LymeNet Flash: Shortness of Breath

This is topic Shortness of Breath in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :

Periodically, I have shortness of breath with just doing the simpliest of things.

I know this has been discussed before but could not bring it up using the search engines.

What I am looking for is an answer to give to the non lyme literate NP who comes once a week for the IV.

She has been bringing in the testing that you put your finger in to check your oxygen level.

Of course it is fine.

I try to tell her it is the lyme, but what is it about the lyme that causes this?

Is it because the diaphragm is too weak? Any ideas?

It happens with multi movement or activity. If I am just straight walking I am OK until I over do it...about 10 or 20 minutes and then the heavy breathing starts or shortness of breath.

Perhaps it is just the over all fatigue that goes along with lyme.

Just curious. I would like something to give to her to help her understand that goes beyond the oxygen testing that states I am fine when I am not.

Posted by troutscout (Member # 3121) on :

Its the nerve going to the Diaphragm.

It flares up...giving us false sensations, or slightly/temprarily paralyzing the diappragm.

Kent

Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :

Are you saying it could be because I lost my nerve? Or am a little too nervy?

Thanks

Posted by dontlikeliver (Member # 4749) on :

Kam,
Interesting you've just posted this - I am really struggling with this today. Feel like my lungs are half full of water or like I'm existing at the bottom of a swimming pool (like pressure pressing in on chest making it an effort to breathe).

DLL

Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :

DLL,

I don't know what is causing you to have this happen, but I do recall feeling this way many times when this first hit and I didn't know what was going on.

Three different times it got so scary that I considered going to the emergency room.

One time I finally did call a friend and she drove me in.

The other two times I called the number I had for the nurse line with the health care that I had at the time. They too said to go to the emergency room, but I didnt comply.

I really don't like docs and hospitals.

The one time I did go....just my vitals were taken and I laid there for several hours and then was sent home.

Now, I don't think it happens as often now because I am kind of learning to pace myself and not to over do it.

I also changed my diet and am on the abx.

Not sure which of these things helped...but not over doing it would be the first thing I try to keep at a minium.

I like to be able to breath! If I just lay still and concentrate on breathing in and breathing out and think good thoughts...it usually does go away.

I didn't listen to my body this am and tried to over ride it. I do this when people are here to help out. But, it is taking me a while to breath easily again.

I recalled one person mentioning it also feels like you are breathing through a sponge at times.

Not good...but there are people who deal with lack of oxygen all the time. At least we can breath normally most of the time.

Posted by kitsicox (Member # 6307) on :

Kam, Sorry to say, I've had that same symptom. It can be so scary.

It first happened to me when I was a youngster,in June, just after finishing the last dose of an antibiotic for a bad sinus infection. It felt as though I was trying to breathe with my mouth and nose squeezed shut! Seemed to go on for years after that. I stayed away from sports and exertion all through my teen years. Such a waste!

Sometimes I wonder if I've had lyme all this time. It would explain a lot.
From what I've read, the antibiotics should clear that up.
Best in health to you and yours!
Kathy

Posted by Laurie (Member # 159) on :

Looking back at my medical records from 1984, when I was infected, I see that this was actually my very first post-infection/inadequate treatment symptom - I described it then as a "funny catch" in my breathing. Also, from time to time, as a feeling like I was breathing with my nose and mouth pressed up against a wall; that my lung(s) had collapsed; that there was water in my lungs; that my breathing felt "menthol;" and worst, that my breathing was so tough it was work to breathe, a very different feeling than shortness of breath. I now know it is the cranial nerve that controls the diaphragm weakening it. I hope those symptoms never come back at least at the rate they were at one time. I used to have to take a tranquilizer to slow my breathing down because it was so hard to make my diapraghm move in and out.

Posted by daystar1952 (Member # 3255) on :

I have this symptom on and off. Sometmes I am sitting still and reading outloud and end up gasping for breath. Today I am experiencing this symptom along with heart palpitations. It feels as if the lack of oxygen is causing the heart palpitations or skips but maybe the nerve that affects the diaphram aso affects the heart.

Ohhh.....I remember now. I went to an electropyhsiologist for my fast hearbeat when standing. He said he wouldn't want to cauterize the nerve affecting the heart because this is very near to the part that makes you breathe...and becasue I told him that many times my breathing stops as I'm falling asleep ( It's always ok after I fall asleep)that it was too dangerous and may affect my breathng. Anyone else have the probem of jerking awake every time you start to drift off to sleep? Sometimes I'm awake the whole night. Klonopin seems to help this

Posted by Laurie (Member # 159) on :

My breathing tends to stop and jerk me awake if I try to fall asleep lying on my right side, but not my left. I don't even wake up lying on the right side, guess my sleeping self knows instinctively not to go there. No idea what possible physical thing this is.

Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :

Daystar and Laurie: Its sleep apnea, or hypopneas.

Posted by lemonhead (Member # 6267) on :

Hey cam, my counselor got me to try this trick. Close your eyes, take as deep a breath as you can even down into your gut, hold it for 3 seconds, exhale. Do this several times. This will help you relax too as well as the Klonapin that someone already advised. It has help me too. If I am not mistaken, I believe I read that the spirochetes dont do as well on a high oxygen environment, deep breathing might just slow those little buggers out.
Yep the breathing thing is a weird one, you take care. Loretta

Posted by daystar1952 (Member # 3255) on :

I too think it may be some form of sleep apnea....but with many I feel it is Central Sleep Apnea and not the obstructive kind. It's like your brain isn't giving or recieving the right signal

Posted by suki444 (Member # 18960) on :

Hi
Shortness of breath can be a Babesia symptom - if you check Dr B's guidelines then it is listed in there as such.

I have Babesia and used to get this symptom really badly and after treatment with Mepron/Azithromycin it has nearly gone...before when I was walking a short distance it was so bad I thought I was going to pass out as I felt like I couldn't breath.

Nowadays I only get breathlessness a bit if I am running up and down stairs!

BW
Emma

Posted by aklnwlf (Member # 5960) on :

I run out of breath singing and talking.

Tincup posted 'Cranial Nerves' which explains perfectly what's going on with us Lymies. I think it's in Medical.