Symptoms despite normal test results

[Appletrees781]

So for a while I've been having these symptoms but I've always been scared of the doctors and avoided getting them checked and finally did. Symptoms been going on for over a year, came only suddenly and have gotten worse. Main symptom is low bp, coinciding with feeling of not getting a full breath of air. The feeling started off sporadically but now feel it most of the time. Prior to this, bp was normal. Finally went private and had the following tests: chest xray, bloods, ECG, 7-day holter monitor, echocardiogram and 24-hour bp monitor. 02 sats always same at 99%.
All bloods normal. No anemia, thyroid issues, b12 folate all normal, even tested for Addisons. All heart test normal too. PH ruled out. Cardiologist said I do have high resting heart rate (90bpm) and bp averages 100/59. No cause found. So I'm going to be put on Ivabridine to reduce HR.
Has anyone experienced this? I hear lots about BP going up at my age (43), not down and I don't know why this make me feel 'air hunger'. I also have HA and I'm trying to tell myself not to worry too much when I feel the air hunger as I can still breath and I've had lots of reassuring tests.

Bumping

Heya love so sorry to hear you are struggling with this. I'm trained as a somatic practitioner and all things nervous system related and have also experienced similar things to you. Air hunger, in my experience is fully tied to the nervous system and the best way for me to stop it, using my knowledge and training was to notice the state I was in during the air hunger episode ( usually anxious or worried even if it felt small) and then used my tools to regulate again. Have you tried that kind of approach? Appletrees781

@Emso21 thank you for your nice message. No I don't know about that approach but I'm willing to try. Do you have any tips/websites I can look at?

Have you looked into POTS?

@aliasfrog I would like to look into this but my cardiologist has told me I don't have that , although I haven't had the tilt table test which I'd to do.

Do people with PoTs have similar issues with BP and air hunger?

@Appletrees781 Probably a silly question, but have they ruled out asthma?

@bitontheobtuse not a silly question. They haven't looked into that yet, they wanted to rule out all serious cardio issues first and my symptoms seem linked to my low bp (previous to feeling unwell my bp was normal). But I don't have a wheeze, chest clear when Dr's listen. I will get it looked into though

Air hunger is ‘fully’ tied to the nervous system? Are you talking about in a hypothetical living body without lungs? 🤣.I’d be dubious about this claim, OP.

I wouldn't trust the opinion of someone who then goes on to post a great long advert either.

As you can see i clearly stated 'in my experience " it wasn't a diagnostic statement.

When you say 'no anemia' does that include iron deficiency? Ferritin levels ?

I'm on Ivabradine for pots. Air hunger is a symptom of pots. Lots of people with pots also experience low blood pressure but it isn't necessarily a symptom of pots.

The Ivabradine works somewhat on the symptoms for me. Some days are better than others, how much I've slept, how hot it is, how stressed I am etc all contribute to how I feel on any given day.

Hmm I'm not sure. Air hunger can be anything from anxiety to GERD and asthma...
Check your actual iron levels too, they could be low without anaemia.
Sorry I am not a Dr (just a very experienced patient)!!

Thanks all. My ferritin is 53 and Hb 13 so not anemia. I think anxiety makes my air hunger worse but it's not the cause.

The cardiologist thinks Ivabridine may also help to stablise/slightly increase my BP but i havent started it yet.

@DeterminedRat did you get any side effects when started Ivabridine? I'm a bit nervous about taking it