posted
I woke up from a nap on Tuesday night unable to breathe very well. Actually, when I woke up I couldn't really move, talk, open my eyes and I laid like that for about 20 minutes while my husband thought I was still asleep on the couch. When I finally got up, I took my bedtime dose of Valium, which didn't help, and I really don't think it's anxiety related.
I still can't breathe without taking a huge breath, stretching out my body and really concentrating. I'm really scared because no matter how much I open up my lungs, the breath isn't satisfying.
Since I've had heart palpitations and pain lately, my LLMD had me get another EKG, which of course was totally normal. The cardiologist suggested I get a CT of my chest to check for pulmonary embolism, but my LLMD just scoffed and said he was just pushing a paper on me to get me out the door. The cardiologist also commented that since I'm only 23 this shouldn't happen to me.
Anyway, is this air hunger?
What do I do? My LLMD has been sick himself and is having a really hard time dealing with me or knowing what to do, especially since I'm 200 miles away.
Posts: 236 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2008
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Maybe neutrophil (WBC)elastase release or pancreatic elastase upregulated?
TNF alpha and IL1B (primary cytokines in lyme) signal MMP9, but apparently not MMP2. These breakdown collagen.
I use NOW (brand) 60mg capsules of Pycnogenol.
There is a ID doc (retired) in my city that says Pycnogenol AND HBO treatments can cure lyme.
Now I understand why and he maybe right!
HBO is not "approved" to treat lyme and is very very expensive. Multiple dives maybe absolutely necessary.
I wonder if we can't increase oxygenation another way. There is a device that is attached to an oxygen mask which is attached to an oxygen tank to deliver more O2 in emergency situations.
It is called:
Surevent = disposable automatic resuscitator designed for pre-hospital emergency care providers...
posted
Well I've had the exact same thing for almost a year now. I was -convinced- I had a blockage somewhere, or some lung disease.
Pulmonologists and Cardiologists all advised against getting a CT chest and CT heart, but I wanted them to be sure because I was CONVINCED there was a problem.
Now I'm regretting all the bull**** radiation I was exposed to, and I'm still in the same boat.
Wish I knew about air hunger and what was causing it then.
My advice? Don't do it.
Posts: 501 | From Cleveland Ohio | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
My doctor ordered a blood draw for an arterial blood gas test. I also have to do the CT he says, to rule out pulmonary embolism. I don't think it's that severe, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Marnie, do you have any idea how quickly that damage can occur? I've felt this on and off since I ran track in high school, but it would only last 2 minutes or so, not 3 days! And this is so bad so suddenly, from no problem at all when I fell asleep to pretty bad only 30 minutes later!
Posts: 236 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2008
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I had struggled at one time with finding hard to breath. It was like trying to take a breath and nothing was there. I also had heart palpitations, etc. All tests turned out normal (chest x-ray, EKG, Echo, Holter Monitor)
My doctor had already put me on IV Rocephin and with a short amount of time, I was able to breath okay.
Posts: 515 | From In His Loving Care | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
I'm on IV Rocephin and Septra DS right now, Rocephin since late January and Septra for the past month.
My arterial blood gas was perfect, except elevated Co2 since I'm breathing so hard to get any air.
My doc blew me off and basically said it is probably anxiety. But I still have it while I'm asleep- I wake up gasping for air! LLMD isn't going to do anything else, just told me to breathe into a paper bag!
Does this sound like air hunger? I'm wondering if the Septra is hitting babesia...
Posts: 236 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
soleil16~ Exactly what happened to me, waking up in the night needing air. To me, it very much sounds like air hunger.
Posts: 515 | From In His Loving Care | Registered: Apr 2009
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
Interesting, maybe I misunderstood my doctor. He said I had elevated Co2 and that I was acidic, but he said this indicates hyperventilating. I think that's the opposite of what Wikipedia says.
I've hyperventialed before, pretty much every time I cry. This is nowhere near the same thing.
My doc is just going to drop it. Should I just wait it out? He thinks it's not serious.
Posts: 236 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
PCo2 is simply the Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide.
We do these all the time in the ER as part of a blood gas.
The body is always trying to compensate for changes in blood PH.
You can have Respiratory Alkalosis or Acidosis, or a normal Blood gas.
Again, the body has built in compensatory mechanisms the keep the PH within normal. This is what is most important. It's a buffering process that involves HCo3 (bicarbonate).
If you were hyperventilating, then you would have low Co2, not high. Think about it: When you hyperventilate, your blowing off too much Co2. Thats why they say re-breathe in a paper bag, to restore the levels.
When you hyperventilate, your Co2 drops and your PH goes up. This is called Respiratory Alkalosis.
Even if you don't understand that, just be sure that your fine. Get your CT's to have self satisfaction. I think that is always best for ones self.
I doubt at your age you have any lung disease. Certainly it is possible, but very highly unlikely. Forget COPD unless you've smoked 5PPD since you were an infant. Radiation can cause lung disease as can Cystic Fibrosis and other lung disease, but again, I don't think this is the case.
I think from what you've posted, it's all part of a Herx as in air hunger attack. I've had them, they are scary. You panic and make it worse. You have to keep telling yourself that this is all normal and part of the disease and will go away as you get better.
It's called rolling with the punches of Lyme. Yes, they suck, but they are inevitable. The worst thing that can happen is you Die. Well, your young to Die, but think of all the people in this world that never made it to 23. Try and think positive at all costs.
Is the glass half empty or half full ?
Your youth will get you through this. Try learning meditation, yoga, or something that can get your mind off Lyme.
I am new to all of this myself, but I am going into it with a positive approach that I am on my way back to health.
I've been reading up on this disease the past few weeks and everything I've read looks like it's gonna suck for me real bad as I have only done 1 Rife session so far, but I'm Herxing bad. This is my first Herx and I am blown away by it.
What other choice do I have ? I have to keep treating from here on out. So I might as well make the best of it as I go along and feel like crap. Every day will be a day closer to good health. Try to think this way. I'm a strong believer that attitude is half the battle of any disease.
Am I making sense ? You could go out and get hit by a car tomorrow and none of this would matter. Live for now, but also live for the future. Look at Patrick Swayze <--spelling. Pancreatic cancer, but making movies and vomiting between scenes. The guy is a fighter and would be dead already if not.
Nighty Night.
Brad.....
Posts: 6 | From Canada | Registered: May 2009
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posted
isn't air hunger a classic sign of babesia? I thought babesia protozoans rob the RBC of oxygen and that's what's producing air hunger (I might have the terminology wrong but it's something like that).
Posts: 655 | From USA | Registered: Sep 2007
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