Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips shortmess of breath

i am going through something new.. shortness of breath.. seems like whenever i walk a short distance.. it starts. i believe it is from the AS... even though i am going for a chest xray.. also... numbness in areas of my legs.. please tell me if anyonelse has similar things happening... i have had AS for 50 yrs. but never had what i just mentioned.. would like to hear from anyone who can tell me more about this.. thanks

I have had shortness of breath for about 6 months now. I've had AS for about 3 years. I have consulted a few different doctors about it, and they believe it's AS related. I also have rib pain and inflammation.

As many people will tell you, definitely allow a physician to rule out other problems. It can be difficult to distinguish between different feelings.

Along with rib pain, it just feels like I can't open my lungs enough to get a satisfying amount of air. If I really concentrate on it I can make it work, but it takes effort.

It seems that I can't even go grocery shopping without getting winded these days. It's something I'm trying to work on. I try to do deep breathing exercises and do mild cardio work out. Just don't push yourself.

Hope this helps! Aly

it could be from the AS in the ribs, but it could also be a heart problem (or other?), so yes, best to check it out.

sue

I was going through much the same thing last summer. Something just as simple and mundane as taking a shower sometimes would leave me gasping for air. My chest hurt and air was impossible to come by. I was hospitalized 3 times for this. I was checked for heart disease and that was ok. I also saw a gastroenterologist and he did a scope of my stomach (can't remember the procedural name) and found I had GERD. After the 3d trip to the hospital and between my cardiologist changing my BP medication & being put on Omeprazole for my GERD, I haven't had another symptom since. They've never given it a name, but frankly I'm just happy to have that behind me.
I certainly hope you can find some answers soon. Please let us know what you find out.

Glenn

I'll get really bad muscle spasms in my mid back and that will give me shortness of breath. Although, if it is something new you are experiencing, I would definetly go get it checked out. Hope you feel better soon.
- Angie

I recently had the a similar problem too. Like you Glenn, taking a shower seemed to make my shortness of breath much worse. I was also having orthostatic hypotension/tachycardia and bad headaches. I had a couple of mornings where after my shower I had to lay down for about 45 minutes before I could stand up because I felt like I was going to pass out.

My GP couldn't figure out what it was (tried albuterol and Advair with absolutely no benefit, did an EKG which was normal, and referred me to a cardiologist). Before I went to the cardiologist I found an interesting tidbit on the web...NSAIDS (at least Relafen/nabumetone) can cause shortness of breath! Then I realized that the symptoms had started sometime soon after starting the nabumetone. I stopped taking it about 1-1/2 weeks ago, and I've had absolutely NO S.O.B. or orthostatic/headache issues since! Maybe it's just coincidence...I don't know. But if it is really a problem for someone and they're on an NSAID it's something to consider. Of course my spondy issues are causing different problems since I quit, but they hadn't really calmed down anyway with the nabumetone. I think it will be on to bigger guns soon (though the sulfasalzine may be helping some of the morning stiffness).

I hope this helps someone!
~Raina

I have had shortness of breath a few times. Lately it seems like more so then often. I thought tht I was having a day long panic attic becaust that is what it feels like. Hard for me to breath deep it HURTS.. Hard for me to turn my upper body.. I was just diagnosed this year and I just turned 40 in july.

One of the infirmities in the AS constellation is costochondritis which is an inflammation of the cartilage where th ribs join at the sternum. If you have costo it is VERY difficult to move your upper body and the pain often leads to shallow breathing.

I was diagnosed with costo about 7 years ago and have had it chronically since. Initially I thought I was having a heart attack (which is common for this condition) and drove myself the the hospital emergency. After eliminating any problems with my heart the drs concluded costo. One of the tell tale signs was that my chest was very tender to touch at the sternum.

It tends to come and go in flares and just kinda mildy ache in between. The rib inflammation though has tended to move around. I once thought one of my organs was aching and went to the dr and she told me the pain was in my lower rib and said that costo pain will radiate around -- and it certainly does.

After the costo came stiff neck, then frozen shoulder(s), then my diagnosis which the dr has made of Reiter's Disease. Dr. says I do not have AS since I only have one bad SI joint and no evidence of fusing in my spine ( but I am HLA-B27 positive as well)

Hi! I had a rhemmy tell me that I have AS, but he wrote reiter's in my file. He said he did that because if you put AS in a medical file you'll never get health insurance again. Just thought I'd pass that along.

Apple

You know guys, i have read and heard in the Indian Medicine and Yogic systems that breath is the single most vital tool for wellness.

Obviously shortness of breadth is an indication of the health situatuation we are in. I think its in our hands to bring the lost vitality back with controlled breathing. I am not an expert at this, but here are a few links which may help:

Art of Living: Sudarshan Kriya

http://www.artofliving.org/Courses/TheArtofLivingCourse/SudarshanKriya/tabid/195/Default.aspx

http://www.artofliving.org/Courses/TheArtofLivingCourse/MiraclesofBreath/tabid/154/Default.aspx

Video: Swami Ramdev Yoga: Pranayam
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-386913693756370208

Pranayam Training
http://www.divyayoga.com/freePranayamTraning.htm

These asanas have proved to be very useful and my parents keep telling me everyday that i should practice it. Thought this might be useful.