Is this anxiety?

[loree147]

I am a 48 year old female. Three years ago, I first noticed getting short of breath in the shower. A few months after that I was being investigated for high blood pressure and during the routine echocardiogram, it showed high pulmonary pressures. I was sent to a pulmonary hypertension specialist who did a right heart catheterization but it was normal. I had many more investigations to find the cause of my breathing difficulties but everything was pretty much normal. The specialist did another right heart catheterization the following year but it was normal again though upper limit of normal. I am short of breath only on exertion and have a dry cough. I get exhausted and sick feeling by the end of the week and can't do many extracurricular activities. I can get short of breath just doing light housekeeping. I sleep well. I asked to see a psychiatrist to see if it was psycho-somatic and he siad my symtpoms were not consistent with that and I just need a diagnosis. I even went on anxiety medications but it did not help. I one hand I can't help but think that something is being missed, but then I think that how could someone be short of breath for three years and nothing show up? I have lost weight to see if that helped and it didn't. I gained it back which doesn't help. I focus on it too much but it is hard not to when you don't know if you are walking around with something or are just full of anxiety. I have never had a problem previous to this. Does it sound like anxiety is causing my shortness of breath?

[nursegirl6572]

Hey loree, that was going to be my recommendation as well, get a new perspective from a different Pulmonologist.

I agree that it doesn't sound typical of an anxiety related symptom.

Keep plugging away and try to figure out what's going on.  Let us know!  Hope you can find some anwers!

[loree147]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I did give chemotherapy for many years( I am an RN) and was unprotected. I have often wondered if it may have done some damage to my lungs. Yoursupport helps. I will try to get another appointment with the pulmonologist. Thanks.

[lynn57]

Sounds like exercise induced asthma to me.

[caregiver222]

I am concerned about what, on the surface, appear to be an unnecessary number of invasive procedures, which it appears a simple dopplar of the heart or a stress EKG or a holter have not been used in diagnosis. This does not appear to be psychiatric. Do you have a history of inhaling dust or inhaling crushed drugs such as oxycontin? I have to ask. Clearly you need a pulmonary evaluation and a lung function test.

[mammo]

I agree with erin, and you may want to see a Pulmonist or get a second opinion from another Cardiologist.  I wouldn't at this point accept this as anxiety, seek out other specialists and go from there.  It's very stressful to feel like you do and yet nobody can find anything wrong.  Often a second or third opinion will get you answers, I've been thru it and can't stress it enough.  I hope you find an answer so you can get your life back.  I wish you all the best!

[erin626]

Shortness of breath is an anxiety symptom but it doesn't sound like your doc thinks its the primary cause. Anxiety could be making the condition worse for you. Have you been tested for allergies/asthma yet? I would keep up with the docs and keep trying to find some sort of diagnosis. An undiagnosed condition can definitely cause anxiety.

Maybe try consulting an allergist/asthma doctor. Allergies can randomly develop throughout life. I would try all avenues of testing before settling on it just being from anxiety.