Suddenly Cant Catch my Breath

katbass
katbass Posts: 351 Member
edited September 24 in Health and Weight Loss
Has anyone else ever NOT been able to catch your breath? About a week ago, I laid down for the night and couldnt get a good deep breath. I couldnt catch my breath even though I hadnt done anything strenuous. I got out of bed, walked around, and stepped outside into the cold air and after about 10 minutes I was able to get a good yawn and catch my breath.

Last night, the same thing happened, but it hasnt improved. I tried colder air, my daughter's cool mist humdifier, drinking water...nothing helps. I cant get a good, DEEP breath. I get a little light-headed after a while, but Im able to hold a conversation perfectly fine. I just feel short of breath.
I had a panic attack once, and it sort of feels like that kind of shallow breathing without the whole panic part. I looked online and it just says panic attacks or an allergic reaction but im certain its neither of those things.
My husband suggested I may have pulled a muscle in my back or my chest, and i DO have some muscle soreness in my left shoulder-blade. Could a pulled back muscle cause shortness of breath?

Im exhausted and cant imagine another night without sleep. :( Anyone have other ideas or suggestions?
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Replies

  • merrillfoster
    merrillfoster Posts: 855 Member
    Do you have diabetes? I get like this when my blood sugar is high.
  • lbarnett300
    lbarnett300 Posts: 53
    CALL YOUR DOCTOR NOW.....
  • LyonInLondon
    LyonInLondon Posts: 41 Member
    Sounds like you're possibly hyperventilating ... try breathing into a small bag. Have your blood pressure checked.

    I'm not a doctor - just seen something similar before. Best to see your doctor in any case as it's happened more than once.

    Oh and the muscle cramps is because with the shortness of breath, no new oxygen is getting to the muscles and so it's using up it's calcium stores and that leads eventually to cramps and muscle soreness.
  • rdy2begin
    rdy2begin Posts: 170
    i suffer from asthma and triggered panic attacks (not fun) so to me this sounds familiar or possible acid reflux ? I am not sure but panic attacks do have these affects your best bet would be to see your Dr. :) Best of wishes
  • amylary
    amylary Posts: 46 Member
    for sure call dr can be a sign of soothing more serious especially with arm pain and tiredness
  • Grace76
    Grace76 Posts: 34
    CALL YOUR DOCTOR NOW.....

    Totally!!

    If you're not doing anything strenuous to cause some shortness of breath it is serious. Does it hurt to breathe?
  • CakeFit21
    CakeFit21 Posts: 2,521 Member
    CALL YOUR DOCTOR NOW.....

    DO THIS!
    Why would you not? If it were your kid you wouldn't be googling!
  • EDBENAGLIO
    EDBENAGLIO Posts: 424
    i have been a emt for 6 yrs and found than pain you can live with breathing you can not... if you get to the point you get dizzy then you need to see a doctor and if it happened twice you need to see one now. your body is trying to tell you something. your body might be talking now but if there is something real that is wrong then next time it might yell at you and it might be too late.

    look i am not trying to be a *kitten* but not being able to breath is not a good thing.
  • noiinteam
    noiinteam Posts: 92 Member
    i have same symptoms when experencing anxiety.. which leads me to panic attacks..... good luck
  • DawnMarie1970
    DawnMarie1970 Posts: 97 Member
    CALL YOUR DOCTOR NOW.....

    AGREED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • ✿KẙMb529✿
    ✿KẙMb529✿ Posts: 152
    It could be a number of things.. It sounds similar to some symptoms my sister experienced with hyperthyroidism. Definitely call your doctor.
  • Christyp123
    Christyp123 Posts: 12
    CALL YOUR DOCTOR NOW.....

    Totally!!

    If you're not doing anything strenuous to cause some shortness of breath it is serious. Does it hurt to breathe?
    Could be a sign of something serious. Make an appt ASAP. If not, go to urgent care.
  • radarseven
    radarseven Posts: 50 Member
    This happens to me occasionally too. I've been to the doctor about it and he said it was stress related. When it happens now I just try not to focus on my breathing too much (as thinking about it tends to make it worse), and I try different techniques for lowering my stress levels generally. I find that it will go away within a week. I know how you feel though, it's really uncomfortable.

    Having said all that, definitely go see a doctor for a professional opinion.

    Cheers. :)
  • Mads1997
    Mads1997 Posts: 1,494 Member
    it sounds like you were hyberventilating, I used to get it then it brought on a panic attack. The only time it happened was right before I went to bed.
  • katbass
    katbass Posts: 351 Member
    I dont have diabetes.

    I am not hyperventilating in the traditional "oh-my-gosh-i-cant-breathe-im-gonna-pass-out-oh-my-gosh-im-dying-and-everything-is-going-black" sort of way. I can talk normally. I have no chest pain. I have no weakness or numbness. Im a pretty healthy person. I ran for an hour on the treadmill yesterday and did 55 minutes of HIIT the day before without ever feeling like I couldnt catch my breath. It doesnt seem to be exercise-related. And Im not anxious or in a panic about anything, so I dont think its a panic attack.

