Shortness of breath and getting sick right before my periods?

[StarryNight23]

I'm a 23 year old female and I'm not sure if this could be in any way related to my period but I've noticed this pattern the last few times right before I got my period. Late July - early august for about a week or a little more I was having trouble breathing. I wasnt able to get a deep satisfying breath and felt like I had to make myself breathe deep frequently. I was also lightheaded and was experiencing abnormal and intense fatigue and had a few other odd symptoms. I eventually went to the ER because I was concerned something was wrong with my heart. They ran a bunch of bloodtests, gave me an ekg and 2 chest xrays and saw nothing that was out of the ordinary. The doctor was concerned about a pulmonary embolism so I had a full body catscan and nothing was found. The doctor figured it was anixety or athsma and wrote me a perscription for an inhaler and told me to take ibuprofin in case I had pleuritis. I ended up going back to another ER a couple days later because my breathing had not gotten any better and I was really worried they missed something. They did their own tests and also found nothing so I was sent home again.  I felt better a few days after that but by the end of the month, I noticed difficulty breathing again. It wasnt nearly as severe and didnt last as long but it was definitely noticeable. Shortly after, I got my period. It went away and I went back to feeling normal and now here I am again towards the end of this month and I am experiencing shortness of breath again. I'm probably going to get my period in a week or a week and a half. Again, its not as severe as the first time this happened, but its very annoying and prevents me from sleeping normally. I'm able to get deep breaths in, but I feel like I have to force it frequently. I also feel like I'm breathing faster and more shallow than usual. Particularly if I'm lying down, I have a very mild sensation almost like I'm being choked. I feel a slight pressure near my throat (if you press down a little on the hollow near your throat, thats similar to what I feel sometimes) Not so much this time, but the last 2 times this happened I've always felt the urge to yawn quite often, but wasnt able to. It was like the yawn would just get trapped in my throat rather than filling my lungs. The inhaler and ibuprofin hasnt helped me at all. I really don't think what I'm feeling is anxiety related and I dont have athsma. I do have allergies but that doesnt usually affect my breathing. If it does, I wheeze, and this problem I've been experiencing feels totally different.

Also last year, towards the very end of a month, I got very bad colds or fevers. I was sick for halloween, thanksgiving, christmas and then the following 2 months after that for a few days at a time. All happened about a week before I got my period.  Can PMS cause this? Its just a very strange coincidence that something always seems to go wrong with me about a week prior to getting my period.

[SaraiSparkles]

I get this too! Oh it's such a relief to know I'm not the only one! I'm a 23 year old female too and for a sec I thought I may have written this in my sleep!

[bestsoftballplayerever]

I'm exsperiencing the same problems I do have really bad alergies but I can tell that they are not causing these symptoms. I'm 12 and this has been going on since about the time I started my period 2 years ago. If you find anything out please tell me because I play sports and I can't be exsperiencing this while I am playing.

[alexchi]

To everyone out their. I just joined because I have been experienceing the same things. Just cant get a good deep breath, very bad yawns, I try to explain myself but no one understands what i mean and how scarey it is. Next few days will be when it should start And I am going to The Doctor with all the stuff I read so maybe he will understand.

[onsrandio]

I am really glad that I came upon this site after some very frightening experinces of shortness of breath that started years ago.Like most of you I have been through alot of medical xaminations/tests only to be told that all is well..just bouts of panic and anxiety attack.I am really sick of this as it gets really worse when my period is about to come.As soon as I get the first drop..like a miracle the breathlessness vanishes.At times,it seems as though I stop breathing for sometime at night and find myself weezing in the mornings.At times I really feel as if I am about to collapse..,oh this is so traumatising.Today,I have this cough that just is not going away and I am really finding it hard to breath,I went for an xray after my doctor put through a nebulising machine and the Xray showed my lungs filled with carbondioxied.I am horrified and have to go and see another doctor soon.Will post comment once i get back.Best wishes.

