Breathlessness

[Gooner1947]

I get breathless often. It's worse getting out of bed in morning. It takes me a good 30 mins to get settled before I can relax in chair.

I rarely sleep(knowingly).

I keep taking fast short breaths to try to recover.

The cardiologist knows about this as does as waiting for TAVI. Recently diagnosed with Myeloma and started chemo last Wednesday. I've told Haematologist too.

Any suggestions please?

Thank you.

[SandraLlew]

There are many breathing techniques that you can use to help with breathlessness and I have always been advised (by Lung conspecialists and heart specialists) not to do rapid shallow breathing. Like you I find getting up difficult, then having to bend to put clothes on and so on. You may want to visit the lung foundation website and look at breathing techniques to help.

asthmaandlung.org.uk/living...

I really hope you get some resolution soon.

[Beatles1956]

I think my breathlessness is mostly down to stress. Also poor sleep.

[Fynndog]

dear Gooner. I’ve got experience of chemo but not the breathlessness you are experiencing. Have you had this breathlessness fir a while or is it anxiety about chemo. I guess the breathlessness is something g you have had a while.

You must not be afraid of chemo , mostly although not pleasant is never so bad that you can’t support it. If however you find something that does not feel right you must let oncology know immediately. No waiting until next appointment.

My friend is also going through Myloma treatment , she has had an initial bout of chemo and now is starting second faze of treatment but she is not going to have stem cell part, she’s opted for the second type of treatment ( I dont know what it’s called) this is starting 4th April. This friend has coped extremely well with the treatment as I hope you will. Good luck xx

[SuddenShock]

Hi Gooner, really sorry to hear that you are struggling.

I know from personal experience that worrying about not sleeping can prevent you from sleeping. I am also very aware that I can often sleep without realising and then wake up and worry that I didn't sleep. Your comment suggests that you might be doing the same.

As for the tired when getting up, I can only sympathise. Bending down for things from the floor or raising feet to tie shoe laces can knock the wind out of my sails very quickly. I used to think that I must be getting fat but I have been assured that I am not even borderline for being over weight or marginally chubby!