Respiratory Disorders :: Difficulty Breathing
I have had a terrible affliction for more than 3 months now and it is greatly affecting my life. I am 25 years old and in general have never had a
problem with my health or anything. I have lived in São Paulo, Brazil for 6 years which has very polluted air due to its large population and high altitude.
I am having difficulty breathing in general. It feels like I am not processing the air that I breathe. Here I am going to list all of the symptoms I am feeling:
-Exercise is walking at best. If I try to do anything more than this I become at risk for feeling irregular heart palpitations and become even more out of breath.
-There are moments when I feel a little better and worse throughout the day. It is completely random but I think it might also have to do with eating. The only time I feel ok is when I am sleeping and I just wake up. Usually I lie around for a bit because it's nice to forget about it. As soon as I get up the difficulty breathing starts. If I get up just to use the bathroom at night it takes a while to stabilize after I lie back down.
-I have a chest pain on my left side. is right in the left pectoralis major. This pain never goes away however it is constant so I have coped with it. The
pain is like the pain you have when you have gas. It is a sharp pain I cannot move the muscles on my left chest otherwise it will feel like I'm being stabbed.
-It is common for me to be sitting doing nothing and feel strange heart palpitations which cause me to have even more difficulty breathing
-When I feel the palpitations (which have been occurring less but the chest pain hasn't subsided) It seems that my heart is in my throat or that I am going to burp up my heart. When This happens I have to lie completely still and focus on not passing out. My limbs, stomach face all go numb and start tingling like when your leg falls asleep and it's waking up.I usually sleep on my right side because sleeping on my left side causes difficulty breathing.
-I can't stand in one place for very long otherwise I will have considerable difficulty breathing and start to slouch, however I can get by walking.
-Sitting up straight makes it harder to breath. Slouching has helped me to get by and breath more easily.
-Riding in any vehicle causes me to have considerable difficulty breathing. It feels like the bumps on the road cause me to not be able to breathe well.
-Anxiety does cause my symptoms to worsen and my breathing to become considerably harder but it is not the underlying cause. I cannot run away from the chest pain or difficulty breathing no matter how calm or relaxed I am.
I have done a few heart and lung exams:
*3 ECG/EKG- nothing
*3 chest X-rays- nothing
*1 chest tomography- nothing
*1 Echocardiogram- nothing
*1 24 hour holter- nothing( I wasn't even able to
sleep within the 24 hours at any moment because I had to hold my cat who had surgery and took the whole night to recover from the anesthesia. Worst night of my life both of us suffering and nothing I could do. I left my cat with my wife when she woke up and went straight to the lab to remove the holter device.)
*Spirometry- nothing
*Laryngoscopy- Septal deviation(I've always had)
Rhinitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis
-the only day in the past 4 months that I have felt normal is the night of and day after I did the spirometry and laryngoscopy exams. I took anesthesia
in both nostrils for the laryngoscopy and 2 sprays of an inhaler for the spirometry exam. I started doing some exercises on the following morning and all
the symptoms returned.
-I am beginning to have dizzy spells. I suddenly get overtaken by strong dizziness.
When I was between the ages of 10 and 16 I had taken all sorts of antipsychotic medicine such as Geodon, Abilify, Seroquel and others because I was considered overactive. I am do worry that this might have affected my anatomy at a growing phase in my life. I have suspected heart arrhythmia or asthma but the tests I listed above say otherwise.
Respiratory Disorders :: What Does Linear Opacity Of Thorax Mean?
I had a Barium swallow done to see if the goiter I have is causing my swallowing issues. My ENT told me today during our follow up visit that the Dr. who did the x ray noted that I have "linear opacity of the right mid thorax and he suggested a get a chest PA and lateral xray. My ENT then sent me to get a xray. I will not know the results until Thursday of this week. What does this all mean. I have had a cough for 3 1/2 weeks, random sharp chest pain on the right side and wheezing when I lay down only. I have my lungs listened to 2 times and I hear "your lungs sound good"...
