Trouble breathing and failure to yawn!

[Snufflez]

I've been having trouble breathing for about a year now. It happens randomly, no matter what I'm doing. I feel the need to take deep breaths, but when I try, it feels like there is something holding me back from finishing the breath. This isn't a constant thing; I've gone months without it happening. But when it does happen, it scares me. When I was younger I was told I had asthma (I am told now that I do not). So when this problem first started I took my inhaler. But that just made it even harder to breath. Same thing happens when I'm in the shower, the steam makes it worse. I've gone to and ENT about it, and he said everything was normal. But just to be sure I was then sent to a specialist. That's when I was told that not only was everything fine, but that I had amazing breathing abilities. He said it was all in my head. Lies. That just means no one knows what's wrong.

One other thing that happens whenever I have trouble breathing is that I can't yawn. I have the need to yawn, but for some reason my ears clog up and I cannot finish my yawn. And one last thing, I have been experiencing chronic back pain, could that have anything to do with it?

I am experiencing these problems right now, but they are lasting longer than usual. Most of the time they last up to an hour at best, but this has been going on since 4am, and it is now 7:30pm. Is anyone else going through this or know what it is? I would really like to get this fixed so it doesn't run my life.

[Leviticus75]

This happens to me alot as well...I hate it...my lungs feel like they are only half there...I have had chest exrays and everything...sleep studies I am talking everything...My chest starts to hurt...I have went to the ER several times, they just give me breathing treatments and it takes a while but goes away...this usually happens to me at night but sometimes during the day...morning also....when I do get a yawn I continue to yawn....I also feel like I exhale more air than I take in....it is very scary...please help

[Leviticus75]

This happens to me alot as well...I hate it...my lungs feel like they are only half there...I have had chest exrays and everything...sleep studies I am talking everything...My chest starts to hurt...I have went to the ER several times, they just give me breathing treatments and it takes a while but goes away...this usually happens to me at night but sometimes during the day...morning also....when I do get a yawn I continue to yawn....I also feel like I exhale more air than I take in....it is very scary...please help

[EroToo]

It happens to me when I am completely relaxed as well.  It takes 4-6 weeks for your antidepressant to kick in.  Sometimes the first one you try doesn't work for you.  It is trial and error.

Try to stay positive (from someone who is always negative LOL)

Karen

[KFB818]

Yawning is sometimes the only way to get that deep breath--and it's not always easy to get that deep yawn, which adds to the frustration.  I think it's anxiety/stress since it will completely go away if I don't think about it, but the moment it does go through my mind, it comes back, and the more I think about it, the worse it gets.  I had a bout with this in my mid thirties that lasted for several years.  Then it totally went away for 20 years (while raising kids--lots of other things to think about).  At 56, I got laid off (certainly an anxiety trigger), and then found another job, but the yawning situation came back, and remained even after I found another job. I've had it for several years again, but it's definitely not as bad, because I really do feel it's an anxiety thing, and I know if I focus on anything else, the sensation will go away.  Just accepting that it's an anxiety thing really helped.

Rather than trying to yawn to get a breath (which is bringing air into the upper chest), try breathing from the diaphragm (brings air into the stomach region of the chest).  It's not as satisfying, but is good for relaxation and bringing in air.

[camjeff]

When you begin to have this problem of not being able to yawn, do your eyes feel forced to close and your ears feel like you are under water? If so, I have this same problem and I think that it has something to do with my ears.  It seems to only happen when I have been having ear issues- like my ears will itch for days and I can't stand it so I put some sweet oil in them and after I do that I always seem to have this problem where when I go to yawn, my ears will feel like I am under water or putting my ear up to a seashell and I can't finish my yawns and my eyes are forced shut and I have the urge to swallow and can't breathe well. I don't know how else to explain it and it only happens to me every once in a while (but when it does it will occur frequently for a few days and then go away).  I mentioned it to the doctor "once" and he looked at me like I was crazy, so I didn't mention it again. I would love to know what it is though because it is a scarely feeling.
By the way--- I have asthma as well!

[Snufflez]

Thank you for the advice. The thing is, usually when I have these "attacks" I am completely relaxed. For example, a few hours ago I was watching tv on the couch and all of the sudden it began to happen. It's better now, but I'm still having some mild trouble. Do you mean antidepressant? Cause I'm already on one.

[EroToo]

I have had the same problem as you since I am 18.  It is panic attacks and it is very frustrating when you feel like you aren't getting enough air.   Try lying down on your back and breath through your stomach and not through your chest.  Keep your hands on your stomach to make sure you are breathing correctly.  If you aren't in the middle of a major attack, it might work.  And yes, it can last for hours.  If you had all the tests to make sure there is nothing wrong with you, try an antidressant.  Karen