Tips for breathing.

[tattooedmummy1]

Since yesterday afternoon I've been experiencing breathlessness, it feels like someone is sitting on my chest. It's constant but I am more breathless if I'm pottering about in the house doing stuff or if I decide to talk alot (DH is thrilled I can't chat as much shit as normal 😂).

Obviously I know to rest, and I know the NHS website has some advice, but is there anyone on here who has had it that found little tips and tricks that worked for them to help ease the breathlessness?

Tia.

Lie on your chest, not on your back. Breathe slowly through your nose and out through pursed lips. If you are struggling call your doctor.

Thank you, I shall give that a try 😊

I have asthma and drinking coffee always helped me. It’s the caffeine, I guess

But really, you should check with healthcare

Try sitting in a chair, leaning forward with your forearms resting on a table. Or if you’re walking, put your hands on your hips.

If you fix your arms, it means your Respiratory muscles can work in a different way which makes your breathing more efficient.

Try to breath through your nose if you can and make sure you’re breathing right down into your tummy (Tummy loves out as you breath in), rather than just filling the top bit of your lungs. To practice this, try putting one hand on the top of your chest and one on your tummy. Your chest hand shouldn’t move very much but your tummy hand should move in and out with each breath.

FeeL better soon

Tummy MOVES out, not loves!

I don't feel unwell enough to seek medical advice yet, partly because I know there's very little anyone can do at this stage?
I also don't feel like I can't manage yet, if that makes sense?

My boss text and suggested a hot bath, like steaming like you would flu but I dunno if it'd help?

I'll definitely try more coffee!

@ChelseaCat

Try sitting in a chair, leaning forward with your forearms resting on a table. Or if you’re walking, put your hands on your hips.

If you fix your arms, it means your Respiratory muscles can work in a different way which makes your breathing more efficient.

Try to breath through your nose if you can and make sure you’re breathing right down into your tummy (Tummy loves out as you breath in), rather than just filling the top bit of your lungs. To practice this, try putting one hand on the top of your chest and one on your tummy. Your chest hand shouldn’t move very much but your tummy hand should move in and out with each breath.

FeeL better soon

Thank you so much for this

I will be trying everything people suggest.

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157249837878443&id=583003442?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=6Pt2cHuUTdAlGz5w&d=n&vh=i

I hope this link works.

Have a look at these:

www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/acute/positions-for-breathlessness.pdf

Let me know if that works for you.

I watched this quite a few times when it was first released, but not sure if I can now as I don't use Facebook

I sore Kate you're not ready to ask for help just get, but don't leave it too long as they can help much better early on and it might mean a much shorter stay in hospital and a quicker recovery 🌷

Bloody phone. Nothing to do with Kate! I appreciate...

I found this helpful when recovering from (suspected) Covid back in March/April - look at part 8 with breathing exercises - it's about anxiety but I found it so useful at getting back into a better breathing pattern. If you're worried, do seek medical help.

Thank you all

I've saved those links, and accessed the Facebook video to watch aswell. I am very grateful to you all x

It might not be Covid. Other things can cause breathlessness, so don't leave it too long.

If you haven't had a diagnosis of Covid and you feel as though someone is sitting on your chest and your breathless it could be a sign of a heart attack. You need to get checked out!

Not covid related but long term breathing condition. I once told an out of hours GP that I was going to call 999 if I stopped breathing. He’s response was that if you stopped breathing ‘the horse has passed’.

Please be careful, these things can change so quickly. If you’re worried then atleast call 111 so that they can log and assess how you feel. It might help you get help sooner if you get worse later on.

In other news, sitting up and leaning forwards has always helped me. Lying down is the worst thing. Have a look at wedges that you can place under your mattress for when you sleep.Sleeping propped up like this really helps me if I get ill. Again though please get checked/tell someone!

Also be careful of steam. A lot of people say that steam can help but for some people it makes their breathing worse!! So wouldn’t risk it if I were you

BTW if you start getting a headache, drink twice as much water as you think is a ridiculously large amount.

DH had Covid badly in Spring to the degree that his headache was stopping him sleeping. The doctor on 901 or whatever it's called said that your lungs are having to work so hard they're respiring tons of water and you need to replace it.

Hope you feel better very soon

there was something on here about pursed lip breathing

www.healthline.com/health/pursed-lip-breathing

I got a positive swab last week, have had a constant headache for the past 8 days, which has actually finally eased a bit today. Lost my taste over the weekend, developed a bit of breathlessness yesterday along with the heavy feeling on my chest.

I live with DH, which probably adds to my feelings that I will be alright?

Ive been following some of the advice given on this thread and resting the afternoon, hopefully I feel better soon.

Thank you all.

Apparently a fan blowing towards your face can reduce a feeling of breathlessness (advice from a respiratory nurse colleague)

Apologies if anyone has already posted this, but these very simple breathing exercises helped me when I was sick:

I've been advised that if you can breathe out, count to 30 briskly in your head and then take another breath, that is a good sign (not medical advice, I should point out, but there were some very good support threads on here for us early adopters back in March). The shortness of breath is a bitch, hope it passes soon for you. Take care

When my son had an asthma attack the gp said the time for medical assessment is if you can’t drink or talk normally because you’re too breathless
Also I’d be a little wary of steam

Take care op

Have you got an oximeter to keep an eye on your oxygen levels?