Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome [Archive]

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delta

21-03-06, 12:36

I have been diagnosed with habitual chronic hyperventilation syndrome. I have had an incorrect breathing pattern since probably my early teens (I'm now 37), my physiotherapist has said that in my case it is probably personality related (I'm a perfectionist etc) and that I am going to have to work at it 100% if I want to get better. It has affected all my upper body and I suffer horribly with tension. I feel so low most of the time because I realise now that after all these years this is what has been at the bottom of my anxiety problems. I am constantly aware of my breathing and my body wants to constantly overbreathe and take that extra satisfying breath in. I have the excelent Dinah Bradley book which I have read cover to cover many times, it's a great book, I feel very positive after reading it but it's so easy to slip back into old habits.

I wanted to know if anyone has suffered/suffering with this and whether there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Quirky

21-03-06, 13:41

Hi Delta,

I suffer from this too and agree Dinah's book is great.

I am seeing a breathing therapist to learn to overcome this and yes it does help. I had a really bad patch with my breathing last year and after seeing her I was alot better for some months afterwards. I'm having a bad time at the moment so if I'm anxious my breathing can get bad again but it will be something I have to work on for a long time. She said it could take over a year before my breathing is normal again.
There is light at the end of the tunnel but it takes alot of hard work. I have improved and am now having a setback but I do believe it can be beaten.

Good luck,

Lisa

Jono

21-03-06, 22:41

Hey Mate,

SO MUCH like me!!!!

I am ALWAYS thinking of breathing since middle of last year!. Always need to take that satisfying breath.

And i also get out of breath when jogging.

Really need to sort it out somehow but i dont know how.

Please, if you have msn, my msn is Jono333@gmail.com

Thanks,

-Jono

delta

22-03-06, 12:37

Hi Lisa
Thanks for your post, I'm sorry to hear you are suffering a set back at the moment, I am too, I was making such good progress too, I have realised now that I can't just take a 'day off' from breathing propery, I need to work at every day. I just feel so overwhelmed by how hard it is. One thing that surprised me, I thought that if I 'Googled' this problem then there would be loads of support groups out there but there seems to be very little.
D

delta

22-03-06, 12:46

Hi Jono
I remember I took up running a few years ago, I couldn't get over how unfit I felt and how out of breath I very quickly became, I thought it would get easier as my fitness levels increased, this was not so and I could never get my breath so I gave up on it. This also happened when I joined a gym after, I had to get fit after surgery and I wouldn't be able to hold a conversation with anyone whilst on the treadmill/bike etc, after a year I was still like this, I didn't know at the time that it was hyperventilatoin, I imagined I had something horribly wrong with me, anyway I've had just about every test you can have and I have larger than average lung capacity so if anything running should be my thing (as it was in my school days :D ) ......... sorry I'm waffling now but I would higly recommend the book by Dinah Bradley called Hyperventilation Syndrome, along with Dr Claire weekes it has become essential bedside reading. Also you might like to check out http://www.physiohypervent.org/index.html, there's info here plus links to breathing therapists.
HTH

Quirky

22-03-06, 13:10

Hi Delta,

I do understand how hard it is mate, I really do. I can go months and breathe ok and then it can come back just like that and it's so frustrating but I must just keep working on it.
I've not heard of any support groups for this other than places like here.
I'm seeing a respiratory physiotherapist though and that helps.

Best wishes and good luck with it all.

Lisa x

Jono

31-01-07, 15:51

<b id="quote">quote:</b id="quote"><table border="0" id="quote"><tr id="quote"><td class="quote" id="quote">Hi Delta,

I suffer from this too and agree Dinah's book is great.

