Trouble breathing 24/7 what is this?
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi everyone, I have suffered with anxiety and panic attacks since childhood but no physical health issues for some background information. I’m hoping you might be able to help me or give me an insight to what’s happening. I’m really at my wits end. For about a year but worsened recently When trying to breathe in it feels like I'm only getting half the oxygen I should be getting. I cant quite describe the sensation I feel when I breathe just that its not normal and doesnt feel right and I'm not inhaling as well as I used to. Like I’m suffocating and it feels extremely constricted. It’s not it getting into my lungs I’m concerned about it’s the process of it entering my airways where it feels strained. This lasts all day every day till i go to sleep and I am now confined to my room as I'm too terrified to do anything in case I stop breathing and die. It has worsened quite a lot over the past couple of weeks. Here are the things I've tried: *Anxiety/Depression Medication (2 different kinds with no effect) *Lung function/Spirometry test (Normal results) *ENT visit with camera up nose and down throat checking the throat and vocal cords (Everything was normal) *Blood test (all normal) *Tried a generic allergy medication (no effect) *Oxygen levels are always 96-100 *ECG (normal results) I'm sure there is more but this is what I remember off the top of my head.
*X-Ray on throat (no compression on trachea)
*Chest Xray normal
*Therapy
I have an at home oximeter and even just walking to the next room sometimes my sats go below 90 which isnr normal is it but dr still insists its anxiety but how?
I do have anxiety but the root of this issue is not that. I do have some anxiety attack type things happen but that's only when I'm really struggling to breathe and the panic sets in. My doctor insists its anxiety but I'm not convinced as it feels too real. I am very careful not to exert myself and walk extra slowly as not to get out of breath because i feel if I get out of breath then my breathing won't resume to 'normal' and whatever this problem is will worsen and I'll end up in hospital. Any advice, ideas, etc... would be greatly appreciated of if anyone's going through the same thing I’m just at my wits end with it all. I’m still convinced it’s something physical as how can this be psychological? It’s 24/7 I never get a break from it. It’s so strained and it’s not so much the air getting into my lungs it’s like the process of it entering my airways and travelling down to my lungs that feels like the problem if that makes sense? Like I’m constantly being suffocated. I don’t even know if that would show up on the tests I’ve had. All my symptoms seem to be so different from what I’ve seen other people go through. Also im scared to get out of breath if i do anything to exert myself. I’m terrified of it. I feel like if that happens it will trigger whatever it is that isn’t being picked up on tests and it will take getting out of breath to reveal what the breathing problem is if that makes sense? Is that possible? I feel like I sound like I’m going insane saying it. Because if it already feels so strained I can’t imagine what it would be like getting out of breath and not regaining it. can someone answer me that. Thank you in advance
0 likes, 15 replies
Jaredb123 amber8607
Posted
Hi I'm currently going through the exactly same thing as you! I constantly feel short of breath but I promise you it's anxiety, because we're constantly checking if we're out of breath we become hypersensetive and you can become convinced you're short of breath when in reality if you didnt't have anxiety you wouldn't even notice!
amber8607 Jaredb123
Posted
Hi, I dont feel short of breath thats the problem 😦 just that its really hard to breathe in and feels restricted. I hope you find some relief soon, its horrible
katy27135 amber8607
Edited
I have been experiencing exactly the same. went out for a long walk this morning and it's not like I physically cant breathe, but I often find myself not thinking of anything but breathing.
what helps me though is that the respiratory consultant I saw said "even for me, if I think about my breathing it feels like I cant do it or that I cant breathe in deeply". breathing is meant to be a subconscious process and so when anxiety does its thing and makes us think about it, it starts a vicious cycle.
