Air Hunger - 4 Months After Avr

[jag004]

Ever since awakening from surgery, 4 months ago, I had experienced constant bouts of "air hunger".......not getting enough air, especially on a mouth inhale for a deep breath.

My chest feels as if I NEED a deep breath. So I try to take a deep inhale and fail to accomplish it. Then it seems that my need for breath gets stronger, so I try and try again in almost a panic state. This might take upto 10-15 times before a deep breath occurs. Sometimes I must create a yawn to satisfy the deep breath. A few minutes after accomplishing my deep breath, that NEED in my chest for deep breath is back again. This is a never ending cycle.

My surgeon n cardio have chalked it upto de-conditioning.....but only because the X-rays, echo, pulmonary function test, stress test and sniff test have come back normal. My cardio doesn't think it's cardiac related, but recommends cardiac rehab. I haven't had a CT scan or MRI for this situation. Should I have one done?

This has been everyday for 4 months now. What do I do? I'm very scared that something went wrong during surgery or that my valve didn't take correctly. I luckily haven't had any other side effects from surgery except for this air hunger.

Has anyone had this before?

 

[-andrew-]

Re: Air Hunger - 4 Months After Avr

Hi jag004,

I had a similar experience after my first surgery, 11 years ago. I just couldn't seem to satisfy my need for a big, deep breath. This happened about 3 months after my surgery and lasted for about 1 to 2 weeks. It coincided with me increasing the amount of swimming and cycling I was doing, although the breathless feeling always happened when I was not exercising. Like you, it scared me and the more I thought about it, the worse it seemed to get. I went to the doctors and they performed a chest xray and echo both of which were fine. There was no abrupt end to this feeling but one day I realised I could take deep, satisfying breaths again. I had a repeat of the experience about a year after that but after going through it once it didn't overly concern me and the feeling passed within about a week.

Hopefully, you'll have a similar experience to me and this problem will resolve itself quickly.

Best wishes,

Andrew

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2

 

[dg_moore]

I had a bit of this for a couple of days after getting home from the hospital, but it resolved itself quickly. Air hunger can also be associated with anxiety

http://www.reddit.com/r/Anxiety/comments/1e3qqv/how_to_fight_air_hunger/

- any chance that could be associated?

 

[Eva]

I agree with Dave's above response. I went through the same and it was anxiety in my situation. The surgery is a big trauma to the body, to heart, and to the emotions!

Keep using your spirometer when you can...no need to aim very high. I still use it from time to time and I enjoy it.

I pasted below a part of breathing techniques. you may read the whole article at:

http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-management-breathing-exercises-for-relaxation#


QUOTE:

Belly breathing

Belly breathing is easy to do and very relaxing. Try this basic exercise anytime you need to relax or relieve stress.

Sit in a comfortable position.
Put one hand on your belly just below your ribs and the other hand on your chest.
Take a deep breath in through your nose, and let your belly push your hand out. Your chest should not move.
Breathe out through pursed lips as if you were whistling. Feel the hand on your belly go in, and use it to push all the air out.
Do this breathing 3 to 10 times. Take your time with each breath.

Next steps

After you have mastered belly breathing, you may want to try one of these more advanced breathing exercises. Try all three, and see which one works best for you:

4-7-8 breathing
Roll breathing
Morning breathing
4-7-8 breathing

This exercise also uses belly breathing to help you relax. You can do this exercise either sitting or lying down.

To start, put one hand on your belly and the other on your chest as in the belly breathing exercise.
Take a deep, slow breath from your belly, and silently count to 4 as you breathe in.
Hold your breath, and silently count from 1 to 7.

Breathe out completely as you silently count from 1 to 8. Try to get all the air out of your lungs by the time you count to 8.

Repeat 3 to 7 times or until you feel calm.


Roll breathing

The object of roll breathing is to develop full use of your lungs and to focus on the rhythm of your breathing. You can do it in any position. But while you are learning, it is best to lie on your back with your knees bent.

Put your left hand on your belly and your right hand on your chest. Notice how your hands move as you breathe in and out.

Practice filling your lower lungs by breathing so that your "belly" (left) hand goes up when you inhale and your "chest" (right) hand remains still.

Always breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth. Do this 8 to 10 times.
When you have filled and emptied your lower lungs 8 to 10 times, add the second step to your breathing:

Inhale first into your lower lungs as before, and then continue inhaling into your upper chest. As you do so, your right hand will rise and your left hand will fall a little as your belly falls.

As you exhale slowly through your mouth, make a quiet, whooshing sound as first your left hand and then your right hand fall. As you exhale, feel the tension leaving your body as you become more and more relaxed.

Practice breathing in and out in this way for 3 to 5 minutes. Notice that the movement of your belly and chest rises and falls like the motion of rolling waves.

Practice roll breathing daily for several weeks until you can do it almost anywhere. You can use it as an instant relaxation tool anytime you need one.

Caution: Some people get dizzy the first few times they try roll breathing. If you begin to breathe too fast or feel lightheaded, slow your breathing. Get up slowly.

Morning breathing

Try this exercise when you first get up in the morning to relieve muscle stiffness and clear clogged breathing passages. Then use it throughout the day to relieve back tension.

From a standing position, bend forward from the waist with your knees slightly bent, letting your arms dangle close to the floor.
As you inhale slowly and deeply, return to a standing position by rolling up slowing, lifting your head last.
Hold your breath for just a few seconds in this standing position.
Exhale slowly as you return to the original position, bending forward from the waist.
UNQUOTE

You will overcome this soon. Keep us informed

 

[Lily]

Density altitude

Density altitude

Post OHS, I seem to be more vulnerable to DENSITY ALTITUDE. And not just when I'm flying.

If you want to look into it, Wiki and other places on the Web have some interesting articles on it.

You live in Pennsylvania and you are recovering post OHS during this hot muggy summer.

Heat and humidity can dramatically reduce the available oxygen for you.

Post OHS, I also feel better with proper hydration and more attention to my mineral balance also.

Hope that helps. Take care