deep breaths

Hi,

 

October last year, all of a sudden I started to have shortness of breath. And even that description is not really accurate. I suppose the best way to describe it is that I had a compulsion to take a deep breath and could not.

 

At the time I was quite busy with a new job, was planning a big holiday for my wife and I, and was in general very busy, but not to my mind stressed.

 

Anyway, after the holiday and Christmas, the "compulsion" went away as suddenly as it had arrived. So much so, that I did not even realise it until I really thought about it. That was in April time.

 

But recently it has come back. And it is affecting me more this time. Since October of last year, I have lost around 10-12kg in weight. I did change my lifestyle slightly in terms of lunch and other eating. But also since this time I have been constipated more, and had gas issues (trapped gas, too much gas at times). I read up about this and saw a connection with breathing issues, in that sometimes taking in too much air causes a "full" feeling in the stomach, and can lead to gas issues. I have also had problems concentrating at work and been quite tired in the evenings. 

 

This morning for example was particularly bad. I got and felt fine for about two minutes, went to take a shower and then I had the need to take a deep breath, and failed to achieve it. This started my heart to race (best way of describing it). After that calmed down my stomach was doing flips and I got a knot in it (all this in 10 minute of getting up - no breakfast yet). Now it is 2 hours after I got up and things are only now starting to calm down. I still have a little tightness in my chest area, but my stomach feels kinda OK (but not perfect).

 

I was a smoker for a number of years, but I don’t think this has anything to do with it, as when I think about it, this issue has always been with me. Also it is not a fitness thing as I am not overweight (I am toward the top of my preferred BMI, but not over it) but I could be fitter.

 

A lot of the research seems to point to anxiety/stress. And this could be it. Maybe the compulsion to take a deep breath and not getting one causes the racing heart, and the air imbalance I am creating is causing the stomach issues.

 

The thing is I don’t feel stressed or nervous or anxious. I feel normal. I have never had mental health or social problems. I am going to have acupuncture on Saturday to see if this helps with my issue. I do feel it is mental in origin, as I have no problems sleeping and when I am totally relaxed the compulsion seems to go away, but it is hard to tell as when I am relaxed I tend to drift off.

 

So what am I looking for here? Well just to see if anybody else has ever had this, or something close to it, and how do they deal with it, what did they do?

 

I did go to the doctor, and they said stress/anxiety, but I don’t know. And the internet is terrifying when trying to look up stuff like this!!