For years I've been suffering from shortness of breath. It feels like I can't get enough oxygen in my body but it's not constant. Sometimes it's every day and then sometimes it's hardly ever.
It first started in 2012 when I was planning my wedding and although I didn't feel hugely stressed I put it down to that. It carried on in fits and starts and was present when I have birth to my first child on 2015. It was picked up that my heart rate was abnormally high but several tests showed nothing wrong. The visits to the doctor about my breathing previously showed nothing physically wrong, it was suggested that I was just unfit.
Fast forward to 2024 and my breathing is flaring up again. It's been alright recently but this last week has been really bad. I constantly feel out of breath, every now and again I get a good deep breath but I don't feel satisfied for want of a better word.
I am now probably the fittesr I've ever been, last year I was running regular 10Ks and weight lifting 3 times a week, now I'm starting the running again on a tougher course so instead of my 10K taking 1 hour 7 it's taking 1 hour 18 but the hills are insane. I'm still weight lifting, I work on my feet 4 days a week and aim to walk the kids to school and back (4 miles total) as much as possible.
Now I haven't been for a run since a week last Thursday or the gym a week ago today because I've had an injury and trying to rest it. The kids have also not been at school so although I've been at work I've been doing less walking overall.
Surely though that wouldn't make a huge difference and make me suddenly gasp for breath?
Should I go back to the doctors and see what they say? Could it be mental? I don't feel stressed right now but I often do feel overwhelmed because the bulk of everything is on me (cleaning, school stuff, pet stuff, child stuff) but my job isn't the kind that I take home. It can be stressful in the moment when it's all go but honestly it's a walk in the park.
I'm so fed up, it's impacting my life but everybody seems to think it's my own doing! I can't make myself any fitter overnight, I can't stop stressing when I'm not stressed! Argh!