lalalisa Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Hello everyone,Over the last week I've noticed that I've been experiencing shortness of breath, this is new for me. It's like I can't quite catch my breath and I just feel like being quiet because talking is exhausting.The episodes happen at any time - even when I'm sitting or lying in bed. My pulse is normal and I don't feel anxious - (except for the fact that it's kinda scary.)Any thoughts? I realize this is listed as a POTS symptom, but I thought it went along with tachycardia episodes.Thanks for your input!Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VJWeaver Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Lisa,I have that same problem and I don't get Tachy. I can go up stairs and my breathing will be fine. Then another time I will go up the same stairs and feel like I ran a marathon because I can't catch my breath. I am like you I can be sitting down and breathing fine and all of a sudden it hits me. I found out that if I drink some cold fluids that it help me. I don't make it Ice cold just out of the fridge cold.When I was younger the diagnose me with Asthma (SP) but none of the treatment for nomal patient with it wouldn't help me. You just have to remember we are ALIENS....LoL.....Hope this helps you,Vickie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypso Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 I have the same exact problem that started with POTS. In fact I noticed this before I noticed my heart racing. Mine happens all the time, even when sitting, and improves slightly when I lie down. I also get short of breath more easily when I exercise or climb stairs, or even when talking. It's horrible and makes me nervous. I empathize! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merrill Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Yup -- got it too sometimes -- feels like you can't inhale all the way sometimes, or quick short breaths. For me it's when walking or after stairs. Goofy, huh? Try to stay calm when it happens and trust that you're getting the air you need.m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Tired Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 I don't have POTS, "just" (lol) NCS. I, too, get short of breath. Sometimes I just wake up during the night panting and trying to get a deep breath. The first specialist I ever went to was a pulmonologist. He did very in-depth testing, checked to make sure I was using my inhalers right - determined I did, indeed, know what I was doing. Then determined I did not have any kind of asthma. It was this doctor who found the OI and requested a TTT. It seems like there is no rhyme or reason for when the shortness of breath occurs. It looks like this is the same for most of us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Shortness of breath was one of my first symptoms too! I get it every day to some degree. Some days I can hardly breath when I stand up or I can quickly become out of breath from just sitting or talking. Other days I won't even notice it unless I walk up stairs or some type of inclined walk way. Then I become very tachy and out of breath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethansmom Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 I have always had this symptom- in fact, waking up during the night gasping for air was the first indication that something was wrong. It happened three nights in a row and on day four I had my "sudden onset" of POTS. I was also tested for asthma, but turned out everything was fine. I guess it's from the lack of adequate blood flow to the lungs? I'm not really sure, but I know it's worst when I first wake up in the morning. The Florinef really helps with it as well as staying hydrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merrill Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 For those of you who are having episodes of shortness of breath in the middle of the night--who wake up gasping for breath--have you been evaluated for possible problems with sleep apnea? (Sleep disorder is listed on Pots symptom list... so it may be another side effect of pots, but it's something that can be treated...)I'll know the results of my sleep study next week, so I'll let you know... The test technician told me that she saw me have apnea episodes during the night when I was lying on my left side...they may uncover more when they slow down the tapes. take care,m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 I don't get short of breath unless I exert myself...but then again exertion for me is lifting anything heavy or pushing or moving heavy objects or sometimes just walking or standing a lot...sometimes I guess talking too much will even make me feel short of breath a little and dizzy.I know this might be inappropriate to post on such a serious subject here but I have to share a great funny story with you guys...at least it might make you smile..hey you have to take it where you can find it huh?!Well, I purchased this beautiful quilt at a church-owned shop that kind of sells new furniture, old furniture, estate sale finds, and department store returns, etc. Well, I found this beautiful rose quilt, major king size beauty from JC Penney for only 19.00...the deal of the century right?! Well, I just am not patient and as soon as I got it home I tried to get it into my washing machine first thing (because yuck well it wasn't dirty but still)...so anyway, my mother tried to tell me it was too large to wash in my washing machine but did I listen? Ummm, no...I wash all my comforters in the washer no problem. Well this cotton corded thick mammoth thing was a whole new experience.I managed to wrestle the dang thing into the washer realizing halfway through that it wasn't going to fit but after having it half in and soaked I was intent on finishing the job.I got the thing in there and the washer started agitating...okay fine I thought and smiled. About 2 seconds later the washer tied up and stopped. Great! All I could do was pray that I hadn't broken the washing machine. It took me no less than 20 minutes to pry and wrestle that 100-pound soaking wet king size quilt out of the washing machine and when I was done I thought I was going to pass out and was breathing like my 73-year-old father who has COPD (gasping!), soaking wet, with sreams of water all over the floor.I decided to wait until my husband came home to take care