Does Anyone Have Shortness of Breath?
 

I've noticed over the past couple of weeks that I have been very short of breath. I notice it especially when I go to bed at night. Seems like I have to take lots of deep breaths - and I don't always feel like I've taken a "good" one each time.

Could be the extra 15 or so pounds I'm carrying around.....some days it just seems worse. And I've been having alot of pain around my midsection - sort of like spasticity but sometimes just a tight feeling. MS Hug?

Just wondering if anyone else has this problem.

That stinks, Kelly! I haven't had that but I think you should call your doctor. I know you don't want to :):), but you should!

Hi Kelly,

I have had shortness of breath, for the past few months as well.

I have found that it tends to come when I'm really anxious about an up and comming attack (the phsyscial changes in my body that happen during an attack (exacerbation) tend to triggor an mild anxiety attack (not saying that is what yours is but that is what i have discovered triggors mine).

For me this takes the form of shallow breathing instead of the classic hyperventalation (i don't have the physical strength to hyperventilate).

I would suggest keeping a log of how you have been feeling other wise and then if it continues (which it can do if it is anxiety related to physiological changes from a attack predrone) then call your doctor with all of the information that you have been writing down.

It is scary and there is no two ways about it! I hope u feel better soon and keep me/us posted on how u r doing. You will be in my thoughts!

Rachael

When I feel this it is a
 

:hug:

When it first began I would think, "I can't breathe," but DH is a firefighter/emt and when he would check he'd say "you are getting air in."

I have since learned that this is the hug. I feel like I can't breathe because it feels so tight around my chest.

However, as we have seen with others, don't assume it is the hug. Check with your doc to make sure there is not something serious going on.

HOpe this :hug: feels better :0

My old MS Specialist called this "air hunger" and said it was a sx of MS. I had this problem constantly for a long time and still do from time to time now.

It can be part of the hug, and I've had it too. I went for a COPD test, and my breathing was fine according to that measure. It didn't feel that way to me though. :(

I took up deep breathing exercises I learned with a Yoga book. It helped me feel as though I had some control over the amount of air I was getting, which helped with the anxiousness that I felt when I couldn't get a decent breath.

I agree it is a VERY good plan to get your lungs checked, but it is likely an MS thing.

Cherie

Great - something ELSE to do with hunger. . . . :D

It's better this morning - or not as noticeable. I think I notice it more at night when I'm trying to go to sleep because I have no other distractions.

I have to make a follow-up appointment with the Neuro so I will discuss it with him when I go.

Thanks everyone for your responses!

Try testing to see if laying in another position might help, like switching from your back to your side (or vice-versa). I get positional vertigo and can only lay in one position without getting woozy . . . which causes distress . . . then difficulty breathing too.

Cherie

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 :D !! :eek:

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).