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

[creamorwhite]

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?

Yes my first one was like this but my subsequent masks have been fine. I just knew to buy a different type.

I have asthma and autism - no idea if that’s relevant

I breathe fine now I'm used to it. Had to wear one for > 1 hour in a museum recently. I think my mask moves in and out a lot more than others. I must look like I'm huffing & puffing a lot.

Thanks for that @blueslime, I usually use fabric masks, so I was wondering how well they would work with them.

@Malteserdiet

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.

The mask isn't causing that. Sounds like he's actually ill.

I’m not great and I need to wear one at work. It’s not ideal. I’m okay at work if I don’t need to move around too much.
I’ve only fainted once (in sainsburys).

I’m normally ok but I was stupid today and went to the shop on the way home from the gym. As I was already hot adding the mask made me feel like I was going to pass out (I didn’t it was just my brain being dramatic!)

@WellTidy

Yes. I have tried lots of types, but I often lift it away from my face at the bottom to sort of release the sort of moisture filled air which is inside and take some breaths of fresh air. I only wore mine whilst supermarket shopping today, and I had to do this a good few times. I know that you’re not suppose to touch your face covering but I absolutely had to.

It is definitely stopping me from going many indoor places like shops and the like, which isn’t really bothering me that much, but I am spending way less than I previously would. Not a bad thing for me personally, but I would imagine that many many people are doing the same and the high street must be taking an absolutely enormous hit. I wonder how long our high street and shopping centre will survive.

I’m exactly the same I only go when absolutely essential, it’s saving me a fortune, good for my bank account not so much for the economy.

I don't find masks a problem but my ds struggles a bit and says the disposable ones are much better for him.

As soon as I put a mask on, any type, my brain seems to say 'you can't breathe'. I just instantly start trying to control my breathing, with the end result being that I breathe way too quickly.

I now go into shops and other places as little as possible as I just can't stand it.

I'm ok in a shop for a little while or sitting on a bus but if I have to climb stairs or walk up a hill I feel like I can't get enough air. I am horrendously unfit and suffer from panic attacks though. I still wear them indoors but just avoid anywhere I need to wear one for too long.

I find them really uncomfortable too and struggle to take deep breaths. Like you I have to lift now and again for some fresh air or they get stuffy and make me out of breath. The alternative is far worse of course, I just avoid going to shops, unless desperate, so I don’t have to wear one.

Me.

None at all and I though I would. Done long plane and train journey worh it too and dc and I even forgot we had it on. Who knew?

Yes- I have to wear one all day at work.
I really struggle when I'm presenting and talking a lot with the mask. I get quite short if breath!

I know we have to be safe, but I look forward to the day we can stop this.

I do when I'm feeling really stressed or anxious, but when that's the case I know I breathe really shallowly anyway, so I take myself off somewhere for five minutes to calm down and do some deep breaths.

Not had a problem breathing in one until I had a conversation at work the other day and I felt like I was struggling to breath.

I take the train into London on the odd day here and there, my journey is around an hour, and I found on the really hot days we had a few weeks ago that it was really really uncomfortable. I have asthma too which doesn't help. When there was no one else in my carriage I pulled the mask down to get some air, otherwise just had to deal with it. Pretty much everyone else pulled their masks down too which obviously defeats the object. Taking the Central Line in the hot weather was another level of hellishness though, I was actually fighting for breath.

I'm fine in supermarkets and anywhere there is access to air.

Sorry but for everyone who puts it under there nose you just defeated the whole purpose i have asthma and dont have to wear one but I do yes they are hard to breathe in on the bus open the windows it helps greatly

I and child and all family members have been wearing international hospital standard 3 ply disposal clinical face masks for most of this year so far right at the outset before it became norm globally. I am still somewhat surprised in the number of non Covid pandemic believers within the UK. Those who don't observe standard Covid best practice and so now technically criminal as per forced mandated criminal legislation.

Wearing a standard clinical mask is fine for day to day activities (even if sometimes streaming up glasses with temperature room changes etc) as they are obviously designed for a surgeon to use for hours under extreme concentration levels. Wearing one for jogging is slightly tricky and so I instead only wear it when social distancing is problematic.

I tried the FFP3 FFP2 KN95 N95 dust and pollution masks and find them a bit over the top in terms of minimum Covid protection. Not sure about home made or shop brought face coverings though. I use to cycle more and so have some regular commuting carbon pollution face masks and of course those are fine for sports etc!

I am still somewhat surprised in the number of non Covid pandemic believers within the UK

How is that relevant to this thread? No one on here has said they are a ‘non Covid pandemic believer’. Just talking about the issues they have with wearing masks.
As I said above, I still wear one when I need to. I just avoid going to places where they are required as much as possible as I find it difficult. So I am not putting anyone at risk, as I am at home.

@Kaktus that poster is fond of putting words in peoples mouths.
No one here has said they are a non Covid pandemic believer.

I just hope her sympathies stretch to those who will have to apply for disability benefits due to long Covid. I somehow doubt it considering her posts about people on disability benefits which got deleted.

Im seeing a lot of the "all in this together" rhetoric coming from right wingers. Happy to move the goalposts when it suits and when this is all over they will be just as happy to move them right back again.

Yes I wore one for the first time the other day in the dr surgery. I haven’t been anywhere before that requires them but obviously could avoid this. I found breathing a real struggle, started getting heart palpitations and feeling like I was gasping for air. I’m 38 weeks pregnant though so I assumed that was why when no one else seems to have this problem but reading this makes me think it’s not that uncommon after all

Those who don't observe standard Covid best practice and so now technically criminal as per forced mandated criminal legislation

Ive seen none of this. Get yourself some help.