difficulty breathing at night-:(

Chest and lungs
1

For about 3 weeks now I have been experiencing difficulty sufficiently breathing, especially at night. It's a sensation that I can only describe as a feeling of not being able to get enough air in my lungs' or 'a tightness in my chest/airways. It's still apparent during the day but worsens by night. I also have a dry cough accompanied by wheeziness when I inhale and I feel like I might need to phlegm but it hardly ever comes out. On the rare occasions that I do actually phlegm; it's mostly clear and rather sticky.

Moreover, last week I went to see my GP, he examined my chest with a stethoscope and failed to detect any signs of infection in fact; to my surprise he even said that my lungs sounded rather 'healthy'. He did however notice that my pulse was rapid and saw that I had previously come to the doctors with issues regarding anxiety and was very keen on pinning everything down to anxiety. I was quite skeptical of this but went home and tried to ignore the symptoms. A couple of days passed and the symptoms were still there and so I booked an appointment to see a specialist nurse.I explained my symptoms to the nurse and she then examined me with a stethoscope. She said that my chest sounded fine and there was no sign of infection. She then came to a conclusion that I might be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as I told her that I occasionally get heartburn. She prescribed me some omeprazole (a medication that controls the amount of acid produced in the stomach.)

I've been taking these every day for the past week but I'm just extremely dazzled and confused. How on earth could a stomach related issue effect my breathing? How was she so keen on pinning it down to acid reflux, even though I wasn't experiencing the main symptoms of it?? I'm just utterly confused! In my opinion I was experiencing asthma like symptoms but neither the doctor or nurse tested me for asthma. I just want some advice and closure on the subject as it's keeping me up at night and getting me worried.

additional information:

-I'm a 17 year old male.

-I used to smoke on occasions but I've completely stopped for about a month. (could the difficulty breathing be connected to quitting smoking?)

-I've had many lifestyle changes recently, for example I've had a change in diet, stopped consuming caffeine and have been doing a lot of exercise (but however have stopped since my symptoms arose)

Thanks you for reading, advice + your opinion would be much appreciated

2

Hello JGoodman,

I replied to this and I think it ended up in cyber space so .. you may get two replies from me.

Anyhow, sorry to read you are having breathing issues.   neutral

If I were you, I would be finding a doctor (and/or ask for a referral to a Respiratory Specialist)  who could give you a Bronchial Challenge Test   ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronchial_challenge_test ) and then you will know for sure if you have asthma and if not, then you can rule that out.

So stay strong, be forthright, listen to your body and do your best to not get overly anxious. Stress can also do lots of weird things to our body as well, so try to relax as best you can.

Just for reference, I saw six doctors over seven months, all of whom misdiagnosed me before I asked for a referral to see a Respiratory Specialist and was diagnosed with RADS. As sad as it was to have RADS, I was very relieved to finally know what I had and I wish someone would have passed on what I am suggesting to you. Once you know .. then you can get on with dealing with it.

As for your anxiety - for me, I used to get anxiety because I couldn’t get air .. not, I have anxiety and then I can't get air. I have had some frustrations trying to explain this at times to those in the medial world.

Before I go, may I also suggest, take a look at my website, which has some very simple things that have assisted me in regard to breathing issues and anxiety. I hope it's of some use to you.

All the best and hope you get well soon.

Ps .. well done with quitting smoking and I have no idea if the ramifications of giving up have perpetuated your breathing issues? These are the questions you need to ask a Respiratory Specialist.

Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link to the web site as it gave a "page not found" message. If users wish to exchange specific web site links like this please use the message facility to pass them on as they will get removed from posts.

3

Hey! I have all the same symptoms as you and similar habits (such as occasional smoking). Did you ever figure out what's wrong? I've been to the doctor twice and they haven't picked up on anything...

4

I have the same symptoms also..ive been in 3 specialist, Cardiologist, Gastro, EENT..but all of them pointing that this is due to ACID reflux..

But still no changes since they give me the medicine(proton pump inhibitor).

How are you now sir any medicine and test they suggested?

All the best

5

I thi;nk that what is going on is that you are stressed out and that is what is causing the difficult breathing

6

Oh thats serious about your health.You need to contact with sleep specialist.

7

Hello I have read everyone's responses and thanks a lot cuz it is helping me. I also have acid reflux which cause hiatal hernia. The acid reflex triggered by allergies that I have my whole life and never known that I had it. I never had any problems before then.

After 6 months of going through so much everything finally calm down and change my diet get on some medication doing really well.

All of sudden I'm having these breathing problems at night I don't know if they have something to do my allergies or what. They are almost the same thing is J Goodman symptoms .Thank you and stay blessed I wish you all well.Just want to share my story.

8

PS, by the way I have been experiencing a lot of stress in the last 2 days. I have not experienced this amount of stress in a very long time . I'm wondering if stress is triggering this.

9

Look into histamine intolerance this may be of some help to you.

Hope you feel better soon.

10

Hey all,

Currently suffering from this as well, had rentgen check and nothing found, will go visit Respiratory doctor and will update if anything has been found (hopefully not) also i would go for a thorat and maybe allergic check.

also as everyone else said stress may be a huge factor here.

11

Hello V,

Any suggestions regading breathing solutions and/or website link(s) would be appreciated.

