suffered shortness of breath - DPChallenge Forums

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

09/05/2009 06:16:46 AM · #1

31yrs old...wasn't ready for this.

I was performing a wedding (Wedding minister). I had 5 today. After the first 2 I went into the hotel cafeteria for some lunch and a 30 minute power nap. I was hot but the cafeteria was nice and cool. Then, it was time for the next wedding. I went to the chapel, did a mini-rehearsal, waited outside the chapel to greet guests. Then it was time to start the wedding. About 2 or 3 minutes into the 15 minute service my stomach felt weird. Then it felt like I wasn't able to get enough air into my lungs. I pushed through for about 2 minutes. I then slowed down the pace of the service (I speak Japanese faster than I do English...it's kind weird). Doing that allowed me to catch my breath enough to finish the wedding. The choir girls didn't notice any difference so I left it at that. I finished 2 more weddings without a problem.

Now, I would normally go to the hospital to get things checked but in Japan unless you go between the hours of 8am and 1pm you are not going to be able to see anyone that can really help. I would get the "Well, you seem fine now. If it happens again come back right away."

My question is: Can sudden rises/drops in temperature cause shortness of breath? Going from a cool greeting room to a chapel with lights pointing at me (I sweat almost every time)?

In the past I've had a few similar experiences. Not shortness of breath but going from cold to hot and then getting a weird feeling in my stomach that seems to spread to the rest of my body until I finish that particular wedding.

Bugzeye

09/05/2009 06:21:54 AM · #2

I am not a doctor but have experienced this feeling a few times going from Hot Humid outside temps in to our Airconditioned house several trips in and out can mess with you. Wouldn't hurt for you to get a check up though just to be safe.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

09/05/2009 08:29:28 AM · #3

Originally posted by Bugzeye:

I certainly will get a checkup. I had my annual checkup in January with everything being normal and in good health.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

09/05/2009 08:54:20 AM · #4

My husband has recently experienced feeling like he can't take a full breath. The urgent care recommended a cardiac workup. His regular doctor did blood work instead. His blood work showed that he was just over the line into being diabetic. Doc said that the not feeling like he could take a deep breath was one of the symptoms of the diabetes. 2 weeks later, his heart went into atrial fibrillation. It went back to a regular rhythm on its own. But now he's getting a full cardiac workup.

Get a checkup.

ambaker

Google Glass Google Glass

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

09/05/2009 08:54:28 AM · #5

Heat and humidity can do that, especially coming from a cool atmosphere. I've experienced it and it is disconcerting. Add to that, if your breathing gets off during portion of the service where you are talking, it can really be upsetting. Sometimes it has felt like there is no oxygen in the air.

However, as the previous poster mentioned, it is a good idea to get checked out, just to make sure.

rodneyg

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM

09/05/2009 09:39:37 AM · #6

You might have had an allergic reaction to something you ate. I have a food allergy and I feel like I'm going to die when it strikes. Just something to think about.

[url=//www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-allergy/ds00082]
I'm not a doctor and I strongly suggest seeing one.

Message edited by author 2009-09-05 09:41:00.

Gulizio

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/05/2009 09:49:10 AM · #7

Agree with vawendy.

When you start getting into the shortness of breath scenario, I would get a full checkup. Blood Pressure, Heart, Diabetes....

Shortness of breath or chest pains are 2 signs that should tell you to immediately get a checkup.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro

09/05/2009 10:38:24 AM · #8

Originally posted by Gulizio:

I certainly plan to do so. Like I said, in the past I've had similar incidents before (Without shortness of breath but instead with a warmth in my stomach that kinda spreads...empty stomach). It happens at the same chapel, under the same conditions and usually about the same time during the wedding (Now that I think about it). My hope in posting was that a ton of people were gonna come on here and say "Nah...no biggie...happens to me all the time when I go from hot to cold.".

I had a full check up in January of this year (Heart, Brain, Blood...the works) and all came out nice and clean. I exercise 3 days a week, watch what I eat, still only 31...but does this still happen? It's a shitty feeling. Thanks for posting people...if anything serious comes up in the tests, I'll start a new thread.

luvmyaussie

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/05/2009 10:47:10 AM · #9

I had an experience a few years ago and went through the entire heart work up. I was diagnosed with a panic attack. I had never had one before, but it sure felt like I was having a heart attack! Maybe the fact that you were performing so many ceremonies had something yo do with that reaction. The body reacts to stress in strange ways sometimes, even when you don't feel stressed...

I've had that spreading warmth sensation, too. It's really uncomfortable. I believe it is an adrenaline sensation....