in terms of the physical/mental question, it is absolutely possible that the mental anxiety can lead to real physical symptoms. you can genuinely be feeling short of breath even though it stems from our mental illness (just like it could cause chest tightness, tiredness, tics etc etc), but that doesn't mean there is anything going on with the respiratory system
my advice would be exercise exercise exercise! not necessarily strenuous, but get outside and walk. I've found listing to audio books whilst walking good as a distraction
amber8607 katy27135
Posted
Its so unpleasant. I dont necessarily feel short of breath just that I cant inhale air properly and it feels restricted which is why im concerned because everyone else i've seen who posts about this says they feel short of breath or unable to take a deep breath and thats not me. Thanks for your advice, im a bit wary of exercise as my sats fall too low so I dont think it would be good for me to do that
katy27135 amber8607
Posted
hi amber, if your oxygen sats are significantly falling during exercise then it's worth further investigations as ordinarily our increased breathing and heart rate would mitigate for the increased oxygen demands...but just be wary that things like poor placement, nail varnish, movement etc leading to inaccurate readings on 'over the counter' pulse oximeters that rely on light so I wonder if your doc is wary of the measurements you mention? ,
has your doc checked your sats after a walk themselves (even just up and down the corridor?) x
amber8607 katy27135
Posted
They go to 90 and sometimes under just doing a few steps but then as soon as I stop it increases again and now I'm worried. I dont know whether its because i'm underweight due to this and not engaging in any physical activity that it might be the reason but im quite concerned and I have told them earlier this week but they haven't really said much about it. I dont know what it could be 😦 x
mikhail80487 amber8607
Posted
The first issue is your language which is a window to your mind ... You are worried about everything and that is in and of itself, not healthy as I am sure you realise.
Myself I have a long list of physical chronic illnesses and illnesses which they or their medication have created over the past decade+ ... Presently I take 30+ tablets a day and two injections ... I can have low oxygen and I am seen as 'border line asthmatic' after a whole raft of testing.
My wife is a Dr of Psychology and from my own life experiences which include being professionally trained to interrogate people, the mind is capable of anything ... Remember if something in your body is in trouble, it is your mind that informs you and itself ... Notice you do not know your oxygen level without an oximeter.... so that tool becomes a focus for your mind and you are most likely creating a 'self fulfilling prophecy'.
You expect to be breathless, so you concentrate on the meter and bingo ... your breathing slows automatically as you concentrate like everyone else's does .... Then your oxygen drops, you panic, your oxygen drops more as you breathe even less, you enter 'fight or flight' out of fear ... and so your oxygen drops more, as you body gets ready to purge itself ..... This is why people feel sick when afraid, it is an innate response.
The real question is .... what triggered your first ever panic attack ... what specifically kicked it off ... Find that, get counselling and it'll most likely cure all your issues.
Good fortune to you.
amber8607 mikhail80487
Posted
Been underweight for a few months due to anxiety and stress and just not eating so didnt know if that would be a factor in my sat levels dropping when moving
I've had a spirometry test that came back normal and because i dont wheeze and the issue is only on inhalation they dont think its asthma.
and i get that but as soon as i sit down it goes back up again my sats do so im now worried.
I dont actually feel breathless which i see most people are. just a constant feeling of breathing through a straw and restricted.
Thanks for the advice X
lauren97333 katy27135
Posted
These are great suggestions!
amber8607
Posted
has anyone had the same 😦
lauren97333 amber8607
Posted
I know the feeling you are describing, you can breath but its like a tightness that makes it feel like you aren't getting a full breath. I started having this feeling and its worse when I lay down to go to sleep (i think because i am thinking about it so much). I have had many tests over the last year due to physical symptoms that have been caused by my anxiety. Once i notice something i fixate on it and go worst case scenario which only increases my anxiety about it and the symptoms. I was having anxiety about having a fast heart rate so i got a fitbit to track it and became obsessed with checking it and had to stop wearing it. Your situation sounds similar so i would suggest not using the finger oxygen device for a few days and trying to focus on activities that you enjoy. Get lost in a good book or a TV series, something that takes your mind elsewhere. Usually if i can distract myself for a while it will lessen my symptoms and put my mind at ease.
amber8607 lauren97333
Posted
It doesnt really feel tight just feels extremely strained and constricted almost like im suffocating and its every breath 😦 distraction techniques dont seem to work for me these days so im stuck at what to do now. thank you
amber8607
Edited
Can someone help
amber8607
Posted
can someone help
dip58448 amber8607
Posted
Hi Amber,
I have this exact thing for one year now. Breathing feels tight and restricted, like it takes so much effort, and I feel like I'm suffocating. I know its been over a year since you posted - how are you feeling now? i started on Zoloft a few weeks ago because I just couldn't take it anymore.