shortness of breath/frequent yawning

[kellb]

I am a 41 year old female with a 2 year old, in good health other than being about 10 pounds overweight. Two months ago I began experiencing shortness of breath. I yawn constantly in an attempt to get air. The doctor thought asthma, especially given my family history of lung problems, so though my lungs sounded clear I tried advair/albuterol.  No change in condition.
I had a ct scan to check for a pulmonary embolism and everything looked good. I have been taking previcid for 2 weeks to treat possible acid reflux, but there has been no change in my condition. I feel better when I sleep and wake up feeling great, only to have the sob return within a few hours.
A possibly relevant fact: the day before this started I was at yoga doing a twist when I felt a very, very sharp pain in my right side under my rib, along with a feeling as if a rubber band had been snapped in the same place. The pain was excruciating and traveled through my breast and shoulder, but was gone in a few minutes and I was able to continue class. Also, I was in the desert for a few days and it went away but returned about a week later. I fairly certain it isn't stress/anxiety as the trip out of town was not relaxing. The breathing seems better when I stand/worsens sitting down, and I may have been standing more than usual on the trip. I am feeling so frustrated, scared, and depressed.

[mutley111]

Hava,
        I am sitting here gasping for air reading the posts.I have had a breathless problem for two months now with an occasional pain in my right side.Making myself burp also makes me feel better. I undertake yoga once a week & i do feel better after a session,i also have no discomfort lying down or at night when sleeping.While reading through the posts i was doing the alternate nostril breathing & i am instanly feeling better. I iwll continue & get back to you.
Thnak you Hava

[jerzy1107]

I agree that its chronic hyperventilation ,because this is the second time that i had the shortness of breath with alot of yawing , and it happens after a hypertension attack and last for a few weeks the last time the docter gave me anxiety pills and it helped , now im taking allergy pill because the anti histamine helps bring your breathing back to normal and calms you down so you wont overbreath even to those who are now aware their doing it

[wong400]

i have been having shortness of breath and constantly yawning since last year september. this has been a daily occurrence. did ct scan chest exray md cant find anything. went to a pulmonologist yesterday, did pulmonary function test they said i have small airway obstruction usually seen with asthma i was given beclomethasone oral inhaler and it does seemto help.

[ButeykoWorks]

While standing in a company meeting about 5 days ago I suddenly noticed that I had to yawn constantly to catch that one breath. I started yawning almost continuously for that one breath (which use to "happen" once in about 4-5 time). I was going crazy with it throughout the day. Next day I went to an Allergist and has my Pulmonary test done (slightly less than average). Doctor did some allergy test as well and said I had Asthma (and an allergy to Dust mites). I was given an Inhaler (Albuterol Sulfate) and a slow-release version (Advair Diskus 100/50).

However, I also noticed that I didn't had any problem during sleep (never woke up for breathe, etc). Felt like whenever I was preoccupied with something else, my breathing would be Ok, but as soon as I am little free - I will gasp for breathe, and start yawning to catch that "Single breath"

The problem was that Inhaler didn't soothe me a single bit. If it was Asthma and my pulmonary tract was blocked, then Inhaler should work instantly and relieve me. I went through same symptom for about 2 more days, and was going really crazy. I started researching on net, and came across this post, read them all, and started trying the exercise suggested by few (Buteyko method)  - And it worked like a MIRACLE!! BELIEVE ME - I was miserable for 5 days (and every second seem like hell), but when I tried the breathing exercise, it helped me like crazy!!

The basic hypothesis is - You are feeling short of breath NOT because you cannot breathe (you actually can), but because you are breathing too fast (and too much). This leads to lack of CO2 in blood (yes CO2 is important for delivery of oxygen to blood), which leads to blood cell being starved for oxygen, and thus we breathe even faster and thus exhale even more CO2 - a VISCIOUS CYCLE. You MUST break it. Increasing your "Control Pause" time is an ideal way for this (please google for these terms: "Buteyko method" and "Control pause" - you will find enough resources to help you get started). The idea is to breathe less (both in quantity and frequency), exhale out and then hold for some time before going again (and do not breathe too much next time either). All breathing exercises mentioned in this post will help you (including hava's pranayam technique, etc).

[ScottyArmstrong]

Hey I have the same symptoms but i dont smoke a little weed now and then but ive quit that. have you found anything out about what it is

[ScottyArmstrong]

heyy I have the exact same problems as you and i wanted to know what you found out about it? if anything? thank you!