For a long time now, I have had trouble with what I guess you would call shortness of breath. It comes in spells and when it does I can't get air all the way down to the bottom of my lungs or least that's what it feels like. My body wants to yawn but it fizzles out before I can get the air down to the bottom.When I finally can do a really good yawn it feels so great! It's really frustrating. I had a breathing test done ages ago for it but wasn't having a spell at the time I took it and it came back as normal. My Rheumy has ordered some kind of lung test to be done right after Christmas and said it would show what she needs to know even if I'm not having a spell at that moment. Anybody have an idea what kind of test this is or have the same issues?
You should definitely see your doctor. Surprisingly there are many things that could be the cause, including anemia which is very common for us.
If you haven't had labs done lately, you need to have one soon.
Best of Health,
DeAnne
Thanks I had a blood up at my last visit to the rheumy and have orders for more next mth.
Yes, I have the exact same symptom. I'm in the process of getting blood and testing done as well. Will let you know of my results. Take care, try to be patient. Like everything else with this disease, it all takes time.
D
I also have those symptoms. The test they might be referring to is one where you are in a clear box like closet. You sit on a chair and have to breathe through a special apparatus hooked to a computer that measures how well you inhale, exhale, O2 levels etc… I ended up having mild asthma that was causing the breathing strain. My doc rx’d an inhaler but it keeps giving me thrush. : ( Hopefully, it’s nothing serious in your case.
I do the exact same thing! I have had chest X-rays and blood work. But, with my history of depression and anxiety, doctors tend to automatically assume it's anxiety. I know the difference and this is definitely not that. Your description of trying to get air all the way to the bottom of the lungs is spot on. Please post your findings.
I had the exact same thing. I was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension. My oxygen was below 80 which means that I was barely getting any oxygen in my body. It took several trips to the ER and passing out at the ob office before being diagnosed. I hope all goes well with your appointment. Oh yeah I forgot to mention that I am on oxygen 24/7 and another breathing treatment for the rest of my life.
This same exact thing happens to me. Please let us know if you find out anything.
Do you have any kidney issues from lupus?
Kim
Hey Angelwing! Did you find out what kind of test you are having? Any results yet? Keep us other non-breathers posted. I thought about you yesterday when I was having a nasty bout.
I had 3 different tests, not sure what you call them but they all involved breathing into a tube. :) I don't have the results back and won't see my Rheumy until Feb. 5th. I guess it's nothing or they would have called me in earlier. :) At least that's what I'm telling myself. I still have the spells but I just ride them out. I was told that my oxygen level drops to about 70% when I sleep even though I don't stop breathing like in Apnea. I'm supposed to use a CPAP but I sleep less with it than without most nights. Thanks for asking!
Well it's been awhile since my breathing tests but I finally went to see the Rheumy again Tuesday. She said the breathing tests showed that my lungs were normal but my oxygen saturation levels weren't. She did say that low oxygen levels could be why I've been so tired all of the time. So now I have to have an Echocardiagram done and of course more blood work. I don't go back for 3 months to find out the results of those tests. Never ending questions. I don't know yet when I go for the Echo but I'm hoping if anything major shows up on it that she will call me in a lot sooner, as long as it isn't the 1st 2 weeks of May, my son is getting married on May 10th so we will be rather busy those weeks as we are doing the wedding. At least I have that to keep my mind off the tests. :)
Thank you for the update! I just ordered a pulse oximeter to see what my oxygen levels are. I hope nothing major shows up in your tests, but they do find some little something that will help you feel better! Congrats for your son!
Thanks artchick, we are really excited about it. He’s the last of our 3 sons to get married and being almost 37 we had just about given up on him ever settling down, but like most things the best is worth the wait. I have a home bp and pulse monitor which helps but didn’t know there was something out there to check your oxygen. My bp fluctuates a lot it seems. In the mornings I can feel my heart beating fast and when I check it it’s usually rather high but later after I’ve been up awhile it’s rather low, 107/60. Not sure what that would indicate. Guess we’ll find out eventually. God bless you and yours and may you have a smooth day.