I'm so glad to have come across this forum. I've been doing endless searching on the web trying to come up with answers to the problems I've been having and I haven't found much. Maybe someone here will be able to relate and share their experiences with me.

I'm 24 years old, and for the last two months I have had difficulty breathing. My chest constantly feels tight, like I can't get enough air down into my lungs and I want to yawn a lot. I've paid visits to my general doctor and my asthma/allergy doctor, and they don't seem to be able to give me an answer. But they do give me a lot of inhalers and breathing treatments that don't work!

My asthma doctor did a spirometry test (blowing out the candles on the cake) and said that overall my results looked good...and this was when I felt quite bad. He said I did have some small airway constriction. He didn't seem overly concerned though. I was given a breathing treatment, and did the test again. He said I showed a little improvement, but not enough to "conclusively" say it was asthma. I do have a history of asthma and I receive allergy shots, but (luckily) I haven't even touched my rescue inhalers (Maxair and Atrovent) in I couldn't tell you how long. When I take them I usually notice very little improvement, and sometimes feel like they make me worse.

He gave me Qvar, and a course of antibiotics because he thought it might be due to a sinus infection and post-nasal drip irritating my lungs. This was at the beginning of April. Since then I've taken 4 different antibiotics, with my doctors hoping that particular one would do the trick and clear up my infection. I haven't had any colored mucus though...just very clear, white, sticky mucus that occaisionally accumulates in my throat. I haven't been coughing either - I haven't felt the urge. When I do cough just to give it a try, it's very dry cough, with nothing produced. I do wheeze a little on exhalation.

However, every day I still CANNOT breathe. The only real relief I get is at night when I'm sleeping. Sometimes it is a little better than others, but I'm never back to feeling like myself (ie: being able to take a deep breath).

My general doctor attributed it to stress and upped my Zoloft dosage. I thought it could be stress too. My grandmother passed away in early April and it was quite a shock. My symptoms were there a little before that happened...but I admit they "blew-up" so-to-speak afterward. Then maybe the added stress of not being able to breathe, missing work, etc. I don't think it's too far off, but there is something physical underlying it. I know how my lungs feel and I don't think that can be due 100% to me being stressed and anxious. I've been doing some relaxation techniques and trying not to let my mind focus on my breathing. There are times when I'll have my mind off it completely, but then it comes around to the fact that things still aren't right.

I can see why my doctor would think I'm a head-case though. Everytime I go in, I can feel tight as can be, and they'll put the little ET-finger on me and I'll show 100% oxygen level, and under the stethoscope my lungs sound clear. Thank goodness, but I CAN'T BREATHE!!

I just don't know what this is. It's not the feeling I associate with asthma. I had lots of attacks when I was younger, took my inhaler and had a bad time of it, but then I did get relief. Now I don't. I thought I might start feeling better by being faithful to the Qvar, since it's a corticosteriod and might reduce the inflammation, but so far I notice no difference. I'm taking my Clarinex like I do every year at allergy season.

I felt like this several years ago and no doctor really knew what to do with me then either. I went to a quack pulmonologist who had me on all sorts of inhalers and prednisone, convinced I was going to have limited lung capacity for the rest of my life. My regular doctor put an end to the Prednisone and Advair. He gave me some antibiotics instead (which I thought at the time helped, but they haven't done the trick this time.) After about a month it went away, and I haven't had any problems breathing since that time until, well...beginning of April. Now it's going into two months and I'm sick of it! I'm frustrated and scared. If it's asthma, why can't I be treated with asthma meds? If it's not asthma, what is it? :confused:

If you've read this far, thank you. I'd appreciate anything you have to share ((ideas, similar experiences, support, etc.) I'm at my wit's end!

Is the tightness in the middle of your chest (around your bronchi), or in your back.

Also, do you have chronic bronchitis, or get bronchitis frequently every time you get a cold? Have you had pneumonia before?

I wonder if you have a low level bronchitis that is aggrevating your asthma, or if you have walking pneumonia. Where is it tight in your chest?

I feel the tightness more in my lower lungs...like I'm hitting a wall when I try to breathe in. The last couple days it's been more generalized throughout my lungs, but it has been more hot and humid.

I had pneumonia and bronchitis a lot when I was younger. The last time I had a case of pneumonia was about six years ago.

The only trouble I have with my back is that my ribs feel out of sorts, like they're being pushed around and displaced, but I feel it in the front of my lower ribcage as well.

