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What Causes Difficulty In Breathing While Treating Anxiety?

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Posted on Fri, 23 Jun 2017
Question: I developed breathing difficulties approx 2 years ago, which have worsened gradually.. I am coansistently told by the doctor that I am hyper ventilating due to anxiety …. wish it were so simple.

I originally felt something wasn’t moving properly when I breathed in and out, ordered chest xray which came back clear. Prolem kept ketting worse. One year later, with shortening breath still I went for lung function test which showed 85% with some scarring, but doc said this was OK. Since then my breathing ability gas worsened with shorter and shorter breaths possible week by week. I have keep returning to doc as feel the cavity in which I can breathe is less and less, and just dismissed as anxiety. No wheezing or any symptom like that, just that i couldn’t breathe deeply any more. Problems have persisted, getting worse with worsening panting shortness of breath at all times and worsening feeling of suffocation especially when lying down. I’m breathing about 40 breaths every 30 secs now, constantly like this and am exhausted with it and scared at the increasing shallowness and choking feeling. Very bad feeling of choking all the time and gurgling noises in throat now, very shallow breaths n and out. Can still swallow but feels very odd and uncomfortable. Have also had a diaphragm test this was also clear. Have now such a shallow breath in and out and permanent choking feeling, wretching sometimes which is so difficult even as so little air. I! Now having to sit with my mouth open to breathe but if I open it wide start choking. I've paid for ent appointment and my throat is OK, no vocal fold paralysis or anything like that. My voice has changed too over past few months and struggling to talk without choking. Please don't say anxiety as doc has said this, have tried relaxation, meficatipn, everythíngg and still worsened. Can barely breathe in or out now and very frightened. The doc says if I go to urgent care they will read chest xrays are clear and say I'm anxious. He seems unable to understand I'm anxious as this has worsened so much since the onset. I feel like something is semi paralysysed in chest stomach and throat, and just not moving properly. I feel it need urgent treatment and don't know how to proceed. I am 44 eight stone 6 points , one metre 68 and not taking any medication. Also to add..my symptoms started after four months of bed rest following following a leg accident. I have always felt that because I was immobile such a long time this weakened my muscles but my doc dismisses this. I can barely touch my throat now and feel I'm choking when I eat, when I breathe its so fast and shallow and restricted, the lessening amount I caninhale or exhale is so frightening, along with choking feeling. I've had 2 spirometry tests also at docs which gave inconclusive reading as unable to inhaleor exhale as I used to.. The doc said again anxiety. I only wish it were.. I know mybody and know something is going badly wrong with my breathing mechanism. Scared I'm going to suffocate soon as running out of breath daily. My face is now tingling also and my lips feel numb, they're not blue but feel numb. My oxygen sat is normal. Do you have any idea what could have caused this and is there anything I can do before I really do run out breath, as this is what is happening with each passing day? Yours very frightened. Thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Jolanda (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Check for allergy or thyroid glands dysfunction

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking,

I can understand your situation and I am very sorry.

According to the history you've provided, you have already performed Spirometry and chest X-Ray and they are normal.

If you were my patient I would recommend you to evaluate any allergies and thyroid glands problems with the following examinations and tests:

Prick tests
Pneumoalergens
Specific IgE
Thyroid glands ultrasound
TSH
FT4

Usually, when we can not find any lung problems in breathlessness patients the next step might be searching for allergy or thyroid dysfunction.

If you do the above you can attach the results here, and I am here to help you again.

Please discuss with your doctor about the above also.

Take care and feel free to ask me again

Dr.Jolanda


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Jolanda

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 2904 Questions

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What Causes Difficulty In Breathing While Treating Anxiety?

Brief Answer: Check for allergy or thyroid glands dysfunction Detailed Answer: Hello and thank you for asking, I can understand your situation and I am very sorry. According to the history you've provided, you have already performed Spirometry and chest X-Ray and they are normal. If you were my patient I would recommend you to evaluate any allergies and thyroid glands problems with the following examinations and tests: Prick tests Pneumoalergens Specific IgE Thyroid glands ultrasound TSH FT4 Usually, when we can not find any lung problems in breathlessness patients the next step might be searching for allergy or thyroid dysfunction. If you do the above you can attach the results here, and I am here to help you again. Please discuss with your doctor about the above also. Take care and feel free to ask me again Dr.Jolanda