breathlessness - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

angiekinsella · 09-11-2008, 03:22 AM

hi all, i looking for some advice/info from you all!!!

I have been suffering constantly for a few years now from breathlessness!! it all started in march 2005 when i was pregnant with my second child, 1 day i was in work when all of a sudden i started feeling unwell, like i was disorientated, i couldnt breath or focus on anything, i ended up being brought to hospital where after some tests said i had a chest infection!!! Well since then i havent been well a day!!!! with constant breathlessness and daily coughting up mucus (white or clear), the coughing up mucus occurs mostly in the morning after i get up!!!! Last august my doctor diagnosed asthma!!! i've been on 2 inhalers since, 1 reliever and 1 preventer!!! but nothing seems to help!!!! every day is a struggle because i'm afraid to go to far from home incase i cant breath enough!!!!!! i get breathless just thinking of doing any exercise!!!!!! to look at me you would say nothing is wrong as my lips are a lovely red colour and my eyes are bright (so every1 keeps telling me) i'm not pale, i'm overweight as i dont to exercise due to being not able to breath!!!

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

thanks

angie

Misty800 · 09-11-2008, 01:48 PM

Believe I may be able to help. For 10 years 3 internists and 1 cardiologist could not diganose my problem until I went to a hypertension specialist at a medical school, in fact he was a Nobel Prize Winner in Hypertension. My breathing was off track for unknown reasons and the specialist told me I was a "hidden hyperventilator".

That means you are not aware of hyperventilating and it is not noticeable by others unless they know what to look for.

I finally reached the point I could only take 3 steps and stall out. Short breath was my life.

Deprivation of oxygen can cause many problems and for me back then it caused my blood pressure hit the ceiling and meds did not work to bring it down. They gave me many combinations, individual meds, etc. but it did not work. Of course they chalked me up to being a hypocondriac even tho they did not exactly say that to me.

My problem was the hyper-ventilation. You need a balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in order for the red carpusles to release oxygen to the vital organs (heart, lungs, brains, etc.)

Doctors even today do not believe the diagnosis and keep saying it was anxiety. However, the specialist explained to me the lack of a balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide was causing my body to panic and not anxiety causing the problem. Panic came last, not first.

The prescription for my problem was to re-breathe in a paper sack 5 minutes every hour while awake. After 3 months I was to use the sack 2 or 3 times a day plus other times as needed. It is amazing how well this worked. I still use the sack off and on, you finally learn to recognize the need.

angiekinsella · 09-11-2008, 03:30 PM

thanks very much for your reply!! i have myself convinced i have some sort of lung/heart disease, but keep telling myself that if it was something like that surely they would have found it out by now (3.5yrs suffering)

did you find exercising helpful, i'm terrified to exercise because i get so out of breath!!!

Misty800 · 09-13-2008, 04:25 PM

Due to the short breath, lack of oxygen to vital organs, every time I tried to exercise or walk on the treadmill (slow 1.5 mph) my lungs hurt.

Work on re-breathing and later exercise a little here and there until you are able to exercise normal. If your lungs hurt, stop (rebreathe in sack), wait a while and try again. I rebreathe in sack off and on while walking the treadmill.

Exercise by walking around the house, building up stamina.
Climbing stairs was difficult, had to go up 2 steps, rest, go up 2 more and rest.

Building stamina and endurance takes a long time.

I fastened a paper sack to a 4" long tube, cut from a plastic candy tube, put a ribbon on it and wore it around my neck in order to have it handy to rebreathe in frequently and as needed. Use both hands to hold plastic tube, press nostrils closed with forefingers and rebreathe. Worked better than trying to hold an open top sack around mouth/nose. Target usually has the candy tubes.

If out and about, a person can press one side of nostril closed and take deep breath and very slow exhale thru nose. In office setting, just lean on your elbow with hand on face and do the same thing.

anythingherbal · 09-15-2008, 07:27 AM

you might wanna check your diet also angie because sometimes when you are eating to much fat in you meals the fats can clog your bloodstreams leaving your blood a hard time to circulate though your lungs and other parts of your body. therefore causing some difficulties in breathing. eat less fat and cholesterols it might help in a small way but it helps.