Breathing problems :(

[Susanne]

I am new to this forum, so first of all: hello to you all!

I am wondering if anybody has got the same breathing problems as I do. I am 6 weeks pregnant, and since Sunday evening I have had real difficulty breathing. Every 3 to 4 breaths I feel like I need to take a really big breath, but when I try I feels like no air is going in. I can't yawn, either. I know that some difficulty with breathing is normal in early pregnancy, but this is so extreme, I find it really scary. Yesterday it was so bad, I went to the doctor who sent me straight to A&E, and they thought I might have a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot that travels to your lungs and can potentially kill you). They did a billion of tests, and it wasn't that (thank God), nor could they find anything else sinister, just my potassium levels are a bit low, but they didn't seem overly worried about that, and I don't know if the breathing problems are connected to that. It is reassuring to know that nothing dangerous is the matter, but that feeling of not being able to breathe properly still feels horrible and really frightening, and I am finding it difficult not to panic.

Does anybody have a similar problem? And have you maybe found some way to cope with it better?

Thanks! Susanne

 

[becky071]

Hiya Susanne

Reading your post then sounded like me back 2 years ago!! Obv I'm no professional and I'm not saying its deffo what it is but this seems like bouts of panic attacks to me. I was suffering with these a year or so after I lost a few family members in a short space of time. I didn't for one minute think it could be a panic attack when the Drs told me as I didn't seem to think I was an anxious kinda person.. I was getting the symptoms just like you. Couldn't get a deep breath in, felt as though I had someone sat on my chest. I could constantly feel my heart beating in my ears and as stupid as it sounds I could almost see it jumping out of my chest! It used to come over me in waves, when I least expected it and when I felt the least bit anxious!! I had all the tests like you, and ECG after ECG and to be honest at one point I really thought I was going to die. Sounds totally silly now looking back but at the time I felt as though I was totally on my own and losing my mind! I always used to concerntrate on my breathing, and looking back was making it worse because I was focusing on it so much. In the end I had a little bit of councelling and was given self help books etc which again I thought was stupid, but having a good read through some things did make sense..

I do get it now and again sometimes, and a little bit since I've been pregnant but nowhere near as much as I used to.. If it is what your suffering with then I'm sure it will go as suddenly as it came..

Sorry its a bit of a long post I just didn't want to read and run cuz I know how horrible it is to have it

Hope you ok!
Becky xxx

 

[saze]

i get it now and again honey, it happens when your not anxious and when you least expect it, try to lay down and take deep breaths (relax as much as possible), put something on TV and try forget about it and should soon pass. Try not to panic

 

[Susanne]

Thank you, both of you! I will take your advice and just try to be as relaxed as possible about it, maybe try some pregnancy yoga or something. Hopefully it's one of those things that goes away in the second trimester!

 

[littlemiss83]

Hiya Susanne

Reading your post then sounded like me back 2 years ago!! Obv I'm no professional and I'm not saying its deffo what it is but this seems like bouts of panic attacks to me. I was suffering with these a year or so after I lost a few family members in a short space of time. I didn't for one minute think it could be a panic attack when the Drs told me as I didn't seem to think I was an anxious kinda person.. I was getting the symptoms just like you. Couldn't get a deep breath in, felt as though I had someone sat on my chest. I could constantly feel my heart beating in my ears and as stupid as it sounds I could almost see it jumping out of my chest! It used to come over me in waves, when I least expected it and when I felt the least bit anxious!! I had all the tests like you, and ECG after ECG and to be honest at one point I really thought I was going to die. Sounds totally silly now looking back but at the time I felt as though I was totally on my own and losing my mind! I always used to concerntrate on my breathing, and looking back was making it worse because I was focusing on it so much. In the end I had a little bit of councelling and was given self help books etc which again I thought was stupid, but having a good read through some things did make sense..

I do get it now and again sometimes, and a little bit since I've been pregnant but nowhere near as much as I used to.. If it is what your suffering with then I'm sure it will go as suddenly as it came..

Sorry its a bit of a long post I just didn't want to read and run cuz I know how horrible it is to have it

Hope you ok!
Becky xxx

I am also having breathing problems, and it sounds identical to Becky's (above) I feel like I forget to breathe sometimes, and its like my heart palpitates, the more I think about it the more it happens.

 

[saze]

i know what you mean littlemiss83, i think mine keep going for longer lol! x

 

[littlemiss83]

I never get it during the most stressful part of my day (daytimes..work ect) and only get it at night when i'm sitting doing nothing...normally worrying loool

 

[becky071]

I am also having breathing problems, and it sounds identical to Becky's (above) I feel like I forget to breathe sometimes, and its like my heart palpitates, the more I think about it the more it happens.

I'm glad you can relate to it!! I felt soo lonely and thought I was going crazy when it was happening to me..

Sounds silly but sometimes I used to have to force myself to have a big yawn just so I could feel like I was getting a deep breath!! But I got to the point where I thought 'I can't be doing this all day' Lol!

And like you said Littlemiss, it happens when you least expect it. When your worked up or worrying it isn't there but it will creep up on you when you feel ok or even if your having a good day!

Hope it goes for you soon girlies!!

xxx

 

[Susanne]

I am so glad it's not just me!