Breathing Problems

[Shangri-laschild]

So I need to vent and have a question.

When I was in elementary school, once or twice I had trouble breathing. Nothing serious, just a tiny bit of shortness of breath. I didn't really have much trouble with it again till about 11th or 12th grade when it got a bit worse. Still nothing serious. It would feel like I could take a take any sized breath, but my lungs still wouldn't hit that full point. If I ignored it, it would usually go away. If I thought about it, I would get more upset and frustrated by it and it would get worse because I was concentrating on it. That year the pollen was really high and most people were having allergy problems. Mom's got the same problem, though not as bad and her solutions don't really help much. Over the years, it's gotten a bit better though not by much. It's not year round or anything and I think it's usually when there's a lot of humidity in the air.

I went to my doctor to see it. He discounted the whole things as panic attacks and wanted to put me back on the depression meds I was on in high school. I hated taking those pills. They didn't help at all. I see a therapist now, and in a little over a year, I've done more to fix my problems than being on the meds through out middle school and high school. The other thing is that I've had 2 panic attacks before so I know what they are like. So long as I just concentrate on my breathing and work at calming down, I can breath again. Complete opposite from my other breathing problems. They feel different too.

I wasn't impressed with this doctor at all anyway. I wanted to get back on my ADD meds. I was tested as a kid and took medicine for it all throughout school. I've always noticed the differences and the things that no amount of discipline could control and that I could tell was from the ADD. He wanted me to get retested and was convinced that it was just the anxiety showing similar symptoms. Considering the testing costs $3000 that I would have to pay out of pocket, that was a no go. I'm going to be seeing a new doctor but the appointment isn't till Dec. 5th.

I'm not trying to diagnose over the internet or ask anyone to play doctor, but with the humidity, my breathing's been acting up again. It's still nothing that would constitute an emergency but it's irritating. Has anyone had similar breathing problems? Did you find anything that helped like over the counter allergy medicine?

[crazylegs]

I have very similar problems, however now I've loosened my body armour a bit I've not had a problem.

If you wear any clothing at all that may (or does) restrict your breathing make sure you're wearing the right size...

[Evil Queen]

It doesn't sound like panic attacks to me. It sounds like you might have very minor asthma. OTC allergy medication helps my SO (who has asthma and only uses an inhaler when he feels really bad), he uses Equate brand (Wally World brand).

I've had a few times when the wind was knocked out of me (damn, that hurts) but not anything this level, to my recollection.

Keep us (me?) updated.

[Shangri-laschild]

I have very similar problems, however now I've loosened my body armour a bit I've not had a problem.

If you wear any clothing at all that may (or does) restrict your breathing make sure you're wearing the right size...

Nope. Very loose clothing for the most part. Even when laying flat on my back while wearing loose clothes, I still have troubles with breathing.

It doesn't sound like panic attacks to me. It sounds like you might have very minor asthma. OTC allergy medication helps my SO (who has asthma and only uses an inhaler when he feels really bad), he uses Equate brand (Wally World brand).

I've had a few times when the wind was knocked out of me (damn, that hurts) but not anything this level, to my recollection.

Keep us (me?) updated.

Thanks. I tried Clariton and it didn't help at all but I'll try that brand.

Will do :)

[Evil Queen]

Yeah... Clariton didn't work that well for SO either. But Wally World brand does the trick. Weirdness.

[AnaKhouri]

About 7 years ago I suddenly developed breathing problems. I felt like I just wasn't getting enough air into my lungs, but dozens of visits to the doctors, lung specialists and even to the ER only confirmed that my blood was being adequately oxygenated and there was nothing wrong with my lungs or heart. It was pretty scary. I was starting to wonder if it was psychological.

Finally last year I found a doctor who had an answer. As soon as I told him the symptoms he said, "When someone your age tells me they have trouble breathing, the first thing I think is 'acid reflux'." A simple test confirmed he was right. Now I am on Omeprazole and rarely have any problems unless I forget to take it. Apparently some people's bodies give mixed-up signals, so when the acid entered my esophagus my body signaled it to me by making it hard to breathe. Very weird, but I will be forever grateful to him for figuring it out!

The oddest thing is, I can't fins any trigger foods that spur the acid reflux no matter how much I analyze, and like you it often seems worse on humid days for some reason. It could still be an allergy problem, of course, but if you haven't considered acid reflux you it might be an avenue to explore.

[Shangri-laschild]

About 7 years ago I suddenly developed breathing problems. I felt like I just wasn't getting enough air into my lungs, but dozens of visits to the doctors, lung specialists and even to the ER only confirmed that my blood was being adequately oxygenated and there was nothing wrong with my lungs or heart. It was pretty scary. I was starting to wonder if it was psychological.

