Fibromyalgia

[Ariannalam]

I would to know if anyone else experiences shortness of breath?

[Sosbach]

Yes, I used to get this a lot and it seems to run in my family (sister and niece) also. We were all checked out, thinking we may have asthma or other respiratory problems with nothing found, so it was put down to anxiety. Looking back I had a lot of manifested anxiety preceding my fibro diagnosis, in the form of panic attacks and also a constricted feeling in my throat, ( or as if something was there in my throat, they term it ‘globus Sensation’, used to be termed ‘globus hystericus’ 🤦🏻‍♀️that tells you more about the medical profession than the condition..) Anyhow, after accepting that the breathing difficulties were just from anxiety, I learnt relaxation methods and breathing techniques that sorted it out. If I feel it coming on these days I can quickly stop it in it’s tracks now. Having said all this, as with any other health issue, you should also get it checked out by a doctor first.

[Hidden in reply to Sosbach]

I am so glad I saw your post for the last couple of weeks I have had the restriction in my throat scared the life out of me so I grabbed a glass of water and focused on my breathing and it passed. I thought it was me 😏

[Sosbach in reply to Hidden]

So glad Panda1968😀 - just another thing I stumbled upon recently on the UK thyroid site, it actually also lists the sensation of something in the throat as a hypothyroid symptom. I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism (hashimotos) a couple of years after my fibro diagnosis and getting the right replacement therapy really helped reduce a lot of my fibro symptoms, including the “throat thing”, so really I’m not certain now if it was anxiety or my thyroid that was the cause (who cares, it’s gone, right!)👍

[YASMINTINA FMA UK Volunteer]

Hello, I did get checked as always got out of breath quickly, I have a slight heart murmur but other than that nothing else, I do think to speak to your doctor if it’s been going on awhile, always good to be on the right side of caution. Xx

[Midori]

Yes, I do.

I've never breathed well, had undiagnosed asthma as a child, which I think has not helped a lot, but since Fibro was diagnosed it has become slowly but steadily worse.

Cheers, Midori

[MariLiz]

Yes, it can be a Fibromyalgia symptom, but it can also be a symptom of low B12. It might be worth asking your doctor to do a blood test for B12, VitD, Ferritin and folate? There is something called “air hunger” with low B12, where you keep yawning, and it’s caused by oxygen levels in the blood falling.

[Midori in reply to MariLiz]

Always had Air Hunger; I can yawn for Britain!

[Flinstones25]

Yes I do experience shortness of breath and sometimes my throat just locks up, but I put it down to being over weight and stressed.

Is it a symptom of Fibromyalgia?

[Sosbach in reply to Flinstones25]

..have you had your thyroid checked (including antibodies)?

[JayCeon]

Hi - thanks for asking, I have the same question...

Or, as most of the above answers are pointing somewhere else: Is it NOT fibro?

My shortness of breath comes with overexertion, e.g. after 1-3 mins. of cleaning windows... It has developed with my fms. Also often "air hunger", love the term, use it myself.

I also have a "straw fire energy" for a few minutes in between, after breaks or longer after cold barrel therapy, but when the energy is used up either the air hunger starts, the need to breathe deeply or yawn, or the breath-shortness starts for several minutes, the need for very deep breaths with open mouth.

I'm hoping Wim Hof's breathing exercise will help this in the long run, as it does with the fibro-ache youtu.be/tybOi4hjZFQ(Not working as expected?)

In my case it's not asthma or anxiety or heart (checked) or overweight or stressed, probably not lungs or blood vessels.

I do occasionally have a constricted throat, but that's a sudden spasm while eating and prevents my food from passing down, completely blocked, extremely painful. The allergist is sending me to ENT, where I have to go for lip biopsy anyway to check on Sjögren.

I have something hypothyroid dxed, but probably not the cause of breath/throat.

I now have very high B12 due to 5mg-injections, which I'm stopping now. Neither breath nor anything else improved despite loads of highly dosed vitamins & minerals.

So if it's not fibro, I'll be getting my lungs checked. I think the only specialist I haven't been to yet *lol*, apart from kidneys, but I've been told to get them checked, too *sigh*

[Debbs73]

I also suffer with shortness of breath, I've been told it's to do with either my fibro ,hematomacrosis or my medication. Either way it's awful any slight exertion and am struggling to breath. Even half way through a conversation an I'm struggling to breath.

[Mollycooper11]

I do but I think for me it's because I am so unfit now. The smallest exertion and it happens. I used to be so fit beforeall this happened.

[Fibrofoggy]

It happens quite lot. Not only upstairs, but suddenly for no reason.

Have breathing restrictions and can no longer wear a bra,which is awkward at work. Even xxl sports bras/crop tops tighten suddenly and I get panic breathlessness.

[klr31]

Have you checked your thyroid as air hunger can be a symptom of under active thyroid problems?

Karen

[Kismetsoul]

I was just thinking that some of these symptoms happen when I have an anxiety attack.