Short of breath.

[Louiss]

I have just had my yearly lung function tests at ho spital. Chest exray clear, lung capacity good, oxygen level 98, no wheezing. And yet for the last 3/4weeks my breathing has been very laboured. I have had doxycycline and 4 lots of steroids. Nothing helping really. I'm hypothyroid and diabetic and wonder if thyroid could be a cause of hyperventilating and laboured breathing. Thyroid bloods "normal" any clues folks. Was diagnosed copd and asthma 10 yrs ago.

[Feelingblessed2013]

I have underactive thyroid. I have never heard of it causing breathing issues. Hyperventilating and labored breathing could be a response to some kind of stress? I'm sorry, I know I'm not much help. When was the last time you had a chest xray or ct scan? Maybe you should ask the doctor about it?

[Louiss in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Thanks for your reply. I had exray and breathing tests last Tuesday everything clear, good lung capacity and 98 oxygen levels. I'm not stressed that I am aware of. MYSTERY!.

[Feelingblessed2013 in reply to Louiss]

It is possible to be stressed and be unaware of it, and stress does some not so wonderful things to the body. I never seem to realize I'm stressed until I start clenching my teeth. Anyway, I hope this mystery gets solved soon.

[Louiss in reply to Feelingblessed2013]

Aw thanks for that, me too.

[Grandpa-Chuckie]

Hi Louiss, I just joined this group and know a bit about COPD and breathing issues because my wife has similar situation. Something for you to research and maybe mention to your pulmonologist or GP is a PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale). Short, it is a little valve that is supposed to close at birth to allow blood to flow through to the lungs then to the brain. (When in the womb, there is no air in the lungs) but with a PFO some blood gets diverted to the brain before the lungs (non-oxygenated). So if you're using a pulsoximeter on your finger, that blood will be normal O2 cause its not measuring the blood going to the brain. Lower oxygen to the brain causes brain to make you breathe faster (and heart to beat faster) to compensate. Another factor to check is you heart rate. If it's faster than normal for your activity, your brain is telling your heart to beat faster.

Between 20-30% of adult population have a PFO. About 10% of that group are symptomatic like you described. Also research "Positional PFO". Testing is done by cardiologist.

Hope this helps.

[Louiss in reply to Grandpa-Chuckie]

Thank you for that information, I will look into it.