I have had chronic shortness of breath 24/7, day and night for the past 11 1/2 weeks. I have had a million tests done by a pulmonologist and everything comes back normal. I'm receiving normal oxygen levels in the lungs, catscan shows lungs are clear, diaphragm is not paralyzed, bloodwork clear, even echocardiogram shows the heart and arteries are clear. I don't have asthma or allergies. I just have this constant feeling that I'm being smothered. I have never had anxiety in my life. This breathing issue came out of nowhere 2 1/2 weeks after I had my gallbladder removed. I'm seeing a cardiologist for consultation and more tests. I have an appointment set up with a therapist in case I might have anxiety. I feel fine other than the breathing issue. Has anyone else had this problem with breathing and nothing was found?
Chronic shortness of breath, tests pe... - Lung Conditions C...
Chronic shortness of breath, tests performed show nothing wrong.
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I am just wondering if you are hyperventilating for some reason, have you tried the pursed lip breathing....in gently through the nose and then out gently through pursed lips....I think there is a you tube demonstration. Just repeat a few times, this method helps some people with breathlessness but not others. The BLF helpline will be open again after Easter hopefully they can advise you better.
Yes I have tried that breathing to no avail many times. It's really weird all of this. I feel fine otherwise.
I sometimes try just taking a very gentle breath in then gently out...hold your nose for 5 seconds...then gently breathe in and out again for a few breaths Repeat a few times. Have you tried distraction techniques such as listening to slow music, or again you tube meditation videos just to take your mind off your breathing. Both my friend and neighbour and myself have loud wheezy breathing and we need the tv or radio on so we don't hear the wheeze so much. I find meditation very calming and it helps to slow the breathing rate.
I hope you get sorted soon.
I do think you can get this with anxiety which could be due to your operation. Just a thought do you find your heart is beating faster that it usually dose?
I wondered myself if I did gain anxiety from the gallbladder removal surgery. I had been in pain for two months before the surgery (that was my fault for not seeing a doctor), had a colonoscopy done during that time thinking the pain was from colon cancer. Colonoscopy - all clear. Two days later I was in ER from the pain and throwing up (I panicked) and that was when I was diagnosed with my gallbladder being full with stones. The surgery went well according to the surgeon - found the gallbladder no problem and out it came. I do remember though lying there at home after surgery and imagining medicinal smells. I was experiencing tightness below the sternum (one incision site) to the belly button (another incision site) but kept telling myself that was all part of healing. Maybe this all manifested into an anxiety a couple of weeks later. What is strange is that my heat beats normally, doesn't race. I breathe in and out like everyone else who doesn't have a breathing issue. Anyhow here's hoping a therapist can help me get this turned around. I go about my daily activities, sit outside in the sun and read, try to ignore this suffocating feeling. It's a horrible feeling going on for almost 12 weeks straight now.
Is your thyroid ok? Pal of mine had very gradual problem ... then doc diagnosed a goitre on her neck and an op later she was back to normal.
This was checked and nothing.
Hi Idawmn, have to say I have never had your experience in respect of tests, but did wonder when you said it started after your gallbladder removal if it might be to do with reduced stamina after an op or even anaemia can cause shortness of breath. There are many things not least anxiety of course, it took me twelve months to get over major gallbladder surgery, but now it is usually done laproscopically which is far less traumatic but it still takes about 12 weeks to recover. So take care it may only be a need for a little more rest and recuperation before you feel breathing fit again.
I did get checked out for anemia as that was one concern - all in the clear. I had mygallbladder removed laparoscopically. I have a bit of tenderness in the belly button at times but when talking to others who had their gallbladder surgery the same way as mine, they are still experiencing the same months later. This feeling like I'm not getting 100% oxygen (smothering feeling) into my lungs is horrendous. At times I am chewing peppermint gum because it feels my throat is getting sore due to the breathing. It's really strange. Other times I feel I'm breathing in extremely cold air but in the meantime the household temperature shows at 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
I forgot to mention that I started back on HRT (estrogen and progesterone) a week ago. I had started to take this back at the beginning of November at the time my gallbladder pain started and had no problem with it. I found it got rid of the hot flushing and got my head out of a fog. I had stopped taking the night before my surgery to focus on getting better from the surgery. Here's hoping this HRT may be of help this time around getting rid of the hot flushing, my head out of the fog and as a mood lifter.
It does sound like after effects of laprascope operation . If I remember right throat effects are common hopefully it will get better given time, do warm drinks not help to relieve it?Idawmn
I have heard that you can get soreness of throat from tubes down throat when anesthesia is used but that is usually gone within days. I had my surgery done on January 8, over 3 months ago now. I just don't understand with this breathing though.
Yes it is a long time now and it should be gone, so hopefully you will soon see other consultants to try and solve the problem. But still take care and allow your body to recover. night night.x
Thank you. Thinking more it's anxiety related. Goodnight.
Have you had a spirometry test to check your lung capacity? Do you breathe with largest part of lung of often to get most air in? ... using diaphragm...upper chest breathing is engaged often in anxiety. Where is the suffocating feeling in your body? What happens if you focus on your feet instead twiddling your toes ?