    Thats whats so weird. Ive been trying to catch a good, deep breath or a yawn since about 10pm last night. And just when I think Ive reached that great yawn that "catches" my breath, it starts all over again. I thought about calling my doctor but they'd send me to the ER...and I know its not anything SERIOUS like aheart attack. I just wonder if a pulled back muscle could really hinder breathing. Its almost like I got the wind sucked out of my lungs.
  • Cmuchoa
    Cmuchoa Posts: 161 Member
    Call yr doctor or go to the ER asap.
  • dlaplume2
    dlaplume2 Posts: 1,658 Member
    I would call your doctor. It may be nothing but it could be serious and you should get it checked. It could be blood clots or walking pnemonia. I would get it checked. At least call and see what they say.
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member

    I know its not anything SERIOUS like aheart attack.

    which would you rather - be sure that it's not because of what people write on here? Or find out it was?

    seek medical help. You can last forever with a pulled muscle, you can't last long without breathing.
  • p1xelate
    p1xelate Posts: 141 Member
    CALL YOUR DOCTOR NOW.....

    I agree!! This doesn't sound right and you should see your doctor as soon as you can.
  • katbass
    katbass Posts: 351 Member
    Ok, now I MIGHT have a panic attack haha! It doesnt FEEL like a big deal but I agree that it doesnt hurt to call the doc. Sure there is nooo way it could just be a pulled muscle?! :tongue:
  • dlaplume2
    dlaplume2 Posts: 1,658 Member
    let us know what they say. I hope all is well.
  • Grace76
    Grace76 Posts: 34
    I thought about calling my doctor but they'd send me to the ER...and I know its not anything SERIOUS like aheart attack. I just wonder if a pulled back muscle could really hinder breathing. Its almost like I got the wind sucked out of my lungs.

    Do you have a nurses hotline that you can contact? Honestly, I find this very worrisome. Much better to go the ER and find out that it is not serious then not make it there.
  • Celo24
    Celo24 Posts: 566 Member
    Ok, now I MIGHT have a panic attack haha! It doesnt FEEL like a big deal but I agree that it doesnt hurt to call the doc. Sure there is nooo way it could just be a pulled muscle?! :tongue:

    There is NO way for ANY of us to know. Please, please, please, please GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR. Right now. If he sends you to the ER, go there too. Better safe than sorry.
  • EDBENAGLIO
    EDBENAGLIO Posts: 424
    I dont have diabetes.

    I am not hyperventilating in the traditional "oh-my-gosh-i-cant-breathe-im-gonna-pass-out-oh-my-gosh-im-dying-and-everything-is-going-black" sort of way. I can talk normally. I have no chest pain. I have no weakness or numbness. Im a pretty healthy person. I ran for an hour on the treadmill yesterday and did 55 minutes of HIIT the day before without ever feeling like I couldnt catch my breath. It doesnt seem to be exercise-related. And Im not anxious or in a panic about anything, so I dont think its a panic attack.

    Thats whats so weird. Ive been trying to catch a good, deep breath or a yawn since about 10pm last night. And just when I think Ive reached that great yawn that "catches" my breath, it starts all over again. I thought about calling my doctor but they'd send me to the ER...and I know its not anything SERIOUS like aheart attack. I just wonder if a pulled back muscle could really hinder breathing. Its almost like I got the wind sucked out of my lungs.

    look if pulled a mus in your back that was making it hard to breath than you would know it it would be painfull.. if you were so out of shape you would know that to.. after everything you said and the fact you came here and asked i belive we all know that something is wrong and you should call your doc or go to the er if it gets worse and someone is not there to help it might be to late. look do the right thing and go see a doc.
  • trudypickles
    trudypickles Posts: 51
    Definitely ER, may be anxiety but could be something worse my sister had similar symptoms for over a week and eventually collapsed with pulmonary embolism...as i said prob anxiety but dont risk it xx
  • katbass
    katbass Posts: 351 Member
    Dropping the baby off at my parents and going to the walk-in clinic :) Better safe than sorry....that word "embolism" really freaks me out!
  • DoubleO7
    DoubleO7 Posts: 40
    I think it would be a good idea to go see your family Dr. This way it would put your heart at ease and you would get a better night rest. I personally would not mess with my breathing or lungs… just saying

    Hope everything will turn out ok.
  • catmandoodle
    catmandoodle Posts: 117
    Call your doctor ASAP.
  • katbass
    katbass Posts: 351 Member
    Nevermind...called urgent care and they said they dont know what tests they would do for me and that, from what i can tell them, they have "no clue" and 'cant even begin to think of what it could be". Awesome.
    I am gonna call my primary doc in the morning and if he wont see me, Im going to the ER.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,455 Member
    Nevermind...called urgent care and they said they dont know what tests they would do for me and that, from what i can tell them, they have "no clue" and 'cant even begin to think of what it could be". Awesome.
    I am gonna call my primary doc in the morning and if he wont see me, Im going to the ER.

    Why are you coming to MFP for medical advice???????????????????????


    SEE YOUR DOCTOR OR THE ER TODAY. NOT TOMORROW.

    I had one friend with a pulmonary embolism that was THREE MINUTES from death when the EMTs arrived. All the doctors said she was lucky to be alive. The only thing that saved her was a friend that was with her who happened to have emergency first response training AND they had oxygen in their car. She was a fit athlete and it happened all of a sudden. Her symtoms sounded just like yours - right up until she passed out and woke up in the hospital intensive care unit.

    BOTH my parents died of heart attacks. Who knows what symtoms they both ignored before they died?

    Another friend, here on MFP, screen name "arewethereyet", had a Patent Foramen Ovale in her heart. Perfectly healthy, worked out, not overweight. One day she felt "weird", ended up going to the hospital -- that night they did surgery to REPAIR A HOLE IN HER HEART she never knew she had. The cardiologist told her many people just have a stroke or DIE never knowing they had the PFO. About 25% of the population has this.

    You could ruin your life here. Stop thinking about a muscle. That muscle could be your heart.

    GO NOW.


    edit can't spell :tongue:
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