I am seeing a breathing therapist to learn to overcome this and yes it does help. I had a really bad patch with my breathing last year and after seeing her I was alot better for some months afterwards. I'm having a bad time at the moment so if I'm anxious my breathing can get bad again but it will be something I have to work on for a long time. She said it could take over a year before my breathing is normal again.
There is light at the end of the tunnel but it takes alot of hard work. I have improved and am now
Good luck,

Lisa

<div align="right">Originally posted by LJ - 21 March 2006 : 13:41:06</div id="right">
</td id="quote"></tr id="quote"></table id="quote">

rainbow dreamer

27-04-11, 23:02

I'm in such a state . I hyperventilate breathe all the time . I went through a bad time with this last year and saw a breathing therapist . It's never been perfect but fairly controlled. I find I learned to close my mouth And breathe thru my nose but I found myself sniffing all the time to try and relieve my air hunger.

Last week I had a big panic attack with has dented my confidence and since then my breathing has become much worse and more aware. It's been unbearable this week. This is what I find
1 always worse night time
2 I get pain in my chest when I breathe presumably muscle pain or cramp from deep chest breathing
3 hot water bottle helps
4 it drains me physically and emotionally
5 rubbing some cream on my chest helps the pain
6 my nose in constantly blocked
7 my stomach swells up when I overbreathe

I really want to know what damage extreme overbreathing can do to your body after weeks of it... I know it's not good for me I can see and feel that but I'm struggling to apply the breathing techniques read about and taught.. It feels like I'm being suffocated...

If anyone has and advice or encoragment I would really love to chat as I feel guilty talking to my family and partner because it's constant for them...
26 years old and lost and lonkey

londonchris

28-04-11, 09:54

Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the Dinah Bradley book relatively cheaply? It's like £120 on Amazon used.

Thanks :-)

molly36

28-04-11, 11:35

Hi i got mine on ebay for £3.50.it must be a mistake on amazon.I have started to ead mine agian as i think my stomach issues are related to swallowing air and holding my breath when i dont realise.hope it helps you it is a good read.kind regards molly

molly36

28-04-11, 11:41

Hi just checked amazon for you there is 1 at £5.59 .kind regards

londonchris

28-04-11, 11:58

Oh so there is, thank you :-)

londonchris

28-04-11, 12:18

:-( That edition hasn't been released yet. There's a £13 one but it's old, so I might wait until august when the new one comes out.

indigo

01-05-11, 14:36

I think i have this, it's driving me nuts but mine always seems to be better at night and it's lovely in the morning when i wake up and feel normal. Then my brain kicks in and we're off again!

Parratt

18-10-12, 11:07

I can't beleive I'm reading these posts!!

I was recently diagnosed with Hyperventilation Syndrome after years of suffering with exactly what others are saying here. All these symptoms are so true and I actually feel so encouraged that SOME one understands. I try explain it to my family, but I don't think I can.

Thank you fellow sufferers.

I'd like to know if anyone has actually overcome this instead of just trying and feeling a failure like I do....

Maximlondon

31-12-12, 12:36

Hi everyone,
I need advice. I've been diagnosed with CHS and have been experiencing extreme breathlessness now for five days.
I am 29, very physically active and fit (gym five times a week), but in the run up to Christmas have been less active and smoking socially. I had a slight chest infection too, which I ignored, planning to see the doc in the new year. On Boxing Day after a very nice Christmas I was watching TV with my family when suddenly without any obvious reason I had a huge hyperventilation attack. I went to hospital where they initially diagnosed pnuemonia (I understand this misdiagnosis is common with CHS) and was prescribed antibiotics. The breathlessness was severe and constant for two days, so I went back to hospital where my blood Oxygen levels were 99% (possibly higher but that's as high as the monitors display) and a diagnosis of CHS was made.
The main issue I have is that I don't have any identifiable stresses or anxieties I can think of that would trigger this other than being anxious about having it! The other major issue I have which I'm hoping someone can advise me on is that my hyperventilation is especially severe as I try to fall asleep: as I drift to sleep I become extremely breathless and need to wake to gasp for air. It's really hindering my sleep and some nights I'm only getting 2 or 3 hours. I can control the hyperventilation when I'm awake with CBT but when I'm falling asleep this is very hard.
If anyone has any advice or shared experience of this please help!

