Air hunger? Feel like I can't get enough oxygen.

[MissingKittyCat]

Having had a very stressful few weeks/months, I'm not sure if this is a side effect of stress or tiredness or if I should be worried.

I can't seem to get enough oxygen. My lungs feel odd, no cough, not painful, it doesn't feel 'serious' nor does it feel right. I have recently started thyroxine (hashis), just had a dose decrease as levels had gone the other way. While I was at the drs she checked my days and for a tremor, all good results. I no longer smoke but do have an electric cigarette, have been using it for two years now so I doubt it's that, currently on a very low nicotine level. Have only been feeling like this for a few weeks.

It does coincide with stress and levothyroxine but was happening before my dosage decrease. I feel like I'm having to concentrate on breathing and take big breaths every now and again. It's very strange.

Anxiety? Exhaustion? Allergies? My thyroid? Has anybody else ever had this for such a prolonged period?

I had chest pains from torn muscles in my ribs. Thought it was much worse! My muscles and tendons were trashed from low iron / thyroxine issues, and possibly sertaline had something to do with it, not sure. My sternum was very sore and I developed chronoditis (so?!) trying to expand my ribs. (I was very bad though - my arms wouldn't reach out much either. I was curling up)

Have you noticed your bra straps are tighter? Mine were considerably!

My bra straps are tighter around my body but I assumed I'd shrunk them in the wash!

I've found recently that after having my first couple of tapes my chest goes tight and breathing is harder. Then after a bit it's fine again and I can vape away. Very strange

If you have Hashimoto's and are already taking levothyroxine, air hunger may well be connected - it is something I get too. Some people believe that it means the medication might not be optimal. You need a doctor who won't just medicate according to your blood test results, and who will take symptoms into consideration too (not always that easy, unfortunately).

I am seeing an endocrinologist next month. I'm hoping he will help more than GP can. Things haven't got any worse so I don't think I need the GP today. It would make perfect sense that it's an over medication issue.

I meant more are you putting bra straps on a higher setting?!

It sounds like there's lots of possibilities. If your iron is borderline (I assume ferritin) perhaps ask to trial iron tablets with a view to seeing if it helps. Try some deep breathing or exercise. Look into stress, but it could be thyroid settling everything. If looking at other options re thyroxine, definitely check all other options first, any sort of anaemia etc. B12, vit d etc. If all this is clear and current thyroid levels are optimal, you could then be within rights to discuss with endo. Some people are being given some t3 as well, as long as other options have been ruled out, and possibly shown that their t3 levels don't rise. There is an explainatiin of this in the BMA thyroid book which is helpful to have when going to gp/ endo!