What's going on with my breathing?

[Darcey14]

Right so I've been having b12 jabs 12 weekly since december. One of the thing was breathlessness. Ad in being out of breath just from talking. That settles down till about 6 weeks ago. 3 weeks before I was due a b12 jab. I started feeling the need to take a deep breath but i could only seem to get half of what I needed then I would try so much my chest hurt then the yawning would start and it would just be a viscous circle until I could get a full breathe sometimes through my mouth then my nose. I've also just been told I need a vit d supplement and also given a ferritin supplement to take twice daily. My doctor says it has nothing to do with that and that it's probably stress. I dont feel stressed. Anyone else had this??

[wedgewood]

Well breathlessness is one of the most common symptoms of P.A. / B12 deficiency. .. You would benefit from having your injection more regularly than 3 monthly . You should try to get your GP to agree to this . This may not be easy as the medical profession is pretty ignorant on this subject. . I see from posts on this forum how doctors will duck and weave to avoid doing this . A B12 injection is very cheap . . I have been forced to turn to self- injecting , as have most members of this forum . We are all different in our needs for B-12 injections . I need a weekly injection to keep well , but have been left with burning feet because of GP’s ignorance and neglect ( can’t go into detail here)Do try to get your injections every 2 months . That should be possible ,

I do remember that horrible breathlessness and the continual yawning that I also had , but it’s gone, now I have had to take charge of my own treatment . But this shouldn't be necessary . . I wish you all the best in getting more regular B-12 injections . If you don’t succeed , come back here for more information .

[deniseinmilden]

If you are stressed it's only because you feel so terrible and also it's robbing you of the life you knew!

I wish there was a way we could give Drs our vitamin and mineral deficiencies and see how they like it... And then tell them it's "all in their head"!

The air hunger is due to the B12 AND iron deficiencies so no wonder you feel rough. While the vitamin D deficiency won't cause this per se, it won't help either because all vitamins and minerals are interdependent and you need good levels of all to be well.

Try to increase your B12 jabs until you don't get any further improvement in symptoms and supplement with other vitamins and minerals to keep your levels in the upper end of the blood test ranges if you can.

A nutritient rich diet and a broad spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement taken every day (a supermarket A-Z one is as good as any - or better) is a good starting point. These are way more valuable in practice than they are given credence.

When you feel up to it, it may be worth finding out why you are getting low. Do you have low stomach acid for instance. And if so, why, etc.

Good luck and please ask more questions as you need to - there are lots of kind and knowledgeable people on here.

[MoKayD]

Being unable to draw a complete breath is one of my symptoms that tells me I need a B12 injection.

[xeena]

Hi there - yes i suffer with all the same as you and more - but i do not see nor hear from my GP - she flatly refuses to give me B12 injections yet she has written down that i have pernicious anemia. Thanks to some lovely people on here i have got some b12 which i inject myself but i need to order some more but i do not know how and where to get them from as i do not understand the ordering process. I hate it when i cannot get a deep breath and keep yawning and the sweating is awful and it is also started to affect my eyes - i have to keep the curtains closed when the sun is shining and i wear sunglasses when i come on the computer. When i was at my last GP surgery before i moved to where i am now - i used to get regular injections and - even my optician commented on how good my eyes were getting it made a tremendous difference - now i am housebound and live alone and cannot even rely on a GP. Moorefields eye hospital told her that i had to have the b12 injections for the optic nerves in my eyes but she ignored it and me - i have not seen or heard of any GP's for quite a while now - i even told her that it states on the NHS website that one must be given six loading doses and she said i was talking rubbish - so i just keep taking vitamins that i buy and hopefully B12 injections if i can overcome the language problem. I wish you well and hope that you get better very soon - Good luck - stay safe😀xx

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

My yawns are not so much like real yawns as gaining extra air in overlapping noisy gulps. They make people turn and stare at me. I used to find supermarket queuing quite embarrassing, now I just smile back.

This is called "air hunger" and you are right, it has nothing to do with stress or anxiety. My GP thought the same. It is (or should be) another clue that you are not getting enough B12 to control this symptom. If more of these otherwise unusual symptoms were recognised as belonging to B12 deficiency, perhaps there would be earlier detection/diagnosis, more individually-based treatment frequency....and less reliance on pointless serum testing.

But you have to look and then you have to know what you are looking at.

I still get this now sometimes if I spend a long time in an airless room (waiting-rooms in hospitals, cars, supermarkets, underground) especially if having to sit - harder to get air into lungs I'm guessing.

Strangely I never actually have a proper yawn now at all, and haven't since I became B12 deficient.

[Nackapan in reply to Cherylclaire]

When i was first ill i realised aftef a few months i didn't yawn anymore. I sort of gulped suddenly although I'd forgotten to breath. A sudden intake if breath. Although I've touched something sharp.

I still

do sometimes .

Perhaps that is air hunger?

I do yawn now occasionally.

I find it really satisfying.

Yes your symptoms Darcy14 sound very familiar.

I've been told too many times I'm stressed or depressed .

Sometimes I think if you are told enough times yoh can be.

I've come to the conclusion with this condition we can 'present ' stressed.

Hardly surprising when the clock is ticking anc so many symptoms to get across.

That's when given the opportunity theses days.

