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Shortness of Breath (Air Hunger)
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GYXE > Smoking > Shortness of Breath (Air Hunger) 29 May 2008 20:26:31

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Shortness of Breath (Air Hunger)

Matt 29 May 2008 20:26:31
 Hi I'm 21 years old and I've been a smoker since it was legal for me
(18), until a month ago. I've been to the doctor three times since I
quit, all for shortness of breath. Let me explain what I'm
experiencing: I'm not wheezing or coughing or panting, it just feels
like I'm not getting enough air or oxygen. I find myself taking deeper
breaths or yawning just to feel satisfied. I'm supposedly physically
alright, there was nothing wrong with my chest x-rays and nothing
showed up on any blood tests except for a high white blood cell count
on my second visit. That was when I had food poisoning and the next
doctor (at the ER) found nothing like that. My oxygen level stays at
99-100 and the doctor couldn't hear anything wrong with my breathing or
heart. I went to the ER because of a bad case of "air hunger," and
because I was feeling lightheaded and nauseous from the drug Avelox
(which I didn't know at the time).

I've been prescribed Avelox, z-pak, and aciphex (one doctor believed it
might be caused by GERD), nothing seems to do the trick. I don't think
it's an infection or something that responds to antibiotics. The
problem is usually worse at night, sometimes it's so bad I feel like
I'm stretching out my chest muscles too much when I take a really deep
breath and I can feel a dullish pain between my pecs and armpits on
either side after awhile.

And something else, I'm feeling lightheaded right now and I haven't
taken my avelox yet today (I decided to finish it just incase it was
helping), can the drug still cause side-effects ~20 hours later? It's
to the point where I'm getting scared. To have something wrong with me
already is making me depressed. I'm not sure what to do. I don't know
if it's all in my head which all medical signs seem to point to, but if
it is it's very real to me! Does anyone have any advice/know what this
could be? Or has anyone experienced anything like this before?

Add comment
Henry 25 May 2006 21:39:13 permanent link ]
 I had smoked for 38 years and the final year was using a solid 3 packs/day.

after 9 months of non smoking I suddenly experienced an episode as you
describe.....I could mechanically breath but there was no satisfaction, that
is no exchange of gas molicule in the lung.

Scared the hell out of me or should I say it scared Godliness into me.

Emergency room where they said my o2 blood gas was at 99% after breathing
pure o2 but still no breathing "satisfaction"...pr­ob was the co2 was not
getting exhausted.....It is a much larger molocule.

I had a heart catherization (left) , xrays and stress tests and was told
everything was atypical, meaning nothing was found.
That was last October and that cost me $26k,

since then I have had maybe 5 more episodes diminishing in severity and have
found that the only relief is to not lay down during the event.

I think they are over now and I have not smoked for a year and 3 + months.

I found the yawning thing interesting but also and more so the feeling of
stretching tissues when deep breathing, Similsr to a ballon getting past the
initial expansion and resistance before finally giving in and inflating to
size.

Sound familiar ?

Tell your doc to measure the co2 level, not the o2 level and he will
understand.

I believe you will be fine after some time.

Henry


Add comment
Henry 25 May 2006 22:06:20 permanent link ]
 oh, and another issue that should not effect you initially and one that you
should be aware of.

I had really bad gum disease from smoking. No teeth decay but the gum tissue
no longer supported the teeth.

had to have them removed....16 on one day and the other 16 two weeks
later..... such a pleasure.

good thing is my blood cholesterol is at great levels.....a good steak or
ribs and the like are distant memories.

this was all from smoking for those of you having a hard time quitting.

Henry



Add comment
Matt 25 May 2006 22:24:40 permanent link ]
 Thanks for the replies Henry

I've been searching around on this and other groups and I have found a
few things I want tested about me that may have something to do about it

Add comment
Pam 26 May 2006 03:52:23 permanent link ]
 Maybe this is a facetious (sp?) response, but it may be anxiety. My DH
went to the emergency room last year for shortness of breath, he
thought he couldn't "catch his breath" and was really concerned about
something physical. It was all in his head....he worried himself into
an anxiety attack, which manifested into a full-blown "panic attack"
which he would never admit to his macho self. Maybe not your case, but
something to consider.
Hugs,
Pam

Add comment
Cuckoo 26 May 2006 05:06:10 permanent link ]
 Hi Matt,
Welcome to as3 & congrats on the month smokefree.
Funny you posted this, as last night I was trying to explain to DH this
exact thing. I can take a very deep breath, exhale and still feel
'dissatisfied'. Doc says I'm fine.
Know what else I do? I forget to breathe. I've noticed that I can be
sitting there and NOT breathing. Maybe as exsmokers, we need to relearn
breathing.
Crap, like we don't have enuff to do these days. ;-)­
Cat
5M+