It sounds like you have some kind of pneumonia. When's the last time you had bronchitis? It's possible you had a low level bronchitis that went into a kind of pneumonia.

If your doctor didn't see that, I might get a second opinion.

Hello,
Chest tightness and pressure is what I felt two weeks ago as well as pain with movement and breathing. I was put on prednisone, had normal chest x ray and EKG.
I had a chest CT done and it showed multiple blebs. I can feel air popping in my side. Blebs are congenital blister like areas on the surface of the lung that can cause air to leak into the lung and cause a collapse.
teacup2005 :wave:

teacup...

Just wondering...when you say you can "feel air popping in my side", could you please explain what exactly that feels like to you, as I feel the same weird sensation. Do you feel this in your back (lower lung) area? Wondering, as I've had SOB as well.

Free to feel good, I hope your docs figure this out soon for you, and will be able to help you get past this.
Thanks..
Deda

:wave: Hello,
On my left side under arm. When I breath deep and have a flat hand on my ribs I can feel air popping and also hear it. Like bubble wrap. At times I have to breath in deep to catch my breath. Guess the multiple blebs I have are popping yet not enough to collapse the lung. Just a constant rubber band feeling around my chest.
teacup

Thanks Teacup. :)

Hi everyone, thanks for replying. I haven't been back to check on the post for a while, but I'm sorry to say that my "mystery condition" hasn't improved much since the last time I was here.

justme100 - At the very beginning of this, my allergist thought it was post-nasal drip causing my problems. I wasn't quite satisfied with this, so went to emergency care (not the hospital, but a 24hr local clinic) a few days later. Dr. listened to my chest, said it sounded clear, but I could have bronchitis (???) He gave me some antibiotics. I haven't had any coughing though...

I saw my regular doctor last week now he's on a kick about GERD. He pushed on my stomach, asked me if it hurt. It did a little bit, but not overwhelmingly so. He gave me some Nexium and said I should set up an appointment for an upper GI. He didn't listen to my lungs at all though...and at this point no chest x-ray or anything else has been done, other than the spirometry tests at my allergist's office (which have looked good except for the small airways). I'm going to see him again tomorrow, and also ask him what he thinks about this GERD stuff. I don't have any feelings of indigestion or acid coming up, but sometimes after I eat I feel really puffed up under my rib cage. (this is what I told my dr. that got him started on this).

Ergh! Every day, every minute, I feel like I just cannot breathe! We're also having quite a run of humid weather which isn't helping the situation. I've been taking Qvar for several weeks now...does anyone know how long it takes to usually see some improvement from it?

I keep pursuing things on the Net but I come up with a lot of loose ends. Aspergillus/Aspergilliosis is something else I'm looking into (since I did test allergic to that mold) but I just don't know! I'm starting to feel very down. :(

Teacup...that popping sensation must feel very strange...I hope you're improving.

and Deda, thank you for your support. I hope someone has some insight very soon!

Hey! im glad I found your post, I get the same thing everyday but by me it happens on random times everyday. Im 17 and I dont even smoke but I get this...

It mostly happens in school when Im sitting, I feel this weird tightness by my chest but a bit lower, it kind of feels like the muscles in that area are tight or that there is just something weird there pushing me...I dont have asthma and my x-ray looked ok. :confused:

I think every one should be checked for thyroid problems as well. Hypothyroid can cause a tight chest and shortness of breath too. I think that's where my tight chest has come from. When my thyroid levels are good, everything's fine, but when they are bad, (like right now), I'm short of breath and my chest gets real tight.
Of course I know there can be other causes as well, but please get them to check your thyroid levels.
Deda

Hello,

I too have had the same problems that you describe. It started about 4 years ago, and it has been really bad the last 2. I've had Pleurisy 6 times in the last 3 years and Bronchitis twice in same length of time.

I'm 31 and smoked for 13 years and quite 2 years ago when my chest pains and shortness of breath starting really gettting bad. I thought for sure that my problems were smoke related, but since quiting I'm still having the same amount of discomfort as I was then, sometimes even more.

My doctor thought it was asthma for the longest time and treated me with Advair and Albuterol which gave me no relief, in fact, I think it made me worse. He also had me on Prednisone and a number of other anti-inflammatories over the last 2 years for my Pleurisy which also seemed to give me no relief. There was no cough or phlegm associated with my chest pains and shortness of breath, so he wasn't sure what as going on. He eventually sent me to a Pulmonary doctor which did asthma tests on me, all of whick came back fine. He then did an x-ray and CT Scan, and those came back fine too.

