Labored Breathing, Sore Throat, Eye Soreness

[TomRorb]

About 5 months ago I came down with a very severe flu.  It hit me about three times in a 6 week period.  The third time I tested positive for Strep Throat.  After getting antibotics and them kicking in, I felt rather well for 3 weeks. And the flu disappeared.

Ever since, however, I have had labored breathing at times, a low-grade sore throat for months, and a feeling as if my eyes are lightly burning/irritated all day as if I had a slight fever.  I have other symptoms: some diarreha, low grade fevers (sometimes low body temp as well), indigestion, stomach problems.  No matter how much sleep I get, I seem to have an unrefreshed feeling most days.  Sometimes I feel lightheaded.  But what most troubles me is the labored breathing - I am an athelete and usually about 4-5 days a week I get to the gym and workout, but a few hours later I get pretty exhausted, tho rarely while AT the gym.  

I have tried staying away from exercise for a week a couple of times, it seems to make little difference on my feeling.  

One thing I have noticed, the breathing seems to be most labored immediately after eating.  And an hour or two afterwards I seem the most uncomfortable.

I have been given the following tests and passed all with flying colors: chest x-ray, ecocardigram, thyroid and regular blood tests, ankles are not swollen.  My wife has watched my sleeping to see if sleep apnea could be a problem, but she has noticed no breathing difficulties.  Asthma has been ruled out due to performance on other tests.  I take vitamins every day and are at a healthy weight.

I DO have many of symptoms of CFS which (grudgingly) my doctor thinks is a possibility.   Then there is also GERD, but the eye irriation and lightheadedness hasn't come up in ANY of my research.  We really both thought it was my thyroid, but a recent test came back normal.  I have many of the symptoms of hypo/hyperthyroidism.

Help!  What are your instincts?  Besides the two things mentioned, anything else that might sound plausible?  Thank you.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

If all of your tests come back normal, you have to think about this as a stress reaction and start looking at what is going on your life that is bothering you and making you feel anxious or stuck...You can try the program at www.masteringstress.com to start sorting that out, or see a local therapist for a consultation.

[kellykelly07]

I think I have had a very similar experience to yours. Last november I got the flu. Really bad coughing, etc. Got over it and one night a few weeks later, I notice that I am short of breath. I just could not get that deep breath. Long story short, I get all the tests. (echo, pulmonary function test, stress test) I pass all with flying colors. I am 36 and walk or bike 5-6 days per week for years. Excersize had no effect on my breathing.
     It turns out to be anxiety. I rejected the idea for months and went crazy trying to figure out what was really wrong with me. After a bad illness you can get into a bad pattern of breathing. (chest breathing) I started to panic over it and made things much worse. Anyway, I have been on lexapro for almost a month and it seems to be helping. If I get really anxious or nervous, I do still get short of breath, but I am learning not to concentrate on it so much. Hope this helps. K

[TomRorb]

Thanks to both of you for the advice.  No matter whether it is GERD or CFS, I have had some suspicion that stress is playing a role in it.  I am leaving my job (aimicably) in a few months, but perhaps the fact that I need to "serve out the term" is surreptiously getting me down.  Also, five months ago I had a bicycle accident that left me with one very bad hand (which will probably need surgery now) and another that is still bothering me - and every day that I work or try to do something (yes even typing this) I am reminded (via pain) that I am burdened by this.  

I am concentrating on getting ample sleep, eating the right foods, plenty of water and a healty attitude.  Hopefully that will work.

[jon112]

i too get the shortness of breathe, this can lead to severe anxiety and depression .. my doctor told me i was hyperventilating and gave me some techniques to help me get over this but they didnt work. i started to take amino, and 5-htp which have helped me but i still get short spells of shortness of breath,smoothering and a feeling of me breathing manually and not subconsciously i know its mental because ive been checked at the doctors for physical illness, when im mentally occupied the sensation tends to go away and if im at work (preoccupied), but if im on my own and thinking about things the sensation comes back and the whole shortness of breath thing usally leads to a panic attack