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Taking Deep Breaths

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Posted 4/25/2021 11:13 PM (GMT -5)
I wasn't sure which topic to post this under but I settled on this one. Let me start by saying I am a 53-yr. old male and in pretty good shape for my age.

This issue I am posting about has been happening with me for quite a while now but I don't have a specific length of time. It typically only happens when I'm laying down and / or in bed.

Every now and again I suddenly feel like I can't breathe as deeply as I would like to. I kind of feel like I want to take a deeper breath, and when unable to do so, I can get a little stressed / anxious. There have been a few times I have gotten up out of bed as a result. In some cases I need a good 'yawn' in order to be able to do what I want. It just feels restrictive. I never have any other symptoms (yes, I have read about heart attack and stroke symptoms etc). Every night when I go to bed, my nose tends to plug up but typically only one nostril - rarely both plig up simultaneously.

This happens occasionally and it definitely has caused some anxiety at times. I read a little about Dyspnea and not sure if that could be it.

I don't think I need to see a doctor about this yet as I have many other issues I am dealing with at the moment.

Any suggestions as to what this could be and what I could do aside from a doctor visit?

Post Edited (arncap) : 4/25/2021 10:20:04 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/26/2021 1:02 PM (GMT -5)
As a bipolar, prior to taking medicine (I take Lithium for the mania and Miartazapine anti-depressant for the depression), I've had that.

I'm thinking it was a sign of anxiety. You mentioned something called "dyspnea," which healthline.com said: "The main symptom of dyspnea is labored breathing. It may last for a minute or two after strenuous activity."

As for the sings of anxiety, healthline.com says:

• nervousness, restlessness, or being tense
• feelings of danger, panic, or dread
• rapid heart rate
• rapid breathing, or hyperventilation
• increased or heavy sweating
• trembling or muscle twitching
• weakness and lethargy
• difficulty focusing or thinking clearly about anything other than the thing you’re worried about
• insomnia

I mentioned all of the symptoms because you may have more than just one sign of that possible situation.

One of the clues seems to me to be your comment that: I" don't think I need to see a doctor about this yet as I have many other issues I am dealing with at the moment."

That's what was happening with me, also. My mind was going so fast with anxiety, there was no way I could slow it down to decide to go to the doctor. To look up the possible name of a doctor in the yellow pages then, now on the computer, and actually get an appointment.

My suggestion would be a psychiatrist. If you go to a regular doctor, he's liable to say, "You're looking OK to me. You're walking around, aren't you?" And you might take that as the gospel.

A positive attitude would have also helped me then and possibly you now.
Posted 5/3/2021 11:10 AM (GMT -5)
Tim Tam, appreciate the response but you're headed way off course for my given situation. First, I should clarify that my statement about "having many other issues I am dealing with at the moment" was misinterpreted. It's my fault for not better explaining. By that I meant I have several other ailments that seem to be a lot more bothersome. I had a Total Colectomy almost 21 years ago and I also have been diagnosed with Crohn's in recent years. I have had some physical ailments like 'shoulder impingement' (most likely), lower back issues (that have been a problem for many many years), and I have also had some other injuries and ailments that have been a hassle in recent months / weeks.

As far as the deep breath issue, it is on occasion and not at all related to exercise or shortness of breath when doing activities etc. It doesn't come with any other symptoms, either. It seems like on occasion I need a deep breath, and a yawn will help, but it doesn't come easily. Some of it might be in my head. None of the issues you listed with bullet points are typically a problem for me.
Posted 5/3/2021 4:23 PM (GMT -5)
I guess I was projecting my anxiety before medicine (I now take Lithium for the mania and Mirtazapine anti-depressant for the depression since I am bipolar) onto your situation. I know before medicine, I would at times be trying to take a deep breath, and having a hard time doing that.

I think that’s a sign of anxiety. I think I was trying to relax with the deep breathing and attempting to yawn, which I often couldn’t.

The other ailments you list could be causing or adding to anxiety, so I wouldn’t rule out seeing someone about that if the situation gets worse.

Also what has helped me is the positive attitude when going into a difficult situation that I could solve it, as opposed to thinking that I couldn't solve it. I believe that what I thought about my chances going into a situation, that I could or couldn't solve it, often turned out the way I conceived it.

Are you able to do that?
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