Does anyone who deals with the "hug" also have a difficult time getting a good, deep breath?

I wouldn't call this "shortness of breath"......it's just more difficult to get a satisfyingly deep breath. Kind of like stopping a yawn before it's all finished. That feeling of not quite getting the whole thing.

Whenever I deal with the "hug" I have a nagging pain in my right side right below my underarm and above my waist. Feels like sort of a "catch" you get in your side when you run too much (haven't done that in years ).

It's much more noticeable when I lie down and especially on my side. So, I sleep on my back 99% of the time. Tried using another pillow but that just made it worse. Seems the more my head is inclined the worse it gets.

Does anybody else deal with this and, if you do, what has worked for you in terms of helping these symptoms?

Kelly, so sorry you are dealing with the dreaded hug. I get the breathing trouble too. The best way I have learned to get a deep breath is to raise your arms above your head. You can do this while laying on your back or doing a yoga pose (I can't remember the name of it) where you are curled up on your knees with your face down and stretch your arms out in front of you. Obviously, I do this on my bed as getting off the floor isn't always an option. Also, when sitting in a chair, sit up as straight as you can and raise your arms over your head. Most of the time this helps me get a good breath.

Ice helps my hug the most but others say they like heat. Since I get a lot of nerve pain in the area as well, heat makes it worse for me. SalonPas help too as does magnesium cream.

I hope you start feeling better soon.

So sorry that you are dealing with this too Kitty.

The HUG and a few other not so nice Sx have kept me from sitting for very long over the last 3 weeks. Thus have only been checking in briefly here from time to time. Hurts too much during and after .

I get some temporary relief from the HUG pain and inability to take a full breath by pressing (or having someone else press) on the abdominal muscles just under the rib cage. Just push on one area, hold for around 30 seconds, then move to another area; or the muscles will get sore, especially if they are in spasm.

It helps more if you can push the abdomen outward and try to breathe deeply while pressure is being applied. Hurts like heck...sometimes even refers sharply into the back; but after just a few minutes and some breaths like this, you will most likely be able to catch your breath and the pain will abate for a little while.

This also seems to help with digestion and bowel function.

The HUG pain, spasms and breathing problems come back for me if I stay in any position for very long (especially sitting), and after eating.

Good luck. Hope that you feel better soon .

With love, Erika

I think I get this too. Thanks for tip of raising arms over head, that seems to work great! Problem is I can't stay like that for long lol. Mine is more of a feeling like someone is sitting on my upper abdomen. Like a lot of pressure. Occasionally it is accompanied by horrible back spasms in which case I just have to lay flat on the floor for awhile. Sitting definitely makes it 10 times worse. Maybe it's not a hug, not sure.

I remembered to raise my arms above my head......that really does help alot. Seems like I yawn much more when this is happening. Must be my bodies way of getting more air. I've had this before but don't remember how long it lasted. It's so tiring.....as if I'm not dealing with fatigue already ......this just makes it worse.

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. It's always something it seems.

I hope you get some relief soon!!!

How are you doing today Kelly?

It seems a little better. At least when I lay down I don't feel quite so suffocated. Just like MS it's unpredictable......better some days and worse others. The bad days just make me appreciate the good ones that much more.

Thanks for checking on me.

Glad you're feeling better Kitty...thanks for bringing this up. I never would have known about how to "fix" this without reading the great advice you got.

Could I ask some questions?
First of all. I am sorry you are having these problems. It is good there is a place like this to get help and support. I wish you all the best and hope you will be doing much better soon
I have not been diagnosed. But I do have some brain lesions. I have so many unresolved issues. I have a tight pressure in upper chest and throat area, that almost feels like a spasm. After a while og squesing it seems to travel further down in the chest, and it ends up with a pain around my whole ribcage and and a tight pain right across the mid back. Yes, it does indeed cause me to feel as if I am not catching my breath properly, but I am not really short of breath, just feel airhunger. Does this sound like the MS hug? The doctors have not found the reason for this symptom, but they did find some sort of lesion in the bronchi that I will have biopsied.

When the "HUG" comes, how long does it last?