[southerngal44]

I have had this same thing (shortness of breath around period) show up on and off for the past few years.  And, had gone through the same at the emergency doctor.  All checked out fine after an EKG, x-rays, blood test, etc.  It showed up again last night and I remembered seeing something about PH levels and hormones.  I took an herb called Alkazyme that one of my doctors used to give me to help balance acidity (and PH) levels when I drank too much coffee or my body was stressed and it had greatly helped. I was finally able to sleep and the symptoms seemed to subside for the rest of the night.  My guess is that it is related to the esophogas and PH plus hormone levels.  I will be headed out to a new doctor to see if I can get to the bottom of it.  I have had other medical issues dismissed as stress and in my head - only to find out that there were real medical issues going on.  So, let's all keep trying to get the answer.  There is one out there!

[kirst849]

I have been having these symptoms for a couple of years now. The breathing, dizziness, pounding and tightness in my head, tightness in throat and i get a very sore ear, always the right one? I have kept diaries of all this and been to my GP numerous times and they also keep telling me its "anxiety and panic attacks"!! Im so fed up of hearing this, but they dont seem to take any notice when i try to tell them its all round about the ttime of my period be it just before, during or just after. I have become slightly overweight in the past 9 months due to stopping smoking but i had these symptoms before that. I just wish someone would recognise thats its not all in my head. Im glad i have access to the internet now and no i am not the only person to suffer from this. Hope to read some reports back from people who have got help,

[hnfan]

I am going through the exact same thing! My symptoms started in Late May and it all started with feeling short of breath, like I just couldn't get a deep enough breath.  I went to the doctor and they did a chest x-ray, an ekg test, blood test, checked my blood pressure, and everything came back normal. They said I had asthma or it was just stress, and  prescribed me an inhaler, which did not work.  It was pretty severe, and would keep me up at night and I couldn't even focus in class.  About a week after my symptoms started, I started my period, and all of my symptoms dissappeared.  Then, at the end of the month, about a week before I started my next period, the symptoms came back.  The shortness of breath was not as severe, but other symptoms appeared or became more noticable, like fatigue, light-headedness, headaches or head pounding, dizziness, rapid breathing, a tightness around my throat that is really hard to explain, but i feel like I am choking, especially when I lie down.  Sometimes I would be so light-headed that I would stand up and have to grad onto something to keep from falling down. I also felt really feverish.  I did not have a fever, but just felt hot everywhere.  All around I just did not feel well.  However, just like clockwork, as soon as my period started, my symptoms went away.  This has been going on for about 5 months. The last time the symptoms came back, I started to get really worried.  My college roommate told me that after I went to sleep I would stop breathing several times during the night.  This did not really surprise me because it felt like I had to force myself to remember to breathe.  One night I shot up in bed after I had fallen asleep and i felt a lot of pressure on my chest, and I could not breathe for about 2 to 3 seconds.  The next day I went to the doctor again, but they said it was just asthma or anxiety.  They took more tests, but everything was normal.  I also feel the tightness around my head and ears, and sometimes have trouble hearing because of it.  The symptoms of course went away just like clockwork, but now, about a week before I should start my next period, they are back.  I am 18 years old and am not overweight, and to my knowledge I have no allergies or history of asthma. I just want to know what is wrong with me and fix it, and I am tired of doctors thinking I am just "stressed".  

[medicmommy]

A couple things that aren't always checked for but can make you feel like you do...Low magnesium, low calcium, hypothyroid problems...It seems docs rarely check for mineral deficiencies, but when a patient is suffering similar symptoms and take supplements, their problems resolve themselves...I'm not sure this will be much help...

[darlingdivatx]

You might want try seeing an endocrinologist. Shallow breaths can sometimes be a sign that your ph is off. I'm not sure exactly what can cause that, but I came across it in my searches for my own health issues. If something is off with your endocrine system that could account for the relationship with your period. You might try a pulmonologist too. Google respiratory and metabolic acidosis/alkalosis. Hope this helps.

[SRBrown]

Same thing here!  I have been experiencing this for a few years.... and have gone to the Dr twice about this... like you, they prescribed an inhaler and did a ton of allergy tests, neither of which work.