"Matt" <shophappily@gmail.­com> wrote in message
news:1148575852.229­268.5180@j55g2000cwa­.googlegroups.com...­> Hi I'm 21 years old and I've been a smoker since it was legal for me> (18), until a month ago. I've been to the doctor three times since I> quit, all for shortness of breath. Let me explain what I'm> experiencing: I'm not wheezing or coughing or panting, it just feels> like I'm not getting enough air or oxygen. I find myself taking deeper> breaths or yawning just to feel satisfied. I'm supposedly physically> alright, there was nothing wrong with my chest x-rays and nothing> showed up on any blood tests except for a high white blood cell count> on my second visit. That was when I had food poisoning and the next> doctor (at the ER) found nothing like that. My oxygen level stays at> 99-100 and the doctor couldn't hear anything wrong with my breathing or> heart. I went to the ER because of a bad case of "air hunger," and> because I was feeling lightheaded and nauseous from the drug Avelox> (which I didn't know at the time).>
I've been prescribed Avelox, z-pak, and aciphex (one doctor believed it> might be caused by GERD), nothing seems to do the trick. I don't think> it's an infection or something that responds to antibiotics. The> problem is usually worse at night, sometimes it's so bad I feel like> I'm stretching out my chest muscles too much when I take a really deep> breath and I can feel a dullish pain between my pecs and armpits on> either side after awhile.>
And something else, I'm feeling lightheaded right now and I haven't> taken my avelox yet today (I decided to finish it just incase it was> helping), can the drug still cause side-effects ~20 hours later? It's> to the point where I'm getting scared. To have something wrong with me> already is making me depressed. I'm not sure what to do. I don't know> if it's all in my head which all medical signs seem to point to, but if> it is it's very real to me! Does anyone have any advice/know what this> could be? Or has anyone experienced anything like this before?>


Add comment
Mark Earnest 26 May 2006 09:39:02 permanent link ]
 
"Pam" <PFaust@Fortune-Joh­nson.com> wrote in message
news:1148601143.498­317.25530@j73g2000cw­a.googlegroups.com..­.> Maybe this is a facetious (sp?) response, but it may be anxiety. My DH> went to the emergency room last year for shortness of breath, he> thought he couldn't "catch his breath" and was really concerned about> something physical. It was all in his head....he worried himself into> an anxiety attack, which manifested into a full-blown "panic attack"> which he would never admit to his macho self. Maybe not your case, but> something to consider.> Hugs,> Pam

Yes, Pam, difficulties like shortness of breath can be caused by anxiety,
too.
But as you seem to say, anxiety itself can be caused by the mind.
There are pills for anxiety...taking some of them myself.

Mark


Add comment
Lynn 26 May 2006 15:49:16 permanent link ]
 Hi,
were you ever checked out for sleep apena? most people who have "catch up"
breaths during the night have this. get your doctor to send you for a sleep
test and it might even be cured by wearing a air mask at night.
http://www.newtechp­ub.com/phantom/faq/o­sa_faq.htm

another thing is maybe you are thinking too much about it. for instance when
I think about my breathing compared to DH's at night (when I can't sleep)I
find I mimick his breathing which leaves me breathless and I end up
breathing fast and hard. could this be happening to you>

--
:)­ Lynn <---DOF Leaper
Smokers are a dying breed

"Matt" <shophappily@gmail.­com> wrote in message
news:1148575852.229­268.5180@j55g2000cwa­.googlegroups.com...­> Hi I'm 21 years old and I've been a smoker since it was legal for me> (18), until a month ago. I've been to the doctor three times since I> quit, all for shortness of breath. Let me explain what I'm> experiencing: I'm not wheezing or coughing or panting, it just feels> like I'm not getting enough air or oxygen. I find myself taking deeper> breaths or yawning just to feel satisfied. I'm supposedly physically> alright, there was nothing wrong with my chest x-rays and nothing> showed up on any blood tests except for a high white blood cell count> on my second visit. That was when I had food poisoning and the next> doctor (at the ER) found nothing like that. My oxygen level stays at> 99-100 and the doctor couldn't hear anything wrong with my breathing or> heart. I went to the ER because of a bad case of "air hunger," and> because I was feeling lightheaded and nauseous from the drug Avelox> (which I didn't know at the time).>
I've been prescribed Avelox, z-pak, and aciphex (one doctor believed it> might be caused by GERD), nothing seems to do the trick. I don't think> it's an infection or something that responds to antibiotics. The> problem is usually worse at night, sometimes it's so bad I feel like> I'm stretching out my chest muscles too much when I take a really deep> breath and I can feel a dullish pain between my pecs and armpits on> either side after awhile.>
And something else, I'm feeling lightheaded right now and I haven't> taken my avelox yet today (I decided to finish it just incase it was> helping), can the drug still cause side-effects ~20 hours later? It's> to the point where I'm getting scared. To have something wrong with me> already is making me depressed. I'm not sure what to do. I don't know> if it's all in my head which all medical signs seem to point to, but if> it is it's very real to me! Does anyone have any advice/know what this> could be? Or has anyone experienced anything like this before?>


