Heaviness in my breathing

[amanduh726]

For a few months I have had moments where I feel like I can not take a deep breath but really I can. So I will go through the day taking deep breaths because of the heaviness I feel on my chest. When I was younger, my doctor always told me to keep an eye on my breast bone being a bit lower into my chest. I'm not sure if this has anything at all to do with the breathing problem but I guess it could be considered. More recently, my chest has a heavy sore feeling and I feel as though I can not take deep breaths more often. I'm not sure waht is the cause of this but it seems worse when I lay down to go to bed at night. Even though, more than usual I feel this during the day as well. I went to see a doctor about a month ago and mentioned my bone and she suggested asthma but I really do not think this is the case. Please help me to suggest what could be wrong ?

[Victor547]

That is interesting that they say it is your gallbladder.  A few years ago I had to get tested for gallstones because I was having severe pain in that area.  It turned out to be "gallsludge"  whatever that is.  They said because of my cholesterol levels that might be why my gallbladder duct gets clogged which is what causes the pain.  It hasn't hurt in a while.  Please let me know if things get better once your gallbladder is removed.  I can't decide if this thing is mental or if it is caused from heart burn.  I do know that after a fun filled weekend it is sometimes worse.  Who knows? Hope your surgery goes ok.

[National Jewish Health]

The sensation of chest heaviness is a common experience for people of any age.  Having a slightly depressed or concave breast bone is not ordinarily one of the causes, but because of its visibility, can become a focus of one’s attention; can even be a source of concern, something that draws a person’s attention to his/her chest.  Contrary to what your doctor told you when you were young, I would advise you to not “keep an eye” on your breast bone.

Breathing is an automatic function that rarely becomes a conscious activity and, when that occurs for any reason, it is sometimes difficult to take your mind off your breathing.  That is especially true when there are no stimuli, no distractions to take your thoughts off yourself and your body and lying in your bed at night, in a quiet room, is one of those times.  Some people become aware of their pulse or heartbeat at times like that and that too can become difficult to ignore.  You might try having your radio on at that time.  Engaging in a regular exercise program could also be helpful.

Having said that, there are also many physical reasons for a person to experience abnormal sensations of the chest, including heaviness.  Asthma is generally not one of them.  Given that your symptom is of recent onset, it would be wise for your doctor to conduct a careful examination of your heart and chest, order an EKG, a simple breathing test called spirometry and a chest x-ray to reassure you that your chest, even with a slight depression of the breast bone, is fine.  The two of you might want to talk about any anxiety or worries that you might have and consider the prescription of an anti-anxiety medicine.

Good luck.

[spicy17]

I have been feeling the same symptoms since last August.  I had some tests for an ulcer (negative), I have a gallstone which is what they are saying is causing the symptoms but I don't really think so because gall stone attacks don't happen daily??? and it doesn't really hurt but feels heavy and discomfortable.  I am waiting for gallstone surgury but I am skeptical that this will help and I am reluctant to have it removed.  Prior to this I had been experiencing neck and shoulder muscle pain due to excessive work on the computer.  I went to acupuncture and it helped and they suggested that the muscle pain travels to various areas and I wondered if it was affecting the muscles in my chest.

[Victor547]

I too have the heaviness.  It feels like there is a belt being tightened around my chest.  I too feel like I can't get a deep breath but I actually can when I breath really deep.  However in addition to the weight on my chest I can not get a satisfying yawn.  I keep having to yawn because I can't get in a good one.  Occasionally I get a full yawn but it still doesn't stop the yawning.  I don't know if it is anxiety (which I don't think it is because I am not a stressful person), heart burn or if it is my heart.  I have extremely high cholesterol so I start to freak out that I am going to have a heart attack.  I havn't gone to the doctors because it doesn't happen all the time and I can work out while its going on and it doesn't affect my work out it is just really annoying and frustrating.  After reading the boards it seems like the doctors have no idea what it is.  And thanks to the ridiculus cost of PPO's I lost my doctor so now I don't know where to go for a good doctor.  If anyone has any ideas I am all ears.