Can’t get deep breath / shortness of breath with normal oxygen sats

[Wmoejg]

E ver since March of this year, I've been massively struggling with my breathing. I feel as though I cannot get a deep breath in whatsoever. When this first began, I was 3 months postpartum and had experienced horrendous PVCs (palpitations/ extra heartbeats) during the late stage of pregnancy and early postpartum period - these were checked out, told they were benign but were just really uncomfortable and scary. So when the shortness of breath started I naturally took it really seriously as I believed this was to do with my heart, I went to hospital and they did a chest X ray, bloods and an ECG - all completely fine, with no explanation for my shortness of breath. I then went to my doctor as I didn't feel satisfied. I literally could not with any strength get a deep breath in, it almost felt like my diaphragm wasn't working? They did my oxygen sats, spoke to me and told me they felt it was just anxietyy and put me on anti depressants. I still didn't (and still don't) feel satisfied and returned to be told it was anxiety again. However, here I am 4 months later with the same symptoms with no relief. I tried diaphragmatic breathing but I find it hard to push my stomach out and think there may be a possible link with my breathing and my stomach. I am generally bloated at the moment, this is not relieved by passing wind. I have tenderness in the left side of my stomach, in line with my belly button (slightly above and to the left). If i push in I feel like I can feel lumpss but don't know if i am just paranoid and feeling normal things like my organs. I also feel the bloat in my upper middle abdomen too.
Anyway this is no way to live, I am anxious yes but this isn't solely anxiety. It is only relieved when I lay down or sleep, otherwise its constant and so scary
any ideas?.

Have you seen a cardiologist? Have you had an echocardiogram to check the heart structure? (It's an ultrasound, non-invasive). I don't want to fuel your anxiety - so don't jump to conclusions, but I think it's worth getting checked out. I had shortness of breath and it turned out I had a hole in my heart, which was only diagnosed at 46. It's not that uncommon either. I've had it fixed now (very simple minimally invasive procedure) and my breathing is much much better. Before when I used to take a deep breath in, I always felt like I was getting say 90% of the way there, but couldn't get a full breath in. I had to breath with my mouth open to climb stairs etc also.

Or it could be something else, or nothing! But just for awareness.

OP I had exactly this and it was anxiety. I didn’t feel especially anxious and was terrified when it happened. It did pass in time. For me it was a warning sign before my anxiety kicked off into full blown panic attacks. A few years on I can recognise what it is and stop it in its tracks.

@BlackSwan thank you for getting back to me. Yes I had 2 echos, one whilst pregnant and one a couple of weeks postpartum which were both clear. I also saw a cardiologist, he seemed to think I was completely fine and that both echos were good. I do still worry about my heart but all my heart tests have been completely clear. Glad your issue has been resolved though! X

I get this every few years, am currently in the throes of it, starting just over a week ago. I even find myself forcing yawns in an attempt to feel like I've filled my lungs properly. It's anxiety for me, absolutely no doubt about it. When it first started many years ago I was also convinced it couldn't possibly be anxiety, but it is. It's particularly bad when I'm tired.

It sounds like anxiety to me, I used to get this for a few weeks before big exams, then settled afterwards. Difficulty taking a deep breath, but not actual breathlessness on exercise which is medically more worrying.

You’ve tried antidepressants, have they helped? If not, I would see your GP and ask about a change of meds and a referral for therapy.

@vintagechristmas did you have it whilst not necessarily feeling anxious before? I had some health issues last year that have fuelled anxiety in me but I could be having the best day and it happens! How did you accept that it was anxiety?
Thank you so much for your input x

Anaemia ? Low ferritin ? Long Covid ?

My breathing improved as I had acid reflux and was unaware it was that. When I got it diagnosed and sorted, my breathing improved dramatically. Or could be heart worth another ecg?

@DelilahBucket I'm sorry you experience this too and sorry you're struggling now. What helped you accept that it's anxiety? I'm struggling to believe it could affect me so physically. Thanks for sharing x

@DelilahBucket I also do the big yawns too!!!

Exactly the same here.

I just came to say low ferritin can cause this

For me I can feel the air going in, but it doesn't seem to do enough. Sometimes I would feel like I needed to yawn to get enough air.

Low ferritin can also cause sleep problems

@Astromelia I already go to therapy, I don't find the anti depressants help but will see them again to check - thank you

I had this terribly after having a baby - it was anaemia /low ferritin (4!)
I would get some blood tests done x

I've also had this with low ferritin. Always had normal haemoglobin so they wouldn't normally check ferritin levels unless I asked.

You should read self help for your nerves by Dr Claire weekes. It helped me enormously when I could take a deep breath and had panic attacks

@Charlotteowensdodgydad I've actually been referred to the long covid clinic so will see if they can help. I will ask for blood tests to check for ferritin and anaemia... I have had some blood loss recently so could potentially be anaemic. Thank you x

@Littlemissmagnet did you have any other symptoms of acid reflux? I've read about GERD causing shortness of breath but thought as I don't feel any burning it's unlikely... thank you x

@WunWun do you know if you can just ask to get your ferritin checked? This is very useful to know thank you!

@WunWun I also do yawns to get enough air

I had always been told this was anxiety. Turns out that for me it was low iron and also mild asthma.

Also suggesting anxiety. It’s happened to me before and my oxygen saturation was >97% 😳

I've had this for a few years - and right now as it happens. I asked my doctor about it and he said it's anxiety. (even though I've felt fine before, it just kicks in). I've found if I slow my breathing a little and do smaller breaths, it goes away and I can breathe normally again. It's a pain though because it affects my sleep too

I feel like I'm on edge with it and it flares up when I'm stressed out. If I start thinking about the things that are bothering me it starts. If I'm distracted I'm ok. If it was something else it wouldn't come and go in the same way and it certainly wouldn't go away for months or even in my current case, over a year. I've previously had it for several months and just a few days.

Anxiety does funny things to you physically. Stress causes cortisol to be produced in abundance and that has a huge effect on the body. I do know that anxiety is misdiagnosed and doctors can fob people off with "it's stress/anxiety/depression" when it actually isn't, but in your case you have had lots of tests and they have all come back fine.

The breathlessness caused by low iron is very different to the feeling of not being able to fill your lungs all the way. I get almost a mini panic attack feeling from it, like I'm on the verge of hyperventilation and if I let it, it would take over. I don't know if that explanation helps you in any way.

I was put on anti depressants for anxiety when I had this and it turned out to be anaemia. Each time I got pregnant it returned. So definitely check out your iron levels.

It was definitely not being able to take a deep breath, and was misdiagnosed by the doctor.