Back to basics...

[jmonte]

Something I've never really been clear about- shortness of breath. Is it only from fluid in the lungs? Are there other reasons (heart-related) that it could be present? I have never been found with fluid in the lungs but I swear that I feel short of breath at times. I went out to dinner this weekend and had a high sodium meal and some wine- felt short of breath next morning- any correlation? I have my 8 month post partum echo THurs- so I guess this is on the brain more than usual. Any insight is helpful- thanks guys! Julie

[tabs]

Shortness of breath can be caused by many different things. It can be lung problems (ie Asthma, colds, pneumonia, etc.), heart problems (fluid, lack of oxygen in the body, etc.) and can also be from the bodies inability to immediately meet the body's need for oxygen.

Twilah

[christa]

How does the fluid cause the shortness of breath? I've been wondering this for a while. Also, I am having lots of swelling right now. Maybe due to the heat? Should I drink more water of less?

[tabs]

Having fluid in your lungs impares the lungs ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. This means that the blood flowing through the lungs can not get rid of the carbon dioxide and receive oxygen. The body's internal sensors sense that there is a rise in carbon dioxide and a decrease in oxygen causing the body to breathe faster. Unfortunately, breathing faster does not bring a "cure" to the problem as the fluid can possibly be moved around, but it is still in the lungs. The body can reabsorb small amounts of fluid over time, but larger amounts need help (lasix or other diuretics).

Twilah

[MiasMom]

I have a question that sort of piggybacks on Julie's...

When my cardiologist asks me if I've been short of breath, I'm not really sure how to answer him... at dx, there was no question in my mind that I was short of breath... I would be left panting and exhausted even with the mildest exertion and I would startle awake every time I started to drift off to sleep because I couldn't breathe. Now I sleep fine... flat on my belly most of the time (boy did I miss that when I was pregnant:) ) and there are very few things in my everyday routine that actually cause me to pant... even working out on the eliptical trainer causes my rate of respiration to increase (as one might expect), but I never feel like I need to sit down and catch my breath and it slows down in a reasonable amount of time afterwards...then again, there are times when I will be buzzing around the house, doing this and that (nothing particularly strenuous) and I'll suddenly find that I need to stop and take a few extra deep breaths... does this qualify as SOB? Or sometimes, I'll find myself yawning or feeling like I need to yawn when I'm not particularly tired. I've also noticed that the more I pay attention to this yawning, the more I feel like I need to do it!! Wondering if that's more anxiety related?

I asked my cardio at my last appointment to define "shortness of breath" and before we got sidetracked with another topic he said something about having trouble doing activities of everyday living... I gave him the example that I find myself panting after carrying my (almost 14 pound) daughter in her (8 pound carseat) up a flight of stairs... he said that could be considered an activity of daily living (which I don't disagree with), BUT... I'm sorry, I know a lot of people who are not in heart failure who might be a little winded after that :confused: ... Oops... I digress...

The point of all this rambling is that I'm wondering... how do you all define SOB? Or what do you consider "counts" as SOB when considering how symptomatic you are?

Obviously I'm not terribly short of breath or I wouldn't have to ask, but I want to be able to answer my doctor's questions as accurately as possible so he knows best how to treat me (and so I can get the most accurate feedback about my progress). Thanks for indulging what may seem like a kind of silly question!

[jmonte]

would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Mindyt]

I too have never had any fluid in my lungs but feel short of breath at times. It has gotten much better over the last few months but I still notice it once in a while. I have that strange "need to yawn" feeling too and I asked two different cardiologists about it. The first thought it was anxiety related. The second said that although she has not seen any studies on it, she said that many of her cardiomyopathy patients will complain of excessive "sighing" or yawning. So, I think it may be a little of both sometimes. Once the annoying yawning starts, it is hard to stop. I also feel sometimes that I cannot get a large enough breath in. After a couple of tries without being able to get enough air, I start the yawning thing. I don't know if that helps but I understand what you are saying......

[MiasMom]

Mindy,

That's exactly what happens to me... sometimes feeling like I can't get enough breath in which starts the yawning thing. Then, once the yawning thing starts, sometimes I'll try to yawn and it will take a few tries be able to get a "full" yawn. I finally decided that, when I try to yawn and can't, it's because my body really doesn't need all that extra oxygen because I usually don't feel any worse if I consciously try NOT to yawn. Don't know if that makes any sense and I don't know if that's actually what's happening, but that's my best guess. I've noticed I do a lot of the sighing too. I had the yawning thing and the sighing thing sometimes though before being diagnosed with PPCM - even before pregnancy - which makes me wonder if it's something else (like anxiety).

[Mindyt]

Well, I am glad someone else knows what I am talking about! It sounds like the exact thing that happens to me. You couldn't have explained it better. I guess it is good that it is nothing serious, huh? It is frustrating though. On a good note, mine yawning/shortness of breath thing has gotten better over the last couple of months. So, hopefully yours will get better too. I just hope it doesn't come back or get worse again......

[Erin]

Jennifer & Mindy--I'm the same. It's most of the time with me. I've noticed that after I rest or sleep it lets up for awhile, but it resumes fairly quickly. It's like I have to try sometimes by yawning or whatever in order to get a "full" breath.

So...Dr. Fett, what is that? Is it just par for the course, or something to address more seriously? I'm I not resting enough or doing to much activity-wise? I've talked to my cardiologist about it, but he doesn't seem concerned.