Finally last year I found a doctor who had an answer. As soon as I told him the symptoms he said, "When someone your age tells me they have trouble breathing, the first thing I think is 'acid reflux'." A simple test confirmed he was right. Now I am on Omeprazole and rarely have any problems unless I forget to take it. Apparently some people's bodies give mixed-up signals, so when the acid entered my esophagus my body signaled it to me by making it hard to breathe. Very weird, but I will be forever grateful to him for figuring it out!

The oddest thing is, I can't fins any trigger foods that spur the acid reflux no matter how much I analyze, and like you it often seems worse on humid days for some reason. It could still be an allergy problem, of course, but if you haven't considered acid reflux you it might be an avenue to explore.

Did you have any normal symptoms of acid reflux as well? I will definitely mention this to my doctor. Thanks!

[AnaKhouri]

I realized later that I did- a burning sensation in my chest/esophagus after eating. But I thought it was normal and didn't know it wasn't until after the diagnosis.

[Shangri-laschild]

I realized later that I did- a burning sensation in my chest/esophagus after eating. But I thought it was normal and didn't know it wasn't until after the diagnosis.

I don't really tend to have any burning sensations that I can remember.

Well I talked to my mom last night. In the past, she's told me different reasons (mostly boiling down to, sometimes it just happens) and told me she takes breaths in certain ways to help it. That has never helped me and usually made it worse. Well now she's saying it's because my back is out of line and the top part needs to be popped. I'll give it a try but I think once again, she's not quite clear on things. For being a nurse, she sure discounts my breathing problem, and hers, a lot despite how often it happens. I'll try getting my upper back to pop though and see if it help any.

[MoxisPilot]

I've experienced the same thing, but mine have been written off as minor panic attacks. As I've gotten older, they've been occurring less frequently.

Definitely go see a doctor about it.

[Amethyst Hunter]

A fellow ADDer! :highfive:

Humidity DOES mess with your breathing, especially if you have allergies (which I do). Of course, so does too-dry air, so either way you lose... :(

I started taking Zyrtec for the allergies a few months ago. Stuff works pretty well so far, one pill for the day kills the symptoms good.

[BarbieGirl]

That sounds similar to asthma for me. I also find that I start wheezing (lightly) and can't get full breaths when I eat foods I'm allergic to like dairy.

[hecubus]

Just to play it safe, I would recommend seeing a doctor. A few years ago, I had trouble catching my breath, and it got worse as the days went on. It got so bad I had to call 911, and it turned out that I had metabolic acidosis, and was very, very sick.

I'm not saying that that is what you have, but I would seiously consider getting checked out by a doctor anyway.

Just my two cents.

[Shangri-laschild]

A fellow ADDer! :highfive:

Humidity DOES mess with your breathing, especially if you have allergies (which I do). Of course, so does too-dry air, so either way you lose... :(

I started taking Zyrtec for the allergies a few months ago. Stuff works pretty well so far, one pill for the day kills the symptoms good.

Yeah, the ADD makes work interesting when I have to input tons of information into a computer for the keys. I'll have to try Zyrtec and see how that goes.

That sounds similar to asthma for me. I also find that I start wheezing (lightly) and can't get full breaths when I eat foods I'm allergic to like dairy.

I keep meaning to start making a log and keeping track of where I went and what I ate on days that I have problems breathing but I always seem to forget.

Just to play it safe, I would recommend seeing a doctor. A few years ago, I had trouble catching my breath, and it got worse as the days went on. It got so bad I had to call 911, and it turned out that I had metabolic acidosis, and was very, very sick.

I'm not saying that that is what you have, but I would seiously consider getting checked out by a doctor anyway.

Just my two cents.

I already plan on seeing the doctor about it, and have an appointment set up. Since it's been going on steady for about 5-6 years now and hasn't gotten any more serious (in fact, it's been lessening up a bit in the last couple years) I'm not too worried about severity so much as the annoyance. Thanks for the worry though :)

[BookstoreEscapee]

It would feel like I could take a take any sized breath, but my lungs still wouldn't hit that full point.

I get that, generally when I take a deep breath, I feel like my lungs don't fill all the way. I just chalked it up to anxiety, since it started the same time I started getting panic attacks, which make me feel like my throat is closing and I can't breathe. I often find myself breathing shallowly, too.

[Shangri-laschild]

I get that, generally when I take a deep breath, I feel like my lungs don't fill all the way. I just chalked it up to anxiety, since it started the same time I started getting panic attacks, which make me feel like my throat is closing and I can't breathe. I often find myself breathing shallowly, too.

I don't think that's what it is in my case though I appreciate the input :D. I started having breathing problems about 5 years ago (actually maybe closer to 6) and didn't have a panic attack till about a year ago and have only had the two. The first year or two at least I was on depression/anxiety meds. The breathing has actually gotten better in the last couple of years except for those two attacks.