I have seen this topic come up many times but I wonder if someone could tell me just what is feels like? I've been short of breath for years since being sick and it's worse when I try and do something.. Heart tests check out OK etc.. Thanks
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
You feel like you can't breathe! And, in fact, you can't breathe very well at all. That's my experience. It's awful. It feels like it takes more energy to breathe than I have, and I can't get a good breath in. Babesia!
Posted by opus2828 (Member # 15407) on :
For me, it feels like my chest is tight and I get out of breath when walking around, going up steps.
I feel like I have to keep taking deep breaths but they don't really help.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
For me it felt like I was not getting enough oxygen from the cells not able to function properly.
Your heart rate fluctuates, you feel like you are hyperventilating at times to try to get more in,
and you feel like you need something to help---but many don't know what...
For me replacing electrolytes helped a lot.
Posted by anthropisces (Member # 15672) on :
The air hunger I've had is a lot different than these two previous descriptions. Air hunger is one of the symptoms that really scared me.
Air hunger was for me a process in which I would take a breath, and it was as though nothing happened. Then you panic because you've already expanded your diaphram yet you feel like you desperately need another huge breath.
Posted by wealdsteve (Member # 25281) on :
for me its not being able to take a deep breath. the kind you take when you yawn. i fill my lungs up but the air doesnt seem to go anywhere. just like anthropisces says. Its something i have had on and off for years but have learned to cope with it. The more you panic and the more you try to breathe the worse it gets.
Posted by ChristieL (Member # 27786) on :
For me it feels like not being able to breath in air. I had no clue (till joining) that this could be a sign of illness. It happens most often when I first get up. I feel like no air is reaching my lungs, like something is blocking the air, its very very hard not to panic. When I first got this, I remembered the movie "Hand that rocks the cradle" and how the mom had bad asthma, what she looked like, is how it feels to me, except I do not have asthma. And I have had this when there is no reason to be out of breath, like upon wakening,etc. Prior to Lyme DX-they told me this was a "panic attack"~ Which it sounds similiar to, but I KNEW I was not having a panic attack. (Same as anxiety, happening when I stumble out of bed to go potty at 2 or 3 am)
Posted by Paul Mall (Member # 27581) on :
for me like some of the others I get the breath but it just feels like no oxygen was obsorbed and I still need air
Posted by 17yrsAndCouting (Member # 27961) on :
Thank You everyone for responding, I appreciate it..
Posted by tiredmama (Member # 27504) on :
Mine is very similar to what anthropisces and weldsteve posted.
Trying to "make" myself yawn seems to be the only way I can eventually get some relief. Opening your mouth *wide* and continue taking short breaths, sitting up very straight to give your diaphragm as much room as possible, stretching your neck up and fake yawing basically until you reach the point of a real yawn. Sometimes, then I can get enough air to relieve this terrible feeling.