Shortness of breath: I wonder if my... - British Liver Trust

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Shortness of breath

ktan49 profile image
16 Replies

I wonder if my weight gain and shortness of breath .. (heavy chest feeling when breathing in) could be related to ascites ? I am starting to get a belly on Me but not sure if that's just fat or fluid?

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ktan49 profile image
ktan49
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16 Replies
jazzjam profile image
jazzjam

I was told that when the liver isn’t working as it should you can get fluid in the lungs also. I’m not saying you have at all, as you say it could be other things such as weight or exercise. When I had fluid on my lung I wasn’t out of breath nor did I struggle breathing, I also flew a lot and the pressure on the plane didn’t affect it but when I laid down my chest felt heavy, like someone was sat on it but not to the point of struggling to breathe, just heavy. Sorry it’s hard to describe. Definitely get it checked out though and let us know, all the best.

One of the dangerous conditions associated with ascites is the build up of fluid in the abdomen. If this fluid is not drained, it can cause the internal organs to be pushed up inside the chest cavity. This then can put pressure on the lungs, as they struggle expand, and also cause serious damage to the heart.

I doubt if your ascites has reached this stage as your belly would look as if you were 9-months pregnant, and your bellybutton extended. If you've not had your fluid drained yet, then this may need to be done, so as to make you feel more comfortable.

Have you been diagnoses with having a liver condition, or possible ascites?

Adelou profile image
Adelou

Go to your hospital/gp if you are struggling to breathe, my hubby ended up with pneumonia, leading to sepsis & ecoli & it also caused an air bubble above the fluid in his lung, this was the 2nd time I nearly lost him, he was in ICU for 10 days Fluid from the ascities can end up in the lung

ktan49 profile image
ktan49 in reply to Adelou

Thanks for reply, going to phone my GP in the morning... it's not like i'm really struggling to breath but im noticing im having to breath harder... i wonder if Xray would show ascites?

Adelou profile image
Adelou in reply to ktan49

If it is causing it you would see a white shadow, my husband had a white out. He went to a&e die to shortness of breath in Feb 2017, they were going g to drain it the following day & then decided against it & sent him home instead, a month later when we went to my dads for a family funeral he ended up with the pneumonia, sepis & ecoli from his colon..but that's worst case scenario

carefull1 profile image
carefull1

Hi ktan49. Ask GP for ELF blood test and try isabgol.

mncold profile image
mncold

Hi ktan49,

If you are having trouble breathing you should see your doctor right away.

There are so many other things that might affect breathing and some can get serious pretty quick.

Best wishes,

Mary

ktan49 profile image
ktan49

Quick question... would GP know how to check for ascites? my stomach does seem fairly swollen and my partner also thinks the same... ive also gone from 15.5stone to 18stone 10lbs in 6 months

CarpeDiem11 profile image
CarpeDiem11 in reply to ktan49

Quick answer. Yes!

ktan49 profile image
ktan49 in reply to CarpeDiem11

Thank you

ktan49 profile image
ktan49

Had basic check up at gp yesterday .. blood pressure is fine. Did the test for fluidnin abdomin doing a tap test or something. Also checked my chest. didn't know why I'm short of breath so sent me for cheat x-ray today.will get results in 10days. Also got me booked in for ECG today with regards to palpatations. *EDIT* ECG came back OK. How bizarre

VeeWat profile image
VeeWat

Does it show on X-ray? How do they do tap test?

jak547 profile image
jak547 in reply to VeeWat

I am guessing this is the tap test ktan is referring to

youtube.com/watch?v=1JKXf5o...

ktan49 profile image
ktan49 in reply to jak547

That's correct... I don't know the technical name lol.

VeeWat profile image
VeeWat in reply to jak547

Thanks...ok they check me that way too but didn’t know it was for ascites.

ktan49 profile image
ktan49 in reply to VeeWat

My GP told me it will show up on X-Ray.. but I take that with a pinch of salt.

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