I have undiagnosed asthma which I'm prescribed inhalers for but they can't diagnose asthma until I can sit a spirometry test.
Just wondering if anyone ever feels (at rest or during exercise), breathless but not actually breathless? I feel like I need to breath more and the feeling sits on my chest that I'm out of breath, but I'm not gasping for air or going blue at the lips, I have no obstructions in my lungs, is this anxiety or something else?
I often feel like this along with the feeling that there is no air in the air. I blame the weather and find that a fan blowing on my face helps quite a lot.
I benefit from the fan, it really helps
I find that they do help quite a bit. Have them all over the house.
You have so many fans! Must be like the Oscars! Seriously though I have a tower fan a Honeywell from Amazon,it has a remote control and is very quiet at bedtime. It is light weight and I can move it easily from room to room.
Welcome Virond4w
I'm not quite sure what you mean re
"Feeling short of breath, but not short of breath"
I guess you could be experiencing anxiety. If this is the case, take time to do some daily relaxation exercise, diaphragm breathing etc. (inhale abdomen rises - exhale abdomen falls)
Going back before my emphysema diagnosis, before any inhaler was prescribed but still undergoing lots of tests my experience was;
I would inhale but it was like there was no oxygen in the air, I guess you could describe that as breathing but not getting any air.
Its good you have been prescribed inhalers, use them as prescribed, do continue with exercise whatever you can manage, outside or if too hot or cold inside the home.
I don't have asthma so I cannot advise on any experience there, however there is a HU Asthma community which you may also wish to join:
healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...
With emphysema / COPD/Other lung issues, I think most experience breathlessness each and every day, especially when exercising or just walking. Mainly its learning how to pace yourself, but certainly don't let the breathlessness stop you from exercising (no need to do it excessively) just regularly.
Hope some of the above is of help.
Best wishes BK
Thanks BK, it's a bizarre feeling, I can be exercising or completely at rest and I will feel breathless or short of breath, I'm not struggling for air or feeling like I'm suffocating just a feeling as if my lungs are tight and I need to breath but it's not relieved, the reliver inhaler appears to take away these feelings
Oh yes that does sound like your airways have narrowed and the blue inhaler (ventolin or salbutamol) will help with that. Sometimes its useful to take the blue inhaler about 15 minutes before you attempt exercise, going for a walk, climbing stairs etc.
Best wishes BK
It could be anxiety related. Best advice would be to ring your GP to try and eliminate all causes. Due to the heavy feeling on your chest I would ring 111 now for advice. It may be absolutely nothing but that is one symptom I personally would not ignore or brush off as anxiety until proven otherwise.
Unfortunately it's been like this for a year now, hasn't got worse or got any better, nothing wrong with my heart, my blood, or my oxygen saturation, just incredibly frustrating
I had a chest xray a year ago which was clear
If your heart as been tested then I am a lot happier. There is a type of angina which is silent. Meaning you do not get pain but get shortness of breath and other symptoms which can be put down to anxiety.
Thanks Bessie. Yeah I had an ECG and two sets of bloods last week, all came back fine, blood pressure perfect 120/80 couldn't believe it, it's just a bizarre set of feelings, even my saturation is 98/99, I don't know if it's asthma or anxiety at this rate or my weight pushing on my diaphragm, I'm not hugemongus but not the same tunnel snake I was 3 years ago
My own personal feeling is that it could be anxiety. If physical causes have been eliminated then it is a good possibility. I have suffered and still do suffer from anxiety and I can relate to your description of what is happening to you. The good thing is that you are open to the Idea it could be. I manage my own though distraction therapy, breathing exercises and recognising triggers which cause the event in the first place. If it is anxiety what help me may not help you. Your GP will refer you for more help. No doubt there will be a waiting list.
I get such feeling now and then, especially when walking outside (been 2 years now, and as it all started not long before the pandemic, I have not been able to have any actual examinations done to determine what is the cause). Just today as I was walking home (medium speed), I felt like my chest was tight and I am not able to breathe well, yet there I was walking almost 3 km distance and able to talk. I am under a lot of stress and also have anxiety so I am hoping it is that, but who knows.
I have described my breathlessness many times as "having run a short way and being out of breath but NOT unable to breath or gasping. Finally at last - after many years - I have finally been seen by a Chest Consultant for the first time ever (this was never an option 30 years ago you just got sent away after a spirometry of sorts and had to get on with it hence my diagnosis of Borderline Asthma which has somehow?? become just Asthma - no idea how.
This lovely Consultant agrees with me that I do get "out of breath" when walking - a fact he noticed without my help - and he has arranged a CT Scan of my chest AND a Spirometry. Hopefully we will see what the problem really is because he mentioned that he did not think I had asthma - after 30 odd years of treatment !! Inhaler upon Inhaler - hence the scan.
Yes I get breathless when walking about - but I am overweight and unfortunately exercising causes even more breathlessness - so I can't really get rid of the excess weight. I do walk around the shops and take a four wheeled trolley for support as I have to stop frequently.
I do not get breathless when sitting however.
Try sitting down exercises for upper body strength. Try breathing exercises they really do help to control your breathing.
I am sure when you have your Spirometry a clearer picture will be seen.
Take Care
xxxx
Thanks, mine has always been so strange I could go for a 2 hour long walk and feel fine, the next time I do that walk halfway through I feel breathless, sometimes I'm sat down I get the feeling again, then other times I'm normal for a week
Did you consider allergies?
Hi, i get exactly the same thing happening to me and it,s like you,ve had your breath has sucked out of your body and there,s a heavy weight sitting on your chest. i,v found it works better for me to do the walking/exercise then relax ,sit down and take the ventolin then and get my breath back slowly and steadily. It,s not a nice feeling at all and really scary and it does makes you not want to leave your sofa and not do anything but do a little bit and don,t rush , take your time at whatever your doing and if you have to keep stopping to catch your breath then that,s what you do. I go for a daily walk where i live and i stop all the time . Slow and steady wins the day.
Hi, if the inhaler is helping you it may well be there is something going on with the lung functionality- spirometry when available should help determine this!
For a year and a half I've had that feeling of breathlessness, luckily much improved over the last nine months. Many X-rays, a CT Scan and a bronchoscopy seemed to suggest a "breathing pattern disorder". I find the term a bit misleading and encompassing a lot when I know there has been a change in the way I breathe. This forum has helped a lot (very upset to see one of the members that gave the most info in 2Greys no longer here) but many helpful threads and members here! The Alexandra technique, particularly Stough, Jessica Vineyard and a google of Simon Spire- air hunger particularly helped me.
Best of luck and hoping you find some improvement!
I should stress the above doesn't take into account the most important thing, having patience and trying to see if anything underlying you can get help with- and as mentioned, a wealth of info here for you!
Hello Virond, it seems like the best way forward is do the Spirometry test. That will give an indication about the best treatment. I am sorry you feel uncomfortable.The BLF have a lot of information about breathing freely. Just ask them. In the meantime, try to relax, you do seem a bit anxious. All the very best
First I take my ventolin. then I sit and lean my elbows on a table to stop the weight of my body giving my lungs extra work. If there's no chance to sit at a table, I do the same standing, bending over and supporting my weight with my hands holding my thighs until I can breathe more easily.
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Not asthma but anxiety?
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