Is this breathlessness?

[TheDiceWoman1]

Just wondering if someone can help before I add to the NHS workload.

I've woken up today very aware of my breathing. I don't feel like my chest is tight and I can take deep breaths, no pain. Just very aware of my breathing despite having work to concentrate on. I'm trying not to think about it. Maybe the closest I can explain is maybe it feels like not enough air going in through regular breathing. Not ill in any other sense but trying not to think about it as it's causing me to panic.
Thanks!

Can you talk in full sentences? Or do you need to take a breathe every few words?

Can speak absolutely fine just very aware of my breathing.

Are you feeling anxious OP? I really don’t mean that in a sarcastic way. Anxiety can have a big impact on how conscious someone can be of their breathing.

Are you getting more out of breath or outright finding it harder to breathe?

It might be worth a call to your GP. I have a breathing difficulty and at the start I would leave it until I got really bad before getting help. A GP once gave me such a telling off. Apparently you aren’t meant to wait until you can’t breathe to call someone.

Could it be anxiety? The more you think about it the worse it gets.

What you describe sounds like a tight chest and not breathlessness. Or anxiety

I am diagnosed with anxiety but it's never really affected my breathing. I am more relaxed now than I was earlier in the week waiting for the PM announcement so if it is anxiety I don't know what would be causing it. Maybe it feels like a bit more effort just to breathe normally that's why I'm noticing it. I appreciate your comments

Take six breaths in and then hold and exhale counting to seven.
Do this on repeat for ten minutes.

Are you feeling better or is that impossible to do?

Take a breathe and count to six that should say.

I feel like this when I get anxious or stressed, could that be it?

You can also get up and start doing things, can you run up and down the stairs without trouble?

To me it sounds like anxiety, are your finger nails a healthy colour? Your lips? Do you have an oximeter in the house, check your levels to be sure

I had the same thing, my chest was rising and falling but it didn't feel as if the air was going in. No problems exhaling.

@NotExactlyMrsCurrentAffairs did you get a diagnosis?

@Icanseegreenshoots lips and fingers look normal colour. Slightly out of breath as in breathing slightly heavier after running up and back down the stairs. No oximeter unfortunately

The nurse thinks that covid had flared up my asthma, it doesn't 'feel' like asthma though.
I've been prescribed 2 inhalers, one preventer, one reliever.
It has got less since using inhalers but still happening.
I have no idea.
I feel crazy when I try to explain how it feels. No one understands. My chest isn't tight, no wheeze or cough, I don't smoke.
It's very odd.

I'm glad it's at least less for you @NotExactlyMrsCurrentAffairs
I had been given an inhaler years ago but was never officially diagnosed with asthma. I think I just need to monitor it and perhaps call the GP tomorrow if it's still the same. Or before if it worse. I keep feeling like I'm going to burst into tears, trying not to worry about it. I feel sick.

I'm sorry you're experiencing it too, it is very worrying and I know how anxious it makes you feel
Mine feels like, I'm kind of suffocating, I can't really explain. It's very strange and it does make you panic

If you are able to run, then it is unlikely to be breathlessness connected to lung function op. The fact you are feeling sick and tearful immediately makes me feel like it is anxiety.

I have this, I can't catch my breath and my breathing feels shallow and like I am not taking in enough oxygen or able to fill my lungs properly. It is a horrible feeling of slight suffocation. It normally leads to a full on panic attack if I do nothing.

Go outside, breathe into a paper bag, put some soothing music on, speak to a friend for half an hour. Your body is now in response mode.
Do the breathing techniques:

Inhale through the nose counting to six
Hold for a count of five
Exhale as slowly as possible counting to seven.

Keep doing it.

Mine's worse when I lie down for some reason

@Icanseegreenshoots

Take six breaths in and then hold and exhale counting to seven. Do this on repeat for ten minutes.

Are you feeling better or is that impossible to do?

That makes me worse

What can I breathe into if no paper bag please?

@TheDiceWoman1

I'm glad it's at least less for you *@NotExactlyMrsCurrentAffairs* I had been given an inhaler years ago but was never officially diagnosed with asthma. I think I just need to monitor it and perhaps call the GP tomorrow if it's still the same. Or before if it worse. I keep feeling like I'm going to burst into tears, trying not to worry about it. I feel sick.

Order yourself an oximeter. The £20 ones are just fine. I have a Fanre. It's great for reassuring yourself you're getting enough oxygen, no matter what you're feeling!!

Try having a shower.
Mim not sure if it's the steamy sir or just distraction, but I find it helps.

You need to do something that totally distracts you from thinking about your breathing.

I say this gently op, but you say there’s no pain, you can breathe deeply, but you’re panicking and feel sick thinking about it. Makes me think it’s anxiety, as it does look likely you are more anxious about these extremely mild symptoms than those symptoms dictate.

@NotExactlyMrsCurrentAffairs have you looked up Vocal Cord Dysfunction? It’s where your vocal cords cause an obstruction to your airways, it can feel like your throats closing up or that your air pipe just isn’t as open as it should be. Or for me I get the very odd feeling that something in my throat is trying to turn inside out.

Not many doctors know about it but it can be managed really well with breathing exercises that force your vocal cords to open the right way.

It can present very similarly to Asthma. I’ve found that salbutamol helps a bit but I need a lot of it to make any difference. The breathing exercises work so so much better.

Lying down can make it worse, especially if you have reflux. When mine flares up I sleep with my mattress propped up.

That's really interesting. I'll have a look at that. Thank you.