Breathing issues-related or no

By Hollyk Thursday, January 05, 2012

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My MS has been on a rampage of late-stress can bring it on as can illness and I got hit with both. The scariest thing was that I awoke from my sleep unable to breathe-I couldn't move air out or in. It only lasted for a few seconds; but felt like forever and it came back little breaths at a time; as if my lungs had deflated and it took a few seconds to get 'unstuck'.

No to GERD and nightmares. I was sound asleep (for me-I am a light sleeper). This is not the first time I stopped breathing in my sleep-just the first time it happened this way. I have had a couple of episodes of my throat closing due to drying out due to lack of saliva and weak swallow. Then, it took a few swallows to 'unstick' my throat...still, very unnerving.

I've researched this and found that the HUG is more than likely responsible. I've had a few bouts of this while awake-but it never stopped my breathing-it hurt to breathe; but that was it.

Aside from the HUG-the other possiblity is the autonomic nervous system has been affected. This is very likely a candidate given the problems that were initially at the onset of my MS; even when they couldn't find any lesions. Again, this is scary-however, I can't afford stressing over it and have decided to let God handle this too.

I have found myself a great habit of being happy despite myself; I have MS but it doesn't have me is corney to be sure-but it really helps me deal with all of the ups and downs of this stinking malady.

Everyone here knows how hard it is to have this invisible disease. Even your own family memebers 'forget' you have it; this 'disease' doesn't show itself to others as often as it does to us.

The only way I can cope with it is to just live in today and be happy. It is a choice-one that I've made and am happy about. No, it is not always easy-sometimes I cry-but not for long. I can hear Jesus speak to my heart and I can feel His Hand on my shoulder-that was a choice I made too.

I am interested in anyone's information on their own breathing issues and any ideas that they might have. I am, as always, hoping this helps someone the way all of you helped me when I needed it. Thanks guys!

Get Well Wishes!

Comments (5) | Add comment

Lisa Emrich, Health Guide

1/ 7/12 1:15pm

Hi Holly,

I haven't had breathing issues with my MS. What you've experienced sounds very scary. Have you mentioned this to your neurologist yet? I wonder if a sleep study would reveal any other cause for the difficulty breathing. What comes to mind is the CPAP machine which provides a continuous flow of air so that you don't stop breathing. My dad uses one of these due to sleep apnea and he really likes it.

Other than the MS hug and the new breathing issues, how are you doing?

Lisa

Hollyk

1/ 7/12 5:40pm

Hey Lisa,

This is not like apnia when you stop breathing in your sleep; my lungs actually were closed and air wouldn't move in or out; like they were deflated and stuck together like a deflated balloon. The other times it happens my throat does the same thing; I'm trying to breathe in both instances-but suddenly just can't.

I'm still looking for a job-I had an interview the other day after an 8 month dry spell-but the guy never called me back...I don't understand that. It's not like this is a minimum wage position and there are hundreds of people interviewing; this is a professional career. I never did that as an HR Mgr; not even for our hourly candidates. If you came in; you got an answer.

It is hard because of the competition and I can't take a 30k cut in pay and even if I could-they wouldn't call me anyway because they all say the same thing-over qualified. Or, for those I am very qualified for; I'm under educated-a piece of freaking paper stops me from even getting in the door. It is not like the old days when you walked into a place and applied for a job-or even submitted your resume online-now, they have filters. You are filtered out before you even get looked at. Anyway, I won't let it get me down; just have to live with it.

I hope you are doing well! Take care and God bless! Holly

theresag79

2/ 2/12 10:44am

I have breathing problems too. My chest always feels tight but when I have a flare up it's tighter than normal and I feel like I'm not getting enough oxygen. So I sigh a lot and cough a lot and I will feel light headed sometimes and it increases my fatigue by the afternoon, I will be out of breath walking when I'm normally okay walking. It hurts when I take a deep breath. I went to see a pulmonologist and he indicated a lot of people with ms have weakness in their lungs and he showed that I was a little bit weak but when I visited him I wasn't having a flare up so it wasn't as bad as it could get. I researched on the internet how is it usually treated and it looks like when a person with ms has breathing problems it's treated with speech therapist who teaches you different exercises to help you breath better. And the new nuerologist wants me to follow up the the primary doctor to rule out asthma but I know it's not asthma because my 2 of my kids have asthma and I've tried their rescue inhaler just to see if it would help relieve the tightness and shortness of breath and it didn't. I had a chest x-ray which was clear so that rules out pnuemonia. I have been dealing with it so long it just has become a part of everyday life for me. I've also had times where it's like I have forgotten how to swallow. It is very fustrating and scary too. But these things can't be seen so no one knows what I'm going thru except those of you who are also dealing with it. But I thank the Lord because it could be worse.

Hollyk

2/ 2/12 1:56pm

I do have breathing issues from time to time like you described. But when you can't catch your breath-it could be more of an anxiety issue than breathing. I've only had that happen a couple of times; but was told that MS patients have them quite frequently. Severe swallowing issues showed up about a year after I developed MS. Since I hadn't been diagnosed at this point; it was yet another 'weird symptom' that I wasn't aware was a symptom. My family and I both thought I was just taking too big a bite of something or driniking and eating too fast. It wasn't until I was in the hospital for another problem that I choked and joked to my doctor about how I seemed to be able to choke on spit. They ordered a swallow study and I found out that I was aspirating fluid and because of weakness of my swallow; I could very easily aspirate food as well. When I swallow saliva; I aspirate it as well and will start a coughing fit.

I went through speach therapy training for swallowing techniques and using a straw when I drink. I can't drink without one or I asperate the fluid. When I am having issues with the strength of my swallow; I tuck my chin in more and it helps get it down.

I hope this helps.

Take care!

Hollyk

6/24/12 1:58pm

I ended up in the ER last monday with shortness of breath, chest and neck pain and they put me in the hospital for 2 days doing tests. No heart issues (thank God) but no answer either. I know it isn't GERD; but could be MS HUG? or something else related to spinal lesions. I don't know-but am going to a doctor tomorrow-they are going to try to get me some kind of healthcare so that I can see a specialist. I am still having the chest and neck pain-at times it feels like someone is pressing their fingers around my neck and squeezing.

I will let you guys know if I get any new information; as I know that it really helps being able to hear from others with similar issues..

Breathing issues-related or no

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