Deep breaths | Mumsnet

wobblymum1 · 2023-03-27T13:03:22+00:00

Not sure how to explain this 😂 my dd6 keeps taking a deep breath in- like I would if I had covid and couldn’t get a “full” breath. I’d say she does it when at rest, eg watching tv/ being read to/ when tired. no cough, no other breathing issues, no sings of asthma. she does it about 3-4 times an hour and if I ask her why she’s doing it she says “I dunno, because I feel I have to” obviously my anxiety mind is jumping to something serious so hoping someone here can put my mind at rest.

Blossomandblooms · 28/03/2023 12:03

Is it like a big sigh? Is she well in herself?

Pixiedust1234 · 28/03/2023 12:06

Does she hold her breath just before the deep breath?

Apparently I do, but I don't realise it. Sometimes my DD has to nudge me to get me breathing again as I am so unaware. No idea why I do it.

soundsofthesixties · 28/03/2023 12:42

I do that. I've never given it a second thought to be honest. I've done it for years, no idea why though.m

Original poster

wobblymum1 · 28/03/2023 12:48

this is so interesting!
Yes, it’s like a deep breath that she almost holds in and then a sigh. she breaths totally normally apart from this, isn’t out of Breath after exercise, doesn’t cough after exercise that would indicate asthma I guess, and is generally well (apart from usual winter bugs this year).

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glasshole · 28/03/2023 12:55

I was terrible for holding y breath as a kid and it's carried on into adult hood. It's even wise if I'm focused on sitting, reading etc. in school the entire class would often whip their heads around to my dramatic gasping because I'd forgot to breathe 😬

Original poster

wobblymum1 · 28/03/2023 13:14

Really?!
any idea why or how it started?

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Original poster

wobblymum1 · 23/04/2023 00:51

Sorry
to bump but this is getting worse for us☹️
shes now
doing it when trampolining (new) and needing to sit down. I’ve checked her oxygen sats with an oximeter
tonight and they were low 90’s dropping into 88/89. Allowing for
Some
error
as her fingers are tiny, should I be worried? ☹️

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justlurkinghere · 23/04/2023 00:57

I would take her to the doctor as soon as you can. Maybe no cause for concern and maybe her small fingers in an adult sized monitor don't give accurate readings (no idea if that is true), but it sounds like it should be checked out.

Original poster

wobblymum1 · 23/04/2023 01:03

Thanks for replying.
i have no idea if Tiny fingers shoved in while sleeping would risk a wrong reading? She’s sleeping peacefully, breathing normally, doesn’t appear to be struggling for breath, I just am worried about these episodes.
is this is Gp visit in which I can get an appointment)around 10-14 days) or a&e more urgently? My worry is as
she only does it sometimes and rest of time she looks and acts healthy that I’ll look really strange taking her in saying her breathing is sometimes not right ☹️But it’s all starting to worry me ☹️

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justlurkinghere · 23/04/2023 01:10

wobblymum1 · 23/04/2023 01:03

Thanks for replying.
i have no idea if Tiny fingers shoved in while sleeping would risk a wrong reading? She’s sleeping peacefully, breathing normally, doesn’t appear to be struggling for breath, I just am worried about these episodes.
is this is Gp visit in which I can get an appointment)around 10-14 days) or a&e more urgently? My worry is as
she only does it sometimes and rest of time she looks and acts healthy that I’ll look really strange taking her in saying her breathing is sometimes not right ☹️But it’s all starting to worry me ☹️

I'm not qualified to answer that but I doubt A and E. But if you, who has seen the episodes thinks that is necessary, then listen to that.

If I had a child who was exercising and had to sit down to catch their breath (and this was a pattern), with possibly low oxygen sats, I'd at least be seeking urgent advice by phone, or a GP appointment as soon as possible.

justlurkinghere · 23/04/2023 01:11

BTW, my daughter went through a similar phase and was low on iron.

BaffledOnceAgain · 23/04/2023 01:12

Hi. I've used an oximeter with my ds for several years. I find them a bit inconsistent with little fingers. Firstly, put it on you and see if it is consistent for you. Then have it on your dd's finger when she is awake and sitting. If she seems fine right now and has no other symptoms, I'd leave her be overnight and probably until Monday, but I'd then make an urgent appointment at the GP. If you have any concerns overnight or tomorrow, I'd take her to A&E. Let us know how you get on. Hope you get some sleep.

BaffledOnceAgain · 23/04/2023 01:13

And if her SATS are that low, then yes, that is a cause for concern.

