Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Lung disease?

[AndyBB]

Hello,

I have been an on and off anxiety sufferer for the past 10 years. I was diagnosed with GAD, Depression and maybe PTSD. I came here to ask for help. I quit smoking nine months ago and about two months ago I developed this shortness of breath. It feels like I can't gasp enough air. I sigh all the time, sometimes I sneeze. I went to a GP and told him all my symptoms and he did a consultation and said there is nothing wrong with my lungs. Although the GP said that, I keep obsessing about it. I think that I may develop a serious condition (asthma, COPD, lung cancer) and I worry about it daily. It's in the back of my head all the time. I keep thinking that I should go back to the GP and get a referral to an expert so I can get an X-Ray, or a spirometry test.

I have experienced many symptoms throughout the years and I know that anxiety is a pain and sometimes it makes me feel like I wanna give up because I am tired of this life. Every damned day, something is wrong with me. I keep thinking that I may not live to see old age and My life is a mess (no job, no car, no family). I can't even take care of myself.

This shortness of breath is accompanied by a lump in my throat. Can someone please help me?

Cheers,

Andy

[blondguy]

Hi tomyguy60

Welcome to the forums and thankyou for taking the time to post too!

I used to have the same shortness of breath you mentioned and it can be a pain especially when we dont know whats happening. When you are out and about its great you dont have shortness of breath. I understand the feeling about having the 'lump' in the throat when I used to have chronic anxiety

You have asked an excellent question about managing the shortness of breath...Just for myself it was anxiety which was causing the breathing issues

Great to have you on the forums tomyguy60....The forums are a safe and secure place for you (and me) to post....There is no judgement here.

my kind thoughts

Paul

[Thealth]

Well, I have the reverse version of your problem years ago. I also felt that " shortness breathing " you said and It is really painful & annoying to me sometimes actually. It happens at random times. When it happens, I only massage my left-mid ribcage because that is where the extreme-pain coming from but what annoys me is that when I started to move my body again, It starting to hurt again. I haven't consulted a doctor yet but I always do an exercise right now and maybe the reason why I am not having shortness breathing right now.

[Croix]

Dear Andy~

I'm sorry that you seem to be in the middle of an endless circle of symptoms, and as you get each checked out professionally you find there is no physical cause. As I've said before I've had similar and all were anxiety..

I think it is highly significant that when concentrating at work the symptoms are not obvious but alone on your couch of an evening they return.

May I suggest that if you already have medications and therapy for your anxiety condition you might like to sit down wiht your medical professionals and point out the current regime is not working and needs reevaluation.

If you are not currently under medical care for your anxiety please start now, a long consultation with a GP setting out all your problems and see where it goes from there.

Please come back and say what you think

Croix