Hello,
I've suffered from what I suspect is chronic bronchitis for about 9 years now. I first started showing symptoms when I was only 22, and now, at 31, things are getting considerably worse. I have to take regular medication, and use a device to help clear mucus off my chest.
I first started noticing muscle twitching and shaking around 5 years ago. I thought I had developed some sort of essential tremor. A few months later, I noticed the tremor getting much worse, and my shortness of breath was getting worse too. I started using a device to get mucus off my chest and the tremors stopped.
Unfortunately, over the years, it's become more difficult to get the same results. These days, I'm starting to notice the twitching is coming back despite my best efforts to clear mucus off my chest. I've noticed that I get these muscle twitches / shakes more when I use my inhaler, but I also get them when I am bringing up more mucus than normal or if I don't clear mucus off my chest for a few days.
I've noticed that this shaking affects my extremities more. It's particular bad in my hands and feet, but it can also effect my arms, legs, and head.
I suspect it's asterixis brought on by trapping CO2. I think that would explain why it gets worse when I stop my mucus clearance routine.
My question is: do any of you suffering from COPD / chronic bronchitis / or other lung disorders that cause excessive mucus suffer from similar muscle twitching or shaking?