Hi all,
Seen a couple of posts on this but wondered if anyone had gotten to the bottom of it. I get a sudden involuntary sharp intake of breath. Can happen any time and always takes me by surprise. It doesn’t happen often and isn’t worrisome, but just curious as to what the cause is. I’m on Clopidogrel and Bisoprolol following OHS in January. Not sure if it’s meds related, surgery related or something else. Any ideas?
Thanks
Sam
Morning
I have the same thing, doesn’t happen very often but when it does it takes me by surprise. ( takes husband by surprise too as he can sometimes hear it!) I am 4 years post op AVR and bypass, am on Cardestartin Bisoprolol Aspirin and Furosemide. Haven’t a clue what causes it.😂
Pauline
Hi SamGeorge - Yes from myself. It followed my PE (pulmonary embolism). Was very prevalent immediately following the PE - a friend's husband accused me of showing boredom with his conversation, which took me aback ! 'No dear boy, it is an intake of breath over which I have no control' !! Does not happen quite so often now, but does every now and again, more often in the evening I find. I do check my saturation levels with the oximeter which gives me a useful benchmark as can be as low as 85, though when low, is more often 90 or 91. Otherwise 95 - 98, standard saturation. Bon courage.
Yes I’m exactly the same. Started after getting PE from Covid at Xmas. Like a lung spasm. It’s odd, don’t feel it coming or know why. I get about 2-3 a day at the mo.
First time I’ve seen this on here. Glad I’m not alone as I get it too, most evenings with no explanation.I hope someone with more knowledge can throw some light on it.
I get that too. Sometimes it hurts round my heart, mostly first thing in the morning. I'm trying deep breathing exercises.
Hi Samgeorge! İnteresting to read this as I get it too. I would describe mine as a sharp intake of breath with no out breath x
Yes, sounds about the same 👍
Add me to the list. I had a PE in 2019 and my meds also include Bisoprolol. Like you said - I find it no big deal - just odd.
I've been getting this for about 20 years, I think it's normal for some people.
Me too. 3 years post AVR and on Bisoprolol and Amlodopine. Thought it would diminish after recovery but still with me. Did read that surgery could have caused phrenic nerve irritation but that's as far as my research extended.
Hiya...well I kinda sorta had this before my stents in oct.it was happening more often but also accompanied by a wierd shooting sensation from the base of my spine to halfway up my spine and like a poker up through the centre of stomach..almost like an electric current zapping me.it always took me by surprise and I had no control over my lower torso sometimes higher and a sharp intake of breath ,which does indeed give the impression of either boredom or basic rudeness ,.{I've never been tasered lol}but I'm guessing by what I'm told,it would be a similar feeling .like that of an electric shock{which I have had} .ive had sciatica on and off for many years and it's definately not the same at all.it had started 3 years ago maybe but just put it down to a bad back ,I've again, had for many years.. however,I'd almost forgotten about it til I read your post and since Oct it hasn't happened...yet..so I agree a very interesting subject that I'm going to keep an eye on xDebx
It happens to me as well........and all my life.
I get it just before l go to sleep. It seems to refresh me as l am very breathless. I suppose it gives me more oxygen.
Ok guys - the following info seems to have some answers for us -healthline.com/health/parad...
The research term to use is : Paradoxical-breathing. All very interesting. Have fun digging -<smile>
Very interesting, especially the mention of trauma to the chest wall and nerve damage. Thanks Ruadh 👍
I have been reading these posts with a lot of interest, I thought it was just a quirk from after my surgery, it isn’t a daily occurrence just every now and then. It used to give me a bit of a shock at the start but have got quite used to them now. Like you it’s interesting about trauma to the chest wall and nerve damage. That about covers our open heart surgery 😂 thought it was just me, obviously not. Thanks for posting the thread, every day is a day in school 😂
Best wishes Pauline
I had quite it regularly for a few months after my OHS in April 2019. I still get it occasionally now but not nearly as often. I'm on Bisoprolol and a couple of other medications. It happens completely out the blue without any reason or warning.
Hi Samgeorge, you are not alone.
I have same issue. It happened after my OHS 6 months ago and I still have it - i can only describe the it as a bit akin to the sharp intake of breath a baby sometime has after crying for a long time.
I asked my consultant who explained that there is a nerve system that runs down your body that sits behind the heart, that controls our breathing. It can be disrupted or sometimes damaged during OHS. He indicated that it should settle down over time.
It happens maybe once or twice a day and I just notice it occasionally now as opposed to being alarmed by it. It doesn’t seem to have gotten worse or cause me problems.
I hope this helps, Terry
it is such a relief to see that others experience this. I have experienced this since my quadruple heart bypass in 2020. Describing it as involuntary is spot on although sometimes working at my desk I am conscious I am shallow breathing or even forget to breathe and then suddenly take an large in take of breathe OR it happens when I am under stress or exercising and suddenly find I need to take a big gulp of breath like I’ve come up from underwater. OR it just happens.
My GP described this as breathlessness and has made me feel like a real malingerer because I keep raising it. I have a pain in my left breast and when I take this sharp intake of breath it hurts (it also hurts with certain arm movements or when I lean forward). If my doctor had even alluded to the phrenic nerve and the possibility of it being disturbed during surgery, I could have been reassured that it wasn’t a problem with my lungs.
My sternum is still painful and diastolic high so although my heart is strong and my cholesterol low, I am not back to full health. So far the breathing has been attributed to stress, anxiety and even the menopause by several GP’s and once again the answer is here on the BHF Health unlocked threads. Thank you.
Fluid intake
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