Shortness of Breath
#15667 - 07/30/03 02:12 PM
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Tbone
Reged: 07/21/03
Posts: 5
Loc: Missouri
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I am IBS-c, and I was wondering if it is normal during an attack to have shortness of breath. I also sometimes experience a feeling similar to menstrual cramps. Could this be an indication of something else causing the IBS other than eating the wrong foods?
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I can't believe I have FINALLY found someone who shares these symptoms with me! I have posted many times on this board and the IBS Self Help board regarding these two symptoms. When I mention the shortness of breath to my primary doctor, he just kind of looks puzzled and shakes his head. I told my GI doctor about the shortness of breath and he said, well.... I guess I could refer you to a pulmonary specialist. Are you KIDDING me? There is nothing wrong with my lungs except for my bloated belly pushing on them.
This is basically how I feel most of the time, sometimes worse, sometimes better. I feel as though I am short of breath; it is an effort to take a complete deep breath. I have a feeling of pressure or abdominal bloating. My belly gets visibly distended. It is almost like I have a giant elastic band around my diaphragm and lower ribs. I often have what feels like a uterine contraction even when it is not even close to that time of month. I went to my GYN because I was sure that these symptoms must be GYN related. He did I pelvic ultrasound which was normal except that it showed a 5cm uterine fibroid. My GYN insists that a fibroid that size would not cause these symptoms.
I wish I could offer you a solution to this, but I am still trying to figure it out myself. I have had these symptoms along with my IBS-C for about a year now. Nothing else has developed and it has never gotten worse, so I am attributing it to IBS. Sorry to go on so, I am just SO relieved to hear someone else with this shortness of breath thing. Thanks for listening. artist
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Hi Tbone.. I have also experienced shortness of breath sometimes during attacks. When this happened, I looked it up online and believe they might have been part of anxiety attacks, which makes sense because I always panic a little during attacks - especially when they're in public places!
I have an appointment with a GI specialist next week and I'm going to ask him/her about it then just to make sure.
As for the menstrual cramps, I get horrid cramps so sometimes I get confused as to what cramps are happening during the couple days before my period! After an hour or so of the cramps, I can usually tell which ones they are.
Hope this helps a bit!
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- Jennifer
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Sounds like a panic attack to me. I had them several years ago and they are not fun. I felt like someone was putting a pillow over my face and trying to smother me. Is this what it feels like to you?
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I find that I often get shortness of breath or a feeling that my heart is pounding hard--or that my mid-section is just sort of throbbing. It's a bad feeling, isn't it? In my case, I don't think it is panic, but I'm not sure. It happens frequently after I eat. If I'm going through a bad phase, it is much worse. I also recently started feeling like I have menstrual cramps when I'm not having my period. I'm having an ultrasound to rule out ovarian/uterine problems.
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Along with seeing your GI doctor about your concerns, I would schedule a checkup with your GYN doctor and mention them. Doesn't necessarily mean anything but it's worth checking out. There are other things that cause these symptoms, though rare, good to rule out. Shortness of breath can specifically be attributed to a bloated abdomen, pushing up on the diaphragm, thus causing the shortness of breath. The bloated abdomen can be from IBS type stuff or gyno type stuff, that is what should be ruled out. Good luck!
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Take care,
Michelle
...the greatest of these is LOVE. (I Cor 13)
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I was recently amazed when I read one of Shawneric's posts about additional symptoms of IBS. Shortness of breath is one of them. Here is the post: web page
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Lorna 
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I am glad to hear that other people can relate to these problems. I think it is a combination of a panic attack and just my stomach being so bloated. I'm just trying to wait out this current attack. Thank you for the comments.
Tabitha
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