Anyone suffer from shortness of breath? and feeling of tightness/fullness located around the diaphragm area? Its makes me feel really anxious and upset. Even when I'm just sitting down doing nothing, I feel it. Is this a symptom of peri? Ive had so many health checks including a chest scan and everythinng always comes back normal. Can't even stand wearing bras or anything too figure hugging on the chest area as it feels as though om being suffocated. I hate this so much. I can only attribute this to hormonal changes. I turned 41 last year, so maybe this is it, peri time! If anybody suffers the same I need advice. Appreciated x
Yes - me too. I don’t have it all the time. It more like ‘episodes’ for me. There are days when I feel like I just can’t get a good breath and find myself having to take deep breaths. Bras bother me terribly and I try to avoid them if at all possible. When I feel this, laying flat on the ground for several minutes seems to help. It’s like my diaphram open up and breathing is easier.
hi, yes I get this too. I also get pain in my ribs and shoulders. I have had endoscopy, full cardiac work up, chest x Ray’s, chest ct scan, blood work and everything is normal. my Dr said I have costochondritis due to extreme rib pain. I cant stand wearing my bra either. This has been going on for about a year now. I’m 51 and still having regular like clock work periods. ugh
Wow, haven’t tried that. Also, has reminded me that I should start yoga, though I keep putting it off. Thank you kindly x
Thanks, how did your doctor diagnose the costochondritis from the chest CT scan? Interesting, I know it can be caused by exericse, an accident and other possibilities. I had a cycling accident 5 years ago, and I also do somewhat heavy weight lifting these days… This is just a thought, think it’s best I get seen… again.
I find also that when I sleep in my side I can’t breathe properly either…Could be the rib inflammation.
hi lonnarider - yes, about 2 years ago i had several episodes where i started gasping for breath which always seem to start around dinner time for me - Boy, talk about high anxiety! i went to my allergy dr & while she didnt come out &say it in so many words regarding hormones, she eluded to the fact that she sees many women during hormonal fluctations like puberty, peri & menopause - also, she told me in the evening is when cortisol drops & that had an impact on respitory - FYi, i am 62 & even though this happen to me post menopausal, i think its when your hormone levels change and that is different for everyone. i also had the extended diagpharm feeling, it was such an odd sensation, i couldnt even go over speed bumps without my ribs feeling weird - that has since passed, but the “cant stand to wear a bra” is alive & well - i now only wear “bralets” & only if i am going out in public - i used to think it was disgusting to see older woman not wearing a bra…i have become that person - yikes!
Oh wow, I have this now. We are away at the mo and i keep waking feeling short of breath and just now at dinner i felt like i couldn’t eat much as i just feel full and tight around my abdomen. My bra is so tight and i feel i can’t get ‘that’ breath if you know what I mean… it’s so awful.
I’ve had abdo scans and all normal but i keep getting this feeling and i can’t stand wearing things like jeggings as they just feel so tight on my tummy.
The lists of meno symptoms just go on and on… 
I did have this yes.
But definitely in peri.
Have you been showing other signs of peri?
although I dont wish any of these symptoms on anyone, it really is a relief to be able to relate to what we you are all going through!
I too have the tightened breathing feeling, I try to ignore it and generally it does go off but its a horrid feeling and very un nerving.
No she diagnosed it from palpitating my ribs and sternum. I did have a car accident 1 1/2 yrs ago. That’s when the shoulder pain started, took awhile for me to realize my chest pain , burning in sternum was my ribs. I wasnt even aware my ribs hurt until she started pressing on them. Hence the endoscopy since they sent me to a GI Dr. due to burning and pain in my sternum. GI Dr found nothing said it didnt even look like I had acid reflux. I also found the burning was related to anxiety. My Dr also put me on lexapro and once anxiety was under control some of my symptoms disappeared. The costochondritis though is still hanging around. Stress makes it worse and unfortunately I’m a single mother with 6 kids , 1 of whom has autism, who suffer from varying degrees of depression and ptsd due to some bad things that happened to us. Stress is very difficult to avoid and manage for me.
I get this, more so during a hot/cold flash. Air hungry with pressure around the diaphragm . I find it scary too… I sometimes get it with general exertion too…and I do think it is peri
Hey Loon, I did big time, and it is very annoying to even have to wear a bra when you have this. Very common condition at this time is costochondritis, I think that has a lot to do with it. Try breathing exercises and try yoga. Since you have been checked by the doctor and everything “seems OK“ even though we know it’s menopause 
try stretching your shoulders back as far as you can and sticking your chest out when you stand straight. Take deep breath‘s in and out, yoga would probably benefit you greatly. Stay away from underwire bras and stay away from caffeine, as it makes it much worse. Try to find a music channel on your TV, most providers have music channels. Try to find the New age or Soundscapes music and play that while you do the breathing, or find music from your favorite era and just sit and breathe and listen and enjoy happy thoughts, if you Google binaural beats, it’s music that helps many medical conditions, it’s very soothing. I think I’ve heard every woman on here mention this and it is a very frustrating aspect of meno. I empathize greatly with you, as I was around your age, if not younger when this started with me, as well you’re not alone, just remember that ! xo
Your not alone. I haven’t been able to breathe for fours years. Its anxiety that fuels stomach acid, gas and im half the person I was. When I burp the gasses release and I can breathe a little better. Othertimes it just wont let up for me to burp. My muscles are weak and im seriously ageing. Lack of oxygen to vitals comes at a cost, my skin and hair are beyond managing. Thin skin and hair and most days I cannot eat due to the stomach acid. Tablets do nothing. I was on a low dose hrt. It helped 50% but then reverted back. I went back to the doctor and now as ive had a abnormal bleed after coming off hrt -shes sending me for a transvaginal ultrasound, she said maybe it could endomertrial hyplasia, dont quote me on the spelling. Thats later today. Am I worried, No I dont think they find anything. It just goes on and on.
Xx
That makes such sense why we have the tightness when breathing, thank you for explaining
what a boat we are all in together!
Thats just my version of what I believe is going on. The doctors leave you to draw your own pictures to coin a phrase.
X
Hi Loona,
I don’t have this often, but am really struggling with it today.
It is miserable.
Hello Cia, Do you take a probiotic, if you don’t it can make all the difference in the world, as all of our health begins in our ‘gut’. also when we take a good probiotic it helps with anxiety greatly. And there is a probiotic that is called “mood probiotic.’ Also milkthistle is an incredible supplement that not only helps with the liver. but digestion. Best of luck to you 
Hello Lisa
Thank you for replying. I did try probiotics a while back. The stomach acid is so strong that I think it it just dissolved it on impact. Thank you for your reply xx
Sorry for the late reply Lisa. Thank you so much! Will definitely start with the breathing exercises xxx
Sorry very late reply. I get that too! Upon exertion which is upsetting given I like to be active