Breathless when bending down

[Diblet]

Does anybody else get breathless when bending down, putting on shoes? I'm very active but recently noticed this and last few weeks my exercise classes are making me short of breath. I had a valve replaced 2017, could it be failing?? Awaiting referral to chest pain clinic. I'm 48 and petrified they will crack me open again!!

[Maisie2014]

It may be the meds you’re on. I had a couple changed because of breathlessness and now use inhalers. Check with your GP.

[Diblet in reply to Maisie2014]

Thanks for replying. I'm only on a daily aspirin so don't think it could be that.

[Hidden]

So overwhelmed by your storyI also suffer from exactly same symptoms and also awaiting further treatment I truly wish you all the best and hope all goes well.

[Diblet in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, and it sounds like you've had a bad time. Keep the positive attitude and keep going 😀

[Fazerboy]

I used to have svt before my ablation. I found that if I bent down to say tie my shoes etc it would trigger the svt. I learnt how to do things without bending that way. The svt made me breathless. Does your heart rate go up when you bend down. Just a thought.

[LMFlorentina in reply to Fazerboy]

I had exactly the same thing - leaning forward always set off SVT and the only thing that stopped it was lying on my back.

[TMeditation]

I had an AVR in 2019 and was alerted to my valve problem by breathlessness during singing and walking uphill. I was also a regular gym user so changes were easier to spot. I still don’t seem to have the same lung function I had before surgery, although I am on Bisoprosol and many seem to find it causes breathlessness. However, your problem seems to have re-emerged and I think you’re wise to check it out. It’s hard to believe a valve that’s been working perfectly normally for some time will suddenly let you down like this. One wouldn’t expect a valve replacement yet! Keep us posted as to how you get on but don’t assume you’re into a replacement there are many other things that could be causing your breathlessness that would be much easier to sort out. Take care. Sue 🙏

[HM24]

Hi I have same symptom and been doing bit of research... I have come across bendopnoea (which cardiologist also stated in my last report), there are different schools of thought on causes. In my case I believe it could be due to gaining some weight around waist. I am on a drive at the moment to improve that and I have noticed some improvement in symptoms.

Not sure if you also feel 'light headed' when you stand from bending down too.

[Sunnie2day]

Ask your medic about 'bendopnea' - frequently associated with heart failure (but not always so it's important to have it checked out). It's a relatively recent 'discovery' made by heart specialists in the USA, and describes sudden breathlessness occurring when bending causes any accumulated fluid to press against heart and or lungs. It is a real thing although the name sounds fake.

It is not always a sign of heart failure, it can be caused by weight gain (women feel it when pre-menstrual if prone to 'water weight'), being overweight, pericardial effusions not associated with heart failure (my little 'joy' now I'm a post-menopausal lady).

Best is to have it checked - which you are doing. You may want to put off the exercise group until after you've been checked, you can maintain your current level of fitness by walking for now - be sure to take your mobile with you and to only walk where there are benches to take a break on, and people around in case something goes seriously wobbly whilst walking for exercise.

[Sunnie2day]

You don't sound pedantic at all Haemodynamics can indeed be a cause of bendopnea but it is not the only cause, just all the more reason to have it checked soon-as when it occurs to rule out/in any cause.

[Diblet]

Thank you for all the replies, how lovely to have so much information, feels so supportive. I spoke to my GP yesterday and they have referred me to rapid access chest pain clinic so they think I should be seen this week or next. I think the more I think about it the worse it gets!!! I'm so gutted to not be doing my usual classes, they keep me sane. As a postie I walk an awful lot but have developed plantar fasciitis so I can't even go walking now!!! I'm currently doing admin indoors which is a big change for me!! Maybe it's just my body telling me to take a break!!

[retiredmedic in reply to Diblet]

Hi - any update on your 'bendopnoea' please? Now 74, I have had this for years, noticed first when fighting to put on, or off, ski boots. Investigated pretty thoroughly but thought to be 'mental'! They missed occult coronary artery atheroma, as uncovered by a heart attack in 2020 [covid exacerbated] - delays in ambulances for several hours unfortunately undermined the benefit of stents and I'm left with some dead cardiac muscle which doesn't help. The benopnoea is still very much apparent and my running [which I have done all my life] is slower than most walkers. No-one has ever explained the cause of the basic bending difficulty to my satisfaction tho.

[Farmer87]

I've not had my mitral valve replaced yet, but bending over really takes it out of me and does some weird blood pressure thing where I sometimes go light headed. I am awaiting cardiology phone call Friday. (on bisoprolol and my valves been leaking for 16 years ish).

[Diblet in reply to Farmer87]

Hi yea they wait as long as possible before they replace a valve. I don't remember having this before I had my aortic valve done, but was very breathless. Hope you get sorted soon.