problems breathing - Cerebral Palsy Message Board

DaveKil · 10-15-2007, 10:47 AM

Hi guys. I'm a 20 year old male with cp. Recently, I've started to experience some trouble breathing. At various points throughout the day, I will feel out of breath and as though I cannot "catch" my breath. Sometimes, this is accompanied by a feeling of tightness in my chest.

At first, I thought I may have been having some sort of panic attack. This doesn't seem right, though, as my troubles breathing don't really culminate in a single "event." I've been screened for asthma, and that diagnosis doesn't fit either.

Now, I'm thinking these problems my be related in some way to my cp. Has anyone experienced or heard of anything like this? Thanks.

yankeegirl · 10-15-2007, 03:12 PM

I have that, too. I'm 32 and it's been happening for a few years now. I might feel a little tired, or totally normal, and then I inhale fast, like I'm "catching up" on breathing.

I also have tightening which can be VERY painful at times. I went to the emergency room for it once a long time ago and they gave me Maalox for it and it helped, so it must have been some digestive thing. However the doctor looked at the EKG they did and found some pattern she "didn't like to see in a 20 year old." I went to a cardiologist and he found absolutely nothing wrong with me. As is often the case for me, one medical professional tells me one thing, another tells me something entirely different.

If this happens to you a lot and/or you are worried about it, go to a doctor for it. That's the only way to find out for sure. If you feel it's your heart go to a cardiologist rather than a general doctor. Good luck.