SunRa
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Member # 3559
posted
Hey everyone
this is obviously a symptom I plan to talk to my dr about asap, but I was just curious if anyone else has had this and what the cause has been.
If I try to "swim" (more like float around) in fresh water, the second I'm immersed (just even up to my chest), I immediately get severe chest pressure and pain, cannot breathe, and feel like I'm being crushed to death.
I'm not exaggerating when I tell you if I were alone in these instances I would have drowned. And I know how to swim. But not with those symptoms! I panic, flailing around, unable to breathe....just like someone drowning.
However, I would IMMEDIATELY be helped out of the water and except for the anxiety, I'd recover from the episodes fairly quickly.
You may be asking why I even attempted it a second....and third time. I wanted to test different types of water...temperatures...etc before talking to my doctor, thinking it was a fluke thing and that he'll just think I'm nuts. It's definitely not
I haven't tested pools yet because I'm too sensitive to chlorine (and too traumatized to try again), but I'm assuming it would be the same.
However, I'm FINE in the ocean!! In fact the salt water feels goood. Of course I still need someone right there with me because of all my other symptoms, but I don't get the same acute and severe respiratory problems.
I did a quick search and did find something called "Swimming Induced Pulmonary Edema" which somewhat matches my experiences and I do have heart problems from Lyme.
But maybe it's something totally different, I have no idea. I'm definitely calling my dr on Monday.
Anyone else ever have this??
[ 16. July 2006, 02:39 PM: Message edited by: SunRa ]
Posts: 1563 | From MA | Registered: Jan 2003
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johnnyb
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I have not gone in the ocean, but yes, when I swim, and particularly if I go a foot or two underwater, I feel a lot of pressure in my lungs - tightness, and the feeling persists long after I get out of the pool.
I keep thinking pulmonary hypertension, but my echo is normal.
That along with low DLCO and metabolic acidosis at peak exercise.
You ever have a pulmonary function test or cardio-pulmonary stress test?
- JB
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SunRa
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posted
I should note that I do have shortness of breath and chest pressure daily as part of my lyme/babesia, but not as acute and life-threatening as I do when I go in water.
JB,
Sorry you're getting similar symptoms. Thank you for the suggestions, I really appreciate it.
I had Pulmonary Function Testing several months ago which did show mild bronchial constriction, but that's it.
I never had the cardio-pulmonary stress test, but I made a note of it to mention to my dr.
thanks again. I hope you figure it out too.
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johnnyb
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Yeah I don't like it that no one else said they ever tested a low diffusion (DLCO) on the pulmonary function test. Makes me think I have more wrong with me than lyme, but the docs don't know what it is. Not fun.
- JB
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SunRa
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posted
hmmm....yeah this doesn't seem common with lyme. this may be something totally unrelated.
But I never had any heart or lung issues (that i know of) pre-TBDs...when I got sick, I slowly developed a host of respiratory/heart problems though...and now this which scares me a lot.
anyone else have a similar problem?
Posts: 1563 | From MA | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
hi SunRa, I have been a swimmer for years and never had asignifigant breathing problem until after I started treatment for LD.
Then it got bad, and I couldn't swim at all, and was really paniced by the idea.
This past fall and winter I got Babs treament, and then needed to attack lyme again with iv doxy. I am happy to say that this summer I am building back my swimming muscles, and my breathing is improving nicely!
SO, if you haven't been treated for Babs, that might be a consideration. Also it may just be part of the lyme package. I hope you can heal and enjoy salt water in the mean time. Posts: 663 | From NH USA | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
SunRa, do you tend to get anxiety attacks? In my case I was sensitive to pressure differences. Sometimes my chest would hurt. Not quite knowing what it was I would get anxious and the shortness of breath (Babs) would kick in. You mention that it is worse in fresh water (less buyancy - sink more - more water pressure) than in salt water (more buyancy - sink less - less water pressure. Just a thought.
Posts: 29 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
This happened to me when I was snorkeling on my honeymoon six weeks ago. I used to be in incredible shape, but now I can't hold my breath for even 20 seconds.
I panicked in the water and became extremely breathless. I couldn't touch the bottom so I thought I was going to go under. The water was a bit rough and I had to use a lot of muscle strength, but I remember thinking "Why can't I breathe?"
I don't know if it is from being out of shape or it is Lyme.
Posts: 331 | From virginia | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
It's most likely Lyme's. I sure have gotten my share of panic and anxiety attacks. Once while flying on a business trip, I stated feeling very awful. I was so scared that I started thinking of asking the pilot to turn around (we had just taken off from Ontario, CA in route to Dallas). My chest started hurting, I was having difficulty breathing. Somehow I manage to calm myself down a bit although the panic continued.
Once in Dallas, I did not want to get on the next leg of the trip that would take me back to Maryland. I sat down and started thinking about the symptoms, all the information I had on Lyme's and the co-infections, and tried to regroup my thoughts and feeling while practicing some breathing techniques. It was a long layover so by the time I had to board the next flight, I felt better although still very anxious. Boy, was that a really bad trip. Probably the worst panic attack I've had.
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SunRa
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posted
thanks for all the replies!
maybe I worded it wrong, but these episodes are definitely different than panic attacks.
and I'm too sick to actually swim, so it's not exhaustion or muscle weakness because I'm literally just standing in the water. As soon as the water hits my chest, I feel like I'm being crushed and squeezed to death from the pain and cannot even get a breath. Once I was still holding onto the dock when it started.
Of course the panic sets in afterwards!! But I've had my share of Lyme-induced panic attacks and this is very different (for me anyways).
But I think it definitely does have something to do with the water pressure differences that Cisco mentioned.
sorry you guys have had bad experiences too. If you can handle the salt water, you're welcome to come hang with me and the sharks anytime Posts: 1563 | From MA | Registered: Jan 2003
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johnnyb
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SunRa (and others),
Have you found that also to be the case- being unable to hold your breath for any length of time, as vachick mentioned?
I used to be able to hold it quite awhile and now not hardly at all.
- JB
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