Shortness of breath and feeling sweaty/flushed easily lately?
January 16, 2023 9:55 AM Subscribe
YANMD, but lately, I've noticed when I walk on an upwards incline for an extended time, or lift heavy items, I quickly become very out of breath and become sweaty/need to really pause to catch my breath. I've had a few occasions where I've been very concerned, but don't want to bother my doctor with this, because I've had a few other questions. Figured I'd turn to here and see.
The first occasion included me swallowing something down the wrong pipe, and I had to cough a few times. During that, I had a very weird sensation where all of a sudden, I felt so out of it, and kind of "blacked out" (as in, everything in my vision disappeared except for my friend sitting in front of me at the dinner table), and I felt like nothing was real or there. The sensation disappeared quickly (within 30 seconds), and I returned back to normal, but it was really off-putting and weird.
The second occasion included me using a cart to bring water bottle boxes to my apartment, and I had to push the cart up a tiny, usually-easily maneuvered "hill" (the hallway to my apartment goes up, not like stairs, but just up, slightly). This knocked me out a bit, and I was breathing very hard. The cart was heavy, but I've done this before without serious issues. A bit later, at my friend's house, I was bringing up two Costco boxes (not too heavy) up the stairs, and when I put the boxes down, I was breathing very hard and had to sit down to catch my breath.
If it's at all related, I noticed that sometimes when I am laying on bed, or waking up, my arms often feel asleep (that tingling feeling) and it takes a while for them to "wake up". Also, sometimes, after a long walk outside, I feel a bit out of breath.
I don't think it's simply that I'm out of shape. I've done all of those before without issue, and I try to walk everyday and hit the gym when I can, and I haven't had any substantial weight loss (as a matter of fact, last I checked, I had lost a few pounds!), but those two occasions have left me feeling very concerned. I've noticed it takes much less to 'knock me out' and exhaust me those days. I'm not sure if it's just part of getting older (mid/late 30s here) or an indication of an underlying issue. Perhaps the thinner winter/cold air? I'm not sure, but I remember hiking in the summer last year and feeling pretty out of breath, and one time I was biking in the fall and became very light headed and out of breath/clammy, although that could have been attributed to not having enough food/water.
I wanted to ask first before going to my doctor—don't want to be that patient who cries wolf, especially as I've had all those stomach issues (you can see my past Asks), but wanted to get your insight first. Thanks!
The first occasion included me swallowing something down the wrong pipe, and I had to cough a few times. During that, I had a very weird sensation where all of a sudden, I felt so out of it, and kind of "blacked out" (as in, everything in my vision disappeared except for my friend sitting in front of me at the dinner table), and I felt like nothing was real or there. The sensation disappeared quickly (within 30 seconds), and I returned back to normal, but it was really off-putting and weird.
The second occasion included me using a cart to bring water bottle boxes to my apartment, and I had to push the cart up a tiny, usually-easily maneuvered "hill" (the hallway to my apartment goes up, not like stairs, but just up, slightly). This knocked me out a bit, and I was breathing very hard. The cart was heavy, but I've done this before without serious issues. A bit later, at my friend's house, I was bringing up two Costco boxes (not too heavy) up the stairs, and when I put the boxes down, I was breathing very hard and had to sit down to catch my breath.
If it's at all related, I noticed that sometimes when I am laying on bed, or waking up, my arms often feel asleep (that tingling feeling) and it takes a while for them to "wake up". Also, sometimes, after a long walk outside, I feel a bit out of breath.
I don't think it's simply that I'm out of shape. I've done all of those before without issue, and I try to walk everyday and hit the gym when I can, and I haven't had any substantial weight loss (as a matter of fact, last I checked, I had lost a few pounds!), but those two occasions have left me feeling very concerned. I've noticed it takes much less to 'knock me out' and exhaust me those days. I'm not sure if it's just part of getting older (mid/late 30s here) or an indication of an underlying issue. Perhaps the thinner winter/cold air? I'm not sure, but I remember hiking in the summer last year and feeling pretty out of breath, and one time I was biking in the fall and became very light headed and out of breath/clammy, although that could have been attributed to not having enough food/water.
I wanted to ask first before going to my doctor—don't want to be that patient who cries wolf, especially as I've had all those stomach issues (you can see my past Asks), but wanted to get your insight first. Thanks!
