Asthma/oxygen to brain..yawning incessantly...driving self mad, I just can't stop

[SaharaS]

As amusing as this might seem, I'm beginning to get a bit worried! Last couple of days I've not quite been able to catch a full breath, infrequently, which has made me yawn more. Not tired and have history of asthma but its not the usual..but since 3 I've literally been back to back yawning & only managed about 5 fullly satisfying deep breaths in. Its now nearly 11pm! Remember recently being told yawning was something to do with getting more oxygen to the brain..bit worrying!
Standing helps slightly and I now recall i've had this a few times over the last 6 weeks,but only very infrequently.Did go to a friends for supper on sat pm, she lost her elderly cat recently and i seem only to get it around times I've seen her..her cottage is clean & is not dusty but could possibly have some stray cat hairs, but this really doesn't feel like a cat type allergy..tho this eve my eyes have started streaming so hoping it could be a sinusy type of thing..I have a nebuliser but am clean out of capsules in date, tho I think I would risk out of date capsules rather than do a&e over christmas..just trying not to worry as this will make it worse. breathing /chest feel fine if a little restricted, but no wheezing or pain...anyone have any ideas please to help put my mind at rest? I'd be quite happy with a simple virus rather than anything scary underlying..this is almost more annoying than hiccups and the go compare ads..and my ribs are now hurting from so much yawning:-confused:

 

[quirky]

Asthma, migraine and excema are linked.
Do you get migraine?
I sometimes get what I call yawning migraine where I yawn constantly.
It could be something like this?

 

[riding_high]

i suffer with the same too, it's been put down to stress and nerves.
i find that when i'm about to take a deep breath i do a little 'wiggle' or fidget a bit and it will sometimes help.
nothing worse that when you are about to take a deep breath and someone/something distracts you.
also try and make yourself as tall as you can, kind of stretch your body when you go for the deep breath. don't panic if you can't catch it as that makes it worse.

 

[SaharaS]

Thank you Quirky..Thats exactly it..tho i've not got a headache this eve..I should not have googled it as its saying heart things now so would be happy to have a simple yawning migraine. I do have cfs but its not like a tired yawn, exczema is at bay atm and asthma has not been irritable for a long time,how long do your yawn migraines usually last at the longest?

 

[SaharaS]

i suffer with the same too, it's been put down to stress and nerves.
i find that when i'm about to take a deep breath i do a little 'wiggle' or fidget a bit and it will sometimes help.
nothing worse that when you are about to take a deep breath and someone/something distracts you.
also try and make yourself as tall as you can, kind of stretch your body when you go for the deep breath. don't panic if you can't catch it as that makes it worse.

I can do stress & nerves, infact that would be a very nice answer!Thank you! I've just tried dangling from door frame but think tree in garden may be better!am on my own so its scary but not if that makes sense,I used to get the same compressed feeling i my chest if i was in water -I felt very uncomfortable as I can't control chest deep water..its just like that but the only water is the floods & luckily I'm not in them!The wiggling helped, just had three nice in-breaths, thank you v much. Not sure if I've also now got self infected yawning now making it worse!

 

[HelenS]

I understand exactly what you are going through. Trying googling Hyperventilation Syndrome. It may help you. I suffer from it and the symptoms are very much as you describe. As foul as it is you can learn to control it.

Good luck.

 

[FionaM12]

Out of date nebules will be okay, I've often used them well after the given date.

Please, please, don't take chances though. If you really feel unwell, do go to a&e and get checked out. They'll check your blood oxygen levels and send you back home if they're okay. Asthma is not something to take lightly, as I should know

Do you have a peak flow metre? Are you using it?

Have you taken your temperature? Just to rule out any lung infection.

 

[LD&S]

I understand exactly what you are going through. Trying googling Hyperventilation Syndrome. It may help you. I suffer from it and the symptoms are very much as you describe. As foul as it is you can learn to control it.

Good luck.

