Respiratory Distress

[Kristy13]

I am 23 years old and in 2008 was in an accident. The summer after the accident I began experiencing difficulty taking a deep (fullfilling) breath...No matter how deep I breathed, I would not feel like I got enough air. I felt like I had to yawn, then couldn't yawn. When I was able to effectively yawn, I got the deep breath I was waiting for. I have had breathing tests done to check for asthma, which said I had above average breathing. So the condition wasn't asthma. I feel like the condition comes around when I am under stress. I have been on anti-anxiety meds which didn't seem to help. I have tried 'stress relief' techniques (however, my doctors have never been able to give me any I had to research and find them on my own). Once they problems with breathing start it lasts for hours, even days. It is frustrating and causes more anxiety and that causes the problem to get worse, or at the very least, not get any better.
I am going to Convienient care in the morning, because I have been sitting here all night trying to breath effectively and can't. My chest often begins to hurt in the center from trying too hard to take a deep breath. I am usually ok first thing when I wake up, but within a couple hours they have started up. They can be minimal or so bad I can't concentrate on anything.
I have seen postings and forums on here and was hoping someone coule give me some answers. Any information Dr.s have given. I don't care if the problem is anxiety, I would like something to help cure it or at least treat. When you feel like you can't breath, you can't sleep and I am lucky if I get to sleep within an hour after taking a sleeping Pill.
I don't take any medication regularly and I am cutting caffeine from my diet. Problems have not decreases from my perspective.
Has anyone gotten an answer or response for what these problems are?


This discussion is related to Yawning and Shortness of Breath.

[razzina]

  I had the same thing on and off , but last 2 years more so. I am 30 years old. Last two months( starting October) I had this shortness of breath everyday just like you described it , and out of the sudden it went away. I went to every doctor possible and no one gave me an answer, so I don't know what causes it and if it is truly due to stress, but I tried another thing and I don't know if it is a coincidence or what but it helped me. .. I usually work from home and sit by the computer all day long, and even though I exercise (inside) I rarely go for a long walk outside . So I started going for an hour long walk everyday, that seemed to help . Also, I took Xanax for a month at night before going to bed 0.5 mg. However, I have another problem now, I don't know if it is related or not , but  I get vertigo, and vibrating, buzzing feeling inside in the left side of my body. I am going to see a neurologist soon. I wish some doctor could answer what are the symptoms that I am having. Otherwise, I am pretty healthy, not overweight, do not smoke , drink ocasionally.

[allmymarbles]

I note that you wake up without the problem. Could your problem come from forcing your breathing? That would strain the muscles and cause the discomfort. Try not forcing your breathing and see what happens.