Feel Like I Can't Breathe

[Paeonia]

I am a 29 year old female and I feel awful. I constantly feel like I can't breathe, I have moments of feeling "surreal," I am tired all of the time, I have severe IBS, am lactose intolerant, I have aches and pains in my joints and neck and I don't have insurance. The breathing issue happens every day and usually multiple times a day anywhere from a couple minutes to a couple hours in length. I can't remember the last time I woke up feeling refreshed. I had a blood test for Celiac Disease many years ago, but it was negative. I was being treated for IBS and GERD while I had insurance more recently, but, since I told the doctor I had already tested negative for celiac disease, it did not come up again. Things seem to be getting progressively worse to the point that I feel like I'm dying. I'm really scared and confused. Hopefully I will have insurance again soon, but I am considering trying to go gluten and lactose free to see if I get any relief in the interum. If anyone has any suggestions for me, I'd really appreciate it.

[Lisa]

I am a 29 year old female and I feel awful. I constantly feel like I can't breathe, I have moments of feeling "surreal," I am tired all of the time, I have severe IBS, am lactose intolerant, I have aches and pains in my joints and neck and I don't have insurance. The breathing issue happens every day and usually multiple times a day anywhere from a couple minutes to a couple hours in length. I can't remember the last time I woke up feeling refreshed. I had a blood test for Celiac Disease many years ago, but it was negative. I was being treated for IBS and GERD while I had insurance more recently, but, since I told the doctor I had already tested negative for celiac disease, it did not come up again. Things seem to be getting progressively worse to the point that I feel like I'm dying. I'm really scared and confused. Hopefully I will have insurance again soon, but I am considering trying to go gluten and lactose free to see if I get any relief in the interum. If anyone has any suggestions for me, I'd really appreciate it.

Hello and Welcome!

While none of us would safely presume to diagnose you, there might be a possibility that you may have a gluten allergy and/or your gluten intolerance has reached a new level. I would suggest that you continue to seek a professional medical opinion.

You can go gluten free. But you must know, that if you choose of pursue further medical testing for Celiac, it will compromise your findings. Many here are self-diagnosed, and feel quite comfortable in those shoes.

If you are miserable, try a complete 100% gluten free diet. Or, you can request a full Celiac Panel from your doctor. It might be worth the expense at this point.

[rosetapper23]

I recently experienced a deficiency of B12 and felt as though I couldn't breathe. I would wake up several times a night gulping for air, and during the day I just dragged around. Your symptoms fall in line with a B12 deficiency, and although I don't believe in supplementing when it's not necessary, it wouldn't hurt you to buy some sublingual B12 to see if your symptoms are relieved. If not, then discontinue taking the B12. You might then try taking iron pills to see if you have iron anemia (which also causes fatigue and breathing issues), but, again, discontinue the iron if you don't see any easing of your symptoms.

Your symptoms also are indicative of a possible thyroid problem--that won't go away without a diagnosis from a doctor and medication.

Since you don't have insurance, try supplementing with sublingual B12 and/or iron...and hope for the best. If neither of these supplements helps you, you should probably visit a doctor for some basic tests.

[precious007]

I have the same issues for a very long time now, in my flares I have periods of the day where I feel that I cannot breathe at all, gasping for air all the time. My lung x-rays and CT scans all come back clear, you are not alone.

[SMRI]

I have the same issues for a very long time now, in my flares I have periods of the day where I feel that I cannot breathe at all, gasping for air all the time. My lung x-rays and CT scans all come back clear, you are not alone.

 

This is an old thread but have you been tested for allergies?  Gasping for air all the time is not typically a Celiac reaction but an allergy reaction...or something else.  Are you overweight, out of shape, have you seen an allergy doctor or a pulmonogist?

[ravenwoodglass]

I have the same issues for a very long time now, in my flares I have periods of the day where I feel that I cannot breathe at all, gasping for air all the time. My lung x-rays and CT scans all come back clear, you are not alone.