Thanks

12

Shortness of breath, also called dyspnea, occurs with GERD because stomach acid that creeps into the esophagus can cause it to narrow. When gastric acid reaches the vocal folds, airways, and lungs, it can cause a swelling of the passages. This can lead to atypical asthma reactions. Such airway damage can affect breathing by causing coughing or wheezing and making swallowing solid foods more difficult.​ I had loads of tests just in case but that is what is causing my brathing difficulties - You have my sympathy becouse its a horrible horrible sensation & it it stesses you & why wouldnt you,  it makes it worse. Good luck

13

Thanks for your reply.

Do you have any suggestions on how to treat Gerd? I believe my Gerd is known as silent reflux since I do not have heartburn associated with my other symptoms, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, lump in throat. My ent has me on PPI's. No noticeable improvement.

Thanks,

14

I am having all of these similar issues and incredibly discouraged and depressed perhaps from lack of oxygen from breathing problems. All started 4 months ago quit job got flu then pneumonia 2 ER visits and now this awful breathing issue started and have no resolution. I went to pulmonologist. Said i have a little electisis I'm spellingit wrong on my lower right lung whichbis a little scarring and inflammation hospital said emphysema but he ruled that out. Said shouldn't be causing breathing. Apparently found out I'm allergic to cats dogs ants and grasses among others but have been healthy my whole life. So since 4 months in can breathbright and pulmonologist did a battery if tests said my breathing does show some issue when i did breathing test. Cant take inhalers cause make me feel likebhaving a heart attack so not sure if they would help. Its painful and feels like i am breathing through a straw and elephant on my chest sone days are better than others. No one really understands how awfuk this is and i cant seem to find a solution. I am also overweight abiut 240 lbs currentlyband have had heartburn too often. I am dieting and havent smoked in years. I feel tereibly discouraged and i hate not breathibg. I miss my old life and everyobe thibks its goibf to just go away. I am very concerned and ive racked uo a whopping 15 thousand in hospital and medical expenses in last 4 months to no avail. I was given steroid inhaler but had terrible reaction to steroids from hospital. When it started I hadn't been able to eat cause of this extreme bloating forb15vdays. I had an endoscopy which relaxed my system and was able to eat after. Still experiencing abnormal bloating and digestion issues. Seems to be all related. Also said possible hiatal hernia. I am 37 and perfect health my whole life. Am very aware of death and am full of fear as I feel like I'm suffocating very slowly. Also was told I had positive tb result for latent tb which turned out to be a false positive after takibg sexond tb test which tested differently than original.That would have explained small scar but perhaps that was from pneumonia. I'm trying to stay positive but I feel very alone and like I have some unresolved medical issue that no one really ubderstands and I feel like I may just suffocate one day. Going to keep following and see if I can gather more info as I can't work or atleast don't feel up to it anymore since this started and I'm only 37 and apart from this very healthy.

15

I have gone through the exact same thing, after many,many tests, they put me on prantaprazole (PPI) for silent reflux. I also suffer from extreme health anxiety. Change of diet will help with the reflux along with the pills, they take time to work after about two months I noticed my breathing and weird cough went away, I stopped my pills after being in them for 8 months because I found I was using them as a crutch to pretty much eat and drink whatever I want and just like anything can have side effects. After being off them for a week I can already notice a bit of reflux, but I heard that can happen after stopping those, so trying to get through it and keep eating super healthy to control the amount of acid. But it deff effect your eshapagus and makes you feel like your trying to catch your breath.

16

 i'm a 20yr old boy i'm very thin & short . i have a problem at night time every rainy & winter season difficult to my breathing time doctor could not find what's problem.

17

I have only had the feeling of not getting enough air into my lungs on a few occasions but when it happened at night it was a scary feeling .. my sister has similar symptoms so maybe its hereditary. . I have begun lung expansion exercises by deep breathing holding and release, this really helps both in expanding your lungs and a really deep sleep . I have used an antiseptic called Friars Balsam most of my life , for cuts and abrasions, but most importantly its a wonderful inhalent.... it cures lung and throat infections ..when you inhale it you wont believe how much air your lungs can hold. Follow this procedure . Place a small steel tin or saucepan on a stove at low heat , pour two cups of water add a teaspoon of friars Balsam and stir. If you have a small funnel place that over the pot until you see the funes rising . Move your mouth a few inches over the funnel - inhale - hold then swallow, then exhale through your nose .Repeat as many time as you can ... do this procedure twice daily and you will get great relief. Every time you re boil the solution add a fresh teaspoon of friars ..this solution will stain your pot .

happy breathing ...Mike

18

 Hello Mr. Goodman, I have the same problem that you were describing doesn't happen all the time but I noticed that if I eat late at night and have a very full stomach this occurs to me. But on the other hand I remember about a year ago when I was under a lot of stress at my job ... as soon as I woods about to fall asleep I would be gasping for air so very strange sensation and scary at the same time. So I don't know if it's stress related or if it has to do with having a full stomach so I'm going to try and not to eat late at night and see how I do. 

19

I actually agree with you I think it's some kind of  anxiety myself I first experienced this when I was at a job that I couldn't stand in fact as soon as I quit the symptoms went away amazingly now recently they came back and all I can attribute it to is the stress of being overextended with my credit cards LOL also try to avoid eating late at night !!

20

 I am going to try that because I have the same problem... not all the time though. First time experienced it is when I was under a lot of stress and hated my job, after suffering with this for two months I quit my job and just like that overnight I was much better and the problem went away.  So it could've been anxiety, But when it first started I thought it was when I was so tired that I would go into a deep sleep but my brain was still alert and my breathing would go into the shallow breathing when you're sleeping yet I was still awake and that would make me gasp for air ...so I thought who knows. The other thing I noticed is if I eat late at night and I have a full stomach the second happened.