I've noticed it's worse when I lay on my side. I have gotten to where I use two pillows and elevate my head a little and that seems to make it better. I generally sleep on my back or my side - an abundance of chest related physical anatomy makes it impossible to sleep on my stomach !!

Well this is odd, my 1st trip to the ER when this all starting the end of Dec. was something just like this, I had shortness of breath had an odd tight feel of my chest and extreme fatigue. This wasn't anything like a panic attack. ER didn't see anything wrong with my heart or lungs and send me home the next day my legs when numb (still partly numb 11 weeks later).

Interferons can cause shortness of breath. In rare cases interferons can result in Sarcoidosis which is the body attacking organs, usually lungs, skin and heart. That be me.

There are LOTS of reasons for shortness of breath...

HOWEVER, if it can be SERIOUS....

Go see the doctor....your PCP....he/she will be able to put a finger on the problem....

Hope it is nonserious....

This problem once sent me to the ER too! I was driving my kids to Kid's Day Out and got so short of breath I started to have tunnel vision. I went to the nurse's office at the big church where my kids went to KDO, and she had to call my husband. When I got to the ER, they couldn't find anything wrong with my lungs, heart, or oxygen saturation, so they decided it was an anxiety attack. Patted me on the head and sent me home with tranqs. I looked at my husband and said, "Did I seem anxious to you?" He said no, I seemed very calm. I've been afraid to mention it to docs ever since for fear of getting the same reaction.

I too have had this and am experiencing it right now. I actually press my back against the wall to get a deep breath. Have been to the ER twice in the past thinking the worst and they ran all the tests mentioned above and found nothing. I am going to make an appointment tomorrow morning for this. Glad you brought it up Kelly as I was wondering if others experienced it as well. Funny thing is this time around when I lie down in bed I feel relief. In the past I had to prop myself up. Such a strange disease!

Joyce

Yup, I'm having problems with breathing, also.

My neuro has referred me to a pulmonologist.

I'm having problems breathing. Kind of asthma like problems, although asmtha for me has always been limited to the "cold induced" or "heat induced" variety.

I'm having a lot of gasping and coughing. Almost like sometimes I forget to breath. And waking up a lot at night.

DH swears it's not a snoring problem, and anyway, snoring wouldn't account for the problems I have during the day. Hopefully the pulmonologist will get to the bottom of it.

I hope it's not the hug. I would hate to hear that I just have to live with it.

I'm so sorry to here this has hit you. I agree you should get it checked out, but my bet is on panic. This is only based on me. In Nov 07 I was DX copd and could breath fine till then. Then I suddenly couldn't. It was panic. I went on celexa 60 and it became better. The in 2-08 I was DX MS. That was it. Panic, Panic....anytime of day I could not breath. It just popped up out of no where land. No other sx then could not breath. I know mine is panic and I know why - the heck with copd - this is MS! This is terrible! I'm scared, alone and with several battles to fight alone -hence panic. Ex: I was fine till I read your post tonight - not you but knowing you can get this from MS scared me - hence panic and breathing prob. now. I don't know how you feel, but panic can be controlled. I take celexa and zanex, I know that's a lot but - whatever it take IMHO. If you do have panic then 1 celexa or lexapro (sp)... would most likely do fine. Your nuero will give it to you. I go to a psy. for mine due to dosage. I wish you all the luck in the world ~Sheena~

Sheena, thanks for your response. For me, it's not panic. I'm pretty calm most of the time. Well, all of the time really. I haven't been prescribed anything for anxiety (xanax, etc.) because I haven't felt I needed it and have not asked for it. I'm sure my Neuro would write me a prescription for it if I asked him. I'm convinced it's MS related - and like most symptoms it will eventually go away. I'm sorry my post scared you - I feel bad about that. I hope things get better for you. Sometimes it seems like it all hits at once and I won't pretend to know what you're going through. Just know that you have friends here that truly care about you.

He had MS for 30 years. Although he usually sounded as if he's taking bigger breaths and just simply releasing air. He also had a mild heart atta in his 50s and another in his early 60s that created a horrible slow end to his life. Please be self aware and safe you guys! Much love for the ms community