daily exercise and significant diet changes.   Lost 30+ pounds and cholesterol numbers dropped significantly.   My problem has been the breathing and anxiety issues.  Periodically, I had episodes where I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath.  I would feel a twinge anywhere near the left side of my chest or back and almost immediately feel my breath start to go. Went to ER in October, December, January and recently here in April.  Every time is the same, all tests and blood work comes back normal.  They even did another angiogram in January which showed everything clear.   While these were periodic episodes, had several others where I had to talk myself down from going to ER because of short breath.  I believe I do have acid reflux and take Protonix for that and when this causes some breathing issues, my anxiety kicks in and amplifies everything.  Have tried meditation, subliminal messages at night, muscle relaxation, etc. The last two weeks have been especially bad.  I have developed insomnia and don’t get much sleep at night, but it is broken up into sections.  I am constantly checking my oxygen levels and heart rate.    I can have my Oxygen at 98% and pulse at 62 and still feel short of breath.   The weirdest thing is that when I exercise at the gym walking on the treadmill, I feel good. It’s almost like my shortness of breath gets worse after the workout is over and I’m on my way home.   Just can’t seem to catch my breath.  I am on Xanax which seems to help, but I don’t want to depend on that.  I tried lexapro which made me extremely nauseous after only one dose, and then celexa which caused tremendous burning throughout my chest and arms so I quit that as well.  I am at my wits end.   The past two weeks have been the same constant short breath issues.  And at times seems as though I can’t get excited like to tell a good joke or just have a normal conversation because it is too exhausting and makes me feel short of breath.  Anything that has worked for anyone is appreciated, but again, it is comforting just to know I am not alone.  
    • Roniii29
      Roniii29 troy14605

      Posted

      does the xanax still help? has it helped the breathing or does it just help calm your nerves?

  • alex71604
    alex71604 luke08690

    Posted

    Hello guys,

    I hope ya'll going good! I was going through same situation a month ago..and thought i was the only one going through such a situation till i found yall.I was having GERD and

    later i became almost allright after 2 weeks but i had shortness of breath.

    I started going to college with this problem and found difficulty for 2 days... then i became normal, totally forgot about my problem. I unterstood that was all our mind's game. Just tricking us and leading us to think about our doom .

    But now.. again i feel its back to me.. im sure i can withstand it because i've gone through it! Make our mind stay away from unwanted thoughts that our mind brings.

    I know its too long...

    Hope this would help you.

    😊

  • valentina72419
    valentina72419 luke08690

    Posted

    Hello...i am also having problems with breathing. For the last few days its 24/7. I just cant get air all the way in, my chest feels tight, my lungs hurt... is this anxiety?

    I did spirometry, xray of chest and heart, ekg, dr listened to my lungs.. i did it few months ago and it was all normal .. please help me, im scared 😢

    • Guest
      Guest valentina72419

      Posted

      ITs anxiety girl. Get on a good antidepressant! I take cymbalta and for the first few months i took espiride as well. It works! I tried mirtazapine but that didn’t help. Cymbalta does the job I’m serious! I understand this problem! People think it’s a joke but not us sufferers! Take some Ativan if you really feel bad and you think you’re gonna have a panic attack! It helps but it’s addictive and u have to learn to cope without it

      Get exercise

      Get your lungs working 

      Walk up plenty stairs

      Walk uphill

      Walking does nothing but walking uphill and stairs is the way forward I’m telling u

      Start yoga and swimming 

      Fix your life

      Youre not alone 

      I’ve been through this for the last few years and also going through a rough time at the moment after having a panic attack from cannabis which I haven’t lysine in 2,5 years. What a stupid mistake 

      Never give up 

  • yonnbbf4e
    yonnbbf4e luke08690

    Posted

    Monitor if the breathing is worse shortly after eating. Or try going half a day without eating and see if your breathing is alleviated at all. I started having a hard time taking a deep breath in. My body would force me to yawn all the time because I wasn't getting enough air in me. It was really scary. It felt like my lungs were closing and I couldn't get a good breath in. I started to notice it was always worse after eating! I had read that acid can get into the lungs and cause swelling and breathing difficulties. GERD/LPR can also be so severe to cause this type of problem. I was put on an antidepressant that strengthened the lower esophageal sphincter and helped empty the stomach contents quicker. No more problem! GERD causes anxiety and anxiety causes GERD, it's a vicious cycle! 

    • valentina72419
      valentina72419 yonnbbf4e

      Posted

      I have gerd for some time now... but i never had this symptom with it.

      It is really scary. Do you think my lung tests from few months ago are still valid?

      And it is not related to eating.. but i noticed i cough really much lately, i am a big smoker (and am 26yo). 

      And i worry it is maybe cancer and that i will suffacate. 

      Plus, i noticed i blink my eyes a lot, like i am obsessed with it... 

    • Guest
      Guest valentina72419

      Posted

      QUit those cigarettes girl! Throw them away right now! I know it’s hard to do and but it’s an addiction but trust me it’s doing you no good whatsoever. You wasting money by buying that stuff all the time. Give it up listen! Life goes on without it. It can be done. It’s not benefiting you in any way and probably just makes you more anxious! Fix your life! 
    • Jerry2014
      Jerry2014 yonnbbf4e

      Posted

      Hi which medication helped you the name of it? are you still doing good i have been going thru this for 5 years and have found that it is worst after eating and everything i put in my mouth makes all my symptoms worse including medication also all this started with acid reflux and a month after i started the pills for it anyways waiting to hear back thanks

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