Constant shortness of breath- Anxiety??

[ssharm]

Hi, I am an 18 year old female. For the last 3 months I have had a constant shortness of breath that is very severe and it lasts all day and night. I have had a thorough physical examination and all tests came out clear. My doctor says it is anxiety and even though it is hard to beleive i have convinced myself that it is true. I was under a lot of stress with University and I have had trouble sleeping for years. I am waiting to see a psychiatrist but i am scared. I keep thinking what if medications do not work or what if I don't get better. The problem is very severe and I feel as though i can never breathe. I have been trying to ignore the problem by going out with friends, doing yoga but its always there and it feels terrible. I don't think i can just ignore it.

I am just wondering if anyone has ever been through this horrible experience, if it is truely anxiety, and if your condition has improved. I really just need any kind of hope or support at this point. Thanks a lot,

Samantha.

[Lina2222]

Reading all of your posts, I'm beginning to question myself and whether I could have anxiety. I have been diagnosed with it before but didn't really think that was it. Although I have a worrying tendency, I feel relatively ok with my life. At times, I get stressed out but it's rarely something that bothers me all the time.

However, I have constant shortness of breath, and now my chest muscles and back muscles are constantly in pain too. I'm currently sitting in a recliner alternating between ice and heat on my right shoulder blade. And tearing up because I want to be outside playing volleyball with my friends. But my breathing and back pain stopped me from that. This has been going on for about 10 months. I've been diagnosed with everything from anxiety to asthma to vocal cord dysfunction. I've had chest x rays (normal), echocardiograms (normal), sinus surgery (which was needed!), and tests on my vocal cords (normal)....tomorrow I go for allergy testing (I already know I'm allergic to everything under the sun.) I DO have silent acide reflux.

Does anyone have any advice on this? Should I assume it's really just anxiety and see a psychiatrist? (I take Ativan as needed, and it calms my panic over not breathing, but doesn't really help the breathing itself.)Do I keep trying to see if there's something physical? Perhaps chiropractor or massage would ease the back pain? Has anyone ever tried acupuncture? I know, a lot of questions, but it's so nice to see that I'm not alone. I can't tell you how difficult this year has been. I feel like I have not been able to be my fun loving, extremely active self, and not feeling good has affected my mood. Not all of my "friends" have been supportive, though I do have some who are beyond amazing. Any thoughts are appreciated.  :)

[sue554]

I have suffered with anxiety for years im 26 have 3 children, work and am at college. Recently i have had constant breathlessness but i dnt feel stressed.I to hav bin docs and they told me im healthy and said it was anxiety and hav prescribed me propranolol, has any1 else taking these? im worried because on the list of possible side effects it said it can cause breathlessness so i have not taken them. this is ruining my life and cant do anything with out feeling breathless which turns into panic. Cant believe there are so many of you that feels like this. No1 who i no understands how im feeling and just tell me to pull myself together which makes me feel like im goin mad!

[skeptical543]

It's pron not anxiety, I would get a chest x-ray

[nursebeverly]

have you been tested for allergies. Contact a good allergy doctor and get the scratch test done....I have had shortness of breath all day everyday. It started seven years ago and I was told I had "anxiety" by a pulmonologist who examined me. The problem continued and I had good years and bad years, good months and bad months. Seven years later (2011) I go to an allergist when the symptoms peak to an all time high and find out I am allergic to everything. I mean everything. Cats, dogs, dust, pollen, grass, oaktrees. Now I am confused as to whether it is anxiety or allergies. I am taking allergy shots (started 2 weeks ago). My O2 sats have been good but I am constantly fighting for air doing the fake yawning thing and feel a tightness in my chest. I am on singulair and pulmicort which does nothing to prevent attacks. I also take albuterol which rarely seems to help. So what the crap is going on with me. THis is ruining my life. I feel like I can't leave my house. Every time I drive the breathing gets worse. I am paranoid about taking the allergy shots, afraid I will have an allergic reaction (anaphalaxis). I want my life back

[ashley16082008]

hi this is my first post i was first told by my doctor i was suffering from panic and anxiety around 3 yrs ago i was put on a anti depressant but was changed a while later because i lost a lot of weight and things improved but then around 5 months ago i started getting short of breath for no reason so i went to the doctors and they said it was my asthma playing up just take my blue inhaler as needed, that didnt help so went back again and i have suffered from hayfever before and recently i went for a test and im allergic to mould spores and mixed pollens, so i tryed a anti histamine but didnt really notice a change then i went back to the doctors and the changed my inhaler but still the same problem then about 3 weeks ago i was in my room and started feeling short of breath and began to panic and it got so bad i went up the hospital my asthma was fine and he said it was my anxiety so i went back to the doctors the next day and they put me on a higher dose of the same tablets and gave me a 1mg tablet to put under my tounge if needed which i havent used because sometimes i panic about taking tablets also im low on folic acid, vit c and a few b vitamins, will this ever get any better?? i no its down to me to change it but any help and advice would be greatly welcomed. i aslo see a counciler
thanks for reading

[selinathehyena]

i have just been prescribed propranol for anxiety . I am 27 with 3 kids and constantly breathless . It first struck me wilst moving house on monday and been with me ever since.  Been on the meds since friday after 2 visits to hospital to get tests all cleared and nothing has happened yet . I still feel the same and i am getting really upset as its my birthday tomorrow and was meant to be going out with the children to winter wonderland. Cant even make the dinner without being out of breath. I just hope these meds kick in soon and help me :( Dont suppose anyone knows how long meds take to kick in ????