View 1 RepliesRespiratory Disorders :: Shortness Of Breath For 7 Weeks
I am a 55 year old woman who was healthy as a horse until earlier this year when I had to have my gallbladder removed. I have never had asthma, allergies, breathing issues or heart issues. Two and a half weeks after surgery I woke up one morning feeling I wasn't getting 100% oxygen into my lungs. I had an anxiety attack the next afternoon as a result (never ever had an anxiety attack in my life before) and ended up at ER. Tests performed including cat scan and nothing was found. Have seen a pulmonologist - have gone through the breathing tests when sitting as well as on the treadmill at various speeds - all is normal. Arterial blood work - normal, echocardiogram - normal, no holes in heart, no clogged arteries. When I lie down at night I still have a bit of shortness of breath but at same time the breathing is more relaxed and I can sleep. As soon as I get up in the morning again, the shortness of breath picks up again. The breathing level remains consistent, does not get worse on exertion. For a period of time I was getting the tightness in the rib area at times but that hasn't occurred in 5 days now. I found it odd that when I saw the specialist a couple of weeks ago he asked me if I had any idea as to what I thought was going on. Later he told me I didn't give him much to go on (because of my test results). I am going back to his office next week for follow up. I think he wants to explore the possibility of asthma to rule that out but I get the impression he doesn't feel I have asthma. It's a mystery. Has anyone had this issue and it then got resolved?
View 1 RepliesRespiratory Disorders :: How To Manage Pulmonary Edema
I used to be an incredibly fit person... played football about 5 times a week, went swimming a lot and run cross country. However, one day after football I felt really weak and couldn't breathe properly and generally felt as though I was dying.
The feeling was gone by the next day though I was coughing up really thick, but loose, clear white phlegm.
From this day onwards I more often than not (though sometimes not) got the same feeling after exercising. The doctors said they would only diagnose me when I was in the state I was talking about but reluctance to get into that state meant they could not diagnose the condition. They gave me asthma pumps and such but I didn't feel as though this is what the problem was.
Anyway, to cut a long story short I basically gave up exercise and it has been 5 years since I've done anything intensive to bring on the condition.
I have not experienced feeling this way in 5 years so I'd imagine it is exercise induced.
I stumbled across some information this morning which matches my condition 100%... it is called Pulmonary Edema though there doesn't seem to be too much information about it online.
Respiratory Disorders :: Bilateral Atelectasis, Narrowing Aorta
I have been having abdominal and pelvic pain for months since my daughter was born in May. I went to the er at 2 different hospitals and both did a CT scan and 1 found bilateral lower lobe atelectasis and the other a narrowing of my aorta valve of the celiac. I asked my family physician about the atelectasis but he said it was air pockets but nothing to worry about. I had a collapsed lung 3 years ago so are these things I should be concerned about because he is not.
View 1 RepliesRespiratory Disorders :: Crackling Sound And Level 9 Pain When I Breath
I am 43 for several days I have been having serious pain the right side of my chest when I breathe on a scale of 1 to 10 it is definitely a good 9....when I lay on my back there is a crackling sound and lots of pain when I breathe..if I laugh or hiccup awful...coughing is excruciating...and I been having migraines only on the opposite side of my head(left side) don't know if they are connected but I never get migraines I've had about four in last two weeks
View 1 RepliesRespiratory Disorders :: Shortness Of Breath, Light Headed, Breath Stuck In Stomach
I am debating if I should go to the Emergency Room, as it's a Sunday. My story - 26 year old male, healthy. Since age 10, I have had an intermittent feeling of my breath being stuck in my upper abdomen (solar plexus area) and a little in my chest but not much. Sometimes when going for a deep breath, I feel pain in the chest, but very rare. It almost feels like there is a wall in between my stomach and my lungs that prevents air coming out. I know it's weird because you breath out of your lungs not your stomach. The only way it comes out is when I finally catch my breath, which means I need to wait for it to be able to escape and then I finally get the deep breath I need. Also yawning often allows the breath to occur. When this is happening, I can still breath but it's like only 10% of my lungs fill up with air, like someone is standing on the other 90% of my lungs, preventing them from filling up.
My BASELINE/ usual status is having the breath being stuck symptom maybe 10 times a day, usually while eating. This has become normal for me and I don't even think about it until people who I am eating with say, "what is wrong with you?"
When it is GOOD, it happens even less, maybe once a day and I will barely realize it happened.
When it is BAD, it happens often, maybe 20 times an hour.
