Help! trouble breathing during the day...

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Xian
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Help! trouble breathing during the day...

Post by Xian » Tue May 08, 2007 10:16 am

I am having trouble breathing during the day since yesterday, not able to fill my lungs, so it seems... (my body prompts me to take deep breaths, with no success...) Never happened before. I have been on CPAP for a little over a months, and doing OK (AHI below 2 on most days since my pressure was increased to 10 a couple of weeks ago)

Is this a normal phase of getting used to the therapy? (I have an appointment with a nurse tomorrow, so do not feel you need to play doctors, but I wanted to get feedback from you guys also...)

Thank you.


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Wulfman
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Post by Wulfman » Tue May 08, 2007 10:31 am

I seem to remember others that have posted similar experiences. I'm not sure what criteria to suggest doing a "Search" on to find the other posts though.
Maybe there are others who have experienced it and can jump in and give their advice. I think it's just part of "the new way of breathing while we're sleeping" experience.

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Sleepy Dog Lover
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Post by Sleepy Dog Lover » Tue May 08, 2007 11:06 am

Do you have any other respiratory symptoms? I was like that on Thursday and Friday, add a cough that would take all my breath away. I ended up at the ER on Friday night and spent the night in the hospital. I do have chronic bronchitis, but its the first time I have gotten that bad. At least I didn't have to wait in the ER, they get you back within minutes for shortness of breath, especially when they can't get your pulse 02 past 90. I set off meters all night.

I guess my main point is not to ignore it, it could be serious. I'm going to the pulmonologist today to see what's going on.

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rested gal
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Re: Help! trouble breathing during the day...

Post by rested gal » Tue May 08, 2007 11:06 am

That doesn't sound quite like normal adjustment to me, xian. I'm no doctor, though.

As best I can remember, most of the adjustment posts have been about sore muscles in the chest, or stiff shoulders and neck.

An urge to take deep breaths but not feeling like the lungs are really filling with a deep breath sounds different to me.

Hope the nurse you have an appointment with tomorrow will help you figure out what might be going on.
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Janine
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Post by Janine » Tue May 08, 2007 11:53 am

I ended up in the er with chest pain and problems breathing about 3 weeks in to cpap use. It presented like a heart attack, sort of, and once they ruled that out, they tested me for a pulmonary embolus. All tests were clear, but it took about a week for the chest pain and shortness of breath to go away. I have decided it was cpap related, but who knows if I am right?

I think it is always best to get checked out - we are all different and sometimes our diagnosed issues can mask other problems.


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Xian
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Post by Xian » Tue May 08, 2007 11:58 am

Thanks, I have no other respiratory symptoms (although it is allergy season in Chicago, but I do not seem to be any worst than usual from that standpoint...)

Did a quick self BP measurement (from one of those machines in public areas...) and my BP was high 158/91 (I am normally around 120/70) so something is up (unless it is just normal job related stress!!!)

Of course all this before I am going on vacation (on Thursday night...). Although, perhaps a vacation is just what the doctor will order!


Thank you all for your feedback

To be continued...

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Wulfman
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Post by Wulfman » Tue May 08, 2007 12:01 pm

Would probably be worth getting it checked out then.

Good luck,

Den
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WearyOne
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Post by WearyOne » Tue May 08, 2007 12:29 pm

Xian, first of all, I would definitely get this checked with your doctor. Also, when you checked your blood pressure in the store and compared to your normal blood pressure, had you rested before having it taken each time? Had the previous blood pressure been at the doctor's office or at the same machine in the store? Had you eaten recently or had caffeine before the test that was higher? All these things can make a difference, as well as the stress you mentioned.

That being said, I have had several episodes of shortness of breath, twice after starting two different medications and again after started cpap. I was checked several times with EKG's, and then a chest x-ray to check for an enlarged heart, lung test, etc., but all came back fine. The episodes after the medications lasted for several days. The period after starting cpap lasted on and off for a couple of weeks, stopped, then started again for a couple of days. Haven't had an episode now for about three weeks. I've been on medication for high blood pressure for several year, but during these episodes, it wasn't any different than normal.

The only way I can describe it is it felt like I couldn't get enough air, I was "sighing" all the time. At times it was so bad, when I talked, it sounded like I had just run a race. (For me, anxiety could also be a factor, though.)