Even thought we had determined it wasn't asthma, the Pulmonary doctor suggested me using a different inhaler (Qvar) and a different inhalation powder (Foradil). By this time, I am just at my ropes end with all this pain, that never seems to go away and asked why I was still being treated for something I didn't have and decided to figure it out on my own.

I started doing some research, thinking that if I don't die from this constant, never ending pain, then I'm probably going to die from all the medication that they have me doped up on. After some searching I noticed that I had alot of the same symptoms of GERD. At first, I thought there was no way it is was that because I don't feel any fluid or acid in my throat, but after reading more I found out that many people have it and don't even know it. I found out that the fluid can get into your lungs and cause inflammation and bronchitis. It can also cause tighting in the chest, chest pains, shortness of breath, along with many other things.

I brought this up to my doctor and he put me on Prevacid. Within a day the tighting in my chest and my shortness of breath was starting to go away. I couldn't believe it. I had found something that was giving me more relief than anything else I had been on. After about 2 weeks, all my symptoms seemed to be almost gone, but I had been having side effects from the Prevecid after the second day, like waking up in the middle of the night shaking really bad, a heavy, pressing, feeling in my upper chest, and terrible stomach cramps. This concerned me and then I found out that medications like Preveced could cause pneumonia and I stopped taking it. After more investigating I found some natural remedies that could help with GERD like Ginger juice, Aloe Vera Juice, and Apple Cider Vinegar. I usually take 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before each meal and it seems to help.

I also read that you have to find the cause of the reflux. Some of these things can cause it or aggravate it (smoking, coffee, soda, alcohol, chocolate, fatty foods, over eating, over weight, stress) along with many other things. I'm not quite sure what the cause of it is for me, but I left my ex-husband 4 years ago after 10 years and have been rasing our 4 kids alone since then. I had my mother pass away from breast cancer years ago, my father passed away from lung cancer last Sept., and I've had 2 grandfathers, my grandmother, and two friends pass away within the last 2 years, so perhaps "STRESS" could be the cause. My diet wasn't really all that great either, so I've since stopped drinking coffee, soda, alcohol, and stopped eating chocolate, and real fatty foods. Plus I've been walking an hour every night for the last 2 months. I feel better now, than I have in a long time.

My doctor sent me to get an EGD (gastroscopy) done last Friday and they found a Hiatal Hernia, and I'll get the results back from the biopsy this week.

I'm sorry this was such a long winded reply, but I do hope it can help you some how. It may very well not be GERD that you have, but it would be worth looking into.

Also, I don't know if you drink caffeine and alcohol or not, but those 2 things mixed with anti-depressants can cause adversed effects. Caffeine and alcohol alone without being on anti-depressants can cause and already stressed-out person to become more stresssed-out and will prevent you from being able to really relax.

I wish you the best, good luck. :wave:

Its called Hyperventilation+syndrome. Search google and read about it. Classic symptoms. Tight chest, inability to get enough air!!

It's as if I wrote your message. I have just embarked upon the exact same experience and am currently on my first round of antibiotics. Have you had a successful diagnosis?

Hey you... sorry to hear of your breathing problems. I used to have a great deal of problems absorbing air even tho my lungs would seem to expand normally. I was put in the booth more than once, checked with and without inhalers and told there was little or no difference in the tests. I was told they could not find any problem. Still, I lacked breath. Anxiety attacks many times accompanied and added to my breathing difficulties. I too would get the majority of relief when asleep and was able to breathe well upon awaking. After finally crawling out of bed and becoming mobile the breathing problems would return for no apparent reason. I finally tracked the foods I ate and found any food containing yeast and gluten and ANYTHING with wheat were the problem. If you eat bread and sugar in the same meal and bloat shortly after unable to expel the gas perhaps you share the problem I have. When I exclude wheat, yeast, gluten from my diet my breathing is at least 90% better and I have not had an anxiety attack for at least a year. Hope this helps

This is so interesting! Thanks for the information. I have noticed for the past 5 years or so, that anytime I eat sugar or yeast products, I bloat and stay miserable for several hours. I also have been diagnosed with asthma. I am going to cut out the yeast and sugar and so what happens to my health. Hey, it can't hurt, right!??

you're right... it can't hurt to try a new idea. Yeast stays in your body for a long time... may take a special diet to rid yourself of it. One thing you may find is when there is massive yeast die-off you will become very tired for a couple of days... this has happened to me more than once because I have occasionally given in to a bread craving then have to stop and let the yeast die again

I very happy I found this! This is exactly what I am going through too! Even though everything is normal I still FEEL like im lacking air. I don't understand this and it's been giving me big time anxiety attacks. Although I'm better now I still feel that I am not 100%.

