Anxiety? Lightheadedness? Air Hunger?

[DJATC10]

Air Hunger-Lightheadedness-anxiety?
by DJATC10, Oct 06, 2010 03:28PM
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HELP - light headedness and shortness of breath not just "anxiety"?
My boyfriend is a 36yr old, 5'7" 151lbs otherwise healthy male. I am worried about his health status as of late. Previous to the bout I will explain and it's conditions thereafter the only major medical problem he had was seasonal allergies and exercise induced asthma. In his hearly 30s his doctor started him on diuretics per his family history of high blood pressure. This controlled his blood pressure for about a year and then it began to rise so he was put on Lisinopril. Which brings us to an episode that has altered his health for the past 4 years. Approximately 4yrs ago he had what his doctor diagnosed as a panic attack.

His doctor prescribed over the following years:
Effexor, Paxil, Cymbalta,Clonopan, and Xanax and diagnosed him with anxiety disorder.

None of those medications over the period of 4yrs have worked to alleviate his symptoms of: lightheadedness, dizziness, air hunger (dyspnea), dysphagia, esophageal immotility (prilosec helps a little with this), constant clearing of throat (especially after eating), constantly feeling as if there is mucus in nasopharyngeal junction, occasional feelings of drainage, feeling as if not able to get a "full" breath (feels as though he needs to sit up straight or yawn to get full breath), dry cough that is sometimes productive.

The tests his doctors have run that have all produced results that were not deemed abnormal include: endoscopy, swallow study, barium swallow (found mild GURD), chest CT, head CT (including sinuses), chest x-ray, ENT exam, echocardiogram, stress test, pulmonary function tests, blood tests (cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid, enzymes, etc).

We are currently only working with a diagnosis of "anxiety" which is being treated with Xanax (prn). The Xanax does not alleviate any of the symptoms he is currently having, it only works to take the "edge off". We believe that his numerous symptoms lead to his feelings of anxiety instead of his anxiety leading to his symptoms since his symptoms are always there. We are especially concerned about his feelings of lightheadedness which lead him to feel as if he is going to pass out, and his shortness of breath. Wondering if anyone has a similar combination of the numerous signs/symptoms?

We are appreciative of any feedback/stories/ideas.

[DJATC10]

Thanks, will give it a try

[hava]

Let him do this pranayam, and let me know how he feels after 3 weeks or earlier, when  you start to notice the benefit.The extra oxygen going into the body (brain and lungs) will start to get him better.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.