Is this ‘something’ or just weight related.

[Punta]

I have put on weight over the last couple of years. In recent years, I have been size 12-14 but over the last two years, I’ve gone up to an 18. Had quite a difficult couple of years with mental health problems due to both parents dying in fairly quick succession. However, mental health currently OK other than that I am drinking a bit too much when I don’t have work the next day and not being happy with my weight.

Since October - when my mum died - I have found myself very short of breath, (I have had asthma for years and this is not like tight chest asthma plus I got to the point where I rarely use my inhaler). I get very out of breath just walking from one room to another and sometimes when I am just sitting down. I also stopped eating meat in September.

Could my breathlessness just be because I’m overweight and unfit, or do I need to see a doctor? Could it be because I stopped eating meat? I am wanting to do more exercise, but I can’t because I am so out of breath!

As an asthmatic I'd say go to the doc

My need for inhaler use varies, but this cold weather affects it, I don't get wheezy but can tell from when I go running.

It could be anaemia? I’d see your GP.

I'd go to the docs and get it checked out. It may be simply weight related and generally unfit but it might be something else. I wouldn't worry just get yourself checked out to be sure.

I did wonder about anaemia or perhaps a B12 deficiency. The weight gain doesn’t help! But it is affecting my day to day life now and it seems to be getting worse. I can’t move without getting out of breath and other people are commenting on it.

An 18 is hardly overweight to the extent it would cause that sort of difficulty with breathing.

Please see gp.

Thanks for all of your replies.

Could it be anxiety? I get breathless when I'm having a or of anxiety attacks

Heart problem?

I had anxiety last year, and this is a different type of breathlessness.

My mum had heart issues. Will get this checked ASAP.

I kept getting breathless even when just sitting watching TV, my GP pointed out that it was anxiety. It made perfect sense.

No I am pretty sure it’s not anxiety. Every time I move -like from room to room -I get out of breath it is sometimes when sitting.

I do suffer from anxiety intermittently. This is not like anxiety breathlessness. If I have anxiety, I have other symptoms as well, and I don’t have those. I am actually feeling pretty good, mental health wise. I had a terrible few years, but everything that was causing my anxiety has gone now. My anxiety breathlessness is quite quick and shallow, if you get me? This is very different.

I'm a size 22 and have put weight on quite quickly due to MH issues. I never get out of breath just walking between rooms and definitely not when sitting down. I wouldn't say that was normal at all.

If you'd run up a flight of stairs, yes. Walking between rooms, no (and I don't do any exercise).

I think sudden weight gain can cause this. So although you are "only" an 18 its a shock to your body and it hasn't adapted to carrying the weight the way someone larger might have if they had gained slower. iyswim?

I would try to lose the weight tbh.

Yes def i telly need to lose the weight -stopping eating meat was my attempt at trying to be healthier. It’s because I am drinking, I can go for months without a drink and then I will have a few months where I am drinking too mucb and then grazing all day the next day. I keep yo-yoing between the two. I know this is a problem as well, so will discuss it with my GP when I see him.

Sorry....definitely!

I had breathlessness at a size 16, so it can happen. I'm also lactose intolerant though so if I have too much dairy, mucous builds up in my chest and I get really wheezy and my breathing gets laboured, especially when I lie down. Could it be something like that?

See your GP OP. How old are you? Are you post menopausal? I didn't go to the doctor because I thought i was 'just fat' at a size 16. I was breathless too but I'm not asthmatic. I ignored my symptoms to my detriment. Don't ignore yours.

I’m 45 - I don’t appear to have any signs of menopause yet.

Also, I don’t drink milk and haven’t done for years. I found my as5ma more or less disappeared once I stopped drinking milk. This breathlessness is not like asthma....no wheezing or tightness in my chest.

There are lots of things it could be, some more serious than others. Definitely needs a GP visit sooner rather than later.

Do you ever cough? Do you have swollen legs/ankles?

No coughing or swelling. I do sometimes wake up in the night coughing, but I think that’s due to weight gain.

I re registered to come onto this thread. I had weird, inexplicable breathlessness for a couple of years before my husband made. E go to the doctor. I assumed it was weight/ Diet Coke/ chest infection related. The GP heard a heart murmur, and after several tests I have been diagnosed with a rare heart problem with fairly serious consequences. I say this not because you are likely to have the same thing, but because you MUST get it checked. Hope all turns out well for you. X

Definitely get checked out - like @reallybadidea I'm thinking potentially heart function changes

Waking during the night coughing can be heart-related. Combined with breathlessness at rest, honestly, I think you need to speak to 111 about whether you need to be seen today.

I’ve had this since October...will definitely make an appointment to see my GP. Won’t be able to do anything today. Thanks everyone. Let’s hope it’s just my weight. It’s given me a proverbial kick up the bum at any rate. Will update the thread if I get any answers.

Part of your weight gain could well be fluid