Too Many Diverse Symptoms

[Regalhank]

For over five years I have had difficulty fully expanding my left (I think) lung.  I just cannot get a deep satisfying breath.  It started around the time I started taking Fosamax.  I stopped taking it for over a year but the breathing did not improve.  I quit smoking.  The pulmonary doctor has run all kinds of tests and everything comes back, repeatedly, normal.  It sounds like the classic definition of emphysema but he says there is no evidence of that.  I have had echo stress tests and it turned out that I have a "heart of a 25 year old" even though I am over twice that--most likely because I rely on public transit and I walk miles each day.  Throw into this the fact that I gained 25 pounds almost overnight--I understand gaining "some" weight when you quit smoking but this was over the line.  I went from a size 2 or 4 to an 8 literally within  a month.  I absolutely did not change my eating habits and, as I mentioned, I walk constantly and work out 2-3 times a week.  Numerous thyroid tests have also fallen within the normal range according to at least four doctors  in spite of the nodules which were discovered and are now routinely watched.  According to everyone my tests are a vision of health yet I feel awful with this breathing deal and I think it's getting worse.  It's not anxiety--that much we've ruled out--though being anxious certainly does not help.  I know menopause plays silly tricks also but I'm hard-pressed to believe that everyone experiences this particular symptom.  I just do not know what my next step should be.  I research every possible disease but it's gone on for so long that, frankly, if it were fatal I'd long be dead.  Now I'm wondering about heart valve issues but no one has even suggested that.  Any thoughts?

[Regalhank]

Thank you.  Yes, I do intend to bring up mitral valve or any valve issue.  I thought that might be observed in the stress test but I guess not.  My problem is my awful timing--this weight gain came right at quitting smoking and menopause--it was like the perfect storm and, although I certainly expected SOME gain, not all this when I eat well and exercise like a fool.  Some of it should have come off.  It's like my body aged overnight--and, truthfully, I am not exaggerating.  When they found the thyroid nodules I thought I was vindicated but, no, every test with the primary, the endocrinologist and the neurologist and the gynecologist comes back almost in the center range.  After awhile, they start ignoring my protests and, frankly, I can't blame them.  My primary is supportive, however, and I think he'll pursue whatever I ask.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
The feeling of not getting enough air on breathing can be due to diabetes—both weight gain and shallow breathing can be explained by it. Certain allergies cause this type of breathing and so does asthma but will not explain the weight gain. However they are worth exploring. First check your blood sugar, both after fasting for 8-10 hours and two hours after food. Another possibility is anemia and low protein which along with shallow breaths causes weight gain by water retention.Heart conditions like stable angina, mitral valve regurgitation can cause a feeling of not able to take complete breath.
Hope this helps. I think you should discuss these possibilities with your doctor. It is difficult to comment beyond this without examining. A comprehensive investigation is required keeping all the points in mind. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!