Does anyone else genuinely find it hard to breathe properly through a mask?

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I've got washable cotton ones from Boots but they're quite thick. I'm now using the blue disposable ones but during the commute have to lift it a bit off my face so I can gasp some air in. I have always found it hard to breathe through my nose but don't have anything medical diagnosed, I'm not exempt, but really struggle to feel I'm getting air in whilst wearing a mask. I do wear it whilst on public transport but will pull it down to expose my nose which helps a bit. I know people will rant at me for that but I am doing it because I am struggling and frankly I don't have a choice. Does anyone else feel like this?

The first time I wore one it felt unpleasant and claustrophobic, but for less than 3 minutes. Then it felt fine, and I can breathe through all of mine with no trouble (got lots of different kinds) I almost always forget I'm wearing them.

Although now the baby always pulls it off if I'm holding her so different problem!

My toddler does this too. Another reason we just avoid going anywhere where they’re needed!

I can wear one for a while, as long as it has a gap under my nose, but halfway through the supermarket shop I have to pull it away from my nose and take some breaths or I will get dizzy and collapse.

I can get dizzy anyway, and could be exempt but don't want the abuse from not wearing one at all. As a result I don't go out much any more since face coverings were forced on us.

I have asthma and sinus problems and I find them fine. The more I focus on the mask the more problematic I find it, which I think is the biggest hurdle. Mind over matter imo.

Just to clarify, I mean a gap under my nose beneath the mask, not the mask under my nose. I need a space so it isn't touching nostrils or mouth. Even then it is very unpleasant and hot, and like a pp I also struggle with hot, humid air and can pass out without much warning.

I do, and I now wear really light two layer cotton ones. The first couple of styles I tried were three layer, one really thick moulded type, and the other one medium weight, but I had to stop using them as I fainted in the hot weather! I do get stress asthma though as well, so that probably doesn't help.

I haven't had any problems with the lighter ones.

I found the synthetic ones the best, I wore a disposable one to go to the hospital for an MRI & it was awful, had to go for another MRI this week & wore a synthetic reusable, was a million times better.

My DD18 has nasal breathing problems, but I think a lot of it with her as well as the nasal / sinus problems is that she thinks too much about the mask and for her, it’s almost a self fulfilling prophecy that she can’t breath. We have medical grade disposable masks for the household, have done since before lockdown. I found the answer to chill her out whilst wearing a mask.....designer masks bought, she happily wears them and awaiting a consultant appointment for her nasal problems at long last! All of a sudden, her breathing issues with a mask have disappeared! You wouldn’t have guessed, would you?

I have chronic sinusitis and it bothered me a bit to start. However, its more the anxiety and thinking about it. A couple of deep breaths and I'm fine.

A bit I have to wear one for work and find I have a dry mouth and headache more often. I do suffer with asthma and rhinitis so I can’t breathe well through my nose.
I have learnt to just get in with it and I am getting used to it.

I found plain cloth ones to be uncomfortable to breathe through, as the fabric tends to stick against my nostrils and block off my airways. I have switched to a more expensive pollution type mask for cyclists, which is made of a stiffer fabric and sits away from the nose and mouth. It is quite big as well so there are gaps above my nose and chin. Something like this, though mine is a different brand. I don't use a filter.

I use public transport a lot as I don't drive, and have a toddler so we're often at indoor attractions, so I need a mask that I can be comfortable in for hours at a time.

Yes, I really struggle to wear them. I am a nurse and remember having to wear them for prolonged periods when I was younger and never adapted. I am not clinically based now but am wearing them like everyone for the train commute and when out shopping and I just hate it. I have to keep moving it to get air and avoid going to indoor places unless I really have to.

Some people I work with are happy to sit in them all day through choice and say it doesn't bother them at all, so we are all clearly different in this respect.

I'm fine if I don't have to have conversations with people. I can breathe slowly and keep control. I'm very softly spoken and I get tinnitus when stressed. When I talk to people it's frustrating when I can't understand them and vice versa and I find myself getting a bit panicky and need fresh air.

I had a masked argument with the teen dd in a shop the other day because I wouldn't buy her something. I was trying to explain that we already had similar at home, she couldn't understand me and was getting cross and I couldn't get my point across. I've decided to just shop alone from now on.

Someone recommended these to me. I ordered them a couple of days ago but haven't got them yet.

Might be worth trying?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363062199555

Its not a great thing to have to wear but I think of how it must be for doctors and nurses and it cant be as bad as them

Wearing it with your nose out is not only pointless and puts others at risk from you, it actually puts you at higher risk ffs.

You touch things. Then you touch the outside of your mask to lift it or pull it down and transfer whatever germs are on your hands to the outside of the mask. Then you put the germy outside if the mask directly under your nose and just breathe in the germs.

You'd be better off not bloody wearing one.

You'd be better off not bloody wearing one

But more likely to be ‘shamed’ or ‘challenged’ when out and about.

Yes I probably would be better off not wearing one. I wear it because I'm forced to, but there's no way I can get through the length of my commute not touching it as I feel sick and dizzy.

Yes I do but I am autistic and have an anxiety disorder so it's linked to both of those. I have always struggled to breathe through my nose with as much ease as other people especially when anxious. I avoid going anywhere I need to wear a mask as much as possible and if I know I'm going to be somewhere where masks are required for more than about 20 minutes or so I class myself as exempt via psychological distress as I cannot tolerate it without a panic attack.

No, but for trains I use a silk scarf not a mask (disposable one is reused for supermarket etc)

Yes I feel the same and don’t mind stating that I absolutely hate masks and take them off the instant it is possible. But I am more angry about them for my 12 year old son. We are in France and he has to wear them as he approaches the school and then for the whole day, including in all lessons and at break time outside. He can only take it off to eat lunch. I picked him up today and he looked sheet white, had a headache, a sore throat and felt sick. He went straight to bed at 16.30 which I have never known him to do ever. I am beyond angry that he has to endure that every school day, especially as I strongly believe masks aren’t helping anyway.

I wear the disposable ones from Boots I tried a reusable and couldnt breathe in the bloody thing.

But i find they ride up into my eyes so have to be careful i dont trip or fall over. Our local Tesco has stairs and an escalator (their home wares and clothing department is upstairs and i havent been up there since the masks came in. I dont fancy doing myself an injury to protect others in our Tory stronghold who wouldnt give me the steam off their piss if i was sat homeless in the street

So i dont use anywhere with stairs while in a mask. Have also stopped shopping in the high street and using the bus since they came in.

www.pathstoliteracy.org/strategies/ideas-helping-students-multiple-disabilities-including-deafblindness-wear-masks-and-face?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Things%20Weve%20Learned%20About%20Remote%20Online%20Instruction&utm_content=Things%20Weve%20Learned%20About%20Remote%20Online%20Instruction%20CID_ab47fccc7c9cbac9fc72af0109daca69&utm_source=Paths%20to%20Literacy%20Newsletter&utm_term=Learn%20More

[quote ChangeThePassword]Someone recommended these to me. I ordered them a couple of days ago but haven't got them yet.

Might be worth trying?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363062199555[/quote]
I have some of those. They do help - I use them with cloth masks rather than disposable, so I've stitched them to the inside of the mask. But the plastic lies flat against my face, which can get a bit sweaty and smear my foundation. But breathing is not a problem. And it means I can wear lipstick again!

I've been fine with my reusable fabric one, I slept with one on the other night in hospital and it was absolutely fine but do get uncomfortable in the blue medical ones