Can't Breath

[b263]

Hi Annelle,
I'm not sure if youre still checking this or not, but I was wondering if you ever found out what was wrong?  I am 22 years old, non smoker,  and about 7 or so months ago I started having breathing problems, I have pretty much all of the same symptoms as you.  I went to the doctor about 5 or 6 months ago, and have been there about 5-6 times since, and they just keep saying it's asthma, and I have been on 3 different inhalers, but none of them work for me.  I do not feel it is asthma.  I am fine at night,i have no troubles sleeping, it's when I wake up and is there all day long--I can't seem to get a satisfying breath. I try to  make myself yawn, but many times that does not even work. I also get lightheaded from it and sometimes feel tingles in my hands.  I have had xrays, and those all come out clear. It's very scary and I wasnt' sure if you found a proper diagnosis? THank you.


This discussion is related to Sudden Breathing Problems in the past year - Can't inhale all the way,.....

[iron883]

Hi
Over the past 20 some years I have experienced most of these annoying breathing issues, including creating more pain from straining muscles trying to force yawns to get a "full breath". I know....it feels like someone is standing on your chest.

In my late teens and early 20's I had every breathing test, x-ray, MRI, scan, etc....all turned up....nothing! The best (according to the medical profession) answer was that I was filled with nervous anxiety and needed to "relax". (I'm a musician, so they figured I had stage fright.) I have tried every potion and therapy in allopathic, naturopathic, and Chinese medicines. (also, no asthma. non-smoker)

- moved out of my parents house in my 20's...problem went away. (ya, I know parental stress, haha)

- lived with wife in a electric heated "dry" apartment - no problems

- we moved to a house, bit of a musty basement, in summer - breathing problems

- yard cleanup in spring after snow melt - bad breathing, and let's add hives (a few years ago)

I am now 40, I am in excellent physical shape by most standards and have had no breathing issues since we moved to a different house 1 year ago. Two weeks ago I START HAVING BREATHING PROBLEMS AGAIN!

Noticed my car smelled a bit musty....thought maybe had a wet carpet or something. Nope. MOLD in the air conditioner evaporator!

- My parents house - took on water many times and had MOLD in the basement and still does
- Musty basement = MOLD
- Spring cleaning = snow MOLD
- Car A/C = MOLD
- Every musty location I have worked or lived in has been a breathing issue

I sprayed a solution of 2:1 vinegar to water into the cars HVAC system a few times and ran the heat on full at 15 minutes a shot.

Smell is gone! I CAN BREATHE!
I am 100% percent convinced the problem is MOLD!!!!!
Check your environment!

[Annelle316]

Hi there, I am sorry you are having the same problems.  Unfortunately, no doctor has ever been able to diagnose my breathing problem.  I have had every test under the sun, taken all the possible yoga-breathing related advice (which by the way is extremely relaxing but doesnt help the breathing problem).  I am not depressed or anxious.  In fact, when I originally posted this 8 years ago, I was unmarried.  I am now married with two kids, and I STILL have the breathing problem!  The breathing issue is not enough to die or anything, it's just so difficult to actually get a normal deep breath like something is blocking the full inhale.  Here is a new development though:  This year, I hurt my neck and back lifting something, and when I went in for an xray they told me I have bone spurs all over my neck and back.  So then they did an MRI, and apparently I have several discs that are shifted and all those areas along my neck and back are inflamed.  So I went to see a neurologist and he told me that this problem must have been there a while - it is Degenerative Disk Disease(DDD).  So I have been reading about people having breathing problems with DDD because the inflammation from the DDD constantly squooshes the chest cavity.  Actually I read that any type of inflammation that is in that general area could cause the symptoms that we're having.  Also, I can tell you from being pregnant twice, every time I gained weight over the years the "can't get the full inhale" problem got worse.  Then when I shrunk down to normal size it went back to just the every day normal horrible feeling of not being able to fully inhale. Also, this sounds weird but hanging upside down totally makes the problem go away.  Everyday I hang my hands and head down just standing/hanging there limp...and I just keep hanging there...and I breathe perfectly.  So whenever my chest really starts to hurt because I havent caught a good breathe in like 2 hours, then I will hang upside down.  

Please keep posting and let me know if you have found anything that has helped, or found an actual diagnosis.

[joey1134]

I feel the same way,and I think that you may actually be feeling anxiety ...especially if it sort of goes away when your not thinking about it. What I would do is tell your docter about that , because they are usually afraid of giving that as an option (probably afraid of offending) ..I hope this helps

[hava]

The Yog  Pranayam (breathing exercises) will  help with breathing or asthma  problems.
Build up your timing gradually. If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.

Bhastrika - Take a long deep breath into the lungs(chest not tummy) via the nose and then completely breathe out through the nose. Duration upto 5 minutes.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 10 to 30 minutes twice a day. Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 12  times

Once you are better, continue the pranayam once a day.
Be patient, as the benefits will show over a period of weeks.Only by doing you will benefit
and feel good because you are helping your body.Those who say I have tried everything....
will be amazed at the result of doing pranayam.

[b263]

or if anyone has any advice, that would be very much appreciated!