I'm scared

[texas_girl]

I went to my cardiologist a couple of months ago, (he's only been my dr. for palpitations) because my bp was bothering me and from feet legs swelling, pitting on occasion, but, the "sub" dr, mine had emergency, said, not any pitting, that day and my bp was "wonderful numbers" it was up around 142/92 - 149/96 daily, which I have NEVER had trouble with bp except having Eclampsia when pregnant. He changed my meds from Verapamil to Carvedilol. It really helped with bp, but, my palps are strong now and having a LOT of pressure in my chest, sometimes pain. I can be sitting here or lying down and all of a sudden, breathing hard. The edema is pitting everyday now, except when I am home with feet up and resting and it takes 2-3 days off to do that. I have caught myself taking very deep breaths quite often the past week, like trying to get more air. Just one big one, not panting or anything. My legs are hurting by Wednesday and I can feel swelling up to my hips and sometimes in stomach, only pitting in left foot mostly, sometimes in right.
Now, for the last few days, the deep breaths are more often. It's like, when you are swimming underwater and have that little pressure to tell you to take a breath, I just have to take a deep breath. It's taking more and more to walk up and down stairs at work, and no, there is no way around them. They go to my dept and they are the only way to it.
I wouldn't hesitate to go to ER, IF I had insurance, but, last time I did, it was for no reason and I don't want to do that again.

[emily1978]

I have been having problems getting a deep breath as well and they tell me its the same thing deppression, or anxirty. I have had panis attakcs before and this is no panic attack. They told me i had mitral prolapse valve and it was mild but nothing to worry about. But why am i having the urge to take in deep breaths as well. At times i think that i am going to quit breathing. Email me @ emily_oquinn78***@****

Thanks i hope we help one another,
emily

[mrwjd]

"It's possible that the deep breathing is anxiety, but it's also possible that it is related to a cardiac anomaly."  
___

Breathing is a funny thing.  It's kind of between autonomic and conscious functions.  It seems to go along fine as long as you ignore it, but then something comes up and it acts a little funny and you start to notice it, and then it goes berserk.  You may start gasping for air like a fish on the dock.  Pretty soon you might feel as if you're suffocating, and even though you know you aren't, you panic.  It's not a thing you want to be wrong about and ignore even once.

Always follow through with the cardiologist, especially when you have those other symptoms!  After that, the two things I have found effective to keep my breathing not-worse-than it has to be are (a) to take slow breaths as far down to my diaphragm as possible, not breathe in my chest; and (b) keep a little finger oximeter, so when I feel that I'm suffocating, I can confirm that my O2 saturation is fine and I really am not suffocating this time.  Keeps me from panicking and making it worse.

Good luck.

[Momto3]

Taking deep breaths, and having the feeling of not getting enough air can absolutely be anxiety/depression.  However, the edema and pitting is likley due to something entirely different.  Can you ask the nurse to mention your concerns to the doctor.  How does he/she explain the pitting?  I'm still wondering if you are on the best medicine regime???  That's something to discuss with the doctor when you followup with the office.

If you cannot get answers and continue to be concerned, you could try visiting an Urgent Care to see what they think.

[texas_girl]

Went to ER. dr says depression?? What the heck is he talking about? He never looked at my edema, did an EKG for no reason as I told them the pain was not sharp or sudden, therefore, not a heart attack. Chest xray to rule out pneumonia, WHY?

[texas_girl]

The problem is, the only new symptom is the deep breath. I had the edema since February. That and the BP is the reason I returned to them in April. It's just gotten worse with pittting. I have had anxiety attacks before. This isn't like that, it's weird. It's not gasping for breath that I'm doing. It's every 15-20 minutes, I just get a deep urge that I need a deep breath, just one deep one, like when you "sigh" your bored. I'm sorry, it's hard to explain.

[Momto3]

Can you call the cardiologist's office and ask if the medication could be causing any of these new symptoms?  Explain that you have no insurance, but are concerned because of the swelling, etc.  

It's possible that the deep breathing is anxiety, but it's also possible that it is related to a cardiac anomaly.  Please give the office a call and let us know how you're doing.

connie