Good morning everyone, Does anyone feel like they can’t inhale as fully as they’d like to sometimes? I’ve had MS for years but i am still only very mildly affected. In middle of mavenclad treatment. For at least a year now, I’m often feeling out of breath even when hardly moving. I can inhale fully but often have to make a conscious choice to do so. I’m 37 and otherwise healthy.i can exercise normally. I just feel this from time to time and when i brought it up with my GP he said it’s nothing to worry about. I’m not worrying, just wondering if anyone feels this. My chest x-ray preceding mavenclad was fine too. Have a good day everyone. Katy
Hi kathy, I am very conscious of the fact that I find it very difficult to breathe in deeply. But I am overweight, immobile and have had PPMS for 23 years.
I have to sit a lot, so am squashed in the middle if you see what I mean. Even lying down in bed, I still find it hard to get a full in breath.
I know I have wasted leg muscles and I guess all my muscles are weak. This will include my chest muscles, so I put it down to that. But as you are fit and can exercise, it may not be the same.
I dont know if being unable to get a good breath in is a common MS symptom or not. Hopefully someone else will be along soon to tell you.
Boudsx
I would say breathing difficulty is a symptom of MS. I find it worse at night when I go to bed. I’m so used to it now. I’ve discussed it with MS nurses and my doctor but they haven’t got a clue.
This is from the MS Trust and suggests the problem is not uncommon.
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Thanks for the link. Why can’t the so called professionals offer constructive advice.
Hi, I too get this, feels like I can’t take a deep breath in and really have to concentrate to eventually doing it, this for me comes and goes, but when it does come back, it sticks around for a long time, very annoying, I have SPMS.
Jean x
just read that link whammel, very interesting.
Jean x
Thank you for all the help. It can be very frightening somehow…
I have had trouble with my breathing ever since my diagnosis 28 yr ago.When i mentioned it to the neuros all i got was ‘oh no MS does not affect your breathing at all’ When i had my daughter i passed out a few days later at home as i could not breathe.I think it was because i had,had gas and air and was very deep breathing that in and i had worn my lungs out,and my chest muscles too, because of the MS.When i mentioned this i was told that was very unlikely?? and they put it down to post natal depression??? which i have never had! I also have episodes where i wake in the night not being able to breathe properly,very scary it is too.
I am having trouble now with fluctuating blood pressure which can be caused by MS too.If i mentioned it to neuro’s i know for a fact they would say its not the MS,so i don’t bother mentioning anything.I have had to become my own expert in my own MS because i have no faith at all in the neuros i have seen.If they dont know the answers they blame you and make out you have depression or anxiety and thats just not right at all.
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Here’s a link to lots of breathing exercise options on James Nestor’s site. https://www.mrjamesnestor.com/breath-vids His book, ‘Breath’ is well worth a read I have listened to it as an audiobook, and it has a section at the end that talks you through lots of the breathing exercises he discusses. A number of them are designed to give you fuller access to your lung capacity, and help you ensure that your diaphragm is using its full range of travel.
Personally, I have been doing Wim Hof breathing since the start of lock-down im March, and find it very energising. The idea was to keep my lungs in reasonable working order in case of Covid. I really enjoy the Wim Hof breathing.
One of the main points in Nestor’s book is that conventional docs - even pulmonary ones - aren’t terribly bothered about breathing unless and until you show signs of frank pathology, at which point they spring into action. But fortunately there’s a load of free stuff out there to help us help ourselves breathe as well and stay as well as we can.
Alison
Thank you very much. You’ve all been so very helpful.
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With reduced activity we tend not to stress our breathing system. Even though reasonably mobile, I do not walk fast enough to get out of breath. At the start of Covid I started to do box breathing to keep my lungs working. Essentially breath in deeply, hold the breath in, breath out fully, wait before starting again. It is based on a Yoga exercise and is quite relaxing, not difficult and helps maintain lung function. You can do in bed, watching TV etc.