Message edited by author 2009-09-05 10:49:04.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

09/05/2009 12:08:23 PM · #10

There are four main categories of what's going on with the sensation of shortness of breath:

1) Oxygen is not getting into the lungs (eg. asthma)
2) Oxygen is not diffusing across to the blood (eg. emphysema)
3) Oxygen is not being transported efficiently by the blood (eg. anemia, cardiac issues)
4) The brain is only sensing shortness of breath (eg. panic attack)

I'd be sure to have things checked out, especially if it repeats itself.

rko

Nikon D90

09/05/2009 12:21:24 PM · #11

What you need to do is take a photo of this shortness of breath and we can all vote on it. I am not making light fun of your difficulties beyond the fact that you are looking for medical advice on a photo challenge web site.

Though I am new to DPC it becomes much clearer why the voting is the way it is. Last week when visiting my doctor I showed him my last photo submission and he was comfortable with it but still gave me only a 5.

So.....
Everyone. lets vote for

heavyj to see if he has a serious health issue or not.
With 1 being that he is unlikely to have a health issue, 10 being that he belongs in the back of an ambulance.

I give him an 8

DPCAmbulance.jpg

Message edited by author 2009-09-05 13:30:46.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

09/05/2009 01:08:41 PM · #12

You'll discover DPC is a Wikipedia of knowledge about nearly everything. I'm constantly amazed at what questions I can get answered here.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

09/05/2009 01:36:30 PM · #13

I'll echo sneezy. I have yet to ask a question here, no matter how absurd, that someone wasn't able to answer. I've decided that dpc'ers know everything. :)

luvmyaussie

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro

09/05/2009 03:42:40 PM · #14

If all tests come back negative, I would definitely look into panic/anxiety attacks, especially since you say it happens during the same type of scenario. Panic/anxiety attacks are definitely uncomfortable, and you do feel like you can't catch your breath. Good luck!

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

09/05/2009 04:00:07 PM · #15

Well you seem fine now. If it happens again go to the doctor right away.

...hey, does that qualify me to be a Japanese after-hours doctor?

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

09/05/2009 07:49:15 PM · #16

Originally posted by AJHopp:

I have to agree with this advice. I get anxiety problems and when it happens, I feel as if I cannot get air into my lungs, even thought I am breathing fine. I even get light headed and dizzy, as if I were hypoxic. Years ago I was diagnoses with Prinztmetal's angina, which while it does not make you feel like you cannot breathe, it does cause a crushing chest pain. The two are very similiar, and the only difference I find is that when I am having a Printzmetal's episode, a shot of nitrolingual clears the chest pain. When I am having an anxiety attack, the nitro doesn't help.

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

09/05/2009 08:57:24 PM · #17

I hear this refrain throughout the thread:

If it happens again go (if it happens again do something).

Well, all that is good and fine. but dang, if it's cardiac arrest, that just may be the last time it happens. And who needs that?

Unless it costs so much to visit your doctor that you cannot afford it, make an appointment and get yourself checked again with this new information on board.

Do something about it now. Unless you are ready to take one of those one in four chances offered by any number of advisors.

Okay. Enough. My qualifications to give advice? I've had two of the four problems and once had a thrilling, if expensive, ride by ambulance, with, obviously a good outcome.

So, good luck whatever path you select.

:-))

Bugzeye

09/06/2009 01:34:47 AM · #18

That is because we all have Wikipedia and Google Bookmarked.

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

You'll discover DPC is a Wikipedia of knowledge about nearly everything. I'm constantly amazed at what questions I can get answered here.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

09/06/2009 03:30:24 AM · #19

For any of you medical experts, would this theory be at all possible?

When we're overwarm our blood vessels dilate to help cool us, right? Then, might they be suddenly responding to the chill by constricting, maybe too much, almost like a spasm, hence not working as efficiently as they should? But then again, in that case there'd likely be a feeling of faintness as well as the breathlessness.

I know I get breathless when I get pvc's but that only lasts the length of the wonky beat or 2.

Okay, I admit it, I have no idea, sorry!

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

09/06/2009 03:59:01 AM · #20

Go see a Doctor. Sooner, not later. That episode might have just been your body's warning shot. The next one could be the one that kills you.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

09/06/2009 04:02:13 AM · #21

DPC Member: AHHHHGHHHH My Chest!!!!!!

Friend (pulling out cell phone): I'm calling 911.

DPC Member: NO! NO! NO! Just post something in the DPC forums...

Friend: ummmm OK...