I've done this off and on for years and no doctor has been able to tell me with any confidence what it is and I am currently so uncomfortable. I cannot seem to take a large enough breath of air to feel like I am getting enough. I have had the breathing test and it was fine. My pcp thought it might be chest rib pain (costochondrisitis?) and put me on an NSAID. I still seem to have episodes. I think it correlates with rib cage tenderness and tightness. Any takers? ;)
I am so sorry you feel this way. It’s an awful sensation. I can’t begin to guess what is happening to you. I find when I feel this way, the best way for me to feel like I am getting more air is to sit with my eyes closed, breathe air in through my nose, then blow it out as slowly as I can as if I am blowing through a straw. When I first start, I can’t breathe out very slowly, but if I keep working at it, I can eventually feel like I’m getting deeper breaths. I hope that you can find something that works for you.
I am just assuming here that you have Lupus or something like it, but to me it sounds like pleurisy. Its a problem I get from time to time. Its where the lining of the rib cage/diaphram meet. If we have a flare, this area swells and as a result the chest feels really sore to the touch. It also, at least for me, is painful to breathe deeply. So I try to avoid this by breathing shallow. Usually a short burst of Prednisone takes care of it pretty quick. I hope this helps 
I get those sensations a lot. With me it feels like I just can’t get the air silk the way to the bottom of my lungs. I can even get a good yawn, it would stop half way. There is no pain associated with it, just really uncomfortable. My rheumy suggested having heart tests so I had an echo and stress test which turned out fine. The cardiologist said it was probably from the lupus or Fibromyalgia. Do no help.
I just went through all the tests heart and lungs, everything was good. I did have costochondritis as many of us have had. I find that it does come and go. I find that if I take deep belly breaths and let it out slowly it helps, "yoga breathing". When you feel like you can't get enough air in then you start to breathe shallow in short bursts. Try to relax and take deep breaths.
Hope you feel better soon!
Thanks everyone! I hate having to stop what I'm doing because of this! Have done projects everywhere. ;)
I have an appointment with my oncologist tomorrow and my pcp next week. Maybe between the two of them, they can tell me what it is. fingers crossed!
I had this happen once. I saw a internist and they said panic attack; however, I didn't feel paniced or stressed aside from not being able to get a deep enough breath. I felt like I was blown off. It started in the morning when I got short of breath walking to my office from the parking garage and lasted all day until I fell asleep. It took me a while to fall asleep but when I woke up the next morning I was fine. It hasn't happened since. Good luck!
I get it also. Sometimes I get winded from simple activities. When my sinuses get irritated, I start wheezing and spiromety shows construction of the small airway. Methocholin challenge test is normal. No answers
Well this is frustrating. The more active I am, the tighter my back and chest feels and then I feel like I really need to fill my lungs all the way to the bottom, but can't. It will continue long after a normal person's "getting winded". It might calm down to almost normal, then flare again. At its worst, when I take a deep breath in, right at the very last of the inhale, i hear and feel a wheeze, and my chest has angina like aches. Previous doctors look at me like I'm weird.
Yes, that is how I feel when I am exercising or sometimes just normal activities. I really think they don't know what it is. I just add it to another lupus mystery. It could be something that we don't know about so make sure you have exhausted the heart and lung testing.
Hi !!! , try this ? 1. RELAX , 2. Relate , 3. NO Stress , 4. Release anything that does not require direct Attention , 5. Of course REST, 6. and then BREATH slowly , 7. Know that nothing is going to happen until YOU are able to handle it !!! , 8. We are all here for you when you need to talk (anything ), 9. Everything is up to YOU , 10. God (your higher POWER )is Alway's part of Everything that you do . Hope that this comforts you , and will chat with you later, take care ...Beverly L.
Thank you Beverly...I needed that message and got it at the perfect time. You guys are a blessing!
Thank you Beverly…I too needed to hear that message today…
HELLO! happy that this helped someone somewhere -smile We are all here (there ) at a point where someone will help to relieve the stress of PAIN in WORDS. Alway's helping when i can , take care and talk with you later .....Beverly L. P.S. huges