Have you had Covid recently, or, ever? Sounds similar to some symptoms of Long Covid
On posting: jinx!
posted by atlantica at 9:59 AM on January 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
On posting: jinx!
posted by atlantica at 9:59 AM on January 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
I'd also ask for a standard blood test - could be anemia symptoms.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:04 AM on January 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:04 AM on January 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
I was about to ask about COVID as well but saw several others already had! Expanding on that though, besides COVID a bunch of other nasty respiratory ailments like flu and RSV have been running rampant. If you can it's definitely worth talking to a doctor; these symptoms could signal something dangerous. Best of luck to you.
posted by abucci at 10:05 AM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by abucci at 10:05 AM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Please please please get to a doctor pronto. These are precisely the symptoms I’ve heard about from people who ended up soon thereafter having a heart attack and/or needing stents or bypass surgery. Do not delay.
posted by beagle at 10:06 AM on January 16, 2023 [31 favorites]
posted by beagle at 10:06 AM on January 16, 2023 [31 favorites]
Those are serious symptoms, likely neurological, and you should really talk to your doctor. I had exactly the same symptoms before being diagnosed with a serious neurological condition. They could also be long Covid or something less scary, but I would check.
posted by plant or animal at 10:06 AM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by plant or animal at 10:06 AM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm not usually one to suggest a scary answer, but this sounds very much like a friend who recently had a blood clot move from her leg (probably) to her lungs (definitely).
She did not want to bother anyone, either, but I'm glad she did as it is now being managed.
It would not have gone away on its own!
posted by Acari at 10:09 AM on January 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
She did not want to bother anyone, either, but I'm glad she did as it is now being managed.
It would not have gone away on its own!
posted by Acari at 10:09 AM on January 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
This is absolutely a reason to see your doctor. I had similar symptoms (with a few more) and she sent me for a stress test. That indicated an issue which imaging and further testing confirmed. I'm now on medication and starting to work out again under supervision, so it doesn't have to be anything super scary. But shortness of breath and fatigue are pretty classic signs you should investigate.
posted by warriorqueen at 10:18 AM on January 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by warriorqueen at 10:18 AM on January 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
Please get checked out -- echoing everyone else who mentioned a clot. also worth considering -- an ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium. but honestly, you need to get this checked out ASAP. it's better to know that it's something minor (or nothing at all! knock on wood!) than have it be something serious and untreated.
posted by arkhangel at 10:18 AM on January 16, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by arkhangel at 10:18 AM on January 16, 2023 [4 favorites]
I would go to the doc asap. these are the symptoms my dad was having and there was something wrong with his heart and he had to get a pace maker right away. i hope you feel better really soon!
posted by capnsue at 10:25 AM on January 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by capnsue at 10:25 AM on January 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
I’m on team blood clot as well. Was in the hospital for three weeks, then came home, and wasn’t moving around much for another few weeks. Then got the “getting winded walking the 20 feet to the bathroom”. A week later, lower leg pain. Giant clot in my leg, and a bunch in my lungs. Luckily the lung ones made it past the main arterial branch, so they didn’t kill me. So that, and/or heart issues means GO TO THE DOCTOR ASAP!
posted by Windopaene at 10:27 AM on January 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 10:27 AM on January 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
Nthing doctor. My father also had symptoms like these and needed a pacemaker immediately.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 10:33 AM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 10:33 AM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
I had something similar towards the end of October; ended up actually going to ER because I thought it was a heart attack but more because some of the symptoms lined up, but I didn't have the crushing chest pain. But also I'm a woman and we don't always get that.
ER doc thought it was covid or long covid, even though I had JUST had my second covid infection 6 weeks prior. More specifically, he said "this is exactly how I've seen covid present here [ER]" He still ran all the heart tests, ekg, the standard blood tests and covid test. Covid test was negative, but I also ended up with the TINIEST elevated temperature while I was there.
What the ER doctor said on covid was interesting. He thought I had covid, when I said I had it just roughly 6 weeks prior, he said that I still could have got it again, he's seen that. And it could be a reactivation of the virus, that even though a lot of the reactivation talked about in the media was shorter time frames, he had seen some that were longer. And he thought if it wasn't, because my symptoms were so consistant with what he saw with covid that it was probably long covid. Couldn't be sure, follow up with gp, etc etc.
