CAN'T CATCH MY BREATH??????

jenn3 · July 2010

For the last several weeks off and on throughout the day I've had trouble take deep breaths. I'm not out of breath, I can walk around, up and down stairs, play with the dog, etc. It's that feeling of oh I need a deep breath to stretch out the lungs and can't get it. I find it hard and have to work at it a few times to get that deep breath. It obvious to my daughter, who thinks I'm frustrated with her when I'm actually trying to get that deep breath. At first I thought it was allergies, but I've been taking my allergy medicine faithfully as I have for the last 15+ years and I don't think it's allergies. I've also suffered with allergy or exercise induced asthma so I tried my inhaler, but that didn't work either. Has anyone had this feeling? Wondering if radiation did something.......

I do have my regular follow up appointment with my onc on the 13th and will discuss this, but I was just curious to know if any of you experienced this feeling of not being out of breath, but can't seem to get that deep breath that feels really good.

helena67 · July 2010

I guess it could be a radiation pneumonitis? That could be treated with steroids, I think. I hope it will turn out to be nothing serious. Could you give your Onc a call and see if you can see him or her a little sooner? For peace of mind and to get things checked out...

Best wishes,

Helena.

dreamwriter · July 2010

Can you get an xray.... it could be the beginning of a pleural effusion... the tightness that wont let you breathe deep... if it gets worse you would feel like you are wading through water just to walk across a street.

KerryMac · July 2010

I think that Radiation can do damage to your lungs. Hopefully it is nothing serious.

If it continues, and you are worried, I would see if you should get your appt moved up a bit too.

pip57 · July 2010

Don't panic yet. I had the same thing. I have had allergies all my life and take an antihistimine every day of the year. So when I was actually having to concentrate on breathing I also expected the worst. However, my doc calmed me down. She did an xray to check my lungs and then put me on Advair when the test showed no obvious reason for my breathing problems. Within 2 weeks all was well.

That was 2 years ago. I am still on an inhaler, but not the advair one. I wonder if our allergies just get rekindled after all of the cancer tx. Or maybe our lungs just need that extra help now.

ElaineD · July 2010

I was going to say the same as dreamwriter-possibly a pleural effusion which may need to be drained. It's certainly worth mentioning at your next check up.

jenn3 · July 2010

It's weird because I can breath normally even get a deep breath at times without a struggle, but that deep breath at various times through out the day is hard to come by. And.... when I do finally "get it" I hold my breath trying to hold in the oxygen - craziness I know, but it also feels good. I have an appt on the 13th, but maybe I'll call tomorrow to see if they can do an x-ray so that they have the results either before then or for my appt.

paml · July 2010

Hi Jenn,

I had that after radiation and chemo and I don't have allergies. It did go away after a while and now I am fine. Sometimes anemia can do that also.

blondie45 · July 2010

jenn3 - Did you have chemo? If so, what did you have? Adriamycin?

blondiex46 · July 2010

I had chemo and radiation and coughed forever. They told me that was radiation ....... there is a word for it but can't think of it, but now I have developed asthma.

ebann · July 2010

I became anemia from all the chemo. I had a hard time breathing and had to catch my breath. My WBC was really low. I ended up with 2 transfusions and I felt so much better after that. When was the last time they checked your blood levels? Good luck!

jenn3 · July 2010

My blood levels seem to be low all of the time, really bottomed out during chemo. Hmmm - didn't think about that. Thank you for all of your support - I know that I am not alone with this weird feeling.

I had AC + T and did have several scans and EKG's to check my heart. Just went to the dr for something else the other day and my BP is good.

I guess my 13th follow up with the onc will be a good long talk about various issues and reassurances.

blondie45 · July 2010

jenn3 - good to hear that you already had the ejection fraction test and that was okay. I am still working on getting mine back up to the normal range.

MonikaV · July 2010

Hi Jenn3,

I do not want to scare you, but I was having the same problem breathing. After changing doctors, the new doctor ordered an 2-Echo, and I was hospitalized with an open heart surgery due to a blood clot the size of a golf ball inside my right atrium. I guess what i am trying to tell you... Be on top of it! Ask your doctor for an EKG and 2- D echo. Just in case. Good luck! Monika

jenn3 · July 2010

Monika - thanks for the info, it's never bad to be cautious, especially after we've been poisened with chemo. I will talk to the onc about this too.

pupfoster1 · July 2010

Hey Jenn,

Sorry to hear about the breathing issue. I hope you feel better soon and the docs can give you some relief. You definitely need to have it checked out if you are still feeling bad in a day or so. I just posted my latest issue so I know how you feel. It's so frustrating. And I saw you just hit your one year mark! Congrats on that, and hopefully this will be a thing of the past for you soon too.

Love,

Sharon

Colette37 · July 2010

I feel for you! I don't have a 'breathing' issue..I have throat issue. I can not eat ANYTHING with any kind of spices at all without being in a major amount of pain and feeling ill when I do. I can no longer eat even pepperoni because of it! I wonder if that is also the reason that I have now became sick when I drink milk? Never used to affect me like it does now.

precioustime · July 2010

Hi Jenn3:

Did you have your Mediastinal area radiated? I did and about 2 months after radiation I developed a cough and same feeling of not being able to take a deep breath (without coughing)..... Last week I had a PET/CT scan follow up (3 months post Rads).... The good news was "no evidence of tumor"--- the other news was that there was some mild lung change. (I can't find my diagnosis sheet to get correct wording-- BUT basically inflammation in the lung area most likely caused by radiation).

About 1 month after RADS I contacted the Oncologist to tell her of my coughing and breathing issues and she put me on Steroids for 4 weeks which had worked wonders-- Unfortunately Steroids also have S/E's. After I was off of Steroids for a few weeks, I really noticed that my coughing was getting worse-- especially after a good laugh! (I Love to Laugh)..... The Oncologist then put me on Albuterol Inhaler that seems to help a little.

Since my PET/CT scan I have only been to the Breast Surgeon who said this is probably pneumonitis and should not get any worse BUT nothing you can do for it?

My thought is "yes" there is something I can do for it--- PRAY!

I pray that your breathing gets better and soon!

Loretta

CAN'T CATCH MY BREATH??????

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