Just last week and earlier this week I had the sensation of not being able to take a deep breath and an hour ago I got my period.  I wonder if it could be related?  Have you found anything else out from the Dr. or Gyn. as someone suggested?

It's such an uncomfortable feeling.  You KNOW that you're not going to suffocate but it's so frusterating not being able to feel like you're getting a complete breath.

[Luc48]

Have they done a chest x-ray.  I read about a similar case recently, and they discovered some kind of hormonal polyps in her lungs.  It's rare, and I can't recall what it's called, but they removed them, and the lady was fine thereafter.

[morriskity]

Unfortunatly I do not know what is wrong with you but I have been experiencing the exact same thing I went to the ER and had a CT Scan with Dye to check for a Pulmonary Embelism and I had blood work done, X-Rays and a bunch of other things.  They said my lungs and heart were fine but I had a hard time believing them because the feeling was very scary.  It has now happened 3 times and it is always the day my period starts.  I never would have thought your period could effect your breathing but I googled it and was suprised to see all the people experiencing this.  I also get very ill and sleep for hours when I am on my period.  I am 25 and had a baby 5 months ago. I have gained a lot of weight.  My sister is a nurse and recently told me that pregnancy effects hormones as does weight gain, lack of nutrition and many other things and that when you get your period your hormones are even more out of wack wich can cause problems with your esophagas as Cosmogirl mentioned.  I am hoping that is all that is wrong because I too am not insured right now because I decided not to go back to work after having my daughter and to my suprise my husbands insurance will not pick me up.  I know this does not answer you questions but hopefully it gives you a little relief that you are not the only one worried about it.  I will be going to my Gyno in 2 weeks if they have any answers I'll be sure to let you know.

[jackson87]

I'm feeling very much the same way. I feel like my sinus' may be acting up, but I feel the pressure on the hollow part of my throat. I feel the need to take a deep breath too often. I noticed it when I was talking the other day, and now I'm noticing it more often, esp around my period. During the night I felt almost like I stopped breathing at one point, because I woke up and sat up in bed like and it was like I was holding my breath, it was really weird.  I don't have insurance right now with my current job, so I would really be interested in what the doctor's have to say to you.

Thanks!
Marie

[staceydm]

If you read this post and you have figured out what was wrong please write back.  I have the same thing and it comes and goes.

[Cosmogal]

Oh forgot to mention that your blood pressure is completely normal.

[Cosmogal]

This is probably caused by a hormonal issue. This can happen in pregnancy when the hormones can cause increase swelling and inflammation in the esophagas. My suggestion would be the visit the gynecologist and tell him what you are experiencing. Are you on birth control? If not they may want to put you on one and if you are they may want to take you off. Are you overweight? Being significantly overweight can cause a shift in the production of hormones. Also have them run hormone tests on you when you are having these attacks. Regular blood work or CBC does not run these tests. I myself experienced this when I was overweight and then it can get worse when you experience anxiety with it. It just makes the problem worse. Anyway, really call the GYN. I am almost positive this is why you are having this issue.

[Carol in PA]

This may be "air hunger."   You can google for more information.
Regarding getting sick the week before your period, this used to happen to me also.
That was usually when I got a cold, not in the first half of the cycle.
I think it had something to do with a weakened immune system.
I've been taking supplements to support my immune system, and I rarely get sore throats, colds, or bronchitis any more.
For information on ways to support the immune system, go to iHerb.com and click on "immune support."

Wishing you the best,
Carol

[StarryNight23]

I also forgot to mention last night I felt a slight pressure or tightness in my head. Or maybe slight pressure would be a better way to describe it. I felt it in my ears too, sort of like I had to pop my ears. This is not an unfamiliar feeling as it happens every once in a while. I took my blood pressure and it was a little low. On average my blood pressure is around 120/68 with a heart rate of 68 or 69 and last night my blood pressure was 108/58 and then when I took it again it was 99/ something in the low-mid 50s and my heart rate was 77 or 78. Again, not sure if thats related to anything but I thought I would mention it.