Any news on your condition?

I very happy I found this! This is exactly what I am going through too! Even though everything is normal I still FEEL like im lacking air. I don't understand this and it's been giving me big time anxiety attacks. Although I'm better now I still feel that I am not 100%.

Any news on your condition?

I very happy I found this! This is exactly what I am going through too! Even though everything is normal I still FEEL like im lacking air. I don't understand this and it's been giving me big time anxiety attacks. Although I'm better now I still feel that I am not 100%.

Any news on your condition?

It's unusual, but a family member had all the same symptoms as you. After seeing 10 doctors in 8 months and being pumped full of asthma and bronchitis medication, (and having several chest X-rays and a CT scan), the 11th doctor finally (and quickly) found that he had a paralyzed diaphragm. You just can't get a deep breath. The lungs are fine, the bellows that work them aren't. The phrenic nerve (that controls the diaphragm) can get damaged or bruised for various reasons. The symptoms are having a slightly restrictive airway pattern, shortness of breath with exertion or lying flat, breath sounds absent in the lower part of the lung, and the diaphragm being elevated on the x-ray. It is confirmed with a fluoroscope exam (a "sniff test").

Hi everyone. It's been a while since I've been back to revisit this post. A strange circular loop in which a ****** search on this problem brought up my own post from two years ago.

It seems as though I've fallen back into the old breathing trap. I can't decide which is more frustrating: Trying to determine how I get here or what to do to get out of it. I felt very similar to this last summer. Again, all the lung tests were fine. My doctor even had me do a challenge with an inhaler that showed no difference before or after. I think by now I've been on just about every asthma medication on the market and all have done no good. Which thankfully leads me (and all my doctors) to conclude it's NOT asthma. But then again, the question remains...what IS this?

I believe more and more that it is anxiety, but a very unpredictable manifestation of it. I have definitely been stressed in between these episodes, and at the onset of this one...I didn't have anything to be stressed about. In fact, the previous day I felt the absolute best I have in a long time. It leads me to wonder all sorts of things about thyroid and hormones. It seems there isn't a lot of information in this department. The only information I've been able to find is in regards to women in menopause, and I'm only 26! I've been starting to wonder if I have some sort of low tolerance to adrenaline or something. I haven't been able to drink anything caffeinated for over 10 years because I have such a severe response of not being able to breathe. I always thought that was strange considering it's a "home remedy" to treat an asthma attack by having a cup of coffee. For me that would do the exact opposite!
Caffeine and adrenaline seem to be very closely related. I've had various thyroid tests, etc which have never pointed to any thyroid problems (even though I am underweight and always have been.)

Even when I'm feeling "good" I experience some chest tightness right before or during my period. Last week I feel like I had some kind of "perfect storm" event where I have to believe my pre-period hormones played an important role. Only thing is it's still going. I can't seem to break the cycle as it were.

I think some of you here definitely understand this constant chest tightness, but I hardly ever see this symptom addressed anywhere else. I read lots of things about panic attacks, but that seems to be an event that comes and goes. I don't relate to that feeling. Mine is an every day, every hour, every minute thing. It can last for a week, a month or months with no predictable rhyme or reason. Go away for a year, two years, month, etc. and then WHAM! It's back. It can come about by surprise at a time when I feel otherwise fine. I just don't understand it.

Right now I'm looking into registering for a yoga class because as crazy and basic as it sounds I think I need to learn how to breathe properly. I keep hoping that will help. I really wish this issue was better understood. I do believe it's anxiety, but not solely anxiety. I just can't figure out what the other component is.

Sorry if some of this is disjointed. I just have so many thoughts and questions about this bouncing around in my head. :dizzy:

How have you all been doing? Any updates or new insights?

Take care.

FreeToFeelGood, I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. I posted earlier about multiple lung nodules, pleural effusion and scarring. The Pulmonary doc sort of dismissed all the lung nodules as a recent bout with a bronchial infection or pneumonia. He referred me to a GI and diagnosed me with GERD. It may be something to look into for your symptoms as well. At first I dismissed it, because my chest hurt so much, had a lot of yuck in my throat and laryngitis for 7 weeks. It all makes more sense now, as I have been doing a lot of reading about it. The acids from your stomach settle in your throat at night and some can get into your respiratory system. The Pulmonologist also told me that GERD can contribute to bronchitis.