Also, the answer to this might be "how long is a piece of string" but how long can an episode of CHS last?

Thank you all

Max

SamanthaJP

08-04-13, 00:05

I've been having these symptoms for about 1 year now and it started to get worse on the run up to Christmas when the heating came on and te air got stuffy.

Recently I decided I had to go docs when I couldn't hold a conversation in a meeting with a new client which was not only frustrating and uncomfortable but extremely embarrassing!! I was tested for asthma but that was inconclusive, had full bloods, all of which were fine and was told I'd need a spirometery to test further. Unfortunately though as the nurse is on her holidays for the next 2 weeks I can be seen until late April!!

It got so bad on Wednesday that I booked an emergency appt and was given ventolin and a spacer which did nothing and on Saturday I went to the out of hours docs because I was so bad... This is when he said he thinks it's in my head. He insisted on a chest xray to prove theres nothing wrong with me which kinda made me feel a bit stupid.

The main problem I have is that they say it's anxiety related but I don't know what I'm anxious about. The only thing I can think that it can possibly be linked to is my (fairly) extreme claustrophobia but I've lived with that for almost 25 years and there's been nothing I can think of that would trigger this to happen.

I'm at my wits end but it's encouraging to see that I'm not alone. I feel more frustrated now though knowing that I'm supposedly in control of my breathing but I just can't get a handle on it :'( makes me feel stupid that i cant stop and like I'm putting it on for attention even though I'm not but I'm sure it's what others think. Arrrgggggghh!!

Sorry... Just need to get this all off my chest with people who understand!! :(

Samantha

Silversun412

27-05-13, 13:21

Hey all,

Just joined this site, I also suffer from chronic hyperventilation, i've been seeing a physio who specialises in it, this did help intially but then I had a setback and I'm debating wether to try buteyko breathing instead? Has anyone overcome chronic hypeventilation? Anyone have any advice?

Silversun

---------- Post added at 12:10 ---------- Previous post was at 11:51 ----------

I'm in such a state . I hyperventilate breathe all the time . I went through a bad time with this last year and saw a breathing therapist . It's never been perfect but fairly controlled. I find I learned to close my mouth And breathe thru my nose but I found myself sniffing all the time to try and relieve my air hunger.

Last week I had a big panic attack with has dented my confidence and since then my breathing has become much worse and more aware. It's been unbearable this week. This is what I find
1 always worse night time
2 I get pain in my chest when I breathe presumably muscle pain or cramp from deep chest breathing
3 hot water bottle helps
4 it drains me physically and emotionally
5 rubbing some cream on my chest helps the pain
6 my nose in constantly blocked
7 my stomach swells up when I overbreathe

I really want to know what damage extreme overbreathing can do to your body after weeks of it... I know it's not good for me I can see and feel that but I'm struggling to apply the breathing techniques read about and taught.. It feels like I'm being suffocated...

If anyone has and advice or encoragment I would really love to chat as I feel guilty talking to my family and partner because it's constant for them...
26 years old and lost and lonkey

Hey Rainbow dreamer,

I know what you mean, I sometimes think it's Ashthma, maybe that's to do with the confusion part of hyperventilating.
I'm seeing a physio now, but I can understand as I get it a lot of the time.

