Jacquie802 Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Just wondering if POTS can cause up to stop breathing. Last night I had a horrible time breathing. I took .5mg of ativan which seemed to help. Feels like I am not getting enough oxygen at times.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpjd59 Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Jacquie802:My daughter, who has POTS, has this feeling of shortness of breath several times per day. We have pulmonary tests run and all the tests say that her lungs and oxygen level are fine.We have not found anything that helps (since she is so sensitive to meds she can't even take Ativan) so she just has to wait until the feeling passes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E Soskis Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 I also get short-of-breath and feel like my chest is constricted - just not getting enough air. The way it was explained to me was this is due to poor circulation to the chest wall muscles. When the chest muscles don't get the proper circulation, they tighten up and that causes the constriction feeling - also causes the sensation of being short of breath - if it occurs at night while trying to sleep, then it can be relieved somewhat by elevating the head and chest about 30-degrees - I sleep on a wedge-pillow and 2 other pillows every night. During the day, it helps promote proper circulation by wearing the compressive garments - especially the abdominal ones. This keeps blood from pooling in the mesenteric arteries and veins of the abdomen and forces blood to circulate upward to the chest and above......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacquie802 Posted December 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 It's an aweful feeling and scary. Where can I find the abdominal compression garments? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellysavedbygrace Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Spanx.com - super duper strength. I like the one that goes up to the mid chest and covers the thighs. I live in mine.I agree w E above. I'm always finding myself agreeing w her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kellysavedbygrace Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 By the way I have not heard of respiratory failure but there are lots and lots of posts about difficulties with breathing here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khaarina Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 I haven't heard of POTS causing respiratory failure either, but I know the feeling well. It is pretty horrible. Head elevation and compression are the only things that have helped me. They don't help much, but it's something. Please let us know if you find anything else that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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