To think my GP should offer me something? Pregnant & upset

[ABabyPanda]

I’m 21 weeks pregnant and for about a week and a half suffering from breathing difficulties. One day it was so bad my chest was hurting, I struggle to get a ‘big’ breath so I’m yawning all the time to try to get one but even then it’s usually a half-yawn. I’m huffing and puffing (with no exertion - I could be in bed or on the sofa and it’s still bad).

I saw my midwife last week who took bloods for low iron as I’d mentioned I’d read that this could be a factor. My iron is fine. She told me to get a GP appointment and go to A&E if it’s really bad.

Last week I phoned for an appointment and had a telephone appointment this evening. They have basically said there’s no such thing as pregnancy related asthma and they can’t do the asthma test due to coronavirus, he doesn’t feel it’s right to prescribe asthma medication as it could cause other issues (diabetes?!) which right is fair enough. He said he suggests breathing exercises. It’s probably the water round the baby and in worse case scenario they will need to deliver the baby early but he doesn’t think this will happen 🤨

I cannot fucking breathe! I’m only 21 weeks, what if this gets worse? Has anyone else experienced this? I’ve started having my humidifier on during the night but it’s not helping me during the day & it’s such a struggle. I’m seeing my midwife on Friday so I will ask again then but I really feel like something is more wrong that just baby fluid & if I get COVID I’m screwed. I’m really worried 😟

@ABabyPanda I had these symptoms. I had bilateral pulmonary embolisms. Please get checked out - it's not worth the risk.

Yes, please do get further assessment without delay OP. It could well be nothing to worry about but you need to eliminate the possibility of a pulmonary embolism.

Breathing difficulties caused by pulmonary embolism do repeatedly get dismissed as anxiety by qualified doctors, yes. A consultant confirmed this. It's important to chase it up.

Oh and I was 28 weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed.

As pp i too had issues with b12 in pregnancy - breathlessness, palpitations. I did get fobbed off a bit but it got picked up at my 25 (I think) week blood tests - I had told them there was an issue from about 6 weeks.

I got this when I was pregnant both times and so did my sister - I actually thought shortness of breath was a relatively common pregnancy symptom? Something to do with the hormones I think, I’m sure you could find out on google! Agree with PP though that breathing problems in general get or feel worse the more you think and worry about them and can be very disconcerting.

As someone who had pulmonary embolism in pregnancy, go to the hospital!

I had this from about midway through both my pregnancies. There just wasn't enough room for the lungs to expand as usual, and once you become aware that you can't take a deep breath the anxiety kicks in and you feel panicked. The only thing that helped was forcing myself not to try to breath deeply - as that just reminds you that you can't. Focus on taking normal breaths and not testing yourself by breathing deeply.

My asthma only started when I was pregnant so it is a thing! And it stayed with me for 5 years! I needed inhalers. I totally know the feeling and it's horrible. I would go to A&E if your GP is not listening or ask to speak to a different one at the practice. Hope you get it sorted.

Well I had similar when I was pregnant and was given an inhaler. It's not something I've needed since giving birth, so I find it very strange that there's no such thing as pregnancy asthma.

Hope you're able to get some help OP. Just as an aside, it's always worth getting a copy of your blood results every time. Or, you can access them if you have the NHS app/Patient Access. Then you can see for yourself what your levels are.

@JinglingHellsBells

The OP hasn't got Covid. She's pregnant.

She doesn't know if she has or not!

Feeling breathless at 20 weeks is NOT a symptom of pregnancy!

In Liverpool they are trying to test everyone even those who feel 100% fit as many people have no symptoms.

Well, it bloody well was for me. It was right up there with SPD, heartburn, restless legs, swelling, and constipation.

Even thinking about it 20 years on makes me shudder. Not being able to breathe was horrendous.

As soon as the babies were born, I could breathe again.

It's hard to describe to anyone who hasn't experienced it, but I genuinely thought I would die due to not being able to breathe. If it weren't for my mum saying that all her pregnancies were exactly the same (again, a tiny woman who had ridiculously big babies), I'd have been at A&E.

@ABabyPanda how did you get on today at appointment?

@justasking111 thanks for checking.
After a complete meltdown after speaking to my GP, I googled breathing exercises and was practising some when my breathing was bad. I also stopped using my humidifier at night (I don’t know why I stopped this - I was just lazy one night & it didn’t make a difference so stopped it).

My breathing over the past 3 days has been ok touch wood - I haven’t had many instances of struggling for breath, certainly not all day like it was. I don’t know if this thread opened my eyes that it could just be anxiety, breathing techniques, humidifier OR baby has just moved into a better position & it has helped for now but regardless I feel much better

Midwife didn’t offer much advice just said speak to GP again if it gets bad, but it’s fine because I feel ok for now.

Hoping it doesn’t come back soon as it was honestly horrendous for nearly 2 weeks & I can’t believe how much better I feel! It’s really strange.