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 Constant shortness of breath? (Page 1)
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TaunyaG Member Posts: 25 |
posted April 15, 2003 11:55 PM
 
Hi. This is my first time here. I am 27 years old, had my first panic attack at 19, was rushed to the ER and later learned I have MVP. Symptoms have gotten worse this past year, but what bothers me the most is the constant shortness of breath. Does anyone else have this problem? I went to My cardiologist last week and he just increased my Zoloft thinking it was the stress I'm under. My panic attacks are frequent now, with one or two a week. Zoloft doesn't seem to help with the anxiety. Any suggestions? Thanks! (Last Echo. was 2 years ago.) |
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dinhtran Member Posts: 179 |
posted April 16, 2003 12:39 AM
Hi TaunyaG, Welcome to the boards. SOB is VERY common with mvp and I would say 9 out of 10 people have that symptom here on these boards. I hate it and it scares me more than the palps. What do ya do though? You learn to live with it. Now don't forget that right before your menses start 10-14 days you get very SOB b/c of the way our hormones affect our mvp. Thats why I hate AF sooo much. We poor women with mvp! Don't worry too much,
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Gabriel Member Posts: 193 |
posted April 16, 2003 01:34 AM
Out of interest, is the shortness you experience as though you're worn out and need more air or as if you can't inhale enough when you breathe in? When I would describe shortness of breath to my doctor I would mean my 2nd description whereas he thought I meant the 1st, and theres a difference apparently. [This message has been edited by Gabriel (edited April 16, 2003).] |
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TaunyaG Member Posts: 25 |
posted April 16, 2003 01:51 AM
Thanks for the reassurance guys. The shortness of breath I have is like I can't get enough air into my lungs. I usually have to take a deep breath or yawn. This shortness of breath thing just started in January and hardly ever lets up. I know I am constantly monitoring my breathing, so that doesn't help any. Can anxiety last for this long? I have been under a lot of stress and my Zoloft doesn't seem to help. I am a constant worrier/perfectionist and it is hard for me to relax and rest. (I have four kids and a husband who works in Tenn. and is only home on weekends.) Sometimes I think I need to be put into the funny farm, I think I'm going crazy. My husband thinks all of this is in my head, so he's really not any help. Thanks for the replies. |
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Lisa N Member Posts: 150 |
posted April 16, 2003 02:42 AM
The SOB I tend to get, which scares me most is when I am walking and I am out of breath, I am panting heavily, like I have just done heavy exercise. I am exhausted and I my heart races like crazy too, then slows down, then speeds right back up again. I sometimes sweat like mad too. The other kind, I have only experienced upon waking in the middle of the night. My doctor used to say it was asthma related, so I never thought anything of it. Gabriel, do you know what the differences are? Lisa |
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Al Member Posts: 93 |
posted April 16, 2003 08:17 AM
Its crazy! I can run a few miles and feel fine, but goto the kitchen to get a glass of water and I feel like I cant get enough air into my lungs! My mind usually starts to race when it happens too. |
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TaunyaG Member Posts: 25 |
posted April 16, 2003 09:06 AM
I am short of breath mostly when I am just doing small stuff like cleaning the house, but I do have it every now and then when I first lay down at night. The shortness of breath seems to be better after I have worked out for 15-30 min. I'm short of breath right now and I'm just sitting! I don't know how long I can take this. I'm tempted to go back to my Cardio. but I just saw him last week. I had another panic attack last night. It didn't last very long, but it was annoying just the same. It's nice to know that there are other MVP sufferers going through the same things I am. |
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karemare Member Posts: 61 |
posted April 16, 2003 09:38 AM
I have 4 children, they are older now (19,16,14,12) but I remember those days when they were little, because of MVP syndrome I couldn't do all that I thought I was "suppose" to do. We had (and still have) lots of easy meals, fronzen pizza (with carrot stick and fruit for dessert of course) snadwiches, cereal etcx. My house was always a disaster, but we had fun- just being together, I played with them and read to them cause I was too tired to do house work (my main MVP symptoms are weakness, fatigue) Emial me if you want to talk more. Must be sooo hard with hubbie gone all week. My mom was not tired and soooo PERFECT!!!! I think it helped my kids (they have turned out really pretty SUPER kids!!!) for me to stop feeling sorry that they didn't have a "perfect" mom. and I had them do more for me, fix their own lunches, they do their own laundrey even the one not quite 12, they are pretty responsible and compassionate and might not have been if they would have had a more together mother. I did have a bad reaction to Zoloft and Prozac sent me to the hospital with extreme anxiety (I couldn't shut my brain off) now I am taking low dose of Effexor. Also Celexxa is an SSRI they use for MVP syndrome. Maybe the increase of Zoloft is making you worse instead of better and the Dr. should try new med..... just some thoughts, hope they help. Karen |
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karemare Member Posts: 61 |
posted April 16, 2003 09:50 AM
PSSS Exercise, swimming 1/2 mile for me every day has realllly helped with anxiety that goes with MVPS. Is there anyway you can do something arobic- babysitter for kids possible? Our Y has excellent childcare for free. And/or teenagers work really cheap esp children loving 13-15 year olds. |
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angie Member Posts: 8 |
posted April 16, 2003 10:18 AM