Regards,

S

---------- Post added at 12:17 ---------- Previous post was at 12:10 ----------

Hi everyone,
I need advice. I've been diagnosed with CHS and have been experiencing extreme breathlessness now for five days.
I am 29, very physically active and fit (gym five times a week), but in the run up to Christmas have been less active and smoking socially. I had a slight chest infection too, which I ignored, planning to see the doc in the new year. On Boxing Day after a very nice Christmas I was watching TV with my family when suddenly without any obvious reason I had a huge hyperventilation attack. I went to hospital where they initially diagnosed pnuemonia (I understand this misdiagnosis is common with CHS) and was prescribed antibiotics. The breathlessness was severe and constant for two days, so I went back to hospital where my blood Oxygen levels were 99% (possibly higher but that's as high as the monitors display) and a diagnosis of CHS was made.
The main issue I have is that I don't have any identifiable stresses or anxieties I can think of that would trigger this other than being anxious about having it! The other major issue I have which I'm hoping someone can advise me on is that my hyperventilation is especially severe as I try to fall asleep: as I drift to sleep I become extremely breathless and need to wake to gasp for air. It's really hindering my sleep and some nights I'm only getting 2 or 3 hours. I can control the hyperventilation when I'm awake with CBT but when I'm falling asleep this is very hard.
If anyone has any advice or shared experience of this please help!

Also, the answer to this might be "how long is a piece of string" but how long can an episode of CHS last?

Thank you all

Max

Hi Max,

I get it bad at night, but it also difficult to control in the day. If you read Dinah Bradley's book 'Hyperventilation Syndrome' it explains, what to do if you get hypeventilation at night. You can get it on ebay or amazon.

Regards,

S

---------- Post added at 12:21 ---------- Previous post was at 12:17 ----------

I've been having these symptoms for about 1 year now and it started to get worse on the run up to Christmas when the heating came on and te air got stuffy.

Recently I decided I had to go docs when I couldn't hold a conversation in a meeting with a new client which was not only frustrating and uncomfortable but extremely embarrassing!! I was tested for asthma but that was inconclusive, had full bloods, all of which were fine and was told I'd need a spirometery to test further. Unfortunately though as the nurse is on her holidays for the next 2 weeks I can be seen until late April!!

It got so bad on Wednesday that I booked an emergency appt and was given ventolin and a spacer which did nothing and on Saturday I went to the out of hours docs because I was so bad... This is when he said he thinks it's in my head. He insisted on a chest xray to prove theres nothing wrong with me which kinda made me feel a bit stupid.

The main problem I have is that they say it's anxiety related but I don't know what I'm anxious about. The only thing I can think that it can possibly be linked to is my (fairly) extreme claustrophobia but I've lived with that for almost 25 years and there's been nothing I can think of that would trigger this to happen.

I'm at my wits end but it's encouraging to see that I'm not alone. I feel more frustrated now though knowing that I'm supposedly in control of my breathing but I just can't get a handle on it :'( makes me feel stupid that i cant stop and like I'm putting it on for attention even though I'm not but I'm sure it's what others think. Arrrgggggghh!!

Sorry... Just need to get this all off my chest with people who understand!! :(

Samantha

Hi Samantha,

I also had the asthma test, also proved inconclusive, sometimes I still think it's asthma because of the symptoms. Going to get a spirometry test to see if it is anything else. I'm seeing a physio, has a setback but debating whether to do buteyko training instead.

It's great to be able to chat to other people about it, as it feels like I'm no longer alone.

Does anyone want to share email addresses? It would be nice to chat about this and help each other?

Regards,

S

Drflorendo

25-08-14, 04:13

Hi Everyone,

My name is Dr. Charles Edward Florendo. I am a family physician specializing in hyperventilation and dysfunctional breathing. In my opinion, the books you mentioned are very good, but it is always best to have someone look after you while doing breathing retraining. "Breathing retraining" is the treatment of choice for chronic hyperventilation syndrome according to the British Thoracic Society. It consists of easy exercises meant to correct hyperventilation and some lifestyle modifications. It is best to have someone teach it to you so that you will know if you are doing it right. This is something you don't get from reading. I usually get results in as easily as 2 days from start of treatment. Unfortunately I am based in the Philippines, but I will be happy to help you find someone near your place who can help you with breathing retraining.

Lindy74

26-08-15, 23:28