Completely agree though sometimes you need a little help, propanadol I think is what is widely prescribed these days, also as strange as it sounds often the biggest problem is actually breathing out. Try a very long gentle breathe out, when you think you've exhaled as much as you can take a very small breathe in and try breathing out again very long slow and gentle, a few of these can often ease symptons as it allows the oxygen level to drop to a more normal level.
Something else to try is breathing in and out of a paper bag for a couple of minutes, again it is better if you can do it slowly.
You'll possibly find it worse in the evening, in the morning your body has probably relaxed while you've been asleep so it may not be as severe.

Meant to say, if you smoke try and cut down or only lightly inhale, though it feels like a cigarette eases stress chemically it will often raise the stress levels in your body without you realising.

 

[SaharaS]

Thank you Fiona & HelenS..peak flow is at mums 3 hours away..had v bad asthma from childhood and its come & go ever since..have a string of ridiculous conditions HPP, CFS & fibro after a spinal injury so this doesn't surprise me Helen, if I've a new one coming to get me.. I've been out in garden in the misty rain which helped, it did strike me that tho I felt better outside, it could well be spores or something from all this evil flood water & wet we have had that could be triggering asthma..only have horses thermometer so think I'll go for the under arm option I'm very worried about having to go to a&e as i can't leave my dog-he can open even locked doors & windows (separation anxiety in rescue dog)so am tryig to stay as calm & breathing how ever feels most comfy..have had pneumonia before so won't be taking any risks if i feel like that again.Did have a tricky to shake chest infection in autumn but wasn't the usual full blown bronchial one so could still be that...I'm lucky I'm not a horse as i know what would be the main advice on here! Nebules are 2010 and 2011 but I think as long as they are sealed & not smelling or tasting funny I will still risk them..going to get dehumidifier from loft in a mo, that will help too..has subsided a little so may be spending night in the garden to keep it at bay!Thank you all & Merry Christmas xxx

 

[FionaM12]

Completely agree though sometimes you need a little help, propanadol I think is what is widely prescribed these days, also as strange as it sounds often the biggest problem is actually breathing out. Try a very long gentle breathe out, when you think you've exhaled as much as you can take a very small breathe in and try breathing out again very long slow and gentle, a few of these can often ease symptons as it allows the oxygen level to drop to a more normal level.
Something else to try is breathing in and out of a paper bag for a couple of minutes, again it is better if you can do it slowly.
You'll possibly find it worse in the evening, in the morning your body has probably relaxed while you've been asleep so it may not be as severe.

Meant to say, if you smoke try and cut down or only lightly inhale, though it feels like a cigarette eases stress chemically it will often raise the stress levels in your body without you realising.

Hyperventilation and asthma are very different things though. None of these things will work for asthma, and for safety's sake, medical help is most important.

 

[PandorasJar]

I had this over summer for over a week. Resulted in a long time at a useless doctors who only took me seriously when I passed out in waiting room.
I think mine was a combination of stress and allergy. I still get it but goes within the day, so doc reckons extreme stress (there was) coupled with something possibly stuck in my chest.

Go to docs. Peak flow didn't work for me as couldnt register on that or on kids computer version. Mine wasn't hyperventilating but after a couple of days turned into this when I couldnt get enough air in and panicked. It was nothing like a standard panic attack though.

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

Probably panic too as you concentrate more of your breathing. I would get checked out just in case.

Something you may be interested in. I recently started taking Vit D and calcium. I kept feeling very weak in the mornings and not catching my breath. I have a history of athsma and panic. I've also been itching behind my ears and around the base of my skull. Was getting annoying. One week on the vit D and I can't believe the difference. I feel a lot more well in myself and the itching has gone. Breathing is back to normal. I'm always skeptical of these things but with the really crap weather all year I just thought I'd give it a go before I went to the doctor.

Now in saying all this, I'm not a doctor so my advice is not gospel. But I knew I kind of was low in something and lack of vit D can cause other issues besides rickets and scurvy!

Hope your feeling better.