of it so I bundled towels around the quickly leaking laundry basket I had it in and prayed for the best.A couple hours later, my husband wasn't home yet and realizing how late it was getting (about 8'ish at night) and realizing laundromats probably are closed, I dragged this laundry basket into the bathroom (yes at 37 with osteoporosis this was a major achievement for me) but I was determined once again and thought I could wring it out in the bathtub and put it in the dryer! Wrong! I got the thing into the bathtub and I'm wringing, and I'm wringing, and all the water I wring out of one part just soaks into the other.....totally exhausted and winded at this point I haul the thing out of the bathtub and into the laundry basket again and drag it back into the laundry area when my husband comes in from work and calls out to me...I could hardly answer him I was so short of breath.I walked into the living room and fell onto the couch gaspting with my heart pounding like I ran a marathon and very concerned he sat down next to me and said "what is wrong?" this frightened look on his face and I gasped out "the quilt", "the quilt"...What a riot! Needless to say I will not be attempting to wash that thing myself EVER again and we were up until midnight driving around town to find a laundry mat that was open and wash and dry the dang thing. That is my shortness of breath story of the day and the story of the 19.00 quilt "bargain" turned nightmare! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplefocus Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Jackie, That was so funny, I could just imagine all the images you were describing. I was laughing . As far as the shortness of breath.......I get it constantly, it feels like to me I can't get a deep breath no matter how hard I try. I try to stay calm and realize I am getting enough air. It still is scary. It happens sometimes just out of the blue, or when talking alot like on the phone and especially, on exertion. I almost refuse to go up stairs any more. I have started searching for elevators everywhere. Paige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danelle Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Ditto to Paige's reply. That is me as well. Jackie, that sounded like me to, on more days than not. Thanks for sharing that with us. I think we all got a good laugh danelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwem Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Last night I woke up from feeling like I couldn't breathe. I have had this happen to me before but never as bad as last night. Apparently I woke up screaming and gasping for air becasue my dad flew into the room becasue he thought that someone had come into the house! It scared the daylights out of me though, and my dad obviously! I called my doctor today and he can't make anything of it. The entire day I have felt horrible and completely exhausted and have had the "out of breath feeling." It also get's more intesnse when eating like my body has hardly enough energy to breath, even though I am breathing taking a deep breath takes a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lalalisa Posted June 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Thank you everyone,I feel better about the fact that this is not uncommon for you all (even though I wish it weren't common)I will definitely tell my Dr. about this.Anyone know what the cause of this is?Thanks again for reminding me that we're in this together!!!!!!!!Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merrill Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Gwem, definitely sounds like sleep apnea to me! If you continue to have multiple episodes like this and/or to feel super tired all day, this may be an ongoing issue for you and you may want to get this checked out. (There are some no-drug treatments...) It's very scary when it happens the way it did for you last night...I've had that too. Ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Tired Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 I'm sure someone will correct me but here's my 2 cents re: cause of the shortness of breath. Our brains decide they are not getting enough oxygen - weather it is from a drop in BP or from sleep apnea - so the brainstem tells your body to breathe faster/deeper to get in more oxygen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calypso Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 I don't get a drop in BP always when I have shortness of breath, so I am guessing it's just a result of dysautonomia with unknown cause. The autonomic nervous system controls respiration and heart rate, so if it can mess with your heart rate, I assume it can also mess with your breathing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb Posted June 16, 2004 Report Share Posted June 16, 2004 I think it's something to do with the autonomic nervous system, too, aside from BP or tachycardia. I get it all the time, except when I'm in bed at night. I've told every doctor I've been to because I've had that symptom for years. NONE of them have put any real importance on it, or tried to find a cause. Yes, I do have asthma, but it is not related to what is going on. My neurologists have said, that's not a symptom! Ha! I don't think we all would have it, if it wasn't!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artluvr09 Posted October 7, 2013 Report Share Posted October 7, 2013 I get shortness of breath a lot lately. My parents keep saying oh its anxiety. but I get it when I am not anxious. It's a frustrating symptom. I get so anxious that something is wrong with me. I use my rescue inhaler a lot because I keep wondering if it is asthma. that doesn't help so I use vicks and eat strong mints and use mint chapstick. I wouldn't recommend the chapstick because I use the carmex so much my lips are thinning like crazy. I use vicks everynight to help my shortness of breath. I hope that is safe to use everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichGotsPots Posted October 8, 2013 Report Share Posted October 8, 2013 Here is an old poll I took about breathing problems and treatments. Part 1 and 2http://forums.dinet.org/index.php?/topic/20049-dysautonomia-breathing-related-issues-and-treatments/page-3http://forums.dinet.org/index.php?/topic/20096-part-2-dysautonomia-breathing-related-issues-and-treatments/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.