I am 31, female, 5 children, very active. No prior health problems. 5'4, 120lbs. Starting this past March I began having difficulty breathing. Had to strain to take a deep breath and my chest felt tight. I thought I was coming down with a cold, but after 3 weeks of not getting any flu/cold symptoms and still having the breathing difficulty, I decided to stop smoking. After 3 weeks of quitting cold turkey, I had an episode where I found myself unable to take a breath. It was like I was paralyzed. After about 30 seconds of trying to intake air, I finally caught my breath. I freaked out and immediately went to the ER. The entire time I waited for a doctor, I took steady labored breaths to ensure that I didn't stop breathing. After a lung x-ray and an EKG and bloodwork, the doctors found absolutely nothing wrong with me. They told me I was having an anxiety attack and prescribed me lorezapam <sp?>. I am not a person easily stressed, but I accepted his diagnosis and went home. I took my medication and I can't really tell you how I felt over the next week because the medicine made me forget the whole week. Ever since this episode I have continued to have trouble completely filling my lungs with air. I struggle to get a good deep breath. I still have the occasional spams where it will take a few seconds before I can consciously make myself take a breath. About a month ago, new symptoms began to surface. I have since started to have difficulty swallowing. I find myself having to stop, think about it really hard and then force myself to swallow. It's so strange. I also have developed a constant headache accompanied by neck and shoulder pain. I know I have mild scoliosis and heard that a curved spine can cause breathing difficulties, so I visited a chiropractor who did some therapy and adjustments. He told me my scoliosis was minor enough to not be affecting my breathing. I have never had any other health problems before now. I heard for women once they turn 30 everything starts falling apart -- is this just part of getting old? I really did not want to go back to the doctor because they can't seem to find anything wrong with me and it's just costing alot of $$. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm waiting. Thanks!!
Hello there,
I usually post on the anxiety board but am here today as my Father has copd and was admitted to hospital last week, its been a hard time and i needed some advice.I happened to come across your post and can totally relate.I too feel i have difficulty taking a good satisfying breath most of the time,also the difficulty swallowing and having to stop and wait,can understand.It isnt nice at all,have called an ambulance before,been to the doctors,had tests,nothing wrong.I have anxiety disorder and have been told this is most likely the cause.I have four children,work and i do get stressed but im not sure if thats the cause. Its as if you become preoccupied with breathing,the more you think about it the worse it gets.With my Father in hospital last week i was really busy and didnt really notice it as much.Try and get out,do things which really take your attention fully,see if that helps.
Good luck and best wishes
The Following User Says Thank You to ceg741 For This Useful Post: PP33ch (04-02-2011)
I am 31, female, 5 children, very active. No prior health problems. 5'4, 120lbs. Starting this past March I began having difficulty breathing. Had to strain to take a deep breath and my chest felt tight. I thought I was coming down with a cold, but after 3 weeks of not getting any flu/cold symptoms and still having the breathing difficulty, I decided to stop smoking. After 3 weeks of quitting cold turkey, I had an episode where I found myself unable to take a breath. It was like I was paralyzed. After about 30 seconds of trying to intake air, I finally caught my breath. I freaked out and immediately went to the ER. The entire time I waited for a doctor, I took steady labored breaths to ensure that I didn't stop breathing. After a lung x-ray and an EKG and bloodwork, the doctors found absolutely nothing wrong with me. They told me I was having an anxiety attack and prescribed me lorezapam <sp?>. I am not a person easily stressed, but I accepted his diagnosis and went home. I took my medication and I can't really tell you how I felt over the next week because the medicine made me forget the whole week. Ever since this episode I have continued to have trouble completely filling my lungs with air. I struggle to get a good deep breath. I still have the occasional spams where it will take a few seconds before I can consciously make myself take a breath. About a month ago, new symptoms began to surface. I have since started to have difficulty swallowing. I find myself having to stop, think about it really hard and then force myself to swallow. It's so strange. I also have developed a constant headache accompanied by neck and shoulder pain. I know I have mild scoliosis and heard that a curved spine can cause breathing difficulties, so I visited a chiropractor who did some therapy and adjustments. He told me my scoliosis was minor enough to not be affecting my breathing. I have never had any other health problems before now. I heard for women once they turn 30 everything starts falling apart -- is this just part of getting old? I really did not want to go back to the doctor because they can't seem to find anything wrong with me and it's just costing alot of $$. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm waiting. Thanks!!
Funny...I posted this in 2009. I still can't breath and have been scanned from head-toe, MRI's, CT scans, sonograms, thyroid tests, pulmonary function test...the works. Only thing I found out was I had several herniated and deteriorated discs in my neck (explained the neck pain/headaches) and high cholesterol. Nothing to explain the breathing/swallowing difficulty. I was on google tonight searching for more answers and found my old post. As I read it, I sat up and thought to myself "HEY, she's got what *I* have!!!" then I was like..."oh this is me. Darn it." I doubt anyone cares since there was no reply to my original post, but I'm gonna put this out here so two years from now I can find this again and pull my hair out while I laugh at how long I have been searching for answers to this problem. I've got another pulmonory function test scheduled, a swallow test and a laparoscopic throat exam within the next month. I doubt they'll find anything and I will be told, as usual, it's all in my head. I love how I can be totally normal for 30 years then suddenly I'm a anxious hypochondriac just because they can't find anything wrong....*discouraged *deep unsatisfying breath *pause *gulp
I have a similar issue. I don't always have difficulty breathing, but up until today, I had trouble for about four days in a row. Before that, it's been on and off, and very VERY scary at times. I've been told I have bronchitis about five times over the course of a year, which is when this all started (about a year ago). Two CT scans have revealed nothing--nothing but clear lungs with no signs of anything to cause alarm. My problem began as a chronic cough, then progressed into waking at night gasping for air, and now, just smothering. I admit, when I feel I cannot breathe, I panic and this makes everything worse.
I have been told for about six months now that this is all in my head. I have pain in my right lung all the way into my back and up into my shoulder blade. The other night, my mother took me to the ER because I was very short of breath, and not surprisingly, the doctor there thought this all in my head as well. I'm at the end of my rope with this. I admit that I do have an anxiety problem, but there are some things with my case that just cannot be explained by blaming anxiety--like blood test results that pointed to either bronchitis or pulmonary embolism. Meh. IDK.
I'm starting to believe the problem might be my gal bladder. Have you had yours checked? I have been very nauseous lately with the shortness of breath, and have been told by a doctor and my nurse now that a gal bladder that needs removed can make you feel like you're smothering, and also, cause pain near the lung, into the back, and in the shoulders. Like you, I also have problems with my neck and my back. My neck was actually xrayed the other night because the doctor realized how much pain he caused me by poking and tugging at me, especially around my neck. I've wondered if my back issues, whatever they are, could be the cause of my shortness of breath, but then, I mostly doubt it. My pulmonary function tests were normal. My two CT scans were clear, and for one, they used contrast to check for the embolism. All chest x rays are clear. Blood work is fine.
Maybe I am being driven crazy by anxiety, but it's hard to accept. I have an appointment with a lung specialist on the 12th, and will also get scheduled to have my ultrasound to check the gal bladder. If I am suffering from anxiety alone, I want everything else ruled out. Then I will fully accept it and take whatever medications will help me to manage the problem. Until then, I want answers. I want to be sure nothing is seriously wrong, physically.
You should do the same. Sometimes doctors absolutely just miss things. Have the gal bladder checked. I had no idea it was possible, but it can actually make you feel like you will smother to death. Best of luck!
Long-time Difficulty Breathing 
wondering -- has your breathing gotten any better?
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