Terri

 

[loisb501]

Don't want to panic you but a few years back I had the same simptoms, couldn't even ride my horse once round the school without loosing my breath, doctors thought it was asthma but after about 3 months feeling rubbish I ended up spending a week in hospital and being diagnosed with farmers lung- It's probably not the case with you, but your best going to the doctors and getting them to check.

I still have a horse now- I'm just careful about staying in well ventilated areas

 

[JoannaC]

Are you extra tired? I'm anaemic and when my iron levels drop I yawn all the time but doesn't quite hit the spot. Sounds similar, might be worth getting a blood test.

 

[kiritiger]

I have both asthma and hyperventilation syndrome but my asthma is mild. My HS symptoms are exactly the same as your OP and either way you should get checked out by a gp.

 

[SaharaS]

Completely agree though sometimes you need a little help, propanadol I think is what is widely prescribed these days, also as strange as it sounds often the biggest problem is actually breathing out. Try a very long gentle breathe out, when you think you've exhaled as much as you can take a very small breathe in and try breathing out again very long slow and gentle, a few of these can often ease symptons as it allows the oxygen level to drop to a more normal level.
Something else to try is breathing in and out of a paper bag for a couple of minutes, again it is better if you can do it slowly.
You'll possibly find it worse in the evening, in the morning your body has probably relaxed while you've been asleep so it may not be as severe.

Meant to say, if you smoke try and cut down or only lightly inhale, though it feels like a cigarette eases stress chemically it will often raise the stress levels in your body without you realising.

Its weird because I can breath out fine, but will try the breathing techniques, thank you..oddly I find the easiest way is to bend double & crunch, then I seem to be able to get the next real breath in..which makes me wonder if I've not popped a rib..I've been having to muck out into sacks & lift those onto back of truck, drive to helpful farmer & tip them, then reuse sacks..very tedius, but muck heap is now flood burried & totally no go with a barrow:-(

Can rest assured I am the most anti smoking person in the entire universe!Never have, never will - all because i had such bad asthma so am not being mean to smokers, it literally kills me to be near it...again tho I've not seen a soul for about 10 days other than the one lady i had supper with and she doesn't smoke so sure its not that...am damaged goods!

Hyperventilation and asthma are very different things though. None of these things will work for asthma, and for safety's sake, medical help is most important.

is more likely to be asthma than hyperventilating after googling tho I imagine the feeling is the same but with long agonisingly unsuccessful yawns rather than fast useless non breathing..i come complete with large history of asthma & have seravent, becotide, ventolin & nebuliser fitted as standard! still not breathing right today tho have achieved a little success..bending double really helps(makes no sense) but has eased the pressure a bit. It feels very similar to when i had 8 broken ribs and today have pains in my back at rib height..tho this is possibly strain from so much &*&*&*&* yawning!;-/

 

[SaharaS]

I had this over summer for over a week. Resulted in a long time at a useless doctors who only took me seriously when I passed out in waiting room.
I think mine was a combination of stress and allergy. I still get it but goes within the day, so doc reckons extreme stress (there was) coupled with something possibly stuck in my chest.

Go to docs. Peak flow didn't work for me as couldnt register on that or on kids computer version. Mine wasn't hyperventilating but after a couple of days turned into this when I couldnt get enough air in and panicked. It was nothing like a standard panic attack though.

I can totally see how you could go from yawns to panic,sorry you had to become so unwell before they listened..is there anything you do to get rid of it? or not do?

Probably panic too as you concentrate more of your breathing. I would get checked out just in case.

Something you may be interested in. I recently started taking Vit D and calcium. I kept feeling very weak in the mornings and not catching my breath. I have a history of athsma and panic. I've also been itching behind my ears and around the base of my skull. Was getting annoying. One week on the vit D and I can't believe the difference. I feel a lot more well in myself and the itching has gone. Breathing is back to normal. I'm always skeptical of these things but with the really crap weather all year I just thought I'd give it a go before I went to the doctor.

Now in saying all this, I'm not a doctor so my advice is not gospel. But I knew I kind of was low in something and lack of vit D can cause other issues besides rickets and scurvy!

