Shortness of breath with Costochondritis?

My gp told me that the inflammation can be in between your ribs and seeing as your ribs expand when you breath, it can feel more difficult to breath. Though at times it becomes very bothersome for me and I wanted to know if others were having the same problem. Thank you for replying. It's good to know I am not the only one.

I'may so relieved as well to see that I know what I'm talking about. I've been to soany doctors and done so many tests to no avail. I finally went to see an acupunturist and she told me that it was inflammation in my rib cage.

I am off dairy products, red meat , caffeine and any mucus forming foods. I've been seeing a chiropractor as well and the pain is finally going away and I can get deep breaths now.

Ugh, I was just diagnosed with Costco two days ago, and I too suffer from bad anxiety. I hate the feeling. The tightness and hard time breathing. I am always afraid I am going to die. And I know that is not healthy to worry about. I feel light headed and it's been pretty bad the last two nights. I have been ok during the day but not at night. I just want more answers.

Hi Betty. The anxiety causes the tightness of the chest and makes the breathing worse. It’s always worse at night time as you don’t have anything to distract you. If you breathe in and when you are doing it slowly count to 4 and then slowly breathe out and in your head count to 6. Keep doing this and it will focus your mind on something else. It was a doctor st the hospital that taught me how to breathe and it works. When you are feeling anxious you take short breaths because you are not breathing out all the carbon dioxide so when you breathe in you cannot fill them with as much oxygen because your lungs are not completely empty of the carbon dioxide, so you can only take a short breath. If you focus on your breathing while counting you will find you start to breathe better. It does work. 

I literally had to pep talk my way through it. It cleared up in about a week, but it was terrifying and I woulsnt wish it upon anyone. Any updates for you?

omg i know how you feel im the same docs are way too casual this pain is real

and terrifying im new to it too see how you get on with steriods xxx

I’m on my second flare up of costo since August. Initially I was told it was due to chest infection and second flare up is unresolved costo apparently can take a year to clear up. I too am an avid runner and it’s distressing now being short of breath sometimes even just walking. I’m on the anti inflammatory meds but if anyone has other recommendations I would love to hear as I truly am sick of it now 

I was diagnosed a week ago with costo, but I'm aware it was building up in the weeks before this, only it just keeps getting worse. If I go for a short walk, my chest is so tight for the next two days. I haven't been outside since Monday, as I'm scared of what walking seems to do.  All I did yesterday was potter about my flat and by the evening, I was exhausted and felt like I had an elephant sitting on my chest, with referral pains going into my face and back. I've bought a backpod and tried it for the last two days. I had a massage and acupuncture. Nothing so far is helping. I'm in so much discomfort. I've had an ecg (at a&e) a ct scan and bloods done (due to a mystery illness I had after a trip to Sri Lanka). Is there anything else I should ask to get tested? I don't have the usual sternum area pain. I just have extreme tenderness in lower left ribs and increasing amounts of chest tightness and shortness of breath throughout the day, followed by referred pain into face, back and arms. Cannot work and cannot go about any normal activities. Any advice very welcome 

That's exactly how it started for me!

I can't give any advice at all, as all tests that I had done at the time came back negative. 2 years later I am still wondering what the hell is wrong with me... It got worse for 3-4 months, I was out of work for 3 months, then I was put on meloxicam for inflammation, propranolol for rapid heartbeat, amitryptiline for pain/anxiety/insomnia. Amitryptiline did nothing apart from turn me into a zombie, so I stopped that pretty soon. I weaned myself off the others in 9 months. I did get better, but the progress was painfully slow. Now, 2 years on, I am pain-free 90% of the time, with occasional flareups, but not frequently and they don't last long.

As for tests: I had ECG five times, standard blood tests, blood tests for bone functions, heart CT, lung CT twice, chest X-rays twice etc etc. What I did not get tested for: viral infections, vitamin deficiencies, allergies. I too had a mystery illness weeks before costo started. About 9 months into costo I was offered tests for a few viruses but by that time I was sick of more tests and no results, and even if I had been positive for a virus, the treatment (take antiinflammatory and keep fingers crossed) would not have changed, so I didn't have them.

What I have in mind: cocksakie viruses (A and B), hepatitis viruses, Eppstein Barr and such like.

I was recently tested for vitamin D, and it came back as very low. Vit D deficiency can cause issues with bones and joints, as well as weak immune system. I am on Vit D at the mo, seems like an easy fix. There is evidence that food allergies (gluten, egg etc) can cause joint pain - but cleaning up my diet did not help me specifically.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

If there is one advice I would give my 2-year-ago self: do not panic and take it one day at a time. Life with costo is still life and we should strive to find enjoyment in it.

Hi Kate. I have symptoms very much like yourself. Don’t really get sternum pain apart from now and again. Was diagnosed about 4 years ago but it went off after a few months but then started again last July. Had all the tests for heart problems. Have slight gutting up but said for my age 59 that could be normal. Don’t take anything but aspirin and ranitidine to protect stomach. It has got better unless I do any lifting now. I think some of it was made worse through anxiety but you can’t help it. Since I have thought it isn’t life threatening I have felt better most of the time. Still get pains in my arms and up into my face with it though and sometimes across my upper chest. It moves around. I keep having flushed with it as well. Not heard anyone else comment on that though. Stress makes it worse. 

