Hi all, Shortness of breath and resticted lung capacity is of course a common side effect of the stiffness and inflammation we have in our backs and ribs. I had shortness of breath for about 6 months before I started taking humira 8 years ago. The humira took away the stiffness an all other symptoms. I have been trying the lsd/scd/paleo diet for the past two years and and last month decided to see what happens without humira. So far I have no pain or stiffness, but I do have shortness of breath. I'm not sure if the shortness of breath is even from AS, I would think I need to feel stiffness to affect my lungs. But maybe not? Maybe it is shortness of breath just from the damage done all those years before treatment?

you ever had shortness of breath when all you are doing is lying down,yeah? see your doc if that is the case

take care

Look into allergies, Sleep Apnea, Asthma, heart problems - so many things can cause shortness of breath.

Gerri & Makaylah

rather than second guessing it, i'd go see my doctor. they are pretty good at being able to listen for certain things as we breathe.

Right there with you Steve. I have had this phenomenon happen for the last 7 years. It is usually in the summer. It will hit for anywhere from 1-2 months and then disappear. No other allergy symptoms at all. Some years, nada. They will happen while I am lying down, sitting, walking. Nothing seems to trigger it. I have had two pulmonary test and just had a CT scan if I had a blood clot between my lungs and heart. Next is to have another sleep study.

My primary believes it is just another symptom of increased autonomic sympathetic arousal brought on by the sympathetic nervous system. We have the sympathetic, parasympathetic and the enteric (stomach brain) nervous systems. I have A.S. and Fibro and am quite progressed. I am a subset of fibro peeps that are affected by the barometric pressure and I live where the weather changes several times a day.

If you have had a lot of stress lately, mental or physical it will sometimes drop kick your nervous system into hyper drive leaving you with all of these weird systems. Now other things have recently happened besides the breathing problem. The Dr. thought because of my symptoms that I had a huge kidney infection. No, it was just the hyper arousal of my nervous system. Hope some of this info helps.

Shortness of breath for me = low iron.
An iron pill a day works perfectly.

What is your rib expansion like? You can check with a tape measure, and you can probably google to find out what normal is for men. If its an inch or less difference between breathing out, and a full breath, then I know that is definitely restricted.

A poorly functioning heart will also cause shortness of breath. Your doc can check that out.

You are spot on Timo. Drs. have told me that too but say that my iron isn't very low at all and I take some supplements with iron in them. I was chowing down the chicken livers and spinach for 2 weeks and now my breathing problems are a lot fewer and far between.

Cemc,

I have a feeling after the sleep study they will look at my heart but they just did a CT scan of my lungs and heart to look for blood clots and found zipola.

I have looked into the autonomic nervous system and it can work so easily right along with A.S. and the Fibro that I have as well. I will try to find the measurements for rib expansion and have my Dr. do it as my measuring tape is already packed.

Thanks for your responses.

Interesting Pea I do have a lot of stress right now (have to move, but don't know where yet). I certainly can't determine other triggers. Other than I am tired most days from not sleeping enough. On the weekend I was fine for sleep and breathing. I also had an enjoyable weekend.

Timo, I do traditonally have low iron as well, and along with sleep deprivation I do remember that was causing shortness in the past. I have been on iron infusiions lately , but it's been a few months and I should get a blood test. I avoid orally because I think it affects my digestion (I am treating IBD with the diet as well).

Everyone had a good suggestion to check with the dr though. I am seeing the general practitioner to rule anything out tomorrow. Although I have the feeling as with most ailments I'll be on my own figuring out the problem and remedy.

and I'm looking for a tape measure.

I think I'm going to cut out the one thing I eat I know has starch in it - a root vegetable puree. Since I didn't perceive arthritic or digestive symptoms I thought it was ok but maybe it's too risky.