Shortness of breath and palpitations were my most frequent concerns and complaints. The shortness of breath drove me crazy and caused more anxiety and a vicious cycle would start of shortness of breath - anxiety - more shortness of breath. Then add the skipped beats and I was really worrying. I thought my heart would stop beating it was so irregular. I was also convinced I had a lung tumor. I couldnt think of any other reason why I was so short of breath. Well - to make a long story short. I had a 24 hour holter monitor which showed lots of PVC's and elevated heart rate. My stress test treadmill was perfect - my coronary arteries clean - just this MVP. It seemed like I even had more palpitations when I had shortness of breath. I was put on Paxil by my family practice doctor which only made me feel spacy and not so good. It also increased my palpitations so I stopped that after 2 weeks. So now what to do about the anxiety/palpitations/shortness of breath? The shortness of breath was like always needing to get a deep breath or yawn. So my Cardiologist started me on atenolol - my favorite magic pill! I feel better than I have for 20 years. I started a very structured exercise program. I hired a trainer and I do between 30-45 minutes a day of cardiovascular exercise followed by 30-45 minutes of strength training. I have currently lost 18 pounds in 3 months. Everyone said there is weight gain on atenolol. I found I have lost. I have no noticeable - to me - palpitations. That helps the anxiety - but I also feel calm. I count grams of everything I eat - meaning I eat low fat and watch the sugars. I do count calories but i eat very healthy. My only vice is caffeine free diet coke - i cant give that up yet. But any caffeine would put me in the emergency room with so many skipped beats - even on atenolol. It is probably the whole combination of exercise, diet and atenolol, but I have not had shortness of breath since I started this program. My heart rate does not get up to age appropriate levels with exercise due to the atenolol - but even with MY maximym heart beat I get enough cardiac output. My cardiologist said I should not look at the rate charts at the gym since the atenolol will keep me lower. I can run 3 miles in 36 minutes and feel great. My body fat had decreased 7.7%. PS - I am over 50. Hang in there. Last summer I thought I would never have a decent breath again. I was constantly yawning and sighing. Now my heart feels calm - not wildly beating out of my chest and I am calmer all over. If anyone tries to take away my atenolol they could be in big trouble. Try it. |
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Bebee Member Posts: 52 |
posted April 16, 2003 10:55 AM
Hey Tanya, I've had SOB since I was 12 years old, and ever since then it has gotten worse and worse (I'm 24 now). That was my first symptom and continues to be the worst symptom. I've tried everything, but nothing seems to help. I'm on Zoloft and that has helped with the panic attacks but not with the SOB. I was on propanolol (a beta blocker) but that didn't even seem to help. I've heard that beta blockers can actually worsen SOB. What is atenolol? is that a beta blocker also? I might try that. I'm constantly sighing and yawning trying to get a full breath in but even that doesn't work. It just feels so shallow. I graduated last year and took a year off. I had alot of stress during university and had SEVERE SOB. It has definitely gotten alot better since I graduated. Unfortunately, I'm going back this September for law school. It's going to be another three years of hell. I'm really not looking forward to the SOB starting again. But there is NO WAY I'm letting MVP get in the way of law school. |
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Bebee Member Posts: 52 |
posted April 16, 2003 10:55 AM
Hey Tanya, I've had SOB since I was 12 years old, and ever since then it has gotten worse and worse (I'm 24 now). That was my first symptom and continues to be the worst symptom. I've tried everything, but nothing seems to help. I'm on Zoloft and that has helped with the panic attacks but not with the SOB. I was on propanolol (a beta blocker) but that didn't even seem to help. I've heard that beta blockers can actually worsen SOB. What is atenolol? is that a beta blocker also? I might try that. I'm constantly sighing and yawning trying to get a full breath in but even that doesn't work. It just feels so shallow. I graduated last year and took a year off. I had alot of stress during university and had SEVERE SOB. It has definitely gotten alot better since I graduated. Unfortunately, I'm going back this September for law school. It's going to be another three years of hell. I'm really not looking forward to the SOB starting again. But there is NO WAY I'm letting MVP get in the way of law school. |
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Gabriel Member Posts: 193 |
posted April 16, 2003 11:15 AM
Lisa, I don't know for sure what the difference is so please don't take this as certified fact. I was under the impression that it was more likely to be anxiety related or psychological if it was the feeling of an inability to draw a large enough breath without feeling an urgency for more air and more likely to be a physical issue (i.e structural MVP) if you feel exhausted and need to gasp for more air. That is my layman's understanding and I may well be wrong. And of course, shortness of breath should be evaluated by your doctor no matter what "type" it is. |
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TaunyaG Member Posts: 25 |
posted April 16, 2003 11:58 AM
Thank You everyone for your replies. It helps a lot. I think I will look into seeing if my Dr. will prescibe antenol. I believe the first time I was diagnosed with MVP, my Dr. put me on that. I know I have been on Propananol. It didn't work well. I know I'm going to have to do something. Thanks for caring.Taunya |
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JewL315 Member Posts: 17 |
posted April 16, 2003 04:34 PM
Hi everyone! I can completely relate to you all about this one. I have felt like I can't get a good deep breath for years and after I started getting palps got an echo done and my Dr says there is nothing wrong with me. However, I notice when I am busy enjoying life and going to class and such that I rarely feel this way. But now, as I sit here thinking about it, I keep taking in deep breaths and yawning...I really do hope it is simply an anxiety thing! I've never had a problem while sleeping either. Exercising helps me to develop a normal breathing pattern, at least for a while haha...Hope you get some relief! You're definitely not alone! |
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