Hard to Breathe

Can anyone help me. I have been suffering for a year and a half now, seen lots of different consultants, had lots of different tests done but no one can tell me what is happening to me.My symptoms are a feeling of not being able to breath, but i can! I get a feeling like my oesophagus/trachea or something in the region of the upper chest is not burning like heartburn but like pins and needles or some strange sensation i find it very hard to explain.I have had an MRI which showed up a Syrinx in my spinal cord.  I have seen a Neurologist who has basically laughed when i told him my symptoms and said they were nothing to do with this Syrinx, but i think different and after all im am living this nightmare!! Where do i turn to because at the moment im sitting here typing this because i couldnt feel myself breathing when i was lying in bed. I am a 31 yr old mother of 2 and im scared. Can anyone out there help me?

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

How are you?
There is a possibility that your symptoms are due to diffuse esophageal spasm of the muscles of the lower esophagus. The main symptoms are chest pain and difficulty breathing.
Another cause of your symptoms could be excessive anxiety and stress.
Have you been able to identify a trigger for these symptoms?

[Marshiesher]

One definate trigger is exercise, if i exert myself in anyway, even walking, my symptoms worsin for days afterwards so i have stopped the little bit of walking i did. No other definate triggers that i have pin pointed yet.  I am waiting on an appointment to have GI test done on muscles in oesophagus and test for bile reflux so maybe that will show something.I had an MRI with injection yesterday and the person scanning me said that breathing problems could be related to Syrinx. Very confused and dont know what to think.Thank you for your response.

[ggreg]

I had trouble breathing for about six months when I had gained some weight from a drug I was taking.  When I would lay down, I thought I was suffocating.  I had to use a bunch of pillows to keep my airway open.  When I went off the drug and lost the weight very quickly, I noticed I didn't have that breathing problem anymore.  So, if you have some extra weight, I suppose that might do it.  But that's all I know on your question.