This weekend I was hospitalised because of a 2 hour long episode of hyperventilation. They did an x ray and bloods both came back clear. Suffered heavy breathing for years been to GP a few times was told all was fine with no investigation or 'just anxiety'. 12 year smoking history. 29 now. Over the past month or so I have been more short of breath than usual and started wheezing. This is all rather frightening to me, especially the hyperventilation. Hospital weren't interested in doing much of anything. Didn't even refer to pulmonology. Asked for a chest CT was denied. Eventually convinced the doctor who thought it was 'Just anxiety' to refer me for spirometry. I don't feel like I can breathe in fully. Got phlegm on my chest. Laboured breathing. I have of course quit smoking now. Just very scared about what this may be because a lot of the causes of this symptoms seem to diminish life span substantially.
Medical history:
GORD
Hiatus hernia
Collapsed lung three years ago. No known cause for that.
Written by
JHutton1994
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I have had two 24hr heart monitors done. Most they seem to have picked up is sinus tachycardia. I could deal with it when it was just heavy breathing but this can feel suffocating almost. My hands turned blue during the hyperventilation episode. I'm still strugging to get my head around how dismissive the hospital were. Pulse ox is usually good but apparently that may not be the OK you're looking for because apparently it just measures how well the red blood cells are being utilised but not by what, whether that's oxygen or CO2, phoned GP today apparently they didn't even check arterial blood gas at the hospital.
Ah wow sorry the hospital is being so dismissive? Why do they think it's anxiety I have anxiety and it does not do that, panic attacks maybe I've had a few of those but still needs to be looked into as it could a serious problem x hope they find whats causing it!
The hospital's job is to patch you up and get rid of you. Some lucky people get referred on but not many. You need to see a good respiratory consultant to get the tests and answers to your problems. Find a good consultant at a big teaching hospital near to you. Take the name to your GP and insist on a referral. Do not take no for an answer.We do have to be very pro active in our interests and vociferous in sourcing the right care.
I just want to wish you every success in getting to the bottom of things. The hospital sounds pretty hopeless and Littlepom is right, they just want you out of there pretty quick without having put too much effort in. Get a referral as soon as possible. Good luck to you. Xxx
the ALUK helpline is open again on Monday , they can point you in the right direction .
Meanwhile check out ALUK website , and dealing with breathlessness.I find Patrick McKeowen on you tube useful …handy hints for help with hyperventilation .
Check you are breathing through your nose, gentle gentle breaths low and slow , not big breaths . Check tight shoulders , no upper chest panicky breathing , relax relax your diaphragm .
Easy for me to write , but difficult to do sometimes ……gentle , gentle nose breathing , relaxed belly . Belly out on in breath , in on out breath . For years I did the opposite ….tight anxious upper chest breathing .
Also try a few rounds of pursed lip breathing ….breathe in gently gently through your nose , then out through pursed lips gently gently . Just a few times .
I am trying to break the circle of anxiety breathlessness anxiety and over breathing again after a number of chest infections . Meditation helps me and yoga alternative nostril breathing , but I learnt with qualified instructors first, to check everything was OK.
Contact your health professional again , they should check your breathing pattern , listen to your concerns and offer more help.
Brilliant advice, knitter 😊. I still need prompting about my breathing technique and I've been practicing for a good 4 or 5 years now. Wasn't aware there was a correct way to breathe before I was properly diagnosed and old habits die hard. xxxx
They didn't really say what triggered it just that the xray was clear and so were the bloods. Anxiety was mentioned once, which does feel like you're being fobbed off.
Aside from lansoprazole for the hernia, no medication to speak of.
so sorry you are being ignored as any breathing problems should not be. You’ve been given the correct advice here so don’t suffer anymore and do see your GP for a referral
I have noticed you have a hiatus hernia and GORD. It could possibly be that, this is what is causing some of the issues you describe…. I mention that because both those conditions can cause protracted cough. Whilst I don’t know if could cause your breathing issues it could be worth exploring.
With regards your collapsed lung it is actually quite common for this to occur, especially in young males. No idea why but hopefully you won’t have any issues related to this.
I agree with what's been said. You have to keep asking. My partner has COPD. His symptoms became really bad last year and it was as if nobody was listening. The helpline was really helpful and gave us really good advice. Hope things get better for you.
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