Background to that, when I got the covid case in september, it was my second time getting covid. I'm vaccinated, though I didn't have my booster (I was trying to wait out to the omicron booster and got infected over labor day weekend, which was the week/weekend the booster came out.) My first time I had covid, the acute infection was pretty bad, but I recovered pretty quickly after the acute symptoms went away. This time, it was a bit easier, but I just was TIRED and sleeping all the time for weeks after recovering. I would fall asleep super early sitting on my couch. I'm in school, and I'd fall asleep studying in the library studying. I started and quit a student job that was 4 hrs a day 2 days a week because I just was so entirely wiped out after my shift and the next day. I had the wonderful brain frog. The way I described it is that it felt like someone put a wet blanket on my brain.
By the time I got to the er visit described above, the worst of the exhaustion had past, though still pretty freaking tired.
After the er visit, I had lingering symptoms, swollen tonsils, cough, no fever, and it eventually evolved into a sore throat and acute respiratory infection. This was over the course of two weeks, to the point that I am not entirely sure it wasn't a different infection, except it was like an excruciatingly slow march to illness. You know how when you get a cold, a day or two before you have some minor symptoms you're not sure if you're getting sick or not? It was like that, getting a tiny bit worse each day. And maybe it was a second illness, and who knows if it was covid or not, I did a rapid test a few times but no positives that time.
Complicating factor, I think I'm ALSO dealing with the symptoms of perimenopause and that is contributing to some of these issues with fatigue and fog. I also vaguely wonder if covid hasn't accelerated that as it through my periods into chaos immediately after (did the first time too) and there are lots of reports of it messing with women's menstrual cycles. Your username suggests this wouldn't be the case for you, but thought I should mention.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:39 AM on January 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
ER doc thought it was covid or long covid, even though I had JUST had my second covid infection 6 weeks prior. More specifically, he said "this is exactly how I've seen covid present here [ER]" He still ran all the heart tests, ekg, the standard blood tests and covid test. Covid test was negative, but I also ended up with the TINIEST elevated temperature while I was there.
What the ER doctor said on covid was interesting. He thought I had covid, when I said I had it just roughly 6 weeks prior, he said that I still could have got it again, he's seen that. And it could be a reactivation of the virus, that even though a lot of the reactivation talked about in the media was shorter time frames, he had seen some that were longer. And he thought if it wasn't, because my symptoms were so consistant with what he saw with covid that it was probably long covid. Couldn't be sure, follow up with gp, etc etc.
Background to that, when I got the covid case in september, it was my second time getting covid. I'm vaccinated, though I didn't have my booster (I was trying to wait out to the omicron booster and got infected over labor day weekend, which was the week/weekend the booster came out.) My first time I had covid, the acute infection was pretty bad, but I recovered pretty quickly after the acute symptoms went away. This time, it was a bit easier, but I just was TIRED and sleeping all the time for weeks after recovering. I would fall asleep super early sitting on my couch. I'm in school, and I'd fall asleep studying in the library studying. I started and quit a student job that was 4 hrs a day 2 days a week because I just was so entirely wiped out after my shift and the next day. I had the wonderful brain frog. The way I described it is that it felt like someone put a wet blanket on my brain.
By the time I got to the er visit described above, the worst of the exhaustion had past, though still pretty freaking tired.
After the er visit, I had lingering symptoms, swollen tonsils, cough, no fever, and it eventually evolved into a sore throat and acute respiratory infection. This was over the course of two weeks, to the point that I am not entirely sure it wasn't a different infection, except it was like an excruciatingly slow march to illness. You know how when you get a cold, a day or two before you have some minor symptoms you're not sure if you're getting sick or not? It was like that, getting a tiny bit worse each day. And maybe it was a second illness, and who knows if it was covid or not, I did a rapid test a few times but no positives that time.
Complicating factor, I think I'm ALSO dealing with the symptoms of perimenopause and that is contributing to some of these issues with fatigue and fog. I also vaguely wonder if covid hasn't accelerated that as it through my periods into chaos immediately after (did the first time too) and there are lots of reports of it messing with women's menstrual cycles. Your username suggests this wouldn't be the case for you, but thought I should mention.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:39 AM on January 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
I went back over your post history and read this question. Did they evaluate you for any heart issues then? I am really wondering if what you were experiencing wasn't actually related to your stomach but your heart. The worm feeling you described, depending on what exactly it felt like and where, immediately stood out to me as what I've heard described as fluttering in atrial fibrillation.
