Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
Ive been getting these episodes lately. It really sucks becuase its effecting my sleep lately. I wake up and feel like I cant get a big enough breath in. Im not sure if Im hyperventilating or have asthma or something. I am going to a doc today to ask about this. Every time they have checked my lungs though their clear. Also I know that even during these episodes I check my breathing and Im pushing out enough air but it still feels like Im not. Its a horrible feeling. During the day the episodes dont last long but at night it feels like Im hyperventilating in my sleep. Anyone else experience this during sleep?
Last edited by tooanxious; 09-27-2004 at 09:51 AM.
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
I yawn trying to get a big enough breath in also. When I finally get that feeling that I have a big enough breath in Im fine. Sometimes it takes a while to get their and it feels like your suffocating.
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
I know what you mean by waking up in your sleep and feeling unable to breathe. It happens to me also. Also, I have the feeling like I can't take a deep breath. It is a horrible sensation and I wish I knew what it was. It seems to come in and lasts for about two weeks and then I go on to another symptom.
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
Count me amongst all of you with this one. I, too, feel like I can yawn and yawn and never get a full breath. Then, of course, I think "shortness of breath-- a symptom that Clinton had that revealed he had heart problems" and then I'm convinced it's something wrong with my heart. So I start to feel like maybe I'm dying because I'm not going to be able to breathe. Or sometimes when I'm laying in bed reading, I can't take a full breath, so I have to sit up, then usually I get one in and feel better. Sorry we all have these anxiety problems, but I'm relieved I'm not alone here.
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
I think it is pretty common. I know that is one of the symptoms of my attacks. I recedntly started medication and have stopped (hopefully for good) having the attacks.
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
I get it and it tnds to come and go. sometimes I think its my heart but then I get distracted and kind of forget about it an it goes away.so I figure if it was my heart it would get worse with time.also it seems to come when i am stressed out or dont get enough sleep wich makes anxiety worse. I am now med free,was taking paxil for years,and stopped cold turkey. what a mistake that was.oh well.now I am kind of trying not to take anything which is hard. well see.
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
Well my doc said my lungs sounded clear. He said that I have really bad allergies though and that is causing my nose to be stuffed up. He said my nasal passages look 70% blocked. I dont even have a stuffed upped nose (with mucus like a cold) right now either! The passages are just inflamed so its like Im breathing thru a straw. He said that my allergies and nasal stufiness can throw off my breathing at night and make it hard to breathe. So he gave me nasonex which is supposed to keep my nasal passages open. Even if your nose doesnt have mucus in it the passages can still be inflamed and make it hard to breathe. Hope this helps some of you with your symptoms. Get checked by your doc for allergies and see if your nose is causing these symptoms. Hopefully it will help with my shortness of breath and hyperventilating.
Last edited by tooanxious; 09-27-2004 at 05:38 PM.
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
Thanks tooanxious. I thought that might be my problem. The shortness of breath did start when my nose became blocked. I took Sudefed and that helped a little. I hope that is all it is with the breathing. My Dr. also said my lungs were clear and that it was not my heart. I get anxious when I hear about people that had shortness of breath and then had heart disease. Let us know how you are doing.
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
Have you heard of “Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome”? I have been doing a lot of research on the symptoms we all have been having: air hunger, frequent yawning attempts, inability to get a full yawn etc. For me they all point to Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome (HVS). If you have HVS you tend to breath shallow and rapidly when anxious like a scared animal being chased by a predator, causing hyperventilation. There are some helpful web sights about it if you just type it into your search engine. The only thing that differs with my symptoms and the ones in HVS is that I tend to breath slower than most people and even more so when anxious and almost end up holding my breath. So to compensate I yawn and yawn until I begin to hyperventilate (same results). I also think the reason some of us can’t get a good yawn is first we don’t exhale enough and there isn’t room for a yawn when our lungs are already full. Second we tense up and the muscles around our lungs are to tight to allow a full inhale. Sometimes it seems to help loosen those muscles if I exhale a few breaths first before I attempt a yawn. Unfortunately I haven’t concurred my problem yet and the only treatment is the exact same stuff for relief of anxiety plus breathing exercises which tend to just make me obsess over my breathing and make things worse. Distracting myself from my breathing seems to be a lot more effective for me. Computers and reading are good distractions for me they act like a form of meditation. If any of this info helps you all let me know and if you have any suggestions on what meds are good for this let me know. The Xanax I have doesn’t do much for me.
Thanks
Last edited by kapualani; 10-04-2004 at 08:09 AM.
Reason: fix the removed part to comply with rules
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
During a very stressful period of my life I started to experience shortness of breath. I had the feeling that my throat was tightened. Three months of this saw some improvement.
I got an Advair inhaler and saw more improvement. Now I can go days without having an episode and even when I do it's very mild..
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome
Do you have the follow symptoms (not all inclusive):
"air hunger"
"feel like breathing through a straw or get enough air"
"chest tight or hurts"
"back muscles hurt or tight"
"rapid breathing"
"dizzy"
"panicky"
"deep breath attempts just stop"
"sigh alot or yawn alot to get satisfying breath"
"when you do get a deep breath satisfaction only last a few minutes"
"lump in the throat"
"chest muscles and back muscles feel tired"
If you have seen lots of doctors and they do not know what is wrong with you because all the tests say your normal or they say you suffering from stress and give you medication or tell you to see a psychiatrist. Ask them about CHS. Many doctors do not know about CHS because as you can see the above symptoms can also be a result of more serious conditions and it is difficult to diagnose CHS. There is even some argument CHS actually exists, but it is very real for those of us that suffer from it. You are not crazy. Google Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome and you will see it is a real condition with some real treatment options. I have not pursued any of the treatment options b/c I think I can lick this myself since I know what I have now. Knowledge is half the battle. I searched for 2 years for an answer and finally a way out. Good luck. Hopefully this helps.
american sage
Re: How many exerience shortness of breath and how long does it last?
I have been trying to conquer CHS for many years now without drugs or psychological help. I have found a good herb that helps me a lot, it's called Valerian Root. Most people take it to help them sleep at night but I take it day or night whenever I get air hunger. De-stressing myself is also very important.
Anyone else experience this during sleep?
sometimes I think its my heart but then I get distracted and kind of forget about it an it goes away.so I figure if it was my heart it would get worse with time.also it seems to come when i am stressed out or dont get enough sleep wich makes anxiety worse. 
I am now med free,was taking paxil for years,and stopped cold turkey. 
what a mistake that was.oh well.now I am kind of trying not to take anything which is hard. 