Hope your feeling better.

Terri

Thank you ever so much & for the vit suggestions Terri, I've just raided the vitamins, won't hurt to try thats for sure..I 'm glad I'm not the only one who's had this

Don't want to panic you but a few years back I had the same simptoms, couldn't even ride my horse once round the school without loosing my breath, doctors thought it was asthma but after about 3 months feeling rubbish I ended up spending a week in hospital and being diagnosed with farmers lung- It's probably not the case with you, but your best going to the doctors and getting them to check.

I still have a horse now- I'm just careful about staying in well ventilated areas

I think you may have solved my prob...you mention farmers lung...a few comments up & mentioned about moving 4 horses worth of muck daily in sacks..well when I tipped it at a dairy farm, the farmer was returning the sacks plastered in cow **it and I had to go o prednisolone to sort it..so found another farm I can tip my horse muck, direct onto the muck heap & although i reuse the bags, its very likely th same thing triggering it, if this is what it is, so thank you for getting me a little nearer to a reason, at least now I can do something to reduce the possible cause...tho not quite sure what..flipping weather;-/

Are you extra tired? I'm anaemic and when my iron levels drop I yawn all the time but doesn't quite hit the spot. Sounds similar, might be worth getting a blood test.

Yes & no.. am usually easily tired as have cfs & hpp so have to watch my calcium & potassium levels, but I didn't think of the other essentials etc..lots of greens & spinnach for me tomorrow then..

I have both asthma and hyperventilation syndrome but my asthma is mild. My HS symptoms are exactly the same as your OP and either way you should get checked out by a gp.

Thank you..yes best safe than sorry..another delightful trip to the drs to look forward to,but comforting again to know its not particularly nice, but also not necessarily something horrid..HHO is FAR far better than random health googling!

Thank you to all who have helped, I'm much calmer for reading all your posts, I really to appreciate it.

Merry Christmas & brandy soaked flaming christmas pud & medicinal brandy butter to share xxx

 

[Rebels]

Dont try and tough anything out. Last chest infection i had i refused to take seriously (i wanted to sledge...) ended up terrifying the late night GP with such a low blood oxygen i should have beem unxonscious. I will come and guard the scary wolf if ness, i have ear plugs.

 

[hobo]

I just had to comment on the farmers lung point you will not get farmers lung from cow sh#t on your dung bags. Farmers lung is from working in a very dusty, sporey place. Grain stores, bedding, moldy feed ect.

If you are stressing about it you really should just see a doctor. When my blood oxygen dropped so low I was put in hospital I do not recall yawning.

I always take an antihistimine if I feel my breathing struggle, the friends house will still be catty even if cat has passed on.

 

[LD&S]

I'm sorry to hear you are still suffering but glad to see some of the posts have helped.
I know this time of year you probably have better things to do than see a doctor but please try and find the time.

 

[FionaM12]

Glad you're doing okay OP.

Asthma really shouldn't be taken for granted, I've learnt to my cost on many very scary occasions that it's always worth getting checked out. The medication you're on shows you've got pretty severe asthma. Ventolin can mask the severity of attacks, a blood oxygen level test is always worth having done.

 

[Achinghips]

IMO You are hyperventilating. You are not expelling the carbon dioxide properly. Breathing exercises will help, and work in about 3 hours.

 

[ladyt25]

I think there is something going aroung at the moment, I know several people suffering with similar symptoms and 2 who have been hospitalised - on with very low blood oxygen levels. Docs do't know what it is so would seem to be a virus. I have been suffering for the past week with sneezing fits and the last few days feeling like i have flu and have a horrid rattly cough. It makes me feel quite dizzy which is probably due to be not getting enough air in to the old lungs! I have asthma too so do have to be careful but currently do not feel wheezy as such.

If you have some inhalers then i would use them, out of date or not as it could relieve the symptoms and make it easier to get air in. If it continues though then i really would get yourself to the doctor.