I try and choose my words carefully when trying to describe fatigue

Thd sort that stops you digesting at times. Nausea . Breathless aftef a few stairs. Heart thudding . Legs lihd jelly.

Trying to describe the leaden feeling and other symptoms tricky

Also as Deniseinmilden says ...give the medic an hour if how we feel and a new definition of fatigue snd b12woukd be written.

A neurologist i saw last was by chance b12 deficient and had done some reading and was amazed how little research there was.

He coukdnt cope on the 2- 3 m regime. His advised me strongly to keep my b12 levels high.

Also said

"No quick fix"

Still rings in my ears

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to Nackapan]

Told my GP that if she kept on telling me I was depressed when I wasn't, it would become a self-fulfilling prophesy. Very hard work to keep on insisting when no energy, isn't it ?

[Nackapan in reply to Cherylclaire]

Yes.

Very wearing.

Did make me think several times was I fooling myself.

Always take suggestions on board.

My daughter had the same.

I kept repeating when j have respite my mood us fine. Akso had to talk quietly on a monotone as head pains and tinnitus got worse otherwise

My Gp asked me to take off my dark glasses and brimmed hat . I prompty went ashen and nearly fell over.

I had told her thd outfit wasn't because of low mood !!

She always pulled thd blinds shut turned off the light after that.

It's when a chronic ongoing condition that gives physical daily pain. With no proper treatment plan. No full diagnosis

No recognition as having a complete change /loss of life as you knew it.

I was watching my daughter ,as who wouldn't get down at times.( before I was ill)

Actually it's those that don't admit being down and so frustrated I think that are in trouble.

As Deniseinmilden has said

A 'normal ' reaction is recognising stress we are all under.

When doctors really do not know, obviously mental health issues have to be considered with many other things.

I remember one consultation I took a while to 'cotton onto what was going on. She was investigating if i was a subject of domestic abuse.

Mind blowing when so ill trying to work out what they are thinking.

With me the Gp tried a way of raising serotonin with Hrt convinced me after months ig woukd help with headaches.

She actually said there was no point going to see her if I didn't try things. It made me angry as I had already tried amitriptyline.

Where else do you go??

I didnt realise at the time she still thought i was depressed.

HRT didn't. help. I wax bitterly disappointed.

Just gave me permanent PMT .

Very painful breasts .

Tearful emotional wreck.

Then a 6 day migraine.

The foul symptoms coming off.

What a set back .

She finally agreed my mood was fine.

Was totally shocked how i reacted.

My daughter was sent on a 'feel happy 'get control in your life cognitive therapy course ax she wax told she was being too resistsnt to help offered.

She followed the course incase her mind was playing tricks on her .

She ended up being taken to hospital by ambulance.

Her mind wsdnt playing tricks after all.

Thd therapist said she was out of her depth when she got the rasp of my tongue for accepting a totally inappropriate referral.

I was calmer with her later .

A steep learning curve.

I had to watch and wait.

I couldve been wrong.

The mind is powerful.

As we know messages get mixed up.

So its back to being listened to properly.

Consistency of same doctor working through stuff with you.

Appropriate referrals.

Being believed

I'm not depressed. My daughter is not depressed.

Have every reason to be at times.

Perhaps it would be nice for a change to be told how well we are coping by a doctor.

Of courses if you do get clinically depressed drugs and 'mindfulness 'cognitive therapy can be very healing.

Pain clinics ect. Work.

It's the right therapy or drug for the right condition though.

That is what a skilled doctor to find.

I was really quite shocked at how easily snd quickly 'heavy drugs are prescribed.

Must mask so many complaints.

Even a friend of ovef 30 yesrs was saying I 'must be ' depressed and must try drugs.

The medics have found nothing wrong so don't hold out for a 'proper diagnosis and try and get on with youf life......I am ??

A 'proper 'diagnosis . As 'only b12 deficiency found.

That was her experience not mine. Ment health.

Our condition or any illness sorts the 'wheat from the chaff'

People are very surprising when your role in their lives changes.

Disappointment is not depression though.

Others suprise you in a good way.

Roll on PA and b12 deficiency awareness campaigns that ard running

And research and recognition.

[Nackapan]

I would try to at least get your b12 injections 8 weekly. That should be a start as in the bnf guidelines.

Sed how you go with that.

J went through alm 6 of the gps I thd practice. The partner bring the worst

He was dismissive and said said j sX stressed and refusing sertraline not helping me. Not a clue. So try and see another doctor if possible or speak with one on the telephone.

Just one that listens snd willing to try and help you .

[Nackapan]

Reply for you above Darcy14 the reply button not working again !

[Darcey14]

Hi its refreshing to know other people can understand what I'm trying to say and explain. I've pushed for less time between jabs and he'll only entertain every 10 weeks. He says that that's more then enough for me to have and he also tested for PA but negative. I know these are very accurate however. So how I'm taking 1000 ug of vit d daily and 2 ferrous tablets daily and my b12 every 10 weeks what I want to know is can I still take a multi vitamin for all the other vitamins. I've got cod liver seven seas multi vit as I dont eat fish or meat. Come to think of it I rarely yawn properly anymore, as in where I'm tired, I think its more for air. I thought after my 6 loading doses and 2 other jabs that this would be gone.

[Ryaan]

This air hunger can happen with low B12, Iron or Folate. I don’t think anyone mentioned Folate.