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What Causes Shortness Of Breath And Fatigue?
Question: Hi, Dr. Rynne (or whomever answers this)... so in the last few months, I've been noticing a greater propensity in myself for shortness of breath. For example, I'll get up at night to use the restroom, and then when I come back (after a very short walk of little exertion), I can't catch my breath for up to 5 minutes, just lying there in bed (with the aid of my CPAP, I might add). I am obese, 335lbs, 6'2", and 47 years old. I have fairly chronic fatigue, which my psychiatrist and I have always thought of as a side effect of my depression and anxiety medication (40mg Viibryd, 10mg Abilify daily). For the fatigue, I take 30mg of Adderall x3 daily. I have bad exercise habits, and don't work out very much. I see my PCP every six months, have had full (normal) blood workups, normal blood pressure (120/80), and just received a clean XXXXXXX of health from both a cardiologist and pulmonologist. Am I just more out of shape than I think, or is there an emergent health risk here?
Brief Answer:
Please get the following tests done also
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HealthcareMagic,
I can understand your concern,
I read carefully the history you provided.
The first thing I would suggest you do is an arterial blood gases test for evaluating the actual lung function.
After having the result your pulmonologist will see if there is something to improve in it.
If not then a lot of lung problems are excluded.
Next step is Spirometry test and an ECG and Stress test for the above reasons too.
You've mentioned that you've just received a clean XXXXXXX of health from both a cardiologist and pulmonologist, so please let me know if all these tests were done already, if not, then please consider getting them done in the first place.
If nothing abnormal detected there, then probably you have gained more weight and some aggressive physical activities may help.
I don't think this breathlessness is related to the current medication you are taking.
It is not an emergency but better to be careful about betterment.
So please discuss all these with your doctor for your actual situation and s/he for sure will advise you further.
Take care and feel free to ask me again
Dr.Jolanda
Please get the following tests done also
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HealthcareMagic,
I can understand your concern,
I read carefully the history you provided.
The first thing I would suggest you do is an arterial blood gases test for evaluating the actual lung function.
After having the result your pulmonologist will see if there is something to improve in it.
If not then a lot of lung problems are excluded.
Next step is Spirometry test and an ECG and Stress test for the above reasons too.
You've mentioned that you've just received a clean XXXXXXX of health from both a cardiologist and pulmonologist, so please let me know if all these tests were done already, if not, then please consider getting them done in the first place.
If nothing abnormal detected there, then probably you have gained more weight and some aggressive physical activities may help.
I don't think this breathlessness is related to the current medication you are taking.
It is not an emergency but better to be careful about betterment.
So please discuss all these with your doctor for your actual situation and s/he for sure will advise you further.
Take care and feel free to ask me again
Dr.Jolanda
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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