Breathless on period

[Giraffegreen]

So I have noticed that on my periods I get exceptionally breathless doing normal things like brushing my teeth or talking. It only seems to appear when I start bleeding and stops when my period does. This is new for me, and honestly felt a bit wheezy when I went upstairs. I bleed super heavy but my iron levels are stable at the moment. Does anyone else have this? Who did you approach with this information?

[27gems]

Hi GiraffegreenIf you have had a full and extensive blood assessment, that checks all factors and it is normal then I would feel further investigations must be done. I've heard of people getting endometriosis on their diaphragm- which is rare but it does happen.

I think must speak to gynae endometriosis specialist - write a list of all symptoms- even those that seem completely unrelated, and get a Oxygen Saturation monitor - take readings when your not having symptoms (at rest & when walking/using stairs) then when your having period and experiencing the breathing issue. Can also count how many times you breathe in and out per minute when feeling well and feeling breathless.

With clear history of this the doctor will have to investigate . It can be very hard to get a diagnosis of endometriosis/other gynae - and even harder when it has migrated to strange sites...... I read of a woman that had it in her chest and she spent years trying yo get it found, so you must be armed with evidence!!!

It may not be this but in relation to endometriosis it is possible, it strangely grows in many places!

Do update on here if you have any tests and find out cause!

[MangoStickyRice]

Hi, thank you for sharing. I haven’t experienced this myself but I would recommend talking to a doctor. As it’s impacting your breathing they should send you for tests but be sure to stress to that your symptoms occurs at the same time as your period. Endometriosis can occur on the lungs - not sure if the symptoms are the same as what you are experiencing but sounds like a possibility. Hope you get the answers you need.

[gardentink]

Hey! I have this too! I don’t have confirmed endo (still struggling to get answers) but I was diagnosed by a cardiologist as having a racing heart (process of elimination diagnosis). I fully suspect the two are related, but find it impossible to be seen as a whole person.

However, for years I described my symptoms like you, as breathless, which made drs look at my lungs and tell me it was all fine. However, it was actually my heart racing. I found it useful to get a pulseox machine so I could note how high it got (when doing normal things), because it rarely got as high when they did ECGs etc.

I hope you get answers soon, but I’d definitely start gathering the evidence so you can go to the drs armed with it! Good luck!

[NLGA in reply to gardentink]

I have this

I have asthma plus a racing heart beat

I am on tablets. It some days I can’t do basic things as I can’t get oxygen in my body it seems other days there is no issue

[gardentink in reply to NLGA]

Sorry to hear that. It’s so difficult isn’t it

[SugarCarphy]

Endometriosis can affect other organs in the body. I have stage 4 endometriosis, which also affects my umbilical, lungs, and diaphragm, causing breathlessness during and after my period. Diaphragmatic/thoracic endometriosis causes lung collapse as a result of accumulated fluid and air in the pleura. Please request a referral to a thoracic endometriosis specialist for necessary examination and treatment. My breathing was monitored for one year to observe changes before, during, and after menstruation. Eventually, I underwent surgery to excise the endometriosis and repair my diaphragm.

[Maggieeeeeeeeeeeeee]

I didn’t know that’s there is one ..,, but I have the same problem I had my private appointment and I was told similar that laparoscopy or MRI will show it