Always yawning just to breathe

[T-rah]

I am 7 months pregnant and CAN NOT breath. I always have to take a deep breath or a yawn that never fully develops just to "try" to breathe. When I was 2 months pregnant this began(which i also quit smoking) I went to my primary doctor whom then sent me to a Puluminary Doct. x-rays and test were ran they say i have developed asthma. I have been on Advair Diskus for 5 months. I was doing good for about 2 months and now i cant breath again. Do i really have asthma? I feel like one of these breaths could be the last because i can't ever get a full good breath. I also had my heart checked and that was all fine.
What is going on with me and why can't i breathe? From reading other post it seems alot of people are like this, We yawn and sign just to stay alive ---

[margie555]

A related discussion, breathing problems was started.

[AlexisFielder]

I am having the same exact problems and I am not pregnant. This started for me in January, my DR gave me Advair. It has helped but the problem has never went away. I do not believe that anxiety causes it (but gasping for air can absolutely make a person a bit anxious)
My pulm said that I have asthma, but also have messed up my airways from smoking heavily for many years (I quit about 9 months before this started)
I am refusing to believe there is no help and no cure. I do not want to live the rest of my like this. I am starting a website for people with this problem to find a common overlooked symptom that might help us find a diagnosis.

[National Jewish]

It is very difficult to tell you why this is happening.

Generally testing for asthma starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry.  This test provides detailed information about how your lungs are working.  It will show if there is obstruction in your airways.  Usually 80% or higher is considered normal.  To really test for asthma this test may be repeated after using a rescue inhaler, like the bronchodilator albuterol.  This measures how much the bronchodilator helps your lungs by reversing the problem.  When there is a 20% increase the test is positive for asthma.

Feeling that you need to yawn or sigh to get a full breath could be a form of shortness of breath.  This could be a sign that the Advair

[Duchess47]

Sounds like "air hunger" type gasping for air.  You may be hyperventilating which means you already have enough air in your lungs and can't take in anymore.  I agree with the comments above.  Try to relax.  If you are not gasping for air when you are sleeping then you are probably breathing o.k. because you are relaxed.

[tamncam]

Maybe you are just having some anxiety from your pregnancy. Could be nerves too! Just take things slow

[T-rah]

Thanks for your answers. The pursed breathing seems to be helping a bit. As far as dont think about it. That is really hard.
Like i said this happened in the beginning of pregnancy and then once on advair seemed to have gotten better. Then i missed my advair for about a week and it is all the same again. I dont have the problem any worse when laying down. I agree. I think this will be better after delivery. But that is 2 months away. I always feel like I am gasping to stay alive! Why all the yawning and constant thought if it is regular pregnancy breathing problems? I could breath fine w/ my 1st baby. I guess every pregnancy is different....

[LLRT]

I agree with the previous comment. Your baby is pushing up on your diaphragm and this is "squishing" your lungs causing you to feel like you can't expand them fully. This will increase with lying down because your diaphragm naturally goes up when you lay flat pregnant or not and the addition of a baby does not help. This is VERY COMMON in pregnancy. I think the Advair is WAY OVERKILL!! This is a preventative asthma steroid inhaler that should be taken 1 to 2 times daily to PREVENT asthma attacks. Assuming you do have asthma... then Albuterol would have been a wiser choice to start with since it is a fast acting bronchodilator (not steroid). Advair needs to build up in your system and if you don't forget to rinse your mouth, you can end up with thrush. BE CAREFUL!! If your going to continue to use advair, then USE IT DAILY. Only using it when you are having troubles will be of no benefit to you!! Sorry to say, but delivering that baby will probably be your only relief. Hang in there and best wishes.

[EROS]

Stop trying to get a deep breath, they will come.

When the urge hits for a deep one try "pursed lip breathing" (google it) ---- it works.

Watch people at rest, they never take deep breaths, only once in a while.

Keep busy and forget about it. Your baby is pressing against your diagphragm and your lungs are not as free to move as they were before.

This complaint is common in Pregnancy.