Strange Involuntary Breath

[terrymcc]

I am a 53 year old female, non-smoker and have no weight problems, and no known health problems.

Over the past two years, I've had numerous episodes where my body takes involuntary deep breaths, one every 7-8 minutes, interspersed with my normal breathing.  The intake of breath can be when inhaling or exhaling, and it when it occurs, it disrupts a normal breath.  Often the involuntary breath feels "catchy" as if I'd been crying or sobbing when in fact I have not.  

When the involuntary breaths first started, Sometimes I would go for 3 months without an episode, but then it would come back again, last for a few weeks and go away again.

Within the past 4 months, I had a horrible cold, and then a bad case of bronchitis.  The involuntary breathing has started up with the cold, and it is now contiunous, every 7 to 10 minutes or so.

I recently had an upper endoscopy, and finished a regiment for h pylori bacteria, however this annoying problem remains.

Is it possible this could be related to stess?

I've mentioned it to my doctor, and she doesn't seem to be concerned about it,  Unfortunately, it is of concern to me, and I have no idea what might be causing it.

Any assistance that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.

[inkkubus]

Stop it! I had an endoscopy 3 months ago and h pylori and now i have the involuntary sharp intake of breath. Im 28, but i do have many other health concerns, including lupus, fibromyalgia, blood clots in the leg, and had my first seizure about two weeks ago and kindve this strange almost funny numbness along my right jaw towards the back of my neck. so mine could be nerve related, poor circulation or in my brain. They are going to do a spinal tap and mri of my brain. Hopefully get sonme answers :)

[drdebb]

Dear Mapes79,
You state that your 4 year old has nothing to be  stressed about.  Please understand that children experience stress more profoundly than adults.  Just a change in routine can cause this, or going to school away from her home.  Then, please look what you wrote here: Rather than going to her Pediatrician who would have made all this more clear for you and put less stress on your child, you went to an ER, had an ECG and ECHO run (scary!). (They also found nothing to worry about.)   And now you're thinking of "looking into having her tonsils and adenoids out as they are quite large and there is a possibility of sleep apnea"!  You would put the child through surgery?  This is what her Pediatrician is for to avoid parents "stressing out" and putting their children through frightening (for them) procedures just so the parent can feel better.  You, I am truly sorry to say, are the biggest stress in your child's life (sorry because I'm sure you are trying your best) among all the other stresses of growing and experiencing children undergo.  You sound like your stress rules your better judgment.  When your child finally realizes that you worry like this they will rebel and feel you have no confidence in them or they may become as worried as you.  Trust her doctor and if you don't, find one that you do.  Then learn about the worrying side of OCD.
Best wishes.

[Amalfipurple]

Hope you went back to pulmonologist about this. I had those kinds of symptoms and had a type of lung infection, with fluid in the lining of my lungs. No phlegm, no cough

[Mammert]

I meant to say asthmatic and to add to my post, I am going under lots of stress right now, I was also ill with the flu couple of weeks ago and every time it happens its followed by really fast palpitations. Although it seems to be nothing to worry about I actually do, this is not normal...at all. Please update, anyone, any improvements, findings etc... this posting took me about 5 to 10 min and as im writing, it has happened 6 times already... thanks in advance and wishing everyone lots of good health!!!

[Mammert]

I have had the same symptoms for a few days now and it's happening every 5 to 7 min and it doesn't seem to go away. I have to take deep breath to make it pass quickly and it's followed by cardiac arithmia . I also had h pillory a few month ago but this just started and its freaking me out big time. I was asmarhic when I was younger(I am now 38). It's good to know I'm not the only one and that I found you guys here and we can update each other on this.

[Casino_lady]

Just to add this comment, I go back to my cancer Oncologist annually to get an MRI and a full body scan ( called PET ).    Although everything looked good as far as mr remission, the doc did mention that word: Atelectasis...  Of my lungs, and if I remember, when I looked this up, it was like a condition of the lungs....one that may not be able to be repaired....I guess, similar to scarring or scar tissue.  

Anyway, like I said above, it was EXTREMELY annoying, it lasted for about 3-4 months, doctors didn't have a clue, which annoyed me even more !!  But after that 3-4 month period, I got my diagnosis of stage 4 Non-Hodg. Lymph, got into chemo right away, and it hasn't happened since!!  

I am leaning toward believing it had something to do with our lungs....like some of the posts have said....I don't think it's stress related...my "gasps" started BEFORE I knew I had cancer, so I wasn't even stressed.

I would be remiss if I did not add the fact that I am truly surprised (and sort of pleased) that I wasn't the only one who experienced this weird breathing symptom !!  Good luck y'all !!!