Trouble Breathing. Need advice.

[VanillaMints]

Well, first off, i'm sorry if this isn't in the right category but I have no idea what is happening or where I should bring it up. I thought this would be the best place to post my problem.

Well firstly, i'm sure we've all had those moments where you need to take a deep breath. Well every now and then I get this urge, but instead of just taking the deep breath and going on, i'm not able to breathe in deeply enough to satisfy this urge. It's kind of hard to explain, but instead of hitting that peek in the yawn or deep breath, it gets close, but then I can't breathe in any more air, and so I have to breathe out without satisfying the yawn. And it's not just once either, it will happen over and over and over again. I don't have asthma, and this isn't after any sort of exercise. It happens whenever wherever. I'd really love to know what causes this, and what's going on. I've talked to some other girls and they say they've had these respiratory problems as well. None of us knows what's happening. Any information at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Kimberbella]

For me, when I get that, its usually the first sign of indigestion. If it becomes bothersome, Ill take an antiacid and it will go away. Usually it flares up if Im nervous or anxious about something. Also certian foods tend to bring it on for me too. Kim

[zuzu8]

Hi- Vanillamints-
It sounds like you may be experiencing something called "hyperventilation syndrome".

Frequent yawning and sighing respirations are very common symptoms of this quite common syndrome. There's also this feeling of not quite being able to "catch" one's breath or the sensation of an "unsatisfying" breath.

For some unknown reason ( like Kimberbella mentioned: possibly ANXIETY ) or even something as silly as wearing pants too tight (!!), you stop breathing from your diaphragm and begin breathing in your upper chest. This causes hyperventilation.

When you breath in your upper chest, you can't get enough oxygen to the lower parts of your lungs. You breathe shallowly.

When you breathe shallowly, you need to breathe more often to get enough oxygen.

When you breathe too often, you exhale too much carbon dioxide.

When you exhale too much carbon dioxide, you hold your breath a lot (unconsciously) to keep the level of carbon dioxide in your blood from dropping any further.

When your carbon dioxide level is low, your blood circulation is affected such that you don't get enough oxygen to your brain. Also, the pH of your blood changes.

When your blood pH changes, the muscles that wrap around the blood vessels may spasm.

When you don't get enough oxygen to your brain, you YAWN a lot, some people even get dizzy, and/or get headaches had lose concentration, get easily fatigued, and all sorts of other things .

If you are otherwise healthy, anxiety is a big trigger for all this.

So, try to relax.....this is truly very common and underdiagnosed.

zuzu xxx


[This message has been edited by zuzu8 (edited 08-08-2003).]

[symphonybar]

I had to check the author of this post because it was like I had written it! This is exactly how I describe my breathing problem to people.

I have been looking for an answer for about 9 months, now. One doctor said asthma. The asthma meds worked a little, but it just didn't make sense.

The breathing would be worse when I laid down. I literally had to sleep with my chest hanging over the arm of the recliner.

I wanted to rule out heart attack, (family history)so I went for a stress test and electrocardiogram. We found mitral valve prolapse (MVP) with mild regurgitation.

It seems this is common, but physically has nothing to do with shortness of breath.

There is a doctor whose wife and a lot of women, have a combo of MVP, shortness of breath, anxiety, and more. He believes it is all related somehow. This is called mitral valve prolapse SYNDROME.

It comes down to healthy living. I found that chemicals in cleaning and personal care products cause all sorts of problems, so, I just use non-toxic stuff. I reduce my stress with yoga, qi jong(spelling is wrong), personal improvement tapes.

So I don't know what it is, but actually feel that zuzu 8 is right there. I have always yawned, even when not tired. It was a problem with a relationship.
I know my oxygen isn't enough, or moving right or something. I will look more into that.

ZuZu 8, would explain how my periformus muscle tightens, and I get really bad sciatica?

Boy that may also explain many other things. I have a dr app't thursday, because my antideppressant and stay awake (Provigil) medicines aren't working any more. I know it's oxygen! Are you a doctor?


------------------
in health,
Kat

[jasmine30]

Hi VanillaMints,

I agree with Zuzu,it sounds like Hyperventilation Syndrome.I feel I cant expand my chest to take in a deep breath then end up Panicking or becoming highly Anxious.

I sigh,yawn and gasp it seems every second.I have Panic Disorder,Agoraphobia and GAD.