Add comment
Whatatrip 26 May 2006 19:21:48 permanent link ]
 I have experienced this also and it is due to anxiety. Being aware of your
breathing and focusing on it can make it worse. Don't worry, you will not
die or be injured by it. Try to do something that takes your mind off of
this "problem". It could also be that not smoking is "creating" this
anxiety. Or, probably more accurate, smoking alleviated an underlying
anxiety problem and now that you don't smoke, it has been unmasked. Try some
anit-anxiety meds and see if that helps.

whatatrip

"Matt" <shophappily@gmail.­com> wrote in message
news:1148575852.229­268.5180@j55g2000cwa­.googlegroups.com...­> Hi I'm 21 years old and I've been a smoker since it was legal for me> (18), until a month ago. I've been to the doctor three times since I> quit, all for shortness of breath. Let me explain what I'm> experiencing: I'm not wheezing or coughing or panting, it just feels> like I'm not getting enough air or oxygen. I find myself taking deeper> breaths or yawning just to feel satisfied. I'm supposedly physically> alright, there was nothing wrong with my chest x-rays and nothing> showed up on any blood tests except for a high white blood cell count> on my second visit. That was when I had food poisoning and the next> doctor (at the ER) found nothing like that. My oxygen level stays at> 99-100 and the doctor couldn't hear anything wrong with my breathing or> heart. I went to the ER because of a bad case of "air hunger," and> because I was feeling lightheaded and nauseous from the drug Avelox> (which I didn't know at the time).>
I've been prescribed Avelox, z-pak, and aciphex (one doctor believed it> might be caused by GERD), nothing seems to do the trick. I don't think> it's an infection or something that responds to antibiotics. The> problem is usually worse at night, sometimes it's so bad I feel like> I'm stretching out my chest muscles too much when I take a really deep> breath and I can feel a dullish pain between my pecs and armpits on> either side after awhile.>
And something else, I'm feeling lightheaded right now and I haven't> taken my avelox yet today (I decided to finish it just incase it was> helping), can the drug still cause side-effects ~20 hours later? It's> to the point where I'm getting scared. To have something wrong with me> already is making me depressed. I'm not sure what to do. I don't know> if it's all in my head which all medical signs seem to point to, but if> it is it's very real to me! Does anyone have any advice/know what this> could be? Or has anyone experienced anything like this before?>


Add comment
Guest 24 February 2008 01:10:10 permanent link ]
 i have the same problem but im not on any meds. im still smoking and i have no idea...and if its all in my head then what the hell am i going to do to get it out of my head? seriously i feel like the kid from malcom in the middle ... the one in the wheelchair who has to take a breath in the middle of his sentance. this is driving me nuts and i dont want to socialize i just want to be back to normal this makes no sense. the most logical thing i can think of would be that there was some sort of disruption in my brain causing me to be breathing differently than i should be without thinking. i do catch myself holding my breath sometimes...so i dont know...its weird. if anyone has solutions feel free to email me seraphic.rogue@hotm­ail.com

thanks

Nancy
Add comment
jeff 20 May 2008 11:59:02 permanent link ]
 I am feeling exactly the same.

I quit smoking in February 08, since then i haven been having this shortness of breath problem, oxy level is 98 when i was sent to ER, PFT is within normal limit, chest x-ray show nothing, been to 5 GPs, prescribed steroid inhaler, blue puffer, nexum for GERD, simply nothing works.

I also cough up tar like sputum, but only very little, it get worse at night just about bed time.

i just simply can't get a satisfying breath for the past 3.5 months!
Add comment
rusterfl 23 May 2008 01:47:11 permanent link ]
 Here's my experiance
I have Rheumatoid Arthritus and also smoked for 40 years. After experiancing shortness of breath and many breathing test I was sent to a Throat doctor. After doing a videoscopy for measurement of my airway it was found that my airway is half way closed. ( caused by RA )
I just got over allergy problems which caused Bronchitis and inflamation. After a coughing spell my throat closed therefore a trip to the emergency room. Anyway if all else fails try videoscopy. Hope maybe this helps someone.
Add comment
airhunger 29 May 2008 20:26:31 permanent link ]
 Hi all,

I've been suffering from air hunger for about 2 years now (I'm an ex-smoker who is in my early 30s). From my experiences and talks with GPs I'm almost positive that the air hunger sensation is not smoking-related. There are a lot of non-smokers who suffer from it.

I've scrutinised my posture, diet, exercise, breathing techniques, possible allergens ... you name it. My symptoms came on suddenly and have not gone away completely, but since I've made some changes they have got a lot better. Obviously I still want to rid myself of air hunger completely, and I'm starting to take more of a structured approach so I just registered

http://www.airhunge­r.co.uk/

so that we have a specific place to go. I've pretty much got it up and running, with a blog and forum. If you want to come along and help kick start the forums, I would love to see you there!


warmest regards,
Neil
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GYXE > Smoking > Shortness of Breath (Air Hunger) 29 May 2008 20:26:31

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