Chronic Hyperventalating Syndrome

[kerplop]

I have suffered with shortness of breath, chest pain and slight dizzyness for years and it has worsend the last year or so.  I am now also getting headaches and frequently have diareaha.  I have been to the dr. numerous times where they have taken chest ex-rays, done ekg and other in-office tests.  I was refered to a pulmenologist who said he didn't think it was anything major and I declined the usual pulmenoligical tests since I don't feel I have a  pulmenological disorder since the symptoms are not isoloated to my lungs, etc.  The shortness of breath if very chronic and can last anywhere from a day to a few weeks and I can experience a day or a few weeks with no shortness of breath, though I do have the other symptoms even with no shortness of breath.  I also feel that I have very mild OCD that I can control myself, but have read that the two things (OCD and HVS) can go hand in hand.  What should be my next course of action?

[National Jewish]

Although you have other symptoms with and without the shortness of breath, it is possible that you could still have a lung problem.  Of course your shortness of breath may have nothing to due with a lung problem.  Having pulmonary tests done could clarify if there is a problem with your lungs that could be helped by treatment.  The problem that is causing your symptoms may not be isolated to your lungs only.  It is also possible that there is a single problem causing all of your symptoms.  Your next course of action should be a thorough evaluation to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.

Hyperventilation is a symptom not a syndrome.  This means that the same problem can have many different causes including a variety of brain and lung problems that can need more specific treatment than “breathing” exercises.  Accordingly, be sure to talk this over with your doctor.  Having said this, usually hyperventilation is related to a condition called “panic disorder.”  This unfortunately is a very bad name, as people who suffer from it do not always experience panic-type feelings.  In fact, we think that it is a disorder of the very deep part of your brain that regulates your breathing.  This leads to frightening, but not harmful “suffocation false alarms,” in some people triggering feelings of panic, but in others just leading to intense feelings of “smothering” with all the associated body symptoms, including numbness and “pins-and-needles” tingling of hand, fingers and lips.

The breathing exercises for hyperventilation are designed to have you breathe slowly, regularly, gently, and smoothly.  Always try to breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your nose, if possible.  If you need to breathe through your mouth, imagine that you are breathing in and out through a straw by “pursing” your lips.  This slow regular breathing is most important.  Also work at breathing using your diaphragm rather than your upper chest.  You often can get help with this diaphragmatic breathing by taking an introductory yoga class or checking out a videotape on yoga that focuses on breathing and relaxation.  For some people with panic disorder as the cause of their hyperventilation, treatment with certain anti-depressant medicines can be helpful, even if they do not feel depressed.  The bottom line is that even though the cause of hyperventilation may technically be in your head, this is not an “all in your head” problem.  Best of all, this is a problem that can be treated successfully, so do not hesitate to seek out good help.

[Jane1]

Why have you declined the Pulmonary Function tests??
If you are suffering from Shortness of breath it might at least give you an idea why.  I was diagnosed with Hyperventilation Syndrome a year ago, it was the wrong diagnosis, although at the time it made sense to me, now I know what I am suffering from.
Sure you may have Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome - Have you tried breathing into a paper bag when you get these attacks to see if it relieves it in any way? Go back and talk to your Doctor, you shouldn't be suffering no matter what is wrong with you.  I know what it feels like to fight for air, how tired it can make you feel, but even with hyperventilation syndrome, you can get it under control.

It seems to me that your doctor was trying to help you find a solution and you declined becuase you think you know better, PFT's are painless and they will do nothing else than put your mind at ease, and if it is hyperventilation syndrome, having your mind at ease could help a great deal.

Regards
J.

[kerplop]

thank you for your suggestions and responses.
I declined the testing because the pulmonoligist indicated to me that almost 100% of the time when he sees a young, otherwise healthy patient with shortness of breath such as myself testing reveals nothing and that most of the time it is a mental/emotional thing.  He suggested I loose weight, which I did.  I didn't want to go in and see him again until I had lost a bunch of weight...just to rule out that my shortness of breath was not related to my weight.  I have lost almost 40 pounds and still about another 30 or 40 to loose before I am at my ideal weight, although I am not going to wait until I have lost it all before I go and see him again.  
Everything I have read about HVS sounds so much like what I suffer with...frequently taking deep, sighing breaths and yawning and just feeling like I can't get a good breath, etc.  And then when I read about all the other symptoms that present itself with HVS that are non-lung related I just thought this has got to be it! So I will talk to my dr about it.  
Jane- out of curiosity what are your symptoms and what were you diagnosed with?

[Jane1]

Hi Kerplop

Although I've  had Asthma for many years and well used to SOB
I was told I had hyperventilation after attacks where I would lose the power in my hands - a sort of tingling my face - felt dizzy, numb lips and like you said yawning or looking for air -
It turned out though after an x-ray and biopsy that I had Pulmonary Sarcoidosis - A systematic disorder that cause inflamation (inflammation) and other symptoms - I am sure this is not the case with you, my asthma may be linked to having sarcoid long before I was diagnosed.  Anyway if this is really bothering you the PFT's are a good place to start, if it is hypervenitation, the best advice I can give is to try not to panic when you feel an attack coming on - sit down and breathe slowly and regularly until you start feeling well again.

All the best

J