The last week it has been EXTREME to the point where I will be struggling for a full breath once a minute. It is so bad that I have been feeling light headed (main reason for the alarm here). I have class on weekends and I was walking to the train for class, and my body was telling me to stay home (i am the type of person who doesn't make a big deal out of anything and never skips stuff).
Background- I sleep very well, usually 7-8 hours a night, am very healthy, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, run 6 miles 3 times a week (it happens the same when I run but it doesn't prevent me from running), played sports my whole life, doctors always tell me my blood work and everything is off the charts good. The reasons I just listed, combined with my Mom (nurse) always telling me I am fine have made me stop seeking cures for this. I had every test under the sun done when I was 15 (EKG, Barium Swallow, Blood work, etc) and everything came back clear. I have a concave chest (my chest caves in) and the doctor told me that my chest bone is interfering with my breathing (eyes rolling). But now that I am feeling light headed, I think it's time to go to the emergency room. I am going to go to a heart center in my town (Brooklyn, NY). Also, I LOVE doing research about stuff and have been reading about this a lot and tons of people have similar symptoms which has comforted me. But now it's time for me to get tested again I think. Maybe this just talked me into going to the ER.
Depression :: Clinical Depression (bipolar Disorders) Requires Lifetime Medication?
Is clinical depression such as in bipolar disorder ever get better on its own or does it require lifelong medications?
View 1 RepliesDiagnosed With Endometriosis Of Lung
I have been diagnosed with Endometriosis in the lung. I was wondering if any one else out their had this condition? It's such a rare condition doctors don't know what to do...
View 34 RepliesCOPD :: Two Nodules Measuring 4mm In Each Lung
I went for a CAT scan for my heart and it was discovered that I have two nodules measuring 4mm in each lung. I haven't seen the doctor as yet. Has anyone experienced this and what was done for it? I am quite anxious.
View 1 RepliesCOPD :: Stage 2 With 61 Percent Lung Function
I was told way back in August of 2013 I had copd. Smoked for 33 years. Started when I was 13. Did stop smoking in October. Now on 12 meds daily and get out of breath doing just about anything. I own a lawn mowing biz but getting harder and harder to do my job and getting ticked off clients because I cant keep up. Have been getting real depressed about everything. Someone told me to keep a daily blog about my life with copd. Started that about a month ago. Its somewhat therapeutic, it at least lets me get stuff off my chest so to speak. And maybe someone will read it and go hey i'm going through the same crap. In my case its hard to find folks going through it or those that do who even want to talk about it. So if your getting depressed i would recommend doing a blog. No one may ever read it, but you will be able to get out all the stuff you want to say. Thanks for listening and i hope you find what you're looking for.
View 3 RepliesCOPD :: Noncalcified Nodule In The Middle Lobe Of My Right Lung
I am a 49 year old woman and I have a 8mm noncalcified nodule in the middle lobe of my right lung. For some reason, it does NOT show up on an X-ray but it was found on a CT. Shouldn't it show on an x-ray also?? The ER found it by accident...they thought I had a blood clot that had travelled to my lung...nope! It's a nodule. It was found 51 weeks ago and I did have another scan 2 months after it was found and there was no change in the size. But, since I don't have health insurance, I have been unable to have another CT scan as recommended (every 3 months). My husband makes too much money for us to qualify for any financial assistance but we can't afford a pulmonologist or scan. I have been a smoker for 30 years and I do get backaches and I can't do much without getting short of breath but that doesn't mean it's cancer. My main question is why is it not showing on an X-ray...I've had 2 since they found it on a CT scan so unless it mysteriously disappeared, I don't understand. I have been checked for histoplasmosis and other things like that and they were all negative. Can anyone tell me why it's not apparent on a chest x-ray???? Thanks!!
View 1 RepliesSarcoidosis :: Mri Scan - Found 2 Small Nodules In Lung
I had a Mri scan for back pain, result found 2 small nodules in lung. Seeing specialist in July, I get a little short of breath and a little wheezy at times nothing to alarm myself, but I have terrible fatigue also have red lumps on forehead chin and buttocks. Worried this could be sarcoidosis my father had this sadly died 26 years, I have read different views on this being hereditary, so worried seems ages till July I am female age 55 & a smoker, any thoughts ?