Not a doctor, just been watching way too much medical youtube since start of the pandemic. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:48 AM on January 16, 2023 [5 favorites]
Not a doctor, just been watching way too much medical youtube since start of the pandemic. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:48 AM on January 16, 2023 [5 favorites]
Nthing go to the doctor. This could be a number of things, some of them quite serious. I had similar symptoms, and it turned out to be severe anemia, the kind you can die from. I ended up getting a blood test, and the doctor called me at home that night to tell me to go to the ER for blood transfusions. My shortness of breath was more severe than yours seems to be by then, so I don't think you need to panic, but more than one doctor has told me I'm very lucky I didn't die.
Doctors know that shortness of breath can be serious, so please don't feel like you'll be judged or the doctor will think you're crying wolf.
posted by FencingGal at 10:50 AM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Doctors know that shortness of breath can be serious, so please don't feel like you'll be judged or the doctor will think you're crying wolf.
posted by FencingGal at 10:50 AM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Shortness of breath is an immediate trip to the doctor.
posted by fies at 10:58 AM on January 16, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by fies at 10:58 AM on January 16, 2023 [4 favorites]
Definitely doctor. An increasing inability to walk up inclines while feeling fine at rest could indicate your heart is struggling to keep up with a higher level of activity. That's pretty easy to check out via EKGs, Zio patches or echocardiograms and there are all sorts of fixes. At a minimum, you want to eliminate that before searching for other reasons.
posted by mono blanco at 11:09 AM on January 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by mono blanco at 11:09 AM on January 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Definitely for sure go to the doctor but just as an FYI before you totally freak out that you have an aortic aneurysm -- shortness of breath, issues with vision, and tingling in your extremities is also classic B12 deficiency. (Which can also be serious so DEFINITELY go to the doctor! I have pernicious anemia and need monthly B12 shots.)
The doctor will be glad you came in, you are definitely meant to see the doc w. symptoms like these.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:13 AM on January 16, 2023 [6 favorites]
The doctor will be glad you came in, you are definitely meant to see the doc w. symptoms like these.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:13 AM on January 16, 2023 [6 favorites]
If your insurance has a nurse hotline, you can call them and ask what they think but from personal experience, I’m confident that they will recommend that you see a doctor.
Going forward, if possible, please reach out to a health care professional any time your body does something that makes you feel “very concerned.” You’re not crying wolf. You’re taking care of yourself. Good luck.
posted by kat518 at 11:41 AM on January 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Going forward, if possible, please reach out to a health care professional any time your body does something that makes you feel “very concerned.” You’re not crying wolf. You’re taking care of yourself. Good luck.
posted by kat518 at 11:41 AM on January 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also be sure to ask your doctor about a possible B-12 deficiency. Serious and super easy to treat.
posted by happy_cat at 11:47 AM on January 16, 2023
posted by happy_cat at 11:47 AM on January 16, 2023
As far as issue #1, when you have to do that kind of full-body panic-coughing, it's easy to trigger the vasovagal response when you clench up your core really abruptly. My husband sometimes experiences anxiety clench-and-faint episodes, and also sometimes has to have brief painful-weird medical treatments where I come along and create weird distractions incompatible with clenching up like that so he won't faint. If you're having a choking response, as well, your nervous system tends to run an emergency power-down routine on everything not needed in the moment, to divert all resources to getting air in/the thing out.
But the rest is worrisome enough that yes, you should bring this writeup to your doctor. If you have had or think you may have had ANY virus in the past couple months - COVID, flu, RSV, gastro - please mention it to them, as there are post-viral conditions that should be ruled out.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:57 AM on January 16, 2023
But the rest is worrisome enough that yes, you should bring this writeup to your doctor. If you have had or think you may have had ANY virus in the past couple months - COVID, flu, RSV, gastro - please mention it to them, as there are post-viral conditions that should be ruled out.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:57 AM on January 16, 2023
Response by poster: Wow, thanks for all the very helpful responses. I had an inkling maybe something serious was going on, but wasn't entirely sure—thought perhaps it was the thinner winter air causing more exhaustion or something.
I'll contact my doctor and see what can be done right away. I did have COVID (confirmed positive) last spring, and a COVID-like sickness that lasted about a week in November/December, but didn't get a chance to test myself. Let's see what my doctor says, and I'll be sure to ask about bloodwork and a possible B-12 deficiency.
posted by dubious_dude at 12:14 PM on January 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'll contact my doctor and see what can be done right away. I did have COVID (confirmed positive) last spring, and a COVID-like sickness that lasted about a week in November/December, but didn't get a chance to test myself. Let's see what my doctor says, and I'll be sure to ask about bloodwork and a possible B-12 deficiency.
posted by dubious_dude at 12:14 PM on January 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Yeah, just in case my quick thought of COVID sounded dismissive, serious heart problems are a possible outcome of COVID, so yeah, doctor right away.
posted by restless_nomad at 12:58 PM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by restless_nomad at 12:58 PM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Those sound like the exact symptoms my dad had. His doctor ran a few tests and then immediately put him in an ambulance to the heart surgery center. They did a triple bypass on him less than 24 hours later. It turns out he was almost completely blocked and and basically a ticking timebomb for a deadly massive heart attack if he hadn't gone in and gotten it checked.
