Shortness of breath after mastectomy

DallasCowboysFan · October 2017

I had a mastectomy a year ago, and it started about 6 months after that out of no where i have shortness of breath. I almost feel like i am suffocating. My skin is so tight up against my chest i don't know if that is causing it or not. The Dr. Doesn't see anything and not sure what to do. He said if it was in my lungs, it would be constant, not just sometimes. Has anyone experienced this? What did you find it was, or what helped? I am desperate. It is ruining my life

cive · October 2017

Has your doctor done any imaging such as a CT scan or X-ray? There are some lung conditions that come and go depending on how active you are or whether you are sitting or laying down. You might want to ask for a referral to a pulmonologist (lung doctor).

Denise-G · October 2017

Gosh, never heard of anyone had shortness of breath from a mastectomy one year later.

I hope you have been to your GP for heart or lung issues. I am a heart attack survivor from AC chemo - so please get this checked!

ravzari · October 2017

Definitely something that needs to be checked by a specialist.

Not all lung problems 'are constant'; many certainly are, but others are not; just as an example, people with asthma aren't in a constant state of having an asthma attack, it "comes and goes", so to speak and may or may not have specific triggers.

You said your doctor doesn't see anything; what sort of tests did they do?

It may help them to know if it seems to happen randomly or if it goes along with being in a certain position (i.e laying/sitting or standing), while doing a certain activity, while around or working with certain things (plants, materials, animals, etc...) or whether it seems to happen at rest vs. while physically active.

A lot of times random isn't always as random as it seems at first glance, so it may also help to pay close attention to or write down what you're doing and if you're standing, sitting, or laying when it happens to see if you can identify a pattern of some sort.

Either way, if the doctor you saw was just your GP and not a pulmonologist, it's definitely worth asking for a referral to a pulmonologist.

obsolete · October 2017

Hi DallasFan, Exercise-Induced Asthma can cause your described symptoms. I agree that a referral to a pulmonologist for testing your lungs & breathing and a possible cardio evaluation also.

A prescribed inhaler had helped me with my breathing issues related to activity-induced asthma, which had begun worsening for me following my BMX surgery due to deconditioning, plus Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome chest bungee tightness which had slowed me down. Best wishes for feeling better soon. Blessings!

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Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction may begin during or a few minutes after exercise, and they may persist for 30 minutes or longer if left untreated. The signs and symptoms may include:

Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness or pain
Fatigue during exercise
Poorer than expected athletic performance
Feeling out of shape even when you're in good physical shape
Avoidance of activity (a sign primarily among young children)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/exe...

farmerlucy · October 2017

When I was first diagnosed and I was in the pit of despair I went to the emergency room for shortness of breath. I didn't realize I was having panic attacks. I'm not saying that is what is happening with you, but it might be a possibility. I saw my PCP who gave me some powerful counseling and ordered me on anxiety meds for a year. I was worried about addiction but he said, “I don't care if you get addicted, we'll deal with that later. YOU need this." It was a long road out of the anxiety and depression, but I made it. I weaned off the anxiety meds that next spring with no problem.

lyndsaytory · October 2018

Hi. I also am experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue since my double mastectomy/reconstruction. I’ve been hospitalized and had several tests done but no answers yet as to why I am having trouble breathing. Have you had any luck with finding an answer for your troubles?

farmerlucy · October 2018

I had a CT scan done of my lungs. It showed fluid around my lungs, and I thing that is what I was feeling, my PCP thought it was from the trauma of the mx and recon and that it would go away. It did.Still it was very disconcerting.

LisaK12 · October 2018

Any time someone is having shortness of breath they should be evaluated for potential blood clots in the lungs, which can begin as deep vein thrombosis (a not uncommon side effect of being hospitalized and/or laid up in bed for some period of time) -- especially if one has been on birth control pills or any other medications where one of the potential side effects is blood clots. If the clots migrate to the lungs it can be dangerous. I know because I experienced shortness of breath (which I misinterpreted as asthma symptoms) and went to the doctor. After testing my blood oxygen level she immediately sent me for a CT scan which showed massive blood clots (pulmonary emboli) in both lungs. They transferred me to the emergency room and while waiting to be admitted to a hospital bed I coded and had to be resuscitated twice. They ended up bringing in a specialist -- an interventional radiologist -- who pulled out the clots from my lungs using a corkscrew-like device which was inserted through my pelvis. I was unconscious for five days and released from the hospital after a week. In my case it turned out that I had a genetic mutation that I was unaware of which predisposed me to blood clots, in addition to having recently flown on a lengthy international trip and having been on birth control pills for many years. Bottom line: Insist on testing until they get to the bottom of it -- I was lucky because my doctor took it seriously!

Shortness of breath after mastectomy

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