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Chii's Post

Chii

1y ago

Dealing with Dyspnea: Seeking Advice

So once every so often I get dyspnea (shortness of breath/can’t take a deep breath) it makes me feel like I am suffocating and hungry for air. Its very scary. I try and take deep breaths but it feels like nothing is happening it’s just not giving me a satisfying breath. I also can’t complete yawns and it scares me even more. I look it up on the internet of course and it says if it comes form anxiety it should only last 10-30 mins. But for me it lasts days to weeks it depends it’s very off and on maybe once every 2-3 months idk? But it also causes chest pain and lung pain maybe? It’s very sharp and painful. Anyway I’ve seen a doctor for it about 3 times and once I did a X-ray other time nothing just checked oxygen levels and one time a EKG all were normal and well. I’m just always worried about the chest pin that’s why I see the doctor. I just wanted to know if anyone has ever had this due to anxiety and if it has very lasted this long for you? Are there are ways to help it? Why does it happen? Or should I see a doctor again?

Your answer

KratomEater

1y ago

I actually ended up getting an inhaler for it but it can raise anxiety a little because it’s a stimulant. It does help me breath better though

Yuka

1y ago

my inhaler helps me too! Did you get like an Asthma inhaler? Or the ones with lavender in it?

KratomEater

1y ago

I have experienced this with both anxiety and panic attacks. It’s worse when I’m having a full blown panic attack. I don’t know if I ever had it for weeks straight but I have had it daily just not the whole day. Some days have been worse that others

Chii

1y ago

thank you for the reply is very comforting knowing people experience this too! :)

FS_cookielove

1y ago

They literally strap you to a table and sit you up. It's called the head-up table tilt test (HUTT). If you don't throw up or pass out (15min), they put a pill under your tongue to increase heart rate and simulate exercise. If you don't pass out or throw up (15 min), you most likely, don't have pots but may have another type of Dysautonomia or none at all. It's 30 minutes in total.

Yuka

1y ago

thank you!!! For anyone wondering, this is how they diagnose POTS 🤗

Keisha

1y ago

i was like this as a child, and sounds like the asthma attacks i use to get. have you ever talked about asthma with your doctor?

Keisha

1y ago

i still get these episodes but a lot less frequently, as its under control a lot better now.

FS_cookielove

1y ago

When I have this problem, I lay on my side, use an Inhaler (because it could be psychological), and just wait it out. I don't eat or drink anything. Abdominal exercises do help me a bit, placing a hand on my stomach and a hand on my chest and ensuring I'm breathing with my abdomen and not my chest. I also have less problems sitting/ standing than laying down.

FS_cookielove

1y ago

I have this. I found out I have a form of Dysautonomia called pots. Basically your brain doesn't always send the right signals to your body. It could be "pee now or your going to pee yourself" and it's just a trickle, it could be hard time breathing it could be "heart I don't feel like working right now so whatever you want" and your heart stops or is irregular (my heart stops and I pass out). Many other problems as well. It could be this.

Yuka

1y ago

do you know how POTS is diagnosed?

Bobaqueen

1y ago

I have experienced the same feeling recently. It felt like I wasn't getting enough air in, and I kept on yawning with barely any relief and it went on for hours and I ended up working myself into a panic attack and I decided to seek help from a nurse over the phone and she told me that I needed to try "abdominal breathing" by inhaling for about 4 to 8 seconds through my nose while pushing out my stomach and hold it for 4 to 8 seconds then slowing exhale through my mouth while tightening my stomach, which was around 8 seconds. You can start off by doing these breathing exercises 4 cycles in a row and work yourself up to 8 cycles in a row once you get used to it. I notice that when I am under a lot of stress, I tend to forget how to breathe properly and hold in my breath lot, so that is what triggers me into feeling out of breath. My doctor told me to do these breathing exercises every day even if I am not under stress so that when I do find myself in a panicky mode, I will already know how to control my breathing.

Chii

1y ago

thank you it did help a bit! Also it helps not not take deep breaths I saw that you could be hyperventilating without knowing!

Yuka

1y ago

i agree 100%

Chii

1y ago

It also causes chest tightness and pressure

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