re Chronic Hyperventilation syndrome

[danielle193]

I do not suffer any shortness of breath... nor do i have any difficulty getting air into my lungs...Nor am I dissy...Ihave never visibly hyperventilated....but suffer many  of the other symptoms including sever "angina" type chest pains. Extreme prickling of legs ,body and arms at night ,causing lack of sleep...I register results while in attendance with ambulance officers as" hyperventilation"although he did
say  that i was not visibly  hyperventilating.......I...suffer extreame cold to hands lower legs and numbness in lower legs hands and lips with ,at times a very dry mouth coupled with  disorientation....the latter ,depends on the severity of the other symptoms at the time.....my question is..... .can i hyperventilate with no outward visible  signs ?also is overbreathing the only cause of hyperventilation?....if it is not... what are  other causes? Iam diagnosed Chronic hyperventilation Syndrome..Iam 61 yrs... thank you... Danielle193

[National Jewish]

Yes you can hyperventilate with no outward visible signs.  Hyperventilation is not the only cause of the symptoms you describe.  You should check with your doctor about other health problems such as diabetes.  Being seen by a neurologist may be helpful.

[spicer]

Hi Danielle - Oh my yes, you are typical HVS - hyperventilation syndrome.  Even though people with this will complain of not being able to take a deep breath, some people who are unaqare of what they are doing will not complain of a problem with breathing - they complain of other symptoms such as what you describe.  When you hyperventilate, you're creating a shortage of oxygen which affects all parts of your body.  This is why when you have this disorder, you will complain of many different symptoms that seemingly are not related.  The disoriented feeling you have is due to lack of oxygen getting to your brain.  Everything that you experience is a direct result of simply not getting enough oxygen to the different areas of your body.
Yes, there are other causes for this other than hyperventilation but they are not very common.  (I'm going to have you post your email address here so I can send you a document I have on this disorder.)  First, there are two different types of hyperventilation - acute and chronic.  You have the chronic which is not noticeable to anyone who is looking at you.  Hyperventilation simply means you're taking in more air than your body needs at that moment, which is called overbreathing, and is what causes all your symptoms.  Your breathing is probably not done correctly either.  You can check yourself and see - do you sigh alot or take alot of deep breaths?  Time yourself with a clock - do you breath more than 12-14 times a minute?  Do you yawn alot?  Put a hand on your chest and one on your abdomen and take a deep breath - which hand moves?  It should be the one on your abdomen.  The one on your chest shouldn't move at all.  If it does, you're not breathing correctly.
There's many reasons for this disorder to start, one of them is stress.  Another is anxiety.  Asthma is another trigger.  Or you may have a breathing pattern disorder.  
If you have HVS, breathing exercises will help you to stop it.  Didn't anyone give you any of this information?  Medical people, especially emergency room doctors, are famous for telling you your're hyperventilating, giving you a paper bag and sending you home.  And there you sit with all your symptoms and no clue how to handle it or what to do about it.  And this disorder is much more common than you think so don't think you're the only one who has this.  This forum is full of people who have it - and you're talking to one of them.  
If you would like to post your email address here, I will immediately send you the document I have here.  It's fairly long but believe me, when you're finished with it you will know exactly what you have, why you have it, and what to do about it.  And if you're still not sure, let me know and I'll help any way I can.  
You take care, and I hope I've helped.

[shelley67]

Shana, I would like to know more about this.  I have on again off again symptoms such a sthis and wonder if this may be partly whats going on with me.

[MacyMaid]

Boy does this sound like me...but I have the shortness of breath along with the trying to take a deep breath and the chest pains and throat problems etc. etc. from trying to breathe.  I did the hand on the chest and abdomen breathing test to see where the hand moves.....The tummy's hand never budged....The hand on the chest excelled. Could not believe how bad i have been breathing. And, I am on all sorts of inhalers for my breathing. No one told me about this~~~~sigh~~~~~    I stay stressed.  Stress is my middle name. )-:

Thanks for sharing this information with us.

