COPD shortness of breath.

[Gazza01]

Hi all. Can you define your personal experience of shortness of breath. Is it gasping for air and can't get enough. Is it just a feeling of restriction in your throat. What do you physically feel. I'm not asking about your severity in general. Just your take on shortness of breath.

Ps I am asking as the only issue I have seems to feel like a restriction in my throat. Not my chest. I do have some emphysema and some asthma but get only this symptom and nothing else at all. I do get puffed out going up very very steep hills, but I'm a 55 year old ex smoker, so I probably would anyway. Thanks again.

[Saro1]

Personally, my shortness of breath comes from my lungs and it does feel as if I am gasping for air.

However, sometimes I have a sort of clicking rattling noise in the throat instead which might be what you experience.

[Gazza01 in reply to Saro1]

Thanks Saro1. I just feel like my throat is restricted. If I have extra beta agonist then I'm fine. But sometimes I don't want to have too much. So put up with it. Thanks for the reply. Take care.

[sassy59]

Pete says he has a feeling in his chest of not taking in enough air. It scares him sometimes. Xxxx

[Gazza01 in reply to sassy59]

Thanks. All the best to you both.

[Gazza01]

Hi. Was found on a ct scan before a heart valve operation. Nobody said a thing about it. I found it myself on my medical notes much later. Wasn't best pleased but my gp said if it was bad they would have ordered a clinical review. It said something like " there is emphysema but no mass lesions or xxxxx can't recall. The GP said "all long term smokers will have some amount emphysema ( an asthma nurse told me this too) You don't need to worry about the emphysema as much as second hand smoke now that you've quit".

[Ergendl]

Mine seems to be like a heavy hand pressing on the left and right main step bronchi where they leave the trachea, so not as high up as the wind pipe and not as low as the lungs.

[Gazza01]

Yes I kind of get that. Mine never seems as low as the lungs either.

[fidgetandscooter]

I have quite severe COPD and when I'm breathless I feel like I'm drowning. I do get pain in my throat which I sometimes feel is related, but that could be my haitus hernia causing restrictions.

[syntax]

Not a pleasant think,something that years ago would

also bother me.Dr. suggested, blow all air out l could,take

short (very short ) breath in,and then blow out as long as l could.

Try this and you could be surprised.I found more air coming out

than l had taken in.Did this 3-4 times,before needing another

real breath in.Explanation,; LUNGS ALREADY TO FULL OF AIR. ?????

[Davegt]

Gasping for air, even with ambulatory oxygen. It is time to sit down for a few minutes to get breath back. Fortunately for me it soon passes.

[Johnem]

Taking things very steady with oxygen and pursed lips breathing, I am able to cope without too much distress, however, if I have to move more quickly, e.g. as in suddenly needing to pee or wet myself when I had a UTI, I am virtually unable to breathe and feel like I am at the point of collapsing without air. I have to keep calm and struggle to take small slow breaths until I gradually get back on top again. Most unpleasant, quite frightening and wondering if I am going to die.

[Gazza01 in reply to Johnem]

My friend you need to wave the flag and get some extra help or a plan in place. Do something to make things easier. I wish you good luck and hope you can find a way through.

[NuttyNan9]

I personally am literally gasping for breath, I feel as though I can't get any oxygen even though I'm on low flow oxygen 24/7. When this happens it's very scary and I find it very hard to get my breathing back under control 😢

[Sandrute2]

Ct scan emphysema