Meant furring up not gutting up. Predictive text. Lol. 

Flushed as in flushed skin? Yeah, I have that.

The only tests I’ve had done was an ecg, ct thorax abdo and pelvis. I was under cardiology at the time and spent two days in hospital on morphine. This time around it’s right up my chest wall and the inflammation is way worse to the point they could feel the swellings. Worsen mistake iceberg made twice is going for physio while I had the inflammation I shouldn’t have know better and waited few days.  I find ive to lie high in pillows to expand the ribcage. Rest is definitely the key to some relief as after a long day at work I’m in agony and so breathless. Going to give acupuncture a go this week. 

Me too. I’m just thankful I have a supportive partner because when I’ve a flare up I just become crippled for the few days. 

When I get flushed it doesn’t last long but I  get quite warm for a couple of minutes as well and then it passes. It’s like going through the menopause all over again. 

Thank you for your reply. It's sounds like you've been through one hell of a journey with it. Interesting yours started after a mystery illness too. 

It sounds like it's taken a long time and a lot of meds but it's s relief to hear that you're so much better than you previously were. My vitamin D levels are fine so sadly that isn't a fix for me. Right now, I wish I could just walk for a few minutes without getting shortness of breath and being wiped out for the rest of the day. I also wish I could go to work. It's unbelievably frustrating. Hoping it goes sooner rather than later... 

Hello, I'm new to this forum and only just seeing all the replies now so I'm sorry for the delay. Felt great this am but then went for short walk to the shops and now suffering badly with burning/tight chest, shortness of breath and the usual rib pain...

I went to an osteo who freed up my rib hinges yesterday and I thought this would be the answer but I don't think it was. How was your acupuncture? 

Hi Sally, I'm very glad to hear that yours is just about better. I get night sweats with mine too..

So lifting seems to be the trigger for quite a few people. For me it's lifting, pottering and walking more than a couple of minutes. 

I wish doctors understood more about how to treat this condition. It's getting me really down. 

I hadn’t had Physio last Thursday was in bits for two days then good. Back to square one again yesterday and today short of breath and pain. Literally ran from shop to car to get out of rain and was extremely short of breath 

Wow sounds so similar to me. 2017 was brutal. I was very active as well and it's now a year later and I am just at 10 minutes walking! It's life changing that's for sure. I just started back at work in January as I was basically stuck and couldn't move. Oesteopath helped but I started accupuncture 2 months back and it truly has made a remarkable difference. It's the little things that seem to be adding up. Focusing on inflammation as a whole and also for some reason adding vitimin d has helped a lot too. Be positive because I have gotten better compared to each month but I had to find the thing that worked for me.

For anyone dealing with this I give you a huge hug it's the scariest thing I've ever gone through. Even now I still get little punches from the inside which feels like my heart is exploding. Stops me in my tracks. I've had chest vibrations, pounding heart, pain, and severe shortness of breath which is my hugest problem. I've been told the chest can't expand. Feels like a pit.

It's sad but I too wondered many times if I would make it through the night.

Anyhow kind of got on a rant there but I am happy to have this support!

I also forgot to mention that my doctor gave me a topical anti inflammatory cream I think it's diclofenac gel and it helps so much! I rub it all over the ribs and sternum and since using it I could sleep on my left side.

I got mine from a pnemonia so strange to me that could happen and docs can't understand it. It took 5 months of misery before anyone even figured it out. I am glad for you guys who got diagnosed so fast. I also take anti Inflammatory herbs and I don't have any sugar I've always been gluten free.

Wanna see what everyone thinks so im 250 lbs just started walkimg to lose weight and started feeling like i couldnt brethe didnt have pain but discomfort in left chest pretty much i got better but in er this is what they said i had btw . but Pretty sure it was thier a lil but gone... So i started walking again only a mile at a time this time for about 3 weeks but about 2 weeks ago i got it again and went to er without no discomfort but now dr says ashma i think i was misdiagnosed cause its like shortness of brethe more like i cant breath and im 90 percent sure its not ashma like he said cause with the exception of not breatheing right thiers no wheezing cough etc that goes with it and ashma pump aint working and i asked if its this condition that i was diagnosed with lazt month and he said hes not 10p percent and btw now thiers discomfort on my lower mid right side and upper left chest no pain but discomfort.. And where im at its very hot 90s to 100s.. Do you guys think the condition came back from being big and exercising doing the mile a day 5 days a week? Fyi all blood tests came back good ekg good xrays were good and he checked my lungs and they sounded good. Just seeing if i regot it which i think it did.. I am on high blood pressure medication and seen high blood pressure causes shortness of breath but not the discomfort i got and ive had high blood pressure without medication 2 years before the blood medication and never had this.. Sorry so long lol but you guys think i just got costco again from walking so soon or that a miles to much for since im 240 250