My appt with the GI is on Thursday. Hopefully, I'll have some answers. But, after consideration, I am tending to agree with the Pulmonary doc as I've been battling for some time now - with food getting stuck in my chest every time I eat. It can be painful. There are foods I have been told to avoid, such as citrus, caffiene, tomatoes, and drinks...alcoholic beverges, citrus juices and soda pop is a big no no. I remember looking at the doc and he must have been able to read my thoughts. I was thinking, Oh great, the all water diet. But, it wasn't that hard to stop drinking sodas. He did say it was okay to have some white wine in moderation as long as it's with a meal.

It could or could not be what is causing chaos for both of us. But, it may be worth some consideration.

Hi everyone. It's been a while since I've been back to revisit this post. A strange circular loop in which a ****** search on this problem brought up my own post from two years ago.

It seems as though I've fallen back into the old breathing trap. I can't decide which is more frustrating: Trying to determine how I get here or what to do to get out of it. I felt very similar to this last summer. Again, all the lung tests were fine. My doctor even had me do a challenge with an inhaler that showed no difference before or after. I think by now I've been on just about every asthma medication on the market and all have done no good. Which thankfully leads me (and all my doctors) to conclude it's NOT asthma. But then again, the question remains...what IS this?

I believe more and more that it is anxiety, but a very unpredictable manifestation of it. I have definitely been stressed in between these episodes, and at the onset of this one...I didn't have anything to be stressed about. In fact, the previous day I felt the absolute best I have in a long time. It leads me to wonder all sorts of things about thyroid and hormones. It seems there isn't a lot of information in this department. The only information I've been able to find is in regards to women in menopause, and I'm only 26! I've been starting to wonder if I have some sort of low tolerance to adrenaline or something. I haven't been able to drink anything caffeinated for over 10 years because I have such a severe response of not being able to breathe. I always thought that was strange considering it's a "home remedy" to treat an asthma attack by having a cup of coffee. For me that would do the exact opposite!
Caffeine and adrenaline seem to be very closely related. I've had various thyroid tests, etc which have never pointed to any thyroid problems (even though I am underweight and always have been.)

Even when I'm feeling "good" I experience some chest tightness right before or during my period. Last week I feel like I had some kind of "perfect storm" event where I have to believe my pre-period hormones played an important role. Only thing is it's still going. I can't seem to break the cycle as it were.

I think some of you here definitely understand this constant chest tightness, but I hardly ever see this symptom addressed anywhere else. I read lots of things about panic attacks, but that seems to be an event that comes and goes. I don't relate to that feeling. Mine is an every day, every hour, every minute thing. It can last for a week, a month or months with no predictable rhyme or reason. Go away for a year, two years, month, etc. and then WHAM! It's back. It can come about by surprise at a time when I feel otherwise fine. I just don't understand it.

Right now I'm looking into registering for a yoga class because as crazy and basic as it sounds I think I need to learn how to breathe properly. I keep hoping that will help. I really wish this issue was better understood. I do believe it's anxiety, but not solely anxiety. I just can't figure out what the other component is.

Sorry if some of this is disjointed. I just have so many thoughts and questions about this bouncing around in my head. :dizzy:

How have you all been doing? Any updates or new insights?

Take care.
I've been experiencing a similar phenomenon. I've been going through stress with a father who just died, a new job, a lost girlfriend, refinancing hassles. So it's a nightmare. I've felt all kinds of chest stiffness. Didn't go to a doctor yet since I know it's stress, based on past experience. How I've remedied it is remembering how I reduce stress. For the past couple of days I've been exercising intensely. I'm a runner, so I've run 30 minutes a day for the past couple of days and I can already feel the tightness beginning to go away. That and sexual fulfillment, whether with a partner or on your own, and you might feel like a new man. That's my take anyway. It's worked for me before and it seems to be working now.

At last...a forum that deals with what has been bothering me for the last two months. I believe that this type of 'breathing problem' needs to be solved by process of elimination. This has been my elimination processes so far. Perhaps we can come to some conclusion as to what is remaining that we can solve.
1. CT scan shows lungs clear of all 'bad' problems .
2. Nuke stress test eliminates heart problems.
3. Pulumonary Function tests show no problems.
4. Don't have allergies (that I know of).
5. Found out that I have sleep apnea - not usisng CPAP yet.
6. Had deviated septum - just fixed two weeks ago and breathing a little
better - hoping to get better sooner.

