Breathing problems

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Anyone experience breathing difficulties.  I feel very short of breath and when I inhale it feels as if I am only using about a third of my lungs.  I have to make a real effort to take a deeper breath. Sometimes it hurts on the left hand side of the ribs.  It's so easy to blame the delightful fibro for everything any comments gratefully received.

2

I get out of breath, and feel pain left side near ribs but it's like you say we can't blame fbs on everything, I suffer with other things too so I blame it on everything as I don't know what's what anymore.

3

Hi Maggers, have you had a cold recently as it may be a chest infection. Anyhow it's worth having it checked out as your oxygen levels may become low if you aren't breathing deeply. As we know, fibro affects the whole body and the diaphragm is a large muscle which can be affected leading to breathlessness. Anyhow, best to seek professional advice of it continues.

4

Thanks Lea

As you say it is difficult to know what is responsible for what symptom. I will just make a note and mention it to my GP if it continues, not that she will be able to do much anyway but it is useful to get these problems logged.  I find anything relating to breathing difficulties quite scary which can make matters worse than they really are.

5

Thanks Caroline. No I haven't had a cold recently.  Surprisingly have been cold free for years. I make sure I get plenty of fresh air even if on bad fibro days it is just sitting outside watching the birds on the feeders.  I just feel like I have been running for miles when all I have actually been doing is taking it easy before work begins again after the weekend.

6

Hi, I think It sounds like costochondritis anD many fibro patients suffer from it. It is an inflammation in the ribs and sternum. Gives all kind of annoying symptoms. Harmless but not painless, unfortunately. I have it, my fibro isn't diagnosed yet, but after this Costo, that comes out of the blue, I am suspecting fibro. My Costo is diagnosed, my doctor pressed at some point on my chest and geeeez. Starts hurting when I walk, starts hurting after meals, radiates to the shoulders, hands, back. No cure, just some ibuprofen or Diklofenak.

7

Thanks Conta, Thinking about it that makes sense because I had a similar thing 30 years ago which the GP said was an infection of the intercostal muscles and gave me antibiotics which didn't work.  This now has been wondering just how long fibro and I have been acquainted!