Shallow breathing but no wheeze

[Eccles44]

Hi everyone I hope you had a good Christmas.I am a severe eosphinilic asthmatic and have bronchiectasis, ABPA and heamophilus colonisation. I have noticed lately that breathing gets very shallow when I'm sat reading/watching TV. My smart watch has started warning me that my heart rate is abnormally high (over 100 bpm) when I'm just sat still. This has happened more often lately.

The thing is I don't feel wheezy or tight chested. I have a cold but not particularly bad. I am doing my chest clearance daily. Sometimes I notice I'm out of breath for simple tasks, but again, no wheeze or tight chest at all. My peak flow seems steady ish around 280 which has declined a lot over the last 12 months from my best when I started biologics at 370. I am 58 years old. My Oximeter showed sats of 90 earlier which was worrying but it's been fine (96/97) since I've been checking it lately.

I'm not sure what to do. If anything? I also have a sore rib which the Dr said last week is bruised but I don't believe it's affecting my breathing. I had a chest X-ray but don't have the results yet. I think I'm probably worrying unnecessarily, I can take deep breaths when I realise my breathes have shallowed.

Can anyone relate to the shallow breathe issue? I'm thinking this is why my heart rate keeps spiking. Any thoughts would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

[madonbrew]

Hi, I also have eosinophilic asthma…but not your other issues. I’m currently seeing the physio for BPD…she’s also noted that I breathe very shallow so is working with me to generally breathe at a deeper and slower rate.

[Eccles44 in reply to madonbrew]

That's encouraging thank you for that. It's clearly something that can be addressed then and I'm not imagining it. Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it.

[Biker88]

For most people shallow breathing is the norm, we get lazy and forget to breath properly, look up and research diaphragm breathing, get a pulmonary rehab course or see a good physio. Regular practice of diaphragm breathing exercises helps train the lungs so it becomes the norm. Heart rate will go up when O2 sats drop this is to compensate for the low sats. I have COPD and CPA my target O2 is now 88-92 which I understand is what happens for people with lung conditions so sats in the low 90s are not necessarily a thing of concern. Check with your consultant who should be able to advise you what your target sats should be.

[Eccles44 in reply to Biker88]

Hi Biker thanks so much for the info. That's really reassuring, I was imagining all sorts and yet also wondering if I was imagining it. I will attempt to get a pulmonary rehab appointment sooner as I'm not due to see her until mid April. I'll also look up diaphragm breathing. Thanks so much for replying.

[Rosa17]

Hi, I am currently going through this, I asked my consultant how my breathing got so out of wack, and he said it happens with chest infections - I have cystic fibrosis- so am relearning how to breathe! I was told It should take longer to breathe out than in. x

[Eccles44 in reply to Rosa17]

It's scary when you realise you have to think about your breathing and it's not just a natural process anymore. I'm really having to work harder at breathing out. Do you too? I'm going to ask for a pulmonary re-hab course. Good luck with yours.

[Patk1]

I've severe eosinophilliac asthma,severe bronch(+ many other probs). Take a look at controlled pursed lips breathing technique on aluk website. If u practise frequently, it's gd to get 02 levels up,regulate breathing & is relaxing.very helpful whn asthma is off too x

[Eccles44 in reply to Patk1]

Thanks Patk1 I've looked it up, I just need to remember to use it. Do you have a set routine to do it every day? I'm going to ask to go to a pulmonary rehab course.

[Patk1 in reply to Eccles44]

No not set routine.at 1st I practised whn watching TV,listening to music to get familiar with it.i use it when struggling with breathing, going upstairs,walking etc. Pulmonary rehab is really gd Xx

[Stewiecat]

Hi, I also have severe eosinophilic asthma, seeing a good breathing physio, for mucus clearance techniques has been a life saver, I do 'huffing' every day, it's great for me when combined with carbocisteine and a nebuliser, although I wouldn't recommend the nebuliser unless you check with your consultant first, just ideas for things that have definitely made my life more basically livable, I know how hard it can be so sending lots of good wishes your way

[Eccles44 in reply to Stewiecat]

Thanks Stewiecat. I've seen a chest physio at chest clinic at hospital and she taught me the Huff technique with an Aerobika. I now do this twice a day. I also have carbocisteine which helps, but I don't have a nebuliser. I'm seeing physio in April so I can ask about that then. I'm grateful for the ideas. Anything that helps. I'm glad it's made life better for you. Thank you for the good wishes too.

[Stewiecat]

😊 the consultant i see at addenbrookes added the nebuliser into my routine in July this year, i wasn't sure it would make much difference, but am pleased to have found it makes a really good difference in my daily clearance of the dreaded sticky goop 🤦‍♀️ I had to try it with different strengths of saline under supervision in clinic first, so please do check with your clinic team before you try, but fingers crossed it might help you too 🤞🤞

[Eccles44 in reply to Stewiecat]

Has it made a difference to your breathing Stewiecat? Has your peak flow improved since using it? And can I ask how long it takes? I've been resistant to any kind of clearance up until mid last year. Nebulised saline is another step I've been anxious not to take but now my peak flow is low I have to do everything I can to try and Improve it.

[Stewiecat in reply to Eccles44]

Hi Eccles44Personally I've found the addition of the nebuliser really helpful, it's the last bit of my twice daily routine, takes 5 minutes before I do 10 minutes breath holding and then 'huffing' for me it breaks down the goop, so it's much easier to get a really good start or finish to the day chest clearance, my happy peak flow is 450, the nebuliser definitely helps me maintain this, even in this rubbish cold weather when like others I'm sure the slightest breath of cold air in my mouth sets off a wheeze that turns into a growl that leads to the peak flow nose diving 🤦‍♀️ after this any extra fostair puffs are pointless, the only way back once it starts to go down is prednisolone descending for 5 days, so I'm religiously tight with my routine, literally the same things at the same time every day, I've found it's the only way to try and stay well enough to exist and keep up with my family.

I'm sorry your finding your breathing difficult at the moment, this awful condition is very tiring and wearing mentally as well as physically isn't it, i see the 'goop' as the enemy in my daily fight to stay alive, i have a little celebration internally every morning when I've done my routine and it feels like I've got my lungs back, even though it's only for a few hours before it starts over again 🙄🤷‍♀️ it us what it is has become my mantra, until someone will give me biologics or offer us all a cure, pleeeeeeease lol 🤞🤞 x

[Stewiecat]

Please do speak to your consultant before trying though, it's not for everyone