Breathing Difficulty in & out

[angelzw]

I am 51 years old. Suffer from high BP which is under control with medication. Have also been diagnosed with Hiatus Hernia about 10 years ago. Have recently been diagnosed with PMR. 2 months ago started to experience breathing difficulty in and out at the same time. Am and always have been a non smoker. Doc prescribed 20mg prednisone. This helped the muscle aches and shoulder pains which are now gone 1 month after starting prednisone. However breathing difficulty remains. Doc is reducing prednisone now as it has had no effect on breathing difficulty. Went for a lung function test a few days ago no results yet. Doc is going down the road of lung/respiratory problem. Lungs operating at 70%. Is this likely to be Restrictive Lung Disease?? From what I can find out on the net it seems this fits. However not happy with the prospect of this. No ankle swelling. No wheezing. Breathless moments happen at rest too. Walking 50m makes me breathless. Can't have a conversation without getting out of breath. Voice is slightly croaky and find it hard having a conversation in a group of people as I can't get my voice 'out there'. Very tired. No chest pain. Would appreciate some suggestions whilst I await results and further testing.

[angelzw]

Hi Misssy2, yes I have had the hiatus hernia, which is basically the valve in the oesphegos(?) not closing and is faulty and causes reflux, for several years. Doc said at time of diagnosis it's not something you fix as it's is very tricky. But it can be managed quite easily. So it's not the hernia. I have no obstruction in my breathing just very hard to breathe in and out. If I take a deep breath my chest kind of locks and my chest shudders on exhaling. No mucous but have a very irritating cough.

[Misssy2]

I'm not sure what a hiatus hernia is...but I vaugley remember that any type of hernia requires treatment. Is it possible that your hernia could be causing these symptoms?  I googled the symptoms and although they are not a direct match, everyone is different.  The hernia could be pressing on your diaphragm causing your breathing problems.  I would check into that with the Dr.