Please "bother" your doctor and make sure there is nothing wrong with your heart. Even younger people can have heart attacks if they have hypertriglycerimia or other silent conditions.
posted by Jacqueline at 11:19 PM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
Please "bother" your doctor and make sure there is nothing wrong with your heart. Even younger people can have heart attacks if they have hypertriglycerimia or other silent conditions.
posted by Jacqueline at 11:19 PM on January 16, 2023 [1 favorite]
This totally sounds like what was going on with my father too. He realized at some point that walking and stairs and what not were exhausting him exactly as you described. He went to the doctor, and they x-rayed or MRI’d him - discovered that he had a major blockage in one of the main arteries to the heart.
They sent him for immediate surgery, a relatively non-invasive one where they used a balloon to open it back up, I believe. He was out the next day!
But if he hadn’t he was really close to not surviving. So yes, go get a full checkup ASAP, please!
posted by rambling wanderlust at 5:26 AM on January 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
They sent him for immediate surgery, a relatively non-invasive one where they used a balloon to open it back up, I believe. He was out the next day!
But if he hadn’t he was really close to not surviving. So yes, go get a full checkup ASAP, please!
posted by rambling wanderlust at 5:26 AM on January 17, 2023 [2 favorites]
Definitely sounds heart-related to me if not otherwise explainable.
posted by caviar2d2 at 9:25 AM on January 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by caviar2d2 at 9:25 AM on January 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
I could've written this question. I have long COVID. POTS and dysautonomia are very common from it.
I got sick for barely a day in November '21 and end of January '22 I suddenly developed long covid. No recent infection popped by the time I had my doctor look. I went from really strong and fit to I have to slow down walking more than two blocks and know that I'll be in bed as soon as we stop.
You need to go to your doctor, but they'll probably just send you home after running inconclusive tests. You can't power your way through it if it is ME/CFS long covid.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 12:17 PM on January 17, 2023
I got sick for barely a day in November '21 and end of January '22 I suddenly developed long covid. No recent infection popped by the time I had my doctor look. I went from really strong and fit to I have to slow down walking more than two blocks and know that I'll be in bed as soon as we stop.
You need to go to your doctor, but they'll probably just send you home after running inconclusive tests. You can't power your way through it if it is ME/CFS long covid.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 12:17 PM on January 17, 2023
Response by poster: I know this question has been pushed down due to it being posted a few days ago, but figured I'd share an update.
Went to the doctor today. She ran an EKG test and took my B/P and weight (standard procedure), found nothing wrong with that other than my heart pulse rate being a bit higher than normal. Sent me to the lab to get blood drawn, to check for blood clots and other possible issues. Will wait and see.
I'll be sure to ask about a possible B-12 deficiency if the bloodwork comes out clean, and ask for other options as well. Hoping it's not long COVID, though.
posted by dubious_dude at 6:49 PM on January 18, 2023 [4 favorites]
Went to the doctor today. She ran an EKG test and took my B/P and weight (standard procedure), found nothing wrong with that other than my heart pulse rate being a bit higher than normal. Sent me to the lab to get blood drawn, to check for blood clots and other possible issues. Will wait and see.
I'll be sure to ask about a possible B-12 deficiency if the bloodwork comes out clean, and ask for other options as well. Hoping it's not long COVID, though.
posted by dubious_dude at 6:49 PM on January 18, 2023 [4 favorites]
Good to hear! Thanks for the update!
posted by Jacqueline at 12:01 AM on January 19, 2023
posted by Jacqueline at 12:01 AM on January 19, 2023
Response by poster: Doubt anyone is still reading this, but it was confirmed I'm anemic. Will start iron infusions and supplements soon. Whew!
posted by dubious_dude at 5:43 AM on January 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by dubious_dude at 5:43 AM on January 26, 2023 [6 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by restless_nomad at 9:59 AM on January 16, 2023 [10 favorites]