View 32 RepliesPneumothorax :: Collapsed Lungs X4, Two Lung Operations, One Sealed, One Stapled - 20 Years On
I had all my lung drama in the 1980s, two collapses on each side, then followed by each a major lung op, one side using a blebectomy (I think it was called) which was a partial lobectomy that was then stapled back together. The other was a filler where they used some seal to fill the space between the lung and the pleura. So many years later, I survived without needing other operations but heres what happened to my lungs...!
Not sure exactly, but my chest cage, lung cage, shrank relatively suddenly - the doctor noticed the xrays looked as if they belonged to different people. Then I experienced permanent shortness of breath, I have now lived with this for six years. It was accompanied by permanent elevated adrenaline and heart pounding, none of which has been diagnosed by the doctor who always say 'everything is within normal range'. I exercise as much as I can to keep my breathing in as good a shape as possible but I feel like if they opened me up they would find an awful mess in their. I cycle a lot and swim as much as possible - I was always super active - but my breathing capacity in exercise is so much less than it was. I am 50 now and know that damage is also due to binge smoking throughout my life but I haven't smoked for a long time. I'd love to know if other people have had this or varied reactions from their lung op history and what they did about it, especially what their solutions have been. MY SOLUTIONS HAVE BEEN variously holding my breath under water for as long as possible to try and expand my lung capacity - not for the pre-op pneumo people!, Yoga, Stretching, breathing in a spine stretching folded position, meditation, cycle till you are out of breath, Buteko methods of CP and green juicing for best method of getting positive amount of super nutrients to the brain and blood stream oxygene. This might have helped someone, it helped me but it took me years to discover all the different methods I now incorporate. My condition puts me in a state of constant panic that I need to daily manage.
Complete Loss Of Hearing After Respiratory Tract Infection
I'm 36-year old male and about 3-weeks ago I went to my doctor with typical flu-like symptoms. He informed me I had a Respiratory Tract Infection and prescribed some antibiotics and pain killers which I took over the course of the following week. The problem did not clear-up and, after developing a chesty cough and severe pain in one ear, I returned to the doctor who then told me the infection had most likely spread to my chest and most certainly into my ears - particularly my left one. He prescribed stronger antibiotics and pain killers and a nasal steroid spray, all of which again I took religiously over the following week once again.
Although my cough and general flu symptoms have pretty much cleared up, for the past week or so I have been left with almost complete loss of hearing in my left ear. It feels as if there's still a wee bit of pressure both in and around the ear itself with a sort of numbness when i touch the skin on my face and head around the ear. This extends in to my hairline, over my left cheek and a short distance down my neck below my ear. There's also a small amount of ringing from within the ear and it sounds as if I'm hearing things "internally" all the time. Hard to explain but extremely frustrating and my concern is that the infection has somehow managed to damage my hearing permanently.
Epilepsy :: Seizures - Medication Options?
Been on too many different kinds of medication for my seizures from 3yrs to now. Is there any other options besides having surgery to possibly them
View 1 RepliesGlands :: Thyroid Medication Forever?
my TSH level is 6.3, does that mean have to take medication forever? this is the first time it came this high.
View 1 RepliesDiabetes :: Type 2, Should I Have To Start Using Medication
I am 74 years old and I'm having diabetes type 2 for last 4 years, than i have controlled my diabetes with proper diet and exercise without using any medication. but nowadays this seems not be working any longer, as my HbA1c level is above the normal range that is 7+ ....
Can Melanoma Appear Under A Keloid Scar?
First of all, I am aware this is remarkably stupid. There is no need to reiterate. I have keloid scars. Found a home remedy online to get rid of them. Basically, involves rubbing it with vinegar until it's flat. Stupidly, I try this. Rub off top layer. Get to layer that is dark and smooth. Bruise-like color. Keep rubbing. Dark area becomes spotty, but not going away. Notice this area is much rougher than surrounding skin. Even areas that had also been rubbed with vinegar. Stop rubbing. Am now worried this could be melanoma. Can melanoma appear under a keloid scar? Or cause the scar in the first place? Or did I just damage my skin to such a degree it now looks like a wasteland?
View 3 Replies