Short of breath

[GrannaOnTheFarm1]

Although my O2 sats are in the mid 90s, I get short of breath after walking only 100 feet. I do have mild emphysema (per cat scan) but the doc says it isn't bad enough to cause that severe of SOB. Any comments or suggestions?

[diesel12]

Hi, someone who will have some advice will be along soon. Look after yourself x

[camping-girl]

Have they checked your heart Dmcgee?

[Mandy6513]

Well if thats what your doctor thinks he should back it up and investigate it for you because if I had been told that it would worry me and I would be asking what tests he will be suggesting !

[kimmy59]

Do you have any other symptoms, you might have an infection.

Kim x

[rubyred777]

Welcome to the site Dmcgee

You didn't mention if you use any inhalers. Are you wheezing? Sounds like you might have an infection.That would be my first thought. What did the doc say? He didn't just tell you, that you shouldn't be short of breath, I hope.

It certainly needs to be further investigated. ( maybe a new dr.! )

Let us know what you find out.😊

Rubyxx 😊 😊

[mmzetor]

hi did they do a full lung function test at hospital if they did what was the dlco if that is low that would be why your short of breath ,I was getting very short of breath on activity when I had spiromentry test at gp at the time it wasn't over bad results not enough to make me so short of breath , when I see consultant he done full lung test and ct , ct showed severa emphysema and lung function showed dlco was very low consultant said now having the full test I can see why your breathing is so bad and it all adds up , he said just going by the gp spiromentry test results we would say you shouldn't be as bad as you are ,

[Hidden]

Hi I too have a very high lung function and get breathless easily and quickly. I also can't keep up with others of the same age on the flat. Now these symptoms are of severe copd and not my level. When I asked my nurse and doctor I just get dismissed and fobbed off. If you find any answers can you let me know please? x

[SquirrelsHolt in reply to Hidden]

I'm the same Coughalot. Although I've been on AB's lately for a chest infarction,plus the usual meds, I be found it hard to walk more than 20 paces without being SOB and having to stop. It really upsets me as it obviously limits what you can do. Sorry, I don't want to make you feel miserable !

[Aquarius777 in reply to Hidden]

Get your dlco checked.  All the best and Happy Easter

[Katinka46]

Good morning Dmcgee,

I too have symptoms that are worse than the tests numbers would suggest. It has been hard because that has meant that doctors tend to go down the route of 'dysfunctional breathing', anxiety and psychological causes.

It has been a long saga, six years, to diagnose chronic thromboembolic disease and now very likely Obliterative bronchiolitis. What exactly was seen on your scan that showed emphysema? Are you a smoker? If not you need to be tested for alpha1-antitripsin deficiency. One of my hobby horses (frequently ridden on this site, to a weary chorus of "Here she goes again.") is that doctors are too quick to diagnose COPD, emphysema is in that group of diseases.

Push on with the doctors, persistence pays. It did with me. I hope it won't take so long for you.

All the best

K x

[annenic]

I get lke that at times, mbut as well as COPD I also have asthma. Is it possible thats the cause

[Hidden]

Dmcgee

I am stage three on the cusp of stage four and not on oxygen except on an as needed basis. I've met two people with a much lower FEV score than mine yet I have worse sob than they do.

If you can't walk a short distance without extreme sob it is bad enough. The doc isn't there experiencing your sob so he's just taking an educated guess. Your sats are good at mid 90's. Your sob is probably exercise induced. So is mine.

COPD symptoms are an individual thing. We're not all the same. John Doe next door who has stage four COPD may have only mild sob whereas his similarly afflicted wife is on oxygen with stage two COPD. Her sob is much worse that his.

Ask your doctor to send you for a lung function test. The spirometry scores will tell the true story.

Breathe Easy!

[SquirrelsHolt in reply to Hidden]

Well said Brondanna. These Doctors are very quick to just look at the figures and not listen to what we say our bodies are telling us. I think that SOB ,for me is something major that I've got to work on. I'm waiting to go on a PR course which will give me the right skills. I'm sure after struggling for breath for such a long time, your body sort of forgets how to breathe properly if you know what I mean.

[Pantani]

O2 levels aren't related to sob. With emphysema the problem isn't inhaling it's exhaling. Because you don't exhale fully you can't inhale properly. You need to look into breathing and techniques such as pursed lip breathing. It will also help if you can get on a pulmonary rehab course. You will learn about COPD and ways of coping, also about the importance of eating well and regular exercise. It would also help if you saw a consultant to get your meds sorted out.

[soulsaver]

Other things that may cause sob include heart failure, anaemia, asthma. I have experienced exhaustion by anaemia and it feels just like you can't get air in or out fast enough. If you have regular bleeding (usual suspects: heavy periods or haemorrhoids) this could well be the problem. Blood test for it.

[Offcut]

I have at rest sats that look good but they drop like a stone on activity. I also have a heart condition or 2 to help the breathing (not) which is hindered by PH, Fibrosis, RLD and emphysema.

