Extreme dry throat/mouth & constant hyperventilation without realizing it.

[mistybrooke84]

So...I've had the most severe dry throat and mouth EVER in the last few weeks. I finally made it to my doctor yesterday and my blood work showed that my pCO2 level was a little below average...it should be at least 21% and mine is 19%. He said this proves to him that I am hyperventilating. And that hyperventilation has caused all these symptoms I've been having....even the weakness and fatigue (which have improved a lot since leaving the doctor office yesterday). The dryness makes it feel like a golf ball is in my throat and makes it hard to swallow since it is SO dry. Water doesn't help it. It also gives the sensation that you can't clear the throat. It makes it feel like you can't breathe and your chest feels irritated. Has anyone dealt with this and how did you reverse it? He gave me anxiety medication but I've never heard of this med before and nervous to take it lol.

[Hidden]

What med is it??

Hyperventilating? Wow I think I'm dealing with that the throat thing and mouth. And when I correct my breathing it gets better.

[mistybrooke84 in reply to Hidden]

It's Oxazepam. I haven't taken it yet because I'm scared to lol. How did you correct your breathing? I'm trying to breathe slower, not think about it, etc. It's annoying! And causes SO many symptoms!

[Hidden in reply to mistybrooke84]

Never heard of it. How long did they tell you that it will take effect?

Try telling yourself it's for your own good and that soon your anxiety won't be a bother.

I take in a slow deep breath hold it for a few seconds and let it out slowly ( in through the nose out through the mouth)

Do it tell ur nerves calm down.

Then distract yourself and it will allow you to break the habit of checking in your breathing.

[mistybrooke84]

I haven't taken it yet lol. I do still have Ativan to take as needed and haven't tried that in a long time. May just stick with that. But it says to take a capsule twice a day as needed. Supposedly, it is kind of like Ativan. Thank you so much for the encouragement. I am actually telling myself that very thing right now since I had to take a Diflucan for my yeast infection in my throat/mouth. I began to panic after taking it and even though the doctor said it appears to be mostly gone in the mouth, if it is causing alot of the issue in my throat, it will take care of it if there are any remaining yeast. So I'm trying to remind myself that it is for my own good. I made the mistake of reading the side effects...yeah...bad idea haha!

Alright, I will definitely try that breathing exercise. Thank you so much. This forum has been SO helpful in being able to vent to other people who know what you're going through. Everyone else around me that doesn't struggle with this is tired of hearing me talk about it when my fears flare up.

[Barranco]

I totally get that too. I feel like there is a big huge ball in my throat and i struggle to take a breath, then i focus on it too much then i panic. I am learning that people with anxiety breath very shallow , with the top of our chests rather than our diaphram. I am learning new techniques to retrain my breathing. I bearly started but once i master it i will let u know how to do it too

[mistybrooke84]

Thank you, Barranco. It has lasted for a few weeks now. It began a month ago when I got a cold. I'm cleared up now but goodness, this has just lingered lol! I can tell that I breathe very shallow. If you figure that out before me, let me know haha! And vice versa! I think the hyperventilation has caused my chest to burn and such as well. (Unless thrush has made its way to my esophagus, but my doctor thinks it is more anxiety related).

[Larrycal]

I think in having this same thing too