Breathing,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Please feel free to introduce yourself and tell us more about yourself and your condition. Do you have any other symptoms? What other injuries did you suffer when you were hit?

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shortness of breath...
 

This is interesting, I too have and still have shortness of breath as if i am having to take a deep breath to regain my normal breathing rate - I didnt think to attribute to neck problems. I have a very messed up neck since the accident but docs havent made much of a corelation other than radiculopthies

Thank you. I have no other symptoms that I can think of, if I have some then they are not nearly as bothersome, I do however have some short-term memory loss, and memory retaining is troublesome.

I drown when I was 13 months, and that was what caused my first concussion, causing memory loss and the ability to retain things difficult. When I was 12, I was hit by a car, I got the concussion and road burn, nothing else was reported to have been wrong, that was when my problem started however.

I do have frequent headaches, but rarely migraines.

With the breathing problems however, comes the shortness of breath, tight chest and throat. No difficulty swallowing, and no pain occurs when any of this happens, just the tightness.

I am an SLP by profession, but now have my second concussion. This one was on concrete...huge hematoma on orbital..thought I would lose my sight and my front teeth but they are ok. Now one week later, I have shortness of breath today with any exertion...I have had either a friend or relative with me around the clock until today. I am 73 and this is my first day home. I have seen all my docs this week...had EKG and CTs..I do have bipolar disorder..all my life, panic and anxiety. I have asthma also. My asthma was ok today...used the rescue inhaler this a.m. and my peak flow is good. Only change, is I have no one here now..(housekeeper here for few hours)...I am guessing that since I stay on top of my cardio health, this is anxiety/depression as part of the PCS. I see my neuro today at 5 p.m. So will talk to him about it too. I am sleeping like the dead I am so tired. Have some nausea, had a few procedural memory issues (standing in front of microwave puzzled how to increase time) and find it hard to multitask...so will be checking back to see if anyone else here had the shortness of breath....day after the concussion when my whole face was torn up and hematoma the size of an egg, I went from Doctor to Doctor without shortness of breath, but I am guessing shock...and that takes awhile to wear off.

tmgrl4,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

You are experiencing the frustration of concussions and how they can cause all kinds of odd symptoms. My guess is your shortness of breath is anxiety. That is common. But, it could something else. I had a problem with shortness of breath but it turned out I was not breathing then would sense a shortness of breath. The anxiety after a concussion can cause muscle tension in the chest and diaphragm that interrupts normal relaxed breathing.

Memory issues can be anxiety or concussion. Nobody can say without testing. Many of us find we have to 'stop to think' after a concussion. I would not be surprised if you learned to stop to think, you will do much better. Age related thought processes often require learning to stop to think. That means learning to shut out other stimuli and thoughts. We get used to acting at a subconscious level but after a concussion, those efforts may need more of a purposed thought and action.

Falling can often be a result of trying to move about with instinctual movements rather than stop and think purposeful movements.

I have not been able to move instinctually for over a decade. But, it does not stop me.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. Just know, few neuros are good at these concussion issues.

My best to you.