Breathing problems in day time.

This is not so much sleep apnea related but kind of is.

About 6 years ago, I started having this weird sensation like I cannot take a deep breath. It was extremely distracting, (kinda like a yawn that you couldnt complete.) It was a hard to describe feeling. Drinking water, would give you a suffocating feeling sometimes. Kinda like pinching your nose with your fingers and than drinking water.

At first no doctors would take me seriously , but it continually affected my workouts. Eventually I had extensive amount of heart and lung testing done which all came back essentially normal. I was told that they dont know what it is, but its something I just have to learn to live with.

Oct 2013 I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea.

Fastforward to 2014 february, I had a septoplasty turbinate reduction and concha bullosa removal in my nose. When the dressing came out 6 days later, I could breathe 100% normal for the first time. FOR the first time in 6 years I was at ease. I could drink water without having to stop to suck in a deep breath. I was so relieved. unfortunately this did not last more than 4 days. And I slowly started to get the breathing sensation back except much worse this time. I had a repeat CT scan done that showed that the anterior portion of my septum has redeviated.

Well i am considering another surgery, however, it baffles me, that even if your nose is obstructed completely you should be able to breathe through your mouth. In my case only one side of my nose is obstructed, and yet I have this breathing difficulties. I use breathe right strips almost all the time, they help a bit. Afrin helps a bit too (but i obviously dont use it every day).

has anyone had a similar experience?
Thanks

I had the same symptoms had a pulmonary function test and was determined to have COPD due to probably many years of smoking.

My Vpap makes my night breathing lots better and I use Symbicort twice a day.during the day. Hopefully you don't smoke

Sclark08 wrote:I had the same symptoms had a pulmonary function test and was determined to have COPD due to probably many years of smoking.

My Vpap makes my night breathing lots better and I use Symbicort twice a day.during the day. Hopefully you don't smoke

Nope do not smoke. Normal PFT, and normal methcholine challenge test (testing for asthma)

BR, were you evaluated for UARS along the way?

kaiasgram wrote:BR, were you evaluated for UARS along the way?

No never evaluated for UARS. My doctor probably would not know much about it anyways. It was hard to convince him to get me tested for Sleep apnea, if I mentioned UARS, he would think i am a hypochondriac.

I read about UARS just two weeks ago myself. dont have a complete grasp on it but it seems like when ur upper airways are narrow predisopsing u to sleep apnea? somewhere it said its inbetween snoring and sleep apnea. The thing is I do not snore at all??


Would UARS affect day time breathing?

I am set to see a rhinologist on tuesday (ent specialized in nose). I will ask her about it. I want to get a rhinomanommetry.

blackrock wrote:

kaiasgram wrote:BR, were you evaluated for UARS along the way?

No never evaluated for UARS. My doctor probably would not know much about it anyways. It was hard to convince him to get me tested for Sleep apnea, if I mentioned UARS, he would think i am a hypochondriac.

I read about UARS just two weeks ago myself. dont have a complete grasp on it but it seems like when ur upper airways are narrow predisopsing u to sleep apnea? somewhere it said its inbetween snoring and sleep apnea. The thing is I do not snore at all??


Would UARS affect day time breathing?

I am set to see a rhinologist on tuesday (ent specialized in nose). I will ask her about it. I want to get a rhinomanommetry.

How do i get tested for UARS? Should I ask my ENT that will be reading my sleep study in couple weeks to order something special??

blackrock wrote:

kaiasgram wrote:BR, were you evaluated for UARS along the way?

No never evaluated for UARS. My doctor probably would not know much about it anyways. It was hard to convince him to get me tested for Sleep apnea, if I mentioned UARS, he would think i am a hypochondriac.

I read about UARS just two weeks ago myself. dont have a complete grasp on it but it seems like when ur upper airways are narrow predisopsing u to sleep apnea? somewhere it said its inbetween snoring and sleep apnea. The thing is I do not snore at all??


Would UARS affect day time breathing?

I am set to see a rhinologist on tuesday (ent specialized in nose). I will ask her about it. I want to get a rhinomanommetry.

How do i get tested for UARS? Should I ask my ENT that will be reading my sleep study in couple weeks to order something special??

blackrock wrote:

kaiasgram wrote:BR, were you evaluated for UARS along the way?

No never evaluated for UARS. My doctor probably would not know much about it anyways. It was hard to convince him to get me tested for Sleep apnea, if I mentioned UARS, he would think i am a hypochondriac.

I read about UARS just two weeks ago myself. dont have a complete grasp on it but it seems like when ur upper airways are narrow predisopsing u to sleep apnea? somewhere it said its inbetween snoring and sleep apnea. The thing is I do not snore at all??


Would UARS affect day time breathing?

I am set to see a rhinologist on tuesday (ent specialized in nose). I will ask her about it. I want to get a rhinomanommetry.

Apparently not everyone with UARS snores. My neuro just gave me an article about it, if you're interested I'll send you the citation info.
I don't know for sure if UARS would -- or could -- affect daytime breathing. Probably depends on severity. Given that it has to do with a structural issue I suppose it could. It's still so under-studied, I doubt there's enough in in the literature to cover all the possible presentations.

My neuro suspects UARS for me and while I don't struggle to breathe during the day I do struggle a bit with swallowing now. I mentioned it to my neuro who said that barring some other pathology a small airway can be the cause.

kaiasgram wrote:

blackrock wrote:

kaiasgram wrote:BR, were you evaluated for UARS along the way?

No never evaluated for UARS. My doctor probably would not know much about it anyways. It was hard to convince him to get me tested for Sleep apnea, if I mentioned UARS, he would think i am a hypochondriac.

I read about UARS just two weeks ago myself. dont have a complete grasp on it but it seems like when ur upper airways are narrow predisopsing u to sleep apnea? somewhere it said its inbetween snoring and sleep apnea. The thing is I do not snore at all??


Would UARS affect day time breathing?

I am set to see a rhinologist on tuesday (ent specialized in nose). I will ask her about it. I want to get a rhinomanommetry.

Apparently not everyone with UARS snores. My neuro just gave me an article about it, if you're interested I'll send you the citation info.
I don't know for sure if UARS would -- or could -- affect daytime breathing. Probably depends on severity. Given that it has to do with a structural issue I suppose it could. It's still so under-studied, I doubt there's enough in in the literature to cover all the possible presentations.

My neuro suspects UARS for me and while I don't struggle to breathe during the day I do struggle a bit with swallowing now. I mentioned it to my neuro who said that barring some other pathology a small airway can be the cause.

Yes please pm me the article. Why are you seeing a neuro if you dont mind me asking? Is he your sleep doctor?

blackrock wrote:Yes please pm me the article. Why are you seeing a neuro if you dont mind me asking? Is he your sleep doctor?

Yes he's my sleep doc. I also have an Autonomic NS Dx which predates my sleep apnea Dx by over ten years but which according to this article and my neuro may be connected to UARS.

Will PM the article in a couple minutes.

Ten years ago I had a problem with my thyroid gland. Although upon external examination my thyroid appeared completely normal in size, it was actually three times normal size and was partially obstructing both my esophagus and trachea. The traditional method of feeling for size simply didn't detect the size growth. Usually when this happens, the neck becomes enlarged and gives rise to the appearance of goiter.

After surgery to remove it, my first reaction was "I can breathe."

The progression in size was so slow, I just didn't notice I was getting less and less able to breathe well. Diagnosis was made via ultrasound that allowed the actual size to be measured measured.