Can't get a deep breath / Difficulty Breathing

[Baltmaa]

Hi - I've been having difficulty breathing for at least the last 9-10 years...and it's a daily thing.  I am 31 years old, am healthy (exercise almost daily, eat healthily, am not overweight, do not smoke, and only drink socially), and yet I always feel like my breathing is extremely laboured.  I constantly yawn to try to catch a satisfying breath.  There are some periods throughout the day where it's not laboured and I feel as if I breathe normally, but then it creeps up on me and I have to start yawning again.  My nose feels very clogged all the time and my chest, stomach, and back muscles feel very constricted when breathing.  It's especially noticeable when I am working out...especially running and lifting weights.  I have to stop every once in a while just to yawn (frustrating) to stop from getting dizzy.  It's also noticeable as I am trying to go to sleep and/or when I've had a glass or 2 of wine.  I was "diagnosed" with exercise-induced asthma 9-10 years ago, but I think this was a mis-diagnosis as the inhalers never work (I've tried all sorts) and they usually end up making me feel worse.  After using the inhaler I always end up coughing up fluid and my breathing sounds gurgle-ly  (so I don't take them any more unless I feel I really need to...note that I have never had a full blown asthma attack).  I'm worried that it could be something else (was exposed to TB as a teenager, but took the "horse pills" for 6 months and was told I was fine), but none of my doctors will really listen to me.  They see that I am slim and active, and they dismiss me - I live in the UK (free socialised healthcare - so not a lot of time to spend with patients).  Has anyone else experienced this?  I see lots of threads on here with the same topic, but they all have to do with taking medications, being overweight, being a current/past smoker, being depressed/having anxiety, etc.  Please help - I'm tired of living like this.  I'm worried that I could be living with something undiagnosed that could rear it's ugly head one day.

[Rini89]

HI.. i read all your comments and posts. I have been suffering from the same symptoms as you guys since i was 9 years old. Now i am 22 and i still have this problem. I have gone to many docs and each of them told me i'm perfectly fine. I was reading some forums and then i came across something called Hyperventilation syndrome. This syndrome talks about the problems which i (or most of us here) are suffering. I don't know 100% if i am suffering from this syndrome or not about the symptoms mentioned in there are quite similar.
I get worried at times when i fall short of breath and gasp for it. Its pretty scary and I don't know what to do about it. :(

[Jaklein522]

Hey I just wanted to say I've had this problem for about two months. I went to an allergist/asthma dr yesterday. She said I hav a severe allergy to grass (im 22 and i always thought i had no allergies) which complicated my last upper respiratory infection a few months ago and turned into a chronic nose infection. She gave me prednisone and antibiotics along with a nose spray and I am breathing 10x better today

[arq_prot]

After reading your post. I decided to give a try to the stomach problems related diagnosis. Well I can say it help. I started the treatment for the gastritis and stop every mayor irritant like pepper and coffee, and fat, and so far I feel better. After reading from you the explanations related to the diafragm I thought it makes sense so I'm also trying to change my respiratory habbits, and breathing with my stomach and not just my lungs, and it also helps a lot. I must say that in my case I have allergies and having them under control helps, but I have notice that when it is an allergy related problem it doesn't comes with the yawning component.
Bottom line it won't kill us to try, it didn't kill me and I'm feeling better.
If it is related to the diafragm and the whole system is conected and it get's swallow by a gastritis it does makes sense to me. I know that once I had such a bad gastristis that doctors thought I had heart troubles, but it was just gastristis. So if it can affect your heart then it surely can affect your diafragm. And if it is about the diafragm and your are strssing it even more by the way you breath then I give it a try and so far is helping,
I'll keep posting after a couple of months, to let you know if I'm sure it worked.
I have had several diferent injuries, and I know how things that seems completly unrelated are actually related, and how your brain does not help some times.
So just stay calm, and don't loos hope,..only one thing, forget about the ididot doctors that have no better answer than: anxiety or stress, it is related but it won't help just to know that.

[Prettyright]

Please look at my post prettyright. I hope you feel okay.

[lorri36]

Hi...I've had this problem on and off now for many years. Doctors have not been able to provide me with a reason. I am 55 years old with no stress in my life. The greatest feeling is "finally" being able to catch that satisfying breath. I could go months without having the problem but absolutely hate it when it comes back. It's a terrible affliction and I wish I had an answer....

[breathintheair]

I still have the sensations of needing a deep breath, but instead of freaking out, I realized that I am okay and continue to breath normally, then after a few more normal breathes, I am able to take a deep breath.  

I am wondering if it is a sensation or a real problem?  I read many posts hear and other sites and the writers were told it is in their head, now I am wondering that myself, because when i relax and not worry about breathing I seem to do beeter.  I am not saying I am better, but the past few days I practiced this and appear to be a litttle better.  I still feel the need to get a deep breath, but I do not stress about it, which feels much better.