[spicer]

If you both would like to post your email addresses, I would be more than happy to forward the document to you.
Actually, I have the problem with breathing and feeling like I'm not getting enough air in.  In fact, I have this more than the other symptoms but the others have had their place with me at some time or other, also.  At one point my resting heart rate was 123.  And I wasn't breathing fast or visibly hyperventilating, but yet my heart rate was through the roof.  I mean, 123 is jogging rate - I was sitting.  So yes, I've had some strange symptoms also.  But just knowing what's wrong is half the battle.  It's the not knowing that keeps the stress and anxiety ongoing, which ultimately makes the symptoms worse.
What also makes it worse is the medical personnel who either don't know enough about it to recognize it when they see it, or recognize it but brush it off like it's all in your head.  I actually had a doctor I went to about this - after I suggested chronic hyperventilation - looked at me and said, "You don't look like you're hyperventilating".  Needless to say, I never went back.
If I can be of any more help, please let me know.

[spicer]

I'm sorry, I wanted to ask you about your inhalers.  Why are you on them, and do they help?
You might want to try some breathing exercises to train youself the correct way to breathe again.  It's made a world of difference in me.  If you would like some to try, just let me know........

[angel_eyes24]

I have those exact symptoms, I was diagnosed with Mild Asthma. I am taking 3 inhalers plus Singulair to try and control it. Guess what, it doesn't help much. I just put my hands on my abdomen and chest and thre only one that moved when i breathed was my chest. Could you Please send me the info you have, I would like to take it to my next doctors visit.
My email address is ***@****

Thank you!!
Angie

[MacyMaid]

I am just now getting back to this post. I would love the information and wonder if I can e-mail you for the information
that Shana was going to send to you.

Thanks,

Macy

[lynnmaureen]

Hi to everyone.  I am new to this site.  I also suffer from pins and needles and anxiety.  I sigh a lot and would love info on this condition.  I would benefit from some breathing lessons, too.  Thanks for any help.  

God bless,

Lynn  [e-mail]

[paronson]

I experienced these symptoms about 2 weeks ago.
I could not take a deep breath. It went away, but it is back again. It doesn't cause me any pain, but is very frustrating. I now have to put my head back to open the airway & yawn until I get that deep breath. I would love it if someone could email me info on this. Also, I read here & elsewhere that it is treated with breathing exercises????
Thanks so much!!!
-Pam
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[roquemafia]

I've had these symptoms for quite a while now, I play the saxophone, and it has really affected me.  I feel like i can't breathe, can't take a deep breath, can't yawn at times, and feel a ton of relief when i do yawn.  please help, my email is   ***@****

[slk48]

I am very interested in reading the document you described which deals with hyperventilation syndrome.  Please e-mail if you can to ***@****.  Thank you so much.

[tory]

I notice you have had many helpful responses to people who suffer with "not getting enough air" or "having to yawn" to get a satisfying breath.  They have been very helpful to me.  I, too, have been experiencing this sensation periodically throughout my life.  Only recently (the past 2 months) has it gotten severe.  (I've been struggling with stressful issues.) I have constant pain in my chest, and my doctor hasn't been able to diagnose it.  I had an EKG on an ER trip to the hospital, as well as a chest Xray, with no signs of a problem. My oxygen levels were aparently 100%. This does not sound like athsma to me, although I have been treated as a mild athsmatic for years (I am 29). The hospital physician gave me a Quvar (steroidal) inhaler to use twice a day, but I have noticed no change. I often get panicky during a prolonged struggle for air, and my cheeks tingle, and my head feels "funny." I get very upset and feel like I am drowning. After reading about Hyperventilation Syndrom (syndrome) and "overbreathing" I got curious and had my husband check my resting heart rate. It is usually 60 and was 90! This was just prior to going to bed. Do you think this sounds like HVS to you? If so, is the chest pain logical?  Thanks for your help, Shana!

Tory
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[mariposita]

A related discussion, Is there a natrual inhaler type object or anything other than breathing exercises that can help me? was started.