Breathing - strained achey chest/stomach?

[VioletWings]

Hi there,

I was wondering does anyone get that thing when they are breathing to try and get a full breath and it feels like you can't quite get there and your chest feels like it's being really strained? Sometimes it also seems like it has to do with lower down, going into my stomach -or like I can't get stomach breaths so I'm breathing from my chest loads -anyone get what I mean?

I also went to the doctor today and when she checked my breathing she asked me to breathe in deep -I did -as best I could, but I am feeling like I can't take a good deep breath, this is classic anxiety right??


Thanks!

[pussy cat]

hi there,
yes - thats anxiety all right,i,ve had the same & it is frightening - obviously the best thig to do is try & relax - easier said than done,do anything to take your mind off it,if you can have a nap,do so & it,s nearly always gone when you wake - try some rescue remedy-i find sometimes that helps - good luck:yesyes:

[VioletWings]

Thank you, I've been getting it pretty much all the time the last couple days and today it feels like it's really making my body (chest, back, stomach even) feel strained, which is normal I hope?
Well bedtime now so here's hoping the sleep helps! =) thanks again for replying.

[judipat]

I re-posted this for you

The biggest clue to Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome is the presence of vague dizziness accompanied by a lot of other seemingly unrelated symptoms, which might include any of the following:


shortness of breath for no apparent reason
frequent sighing or yawning
chest pains
heart palpitations
sweating
syncope (fainting)
dizziness
trembling
slurred speech
cold, tingling, or numb lips or extremities
nausea or irritable bowel syndrome
aching muscles or joints, or tremors
tiredness, unsteadiness, or diffuse weakness
restless sleep, insomnia, or nightmares
sexual problems
anxiety or phobias
fear that perhaps you're a hypochondriac
dry mouth
pressure in throat or difficulty swallowing
bloating, belching, flatulence, or abdominal pain
impaired memory or concentration
confusion / disorientation
tinnitis (ringing in ears)
headaches
blurred vision, tunnel vision, double vision, or flashing lights
tachycardia (rapid pulse)
depression
erratic blood pressure

So many members have been posting recently about "difficulty breathing", or not being able to take a "deep breath" - together with all the other nasty symptoms they are experiencing.
There is a book by Dinah Shore which is half explanitory and half self help about the above syndrome. Dinah Shore is a physiotherapist from New Zealand who specialises in respitory physio. The book is excellent, easy to read and explains the condition in full and in simple language.

I have suffered with this for years and know how unpleasant and frightening it can be. It also know how it can excaserbate anxiety/panic and spiral into an uncontrollable cycle of misery.

Of course, you should get checked out medically - but if nothing else is found to be causing your breathing problems, please look into this.

I hope this helps.

Judi

[VioletWings]

Thanks for that list. Would it still be this if the problem continues through the night? Like when I get up in the night for the toilet I still have the same difficulty exactly as in the day? And first thing in the morning I've been getting a headache too last few days. The doctor checkes my breathing yesterday and said it was fine.

[lesleya]

Hi
Ive suffered on and off since i was 16 with the same problem so i can totally sympathise with how you feel - it can be so scary.
I think over the years ive gone through just about every symptom, panicing, ringing nhs direct, ringing my gp, taking myself off to the A&E, ecg's, breathing tests, blood tests, x-rays, tranqillizers, anti-depressants etc etc etc
Sometimes ive made the muscles in my chest that sore because ive been taking such deep breaths and doing it for a long time id get pains, then there's the knock on effect of the sore/painful chest muscles = heart problems :scared15:...its all a vicious circle isnt it and it sucks big time!!
But ive got to the point now because im so fed up of it when im having or had chest pain or breathing issues id think to myself ''look you stupid woman'' this is going to last for...10, 15, 20, 30 mins?? ''whats the worst thing thatll happen''? over-breathe, prob feel dizzy, sweat, chest pain, jelly legs..basically get myself into a right state, but at the end of however long it lasts your always ok, so i distract myself and do something like cleaning...really going to town on something like my kitchen(that works for me) and it doesnt really take that long before i start to relax a bit as im so absorbed in what im doing the panic attack eases off because im not focusing on me.
I remember my gp telling me when all this first started... no-body has ever stopped breathing because theyre panicing because its your brain that does your breathing for you by sending it messages to breathe..so you think or do something else and let it get on with its job:shrug:
It didnt stop me panicing but ive always remembered that and it did help me eventually.
Sorry ive gone a bit i didnt mean to but all im trying to say is it will get better and i hope for you its very very soon.
Take care and all the best
xxxx