Do you get really short of breath when you stop/sit down after a walk? This could be a heart issue?

One of the biggest problems I have had is seeing specialists that will not look at the other conditions as well, Not their field of medicine! I have had a few battles but it does seem now that they are looking at my problems as a whole?

Be well

[Justdoit2015]

I would be interested to hear what investigitatory tests are recommended. My situation is very similar ok/borderline spirometry but very sob on exertion.

I am seeing my doctor tomorrow morning to be referred for further tests. The only one I know to ask for is the dlco test.

[Alveo]

My O2 readings before a six minute walk was 97 and dropped to 95. The walk was brisk and in clinical conditions but, the strange thing is, I didn't feel out of breath. My peak flow was 730. I can't understand why they have put me in the average to severe bracket.

[jackdup in reply to Alveo]

Do you mind if I ask how far you were able to go on the six minute walk test?

[Alveo in reply to jackdup]

I think it was something like 800 + metres. But the point is, is that I didn't feel out of breath just slightly heavier than normal.

[jackdup in reply to Alveo]

It is easier not to get out of breath walking slower but if you did 800 metres that would have had to have been a very good pace. I walk faster than most of my friends who are healthy and didn't walk anywhere near that far.

[Alveo in reply to jackdup]

Well, ironically, I am a sports therapist and virtually always training so, used to being quick plus 15yrs as a physical training instructor in the Army leaves me with an habitually quick walk. Nonetheless, it's still hard to bear. I also try to to be in the gym at least 4 days a week plus playing golf, I am determined to ensure that the healthy tissue remains healthy.

[jackdup in reply to Alveo]

They say exercise is one of the things that provides the most benefit, aside from quitting smoking, and you would certainly appear to be proof of that. If you are in the average to severe and have a Peak Flow as high as you do and can do 800+ meters in the six minute walk test without really being short of breath, then I think exercise is the a key to living well with COPD.

[Alveo in reply to jackdup]

The specialist tells me that he thinks this has been caused fairly recently. Within the last 3 - 4 years. Well I'm 67 now and there is no way that I shall ever stop exercising. I wish you the best in your quest. Do keep me posted though it would be nice to hear from you on your progress.

[jackdup in reply to Alveo]

Thank you and I'll try to do that.

[Hidden in reply to Alveo]

Alveo

Neither can I understand why you've been graded as moderate/severe. You appear to have no COPD symptoms and no sob even upon exercise. You're are able to do strenuous exercise on a daily basis. Your six minute walk test doesn't indicate moderate or severe COPD.. Your sats are excellent. It appears that you don't have any of the usual symptoms of COPD. Have you had a full lung function test?

[Alveo in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I have had two full lung function tests to date 3 months apart and there was no deterioration since the last one and, I have to go back every 4 months for a full test again. The amount of stuff I bring up every morning is amazing and then, an hour afterwards I feel virtually normal save the occasional loose cough.

[MD2016]

How about doing a video of yourself before, during, and after a walk. Try to talk as your walking so your doctor can visually see what's happening. There's no denying symptoms on film. Best health to you hon.

[Alveo in reply to MD2016]

I am due to take a full lung function test including the 6 minute walk in four months time and I may request a video. Thanks for that.

[knitter]

I am the same...my O2 levels can be fine but I am still breathless...there is one theory I think called the Bohr effect which says that the CO2 and O2 get out of balance and the oxygen in the blood cannot be released into the tissues.

Best check as I may not have read it properly.

There is a Haldane Effect as well...that concerns haemoglobin

[Azure_Sky]

My FEV results recently were 84% when I was first diagnosed they were 70% Peak flow has gone from 200 to 250. I do walk for an hour most days, although not for the last five days. that was because I had a DVT test and had to wait five days to see if signs of a DVT came.

I get SOB on stairs and have to keep stopping. I find a brisk walking pace better than a shuffle. I have to stop every so often because I cannot breathe and have to wait until I can get some air in my lungs. Sometimes I get a tight feeling and pain in my chest.

Heart tests didn't show up anything to worry about. I have the mystery swollen leg but nobody knows why. To help me get round on my walk I have to take pain killers, because of osteoarthritis.

I also have to remember to take the anti dizzy pills to stop me falling over. I had a couple of near misses yesterday then realised I hadn't taken any. This is due to Meniere's disease. It can be embarrassing when people think I have had one too many.

[Coastwalker]

Low iron = low oxygen = shortness of breath.

Check out your iron bloods Dmcgee.

[Ennyl]

I would go back and ask if doc thinks it isn't severe enough why are you sob? I was ill in January after weeks of anti biotics steroids breathlessness so bad I have since had ECG seen cardiologist who arranged an echograph and am expecting results this week also been put on beta blockers by cardiologist as my heart needs help. Please just keep asking as you know how your breathing is and how you feel x

[Nottobad]

Yes I would go back and see your GP and ask why. I am breathless all the time can't even get dressed with out being breathless. And none of my medication is helping me I am being referred to a immunologist because of having low immune system. And I am on the highest dosage of inhalers they can give me.