Anybody suffer with intercostal myalgia/weakness?

[DaveT81]

I only ask because I have a severe breathing issue that is yet to be satisfactorily diagnosed. I've been told I just have a 'breathing dysfunction' but that suggests over (or under) breathing. Which I'm clearly not.

But it's gradually getting worse and has been for almost 3 years. I also suffer with CFS/ME and, while I realise this is a strange place to ask, I know that it will still cause severe respiratory distress if those muscles aren't working properly.

If you do, what does it feel like to you? I often feel like I'm trying to inhale whilst a dead weight is sitting on my chest and pressing against my sides. Lying down is much worse and I find I manage little exercise without being totally out of breath, I was gasping this morning after just washing my face. I'm 39. I've had the whole gamut of lung function tests and my lungs are fine. But there's clearly a muscular issue for me, it's just convincing my doctors that that's the case.

[Yawn_along]

Hi, I am new to the site, was diagnosed officially with CFS/ME in 2018 but I realise it was probably going on for years before. I am constantly learning about the symptoms of CFS with regard to myself and it may help you to know that I too have breathing problems at random times.

One of the first times I felt really breathless was out walking quite a few years ago. It was a walk I did pretty regularly, but half way around the route, my whole body seemed to feel so heavy and my legs just didn't have the strength to carry on. I could not breath very easily and by that I mean, it was hard to take a "full" breath so felt I was running out of air but unable to take enough in to compensate.

I have also recognised that any type of pain block will cause breathing issues too, both from dentist and medical, like anaesthetics. Extreme tiredness will also cause breathing issues too, constant yawning to try and get oxygen into my lungs, its quite a scary sensation.

Its probably nothing like you experience, but I do believe that breathing issues are connected to CFS, and if your lungs have been tested and they are clear, then perhaps you are affected in that way?

I am also VERY sensitive to medication, it appears from reading the posts, lots of us are the same.

The website drmyhill.co.uk is amazing, Sarah Myhill is so very helpful and her advice makes sense. It helps recognise the symptoms we are experiencing, and confirms we are not imagining them. She works constantly for the benefit of ME/CFS sufferers, maybe have a look and see if you agree.

[frogwell]

You could try oxygen therapy.Google: airnergyspirovital

Also activatedoxygentherapy.com

also kineticoxygen.com

You can rent an oxygen machine from some of these.