Original poster

wobblymum1 · 23/04/2023 01:17

Thank you so much.
i did sit with it on me tonight and it was cheerfully
sitting at 99% ☹️☹️
but I will try it on her when she’s awake and sitting calmly tomorrow and try and bust an emergency Gp appt next week. It’s awful seeing her suddenly gasp in a huge deep breath and then happily carries on bouncing/playing. Having unhelpful 1am worries of a chest tumour or something sinister causing it ☹️Ugh, can’t sleep for worrying.

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justlurkinghere · 23/04/2023 01:22

wobblymum1 · 23/04/2023 01:17

Thank you so much.
i did sit with it on me tonight and it was cheerfully
sitting at 99% ☹️☹️
but I will try it on her when she’s awake and sitting calmly tomorrow and try and bust an emergency Gp appt next week. It’s awful seeing her suddenly gasp in a huge deep breath and then happily carries on bouncing/playing. Having unhelpful 1am worries of a chest tumour or something sinister causing it ☹️Ugh, can’t sleep for worrying.

Not medically qualified but wouldn't a chest tumour take up space all the time, so cause issues all the time?

It could even just be some sort of habit or tic she's developed. Try not to worry if she's generally happy and healthy, but do get it checked when you can.

Original poster

wobblymum1 · 23/04/2023 01:27

Thank you so much, I will try and sleep some now having been reassured by your logical point that a tumour probably wouldn’t randomly cause this.
her big
brother has tics (diagnosed and constant) and has had a few breathing ones but none like this. But right now I’d love it if it was just that and not something more systemic ☹️

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BaffledOnceAgain · 23/04/2023 16:37

Do let us know how you get on this week. It's definitely worth checking. Let's hope it is tic-related.

Susieblue18 · 23/04/2023 21:07

I think it’s a tic/habit. I get this occasionally and my son who has had a few other tics used to do it. It feels like needing to yawn to get enough oxygen. I also remember my mum taking my sister to the GP when she was a child for doing this as well. Anything that draws attention to it will make it worse so even though it’s hard, try not to mention it. You should probably take her to the GP for a check up just to put your mind at rest.

Original poster

wobblymum1 · 23/04/2023 21:57

Hugely appreciate this.
Im also hoping it’s a tic. She went to a softplay party today and I sat away from
her but caught glimpses a few times and she knew where I was if she needed me- she raced around for 45 mins and from what I could see she looked fine. and she didn’t come to find me at any point to say she needed me.
lying next to her just now to help her drift off (she gets major Monday morning anxiety and is always late to sleep Sunday night 🤦‍♀️) she’s doing it and I’m wondering if this is a tic. I’m going to keep the Gp appt at end of next week as hoping they can listen to chest/ check sats/ maybe do a park Flow test? / give their opinion and I can either stop watching her like a hawk and try and ignore it when she does it, or if they think she is a bit low on her readings I’m hoping we can move forward with a solution.

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Original poster

wobblymum1 · 27/04/2023 15:22

Just wanted to update as saw gp today.
she wants to wait and see….said doesn’t fit with asthma. It’s been happening more regularly☹️She doesn’t know what it is but has queried anaemia as she’s so pale. However she wants to hold off on bloods for 4 weeks to see if it stops on its own, and if not then she’d like to check for anemia and thyroid.
feels like I’ll just be watching her like a hawk for next 4 weeks but don’t think I have any other option ☹️

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Anxiousmumof · 14/09/2024 22:12

wobblymum1 · 27/04/2023 15:22

Just wanted to update as saw gp today.
she wants to wait and see….said doesn’t fit with asthma. It’s been happening more regularly☹️She doesn’t know what it is but has queried anaemia as she’s so pale. However she wants to hold off on bloods for 4 weeks to see if it stops on its own, and if not then she’d like to check for anemia and thyroid.
feels like I’ll just be watching her like a hawk for next 4 weeks but don’t think I have any other option ☹️

Hi I’m aware this is an old post but just wondering what the outcome was & if you ever got to the bottom of it? My 9 year old has started doing something similar saying she sometimes has to take deep breaths to breathe properly & im thinking the worst!

Susieblue18 · 19/09/2024 21:18

I get this on and off, it’s called air hunger. My son also did it occasionally when he was younger. It feels like you need to take a deep breath to get enough oxygen then it becomes a bit of a habit. Good idea to get a GP check up but probably nothing to worry about.

BlackSwan · 20/09/2024 11:54

Just one thing to consider but may not be relevant...Before I had a hole in my heart repaired I never felt like I was able to take a full breath and really fill my lungs. I can now. Some others with the same condition also experienced this. A telltale sign of a hole in the heart is a heart murmur which your GP can listen for. Not that everyone with a murmur has a hole in their heart, far from it.