Persistent shortness of breath with normal blood oxygen Posted: 02-10-08 23:02pm
For the past 4 months or so I've had these
episodes of persistent shortness of breath
that last for days/weeks at a time. I'm a
23 year old male.
I've had 4 EKGs and a chest X-Ray
recently, all came back normal. Thyroid
and blood work came back normal as well.
The doc said my heart and lungs sounded
good. Three years ago I had an
echocardiogram done, which came back
normal.
I went to an asthma doctor who did a
pulmonary function test which came back
normal. Whenever I go to the doctors and I
have to put my finger on that blood oxygen
meter I normally score 98-100%. Even when
I'm short of breath I typically hit
600-650 in my peak flow readings.
So that's my problem, I have mild
persistent shortness of breath throughout
the day and as far as I can tell it's not
my heart or lungs. Blood work suggests
it's not my Iron or red blood cell count
either. I'm at my wits end trying to get
to the bottom of this...
I am currently taking singulair, which
should work for allergies...
ANY ideas as to what they could be would
be greatly appreciated, thanks...
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1980 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 30
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Posted: 02-14-08 07:03am
Do you have some other symptoms along with
shortness of breath?
Are you experiencing wheezing and/or
coughing, too?
What kind of allergies you have?
Did the episodes of shortness of breath
get worse over time?
Sorry for a belated response.
Occasionally I'll have what feels like
tightness in my abdomen/chest along with
shortness of breath. I have started doing
weight lifting recently after a prolonged
period of only doing cardio/stretches.
Sometimes I'll get anxious about it if I
focus on it which tends to elevate my
heart rate, which was what prompted me to
get looked at by a doctor in the first
place. All signs point away from my heart
and lungs, which is why I'm looking into
alternative things.
I don't wheeze or cough.
When I went to an asthma doctor a decade
ago I passed the allergy test without
anything standing out. If I do have
allergies it is probably an indoor
trigger? I'd hate to think it's my cats
as I've had them for years with little to
no problem.
Sometimes my shortness of breath will
leave me alone for a few weeks, then come
back for a few days. During those days
that I get short of breath, the shortness
of breath usually lasts for an hour or so,
then it goes away for a while, then comes
back. It comes and goes throughout the
day. Sometimes it's worse than other
times, but even when it's bad I have a
normal peak flow.
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1980 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 30
Thanked:10
Posted: 03-17-08 04:18am
Do you suffer from allergies?
Are you experiencing heartburn or acid
reflux,especially at night?
Are you an anxious person?
Do you know if you have chronic lung
inflammation, like bronchiectasis, chronic
bronchitis or tuberculosis?
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mrsmeed
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 2
Shortness of breath Posted: 05-01-08 22:51pm
I've suffered from shortness of breath for
the past 7 years, which just came and
went. However, it has been getting worse
in the last 5 months or so and I suffer
from a persistent shortness of breath,
sometimes with slight palpitations. My
lung function test, chest x ray, abdominal
scan, echocardiogram and full blood
countcame back normal. I also did a
tuberculin test which showed a result of
12mm but which my doctor said we could
ignore as I had been diagnosed with
tuberculosis 20 years ago, took the
necessary medication and was cleared of
the disease. During my periods of
shortness of breath, my stomach seems
bloated a bit and I need to belch out air.
I've seen a physician who said I probably
have a hiatus hernia, however the
medication did not help. I then saw a
gastro enterologist who put me on a high
fibre diet since he said my large
intestine seemed to be having a lot of air
in it. I've been on the diet a week, but
no marked improvement. I used to sneeze a
lot prior to developing this shortness of
breath and probably had hay fever.
However, none of the hay fever symptoms
appear now, except when I smell strong
perfumes or vehicle fumes, which make me
slightly shot of breath. I'm 32 years.
Could you please help?
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 1980 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
Thanks: 30
Thanked:10
Posted: 05-28-08 02:53am
When do you usually find yourself short of
breath?
Is this every day issue?
Are you experiencing chronic belching?
Do you get short of breath after having
heavy meal?
Do you have heartburns?
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