I wish you the best in finding out what's going on. I know the feeling can be miserable!

Pam


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CollegeGirl
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Post by CollegeGirl » Tue May 08, 2007 1:06 pm

Xian,
CPAP, if it does anything, should strengthen the muscles you use to breathe, not weaken them. Though I am not a doctor, I seriously doubt this is cpap related. I'd definitely head to a doctor.

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Xian
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Post by Xian » Thu May 10, 2007 8:52 am

Update:

I went to the doctor yesterday and both EKG and lungs tests were OK. The doctor is still not sure what is going on. I was diagnosed with GERD from responses to the sleep study questionnaire, but had not gotten treated for it yet. The doc said GERD might be a cause for shortness of breath (not clear on the connection between the two, but I am not a doctor...). I got Meds for GERD, so, we'll see...

The doc also said that CPAP might be the cause for shortness of breath (not related to exercise, btw), as could stress (stress, what stress???)

On a positive note, I am doing better today (still problem, but less), and I am leaving on vacation tomorrow morning (no internet, no forum, but taking my CPAP!). So, if GERD and/or stress are the problem, I should do better soon!

Thanks again for the feedback,


dukie

Re: Help! trouble breathing during the day...

Post by dukie » Fri May 21, 2010 9:55 am

Hi I have been using a cpap for a little over a year now and similar symptoms are my problem too. I wake some mornings with sore lungs, stiff neck and shoulders. I also have problems catching my breath during the day. My theory is that the air flow is so abundant so you breath more shallow during sleep and then during the day it is hard to get the lungs to function properly. My pressure is only set on 7 max but still have problems.

LOISC

Post by LOISC » Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:01 am

I just started using the CPAP machine steadily for the last 5 days and am experiencing shortness of breath all day for the last 2 days or so.
As stated by Xian earilier I cannot take in a full breath. It is very disconcerting to say the least. I am on a high pressure of 15 and in the morning I feel a chest heaviness of sorts.
I was relieved to see that others have had this problem as I was worried that something else was going on.
I have a call into my doctor so we shall see what he says.

Berly

Re: Help! trouble breathing during the day...

Post by Berly » Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:17 am

I have been using the CPAP for several weeks (first using the pillows mask) and now the Activa Mask. I also begin having severe shortness of breath and chest pain shortly after beginning use of the mask and I''ve only be able to keep it on for about 3-4 hours each night as I would lose my breath in the middle of the night and feel as if I was suffocating. It appears from this forum that my symptoms are most likely related to the CPAP as I was not having any symptoms prior to use. I have a humidifier on the CPAP and it graduates up to 10 and it appears it becomes harder to breath once it reaches 10.

After feeling like I was having a heart attack last night but noting the problem appeared to be the inability to catch my breath, I used a Xoponex inhaler which provided enough relief to my lungs to get some sleep and repeated the inhaler this morning. I don't have asthma but have the inhaler for use with allergies to prevent anything from going/staying in my lungs.

I called my pulmonologist this morning and have yet to receive a return call. I find that disconcerting considering my symptoms.

As of now, I'm discontinuing use of the CPAP (I have mild OSA) until I can receive confirmation from the doctor that the CPAP is not creating these symptoms. It might be that I need to find an alternative treatment for the OSA.

Best of Luck to All!

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Re: Help! trouble breathing during the day...

Post by cherylann » Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:54 pm

I started having problems breathing during the day about a year ago. I have had every heart/lung/allergy test available and everything is fine. After being diagnosed with sleep apnea a couple of months ago and going on the CPAP, it has gotten increasingly worse. People keep telling me that daytime respiratory problems have nothing to do with apnea, but I am finding that hard to believe.

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Re: Help! trouble breathing during the day...

Post by Mary Z » Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:24 pm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/costoc ... is/DS00626
This is a link to the Mayo Clinic site about costrochondritis. This may be what some of you are experiencing. The pain can be quite severe and make it hard to breathe. This condition is treated with Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen, or aleve. Tricyclic antidepressants may be used if the pain makes it hard to sleep at night. Muscle Relaxants are also used. There are many links about this condition. I have heard of people contracting it on starting CPAP.

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