The inflammation from celiac reactions can cause asthma like problems. Has your doctor evaluated you for asthma? I was on both an oral med and an inhalor before I was diagnosed. Once the inflammation calmed down I no longer needed either med. Perhaps the next time you have a 'flare' you could get in to see the doctor so he can figure out if that is what is happening and perhaps give you something to take when a flare happens. 

[precious007]

I haven't been tested for allergies but that I am allergic to so many things, I haven't been tested for Celiac either. 

 

I am going through my worst flare ever (almost bedridden), have severe constant dizziness, loss of balance, the ground seems to be moving underneath me, leg weakness, whole body exhausted, can't think straight, burning sensation on skin all over, head pressure, tingling, pinching, stabbing sensations, muscle weakness, muscle pain, joint pain. (I have over 15 diagnoses so far) so I want to make this short because I can go on for hours and still didn't take any tests yet for - 

 

- Thyroid 

- Celiac

- Lupus

- Metal Toxicity 

- Food intolerance, allergies. 

 

Something is going on: I have 5 diagnoses on my spine, chronic sinusitis, candida, been diagnosed with lyme just to name a few, but I tend to believe I also have celiac and lactose intolerance since I get bloating from gluten and lactose and also think my problems stem from high heavy metal toxicity and candida (I have a very low immune system)

 

I am not recovering for two months now from my last flare, been in ER with galbladder issues, abdominal bloating and pain, barely standing on my feet. 

 

The only problem is that I do not afford testing and seeing so many specialist it can take a year or two to get to the root of the problems which I think is heavy metal toxicity. My GP can only refer me to one specialist per month and I will be admitted for a detailed checkup of digestive system soon. It's a start .. 

 

For now I am gluten free, soy and lactose free just to keep myself on the safe side but I still feel extremely ill and almost bedridden. 

[gilligan]

Could you be having anxiety attacks?

[precious007]

Could you be having anxiety attacks?

 

No, I have anxiety issues for 10 years now - these are not anxiety attacks. 

 

I have bad digestive issues, faint like feelings from anemia possibly, 5 diagnoses or so on my spine, almost sure I have celiac and heavy metal toxicity along with esophagus candida that has invaded my digestive tract. (gallbladder crisis lately, been in ER 4 times, I will be admitted in hospital for a full check up. 

 

Anxiety always has a cause (even a small imbalance in the body), and NO anxiety does not make you bed ridden, in pain all over and barely able to stand or walk.

[SMRI]

Ask your GP to run a full panel for immune deficiency.  Ask for your total IgG and the 4 subclasses as well as all of the rest of the Ig____'s.  (A, E, M, etc.).  

Why can they only send you to one specialist/month?  That is ridiculous.  

[ravenwoodglass]

 

For now I am gluten free, soy and lactose free just to keep myself on the safe side but I still feel extremely ill and almost bedridden. 

You can not be tested for celiac if you are not eating gluten. If you plan on being tested you need to start eating gluten again.  At least a couple of slices of bread a day for a couple months.

You don't need a specialist to order the blood test. Your GP can do that. If those were positive then you would likely be referred to a GI for an endoscopy.  

[precious007]

I live in Romania and as far as I know I can only see a specialist per month, which is ridiculous because I need to see at least 4 or 5. Once you a specialist, IF you get a diagnosis then your GP has the obligation to write the monthly prescription for all the medication, i.e if you see 5 specialist during and you have 5 diagnosis then your GP has to write 5 prescriptions for you every month (the insurance only covers some of the medication, usually 50%, and you're allowed to get your medication for up to a certain amount of money - I need to call the insurance offices to get a clearer answer on this, but first I need to see an GI asap because I have really weird stuff going on my digestive tract. 

 

I might be wrong about seeing just one specialist, I'll just have to get more information on this. There are certain restrictions that's for sure. But once you're admitted to the hospital and they do find out something is wrong, then you can see multiple specialists while in the hospital so they can rule out all diseases. 

 

Quite complicated, I need more information on this, I stayed stick for years and this is my forth flare, I have been ignorant until things got quite bad. 

 

Hopefully it's nothing serious, even though I already have dozens of diagnosis, and suspect IBS or another GI issue which doesn't look good to me.