Yes spirometry test was done twice and all is normal. I'm breathing like I always have and how most people breathe - normal breathing pattern, no hyperventilating. It appears through the diaphragm part. It's hard to explain where the suffocating feeling is coming from. It seems like the upper part of the body, the feeling that someone has put a pillow over my face trying to suffocate me. Focusing on feet, the breathing seems less intense.
so a different focus does help you .... that may show that anxiety causes the suffocating feeling and it that may be triggered by thoughts or situations .... See how you are by constantly thinking of something else whenever you feel this awful feeling. You don't need to focus on your breathing .... it is automatic and am pretty sure that if there was any serious cause for alarm you would be unable to distract yourself. Maybe ask your doc to confirm this. other thought is that with shoulders down and palms facing outwards your breathe will be easier and you will not be scrunching your neck ...I find that helps me. Keep us updated. do hope this helps 
YEs I understand what you are saying. It's so weird though because I get up every day looking forward to a good day and there it is. My husband and I have eaten out, gone for walks, shopping, talked about positive things. I would have thought this suffocating feeling would have died out by now. Anyhow I'm following your advice and thank you for that. I will of course be following through with the counsellor and hopefully it will get turned around. Will keep you posted. Thankyou again!
hello idawmn,
I have the same problem with the shortness of breath. It's like a suffocating feeling that I have for over a year now and all the tests came out negative. I have had my gall bladder removed last Dec. 2014, due to inflammation. I was hoping that the breathing problem was due to that but it's now three months later and my breathing problem is back in full force. Nothing helps and the doctors told me it's anxiety. I am retired and really don't have anything to be anxious for, so I don't know why this shortness of breath. I have all the symptoms you have. Hope to get some help out there.
Thanks.
I HAVE THE SAME FEELING , IT STARTED 2011 JUST A LITTLE AND KEPT CREEPING UP . IN JAN DID ALL THE TEST AND EVERY ONE WAS NORMAL . AGAIN REPEATED NORMAL
FEB 18 2012 THEY FOUND OUT I HAD PE .OXYGEN LEVEL DROPPED TO 65%
WHEN CLIMBING STAIRS .WENT IN THE HOSPITAL GOT TREATMENT BUT ONLY CLIMBING STAIRS GOT BETTER 100% OXYGEN LEVEL STILL SOB REPEAT TEST AND ALSO HEAT TEST NORMAL EVEN WITH THE BLOOD FLOW . GOT 20% BETTER OVER TIME . WAS TOLD MORE EXERCISE ,ABS ,WEIGHTS,YOGA .STILL SHORT OF BREATH
SO I JUST PUSH MY SELF , I ALWAYS DUE ........NOW FEB 2015 I FELL ARMS OUT
HIT THE CONCRETE HARD ONLY MY FOOT STILL HURTS BUT ALSO MY SOB HAS GOTTEN WORSE ALMOST AS BAD AS 2012 . A DR. TOLD ME THAT IN YOUR NECK -
C4 IN THE SPINE CAN CAUSE A SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND NOW IT MAKES SINCE
I HAVE FALLEN A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS .
I'M NOW GETTING A MRI OF MY NECK . WISHED OTHER DRS HAVE THOUGHT OF THIS . IF YOU CHECK IT OUT ON THE WEB IT MAY SOUND LIFE YOU .CHECK IT OUT .
FEEL BETTER
Are you still having issues? If not how did you fix it ? Im having the same problem. All tests come back normal.
I have had the same problem for years. All tests always show normal. I read through all the replies before I replied, and there was one that really resonated with me toward the end. It was the one about vertabae C4. I have had a bad neck for years (whiplash twice and perhaps more...) and I have noticed a relationship between pain and/or tightness in my neck and when I have trouble breathing. Maybe it started after the gallbladder surgery because you were laying in bed more and messed up your neck a little? I am wondering if you ever looked into any issues with your neck, and if yes, what did you do about it and did it work?
i know your reply is from 2 months ago and hoping you are still here. with what you said about the neck issue . did you figure out what was going on and how to fix it? i have the same issue with breathing i could have wrote the post idawmn wrote . her story is exact to mine. wondering if you or anyone her seen a chiropractor or acupuncture or anything like that and if anyone did what kind of results did you get?......any info would be great...Thank you everyone....Kim
I have had this for about 2 years now! And im still trying to work out whats wrong.. its like you dont evan move and you cant breath.. do you feel like you have to yawn to get a good breath? And when i do breathing tests and blood tests and everything its all sweet? I hate it and i want to know whats wrong to! I am going for a chest xray and 2 days and hope that will show somthing! Hope you can work it out. Goodluck
And i have had anxiety most of my life.. and never had this problem till 2-4 years ago and it only gets worse and its deffs not anxiety.. you just know when somthing is a bad as thay say it is.. you know your self best dont give up on trying to find out whats wrong.. if use all think there is a problem with your breathing theres a good chance its not your anxiety
Hi Jacko. This member has not posted for the last three years so you are unlikely to get a response from them. Try the more up to date posts here:
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