Dr. put me on inhalers - didn't do much good. Put me on Aciphex - I think it
might be working somewhat. My episodes are less severe, but I still have them, especially just before bed. During the day, I yawn constantly trying to satisfy my need for a full breath.

So with the above eliminated, I am pursuing the acid reflux route by trying to use Apple cider vinegar (why not...seems to work for other people). Scheduling a CPAP mask study in two weeks to see if that helps. I am beginning to believe that once you get that shortness of breath...it scares the living hell out of you...and in fact causes a sort of mild panic....that it will happen again. Kind of like a self fullfilling prophesy. I also am going to try using .5 mg of Xanax just before bedtime to see if that may help. I don't know if any of this helps anyone out there, but believe me we all need a solution to our problem.

This forum has been helpful...in that it has given me other avenues to investigate and eliminate....ie. Hypothyroid problem...need to check that one out. Will re-post when I get more data.

I'm going thru the same thing!!! Went to a pulmonologist who listened to my breathing and took a chest x ray and all was fine. I also did one of those breathing tests which came out fine. I notice that it happens more frequently before bed or when i just wake up. When I'm not focusing on it, it doesn't bother me. I do have a history of anxiety so not sure what's going on. Oh also had an ekg which came out fine too..

Hi...have you tried the acid reflux route yet. Also do you yawn alot during the day. Snoreing. Sleep apnea can also be a route to look at. I know its alot of hassle, but when you have trouble breathing...nothing else seems to matter. Tried my .5 Xanax last night...took it about 9 pm. Not sure it did much good...still felt that pressure on my chest..and required deep breaths. Still working on the apple cider vinegar. I will solve this problem no matter what it takes.

I'm going thru the same thing!!! Went to a pulmonologist who listened to my breathing and took a chest x ray and all was fine. I also did one of those breathing tests which came out fine. I notice that it happens more frequently before bed or when i just wake up. When I'm not focusing on it, it doesn't bother me. I do have a history of anxiety so not sure what's going on. Oh also had an ekg which came out fine too..

I still am working on acid reflux as the problem (although I really do not believ e that it is). I am thinking more on the lines of allergies...not the mild type (ie tears, running nose), but the moderate symptom of shortness of breath. I am planning to run those tests to see if I am prone to allergies now at a later age. I never was allergic to penicillin, now I am. So other things may be affecting me. Perhaps you also. Its worth a try to elimnate it as a cause.

My story is the same as many of you. Glad to find this thread, suffering very similar symptoms. I haven't figured it out yet either, but I thought I would join in the conversation.
I appreciate the suggestions that have been offered here. I will try some of them and report back on any success that I encounter.

Best wishes to all for improved health!

You all have the same symptoms I have been having for 7 months!
I'm a 30 yo female. I have been taking Zoloft (for depression) and Ativan (for anxiety). They have taken the "edge" off my symptoms but I still feel like I can't breathe almost all of the time and my chest/lugs is constantly tight. I was diagnosed with severe GERD and have been on Protonix 2 x day for 3 months and had an upper GI which revealed nothing.

I have had 4 chest x-rays, all clear and 2 ekgs which looked good. I just had an echocardiogram which was normal as well. All of my blood work has been normal also.

I do have allergies, but usually I feel better just taking OTC alavert.
I have only gotten anxious and depressed since I have been sick for so long, my sickness isn't because of that. But even being on these meds for 3-4 months hasn't gotten me back to normal.

If someone gets an answer to what is causing these problems we need to know. Because it seems like they can't find anything and the meds aren't helping. I'm the same way with inhalers, they really don't do anything. I may try to go back on Singulair because it didn't feel like it was helping much but who knows.

If anyone has suggestions I would really appreciate it, this has practically ruined my life, I'm exhausted and have no energy and pretty much have not been able to enjoy my life, which is really great so I wish I could just have a great time.

I found a website that talks about Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome (HVS) which sounds like a lot of the symptoms we've been talking about. It's not a doctor but it's someone talking from the perspective of experiencing all of these symptoms.

Here's the link at www.erzo.org/kimberly/health/HVS/ - not sure if the link will come up. Hopefully it will.