For the last few days, I have this urge to yawn, to gather more air into my lungs.
But most of the time, I can’t. I try and try, and nothing happens, and it’s like I’m struggling to breathe.
I haven’t smoked in over 3 years, I’m not allergic to cats, I’m not having chest pains. If it continues through the weekend, I’m going to the doctor. But has anyone ever had this happen?
Yes! A few times, in fact. I have allergies, and probably a mild case of asthma, if that’s any help. I don’t smoke.
I would recommend the website of National Jewish Health under the topic of vocal chord dysfunction. These people are pioneers in the treatment of this dysfunction which is more common than realized and is not understood (or even heard of) by most physicians. My husband is a respiratory therapist and is convinced that many of his patients have this condition which goes undiagnosed by physicians. Once I did some research, I felt comfortable that this is my problem. My pulmonary function tests were read as “normal” by a pulmonologist, yet the tech who did the test told me I had the flattened flow loop volume described on the website. Unfortunately, most doctors have no idea what this means and they only look at the final numbers on the test.
Yes, totally. I’ve had two doctors diagnose it as a physical manifestation of emotional stress or pain, but this was after they ruled out other physical factors. It sucks, doesn’t it?
Does it happen at a certain time of day? Say, when you’re going to bed?
It could be mild allergies, asthma, stress etc.
hrm….no stress….no real emotional pain going on (for once). Happens all day-I’m fine when sleeping….
I have had it happen, but not for any length of time. I had no idea it was an actual medical condition, I thought it was just me being a fuck-up.
Restrictive clothing? Bra or waistband? Sometimes it’s just something simple (but I usually assume it’s a tumor)!LOL!
I had it too, well actually I wasn’t feeling like I was getting any oxygen into my lungs. It was linked to my blood pressure dipping inhumanly low. Wasn’t good, not good at all. It was actually damn scary. I thought I was on the way out.
Drinking enough water?
I have, but I have asthma and always figured it was related. MD has a similar feeling sometimes, and it’s a mystery. His doctor blew it off as well.
It’s still going on. I’ll be fine for a bit in the morning, and then it will start up again. It got REALLY bad for awhile at the market….
It’s driving me nuts-it’s scary as all hell because it’s like my lungs are closing in on themselves and I can’t breathe. But I’m afraid of getting the blow off, told that it’s emotional, when I’m the LEAST stressed I’ve been in, well, 20 years or so….
Ask them to do a peak flow – it’s an easy way to measure…whatever it is they need to measure to see if you’re asthmatic. Do you wheeze? Cough? I’ve never weezed, I just cough, which is one reason why I was 28 before it was diagnosed.
Here’s another test – take a deep breath and say the alphabet. You should be able to see the whole thing. The one time I had to go to the ER for asthma, I could only get to G.
Do you have any allergies this time of year?
Yes. I’ve had this. It passes.
It could pass ANY TIME NOW. Especially since now I’m starting to cough, and having a cold and this would be REALLY REALLY SUCKY.
I’m allergic to something. I have to take antihistimines about every 2 days or I itch to the point of breaking out in hives with dermographism. I have no idea what I am allergic to, and the doctor didn’t seem to care about finding out.
Try taking the antihistimines every day for about a week, and see if it helps.
ugh. Not cheap. I hate that.
[...] I was whining about not being able to yawn over here? So far, the ventolin seems to [...]
I have this same problem…but I’ve had it for years. I’ve pretty much gotten used to it, it’s just really annoying and frustrating. I don’t know if it’s asthma, because I don’t wheeze or cough…but it does tend to get worse while I’m exercising, or if the air is humid, or after I eat and am very full.
Also, it’s not always yawning, but taking a very deep breath or “sighing,” but it feels at times like I’m not satisfied with the amount of air I am getting from any of these actions.
I have this same problem too. It started several year ago. Yawning is never fully satisfying. I can only get a full breath in when I am laying on my back. Freaky ain’t it.
I’ve been having this problem too. The first things that came to mind were Asthma. I’ve been healthy as a horse all my life, thank God. Except for two very, very scary panic/depression episodes (two years apart). I’ve been fine and happy for three after the last one. I also exercise and I like to run at about an 8 mph pace. I’m ok during the day, but gets hard at night. I sleep well. I’m going to the Dr’s tomorrow. Good luck to you and me and all of us….
Yes I’ve been having the same problem for 2 days now and can’t go to sleep as you all can see what time it is and Im typing this .. I have to see a doctor. I will reply again wish me luck guys
Thanx
It was bronchitis in my case-but it could be a lot of things. My doctor took it a LOT more seriously than I thought he would.
i have asthma and for the last 8 yrs i havent been able to take a deep breath, yawn right. everytime i try to yawn it just makes my ribcage feel worse than i did before i tried to yawn. lately its getting to the point i cant yawn anymore. i turn on my side in bed and all i can muster up is a burp which seems to help some of the pressure.
i am glad i found this page. and seeing im not alone in this. alot of times when ive been to my doctor it just seems like they just blow me off or that its all in my head. ive gone through years of asthma treatments. i mean its not bad asthma. i can still live life. i was in the army, i volunteer as a firefighter. but when the cold hits each year is when i suffer the most.
in fact tonight was the first time i came really close to having an almost real yawn. and i about started to cry. maybe there is some hope.
but it just sucks. i really am praying that one day at least one day i can feel just one yawn to relieve this frustration ive had for this long.
I’ve had this “can’t yawn successfully” issue most of my life, intermittently. I’ve brought it up to many doctors over the years – nobody seems that concerned. I’ve gotten the “it’s just stress” answer too, though I consider myself to be one of the least stressed people in the world. I just had the full asthma testing yesterday, and it was all negative – so I really don’t think it’s related to undiagnosed asthma. Perhaps allergies in general – I do have a lot of sensitivities. It’s been suprising to me how little information there is about this, or how little doctors seem to care.
I guess we must be satisfied right now with the “at least it’s not just me – I’m not crazy” answer. Maybe somebody someday will actually figure out the cause of this very frustrating problem.
I’ve had this problem since I’ve been a child. Personally, I found that cool air helped. Sometimes breathing out as much air as possible, then breathing in adominally helped somewhat.
Mine seems to come from pressure sometimes. Such as if I’m in deep water or during a thunderstorm.
What sucks is that it feels like you can’t breathe, but can. It’s like the bottom of the lungs can’t get enough oxygen or something.
Asthma? Allergies? I have no clue. Good luck, though.
I had this problem during my first pregnancy and for some time after. I am now pregnant with my second child and this problem returned before I even knew I was pregnant. It feels pointless seeing the doctor and it is very FRUSTRATING.
Don’t know what to do. I have smoked for many years of my life but I really feel it is unrelated. Maybe I’m kidding myself. Anyway I’m going to tell the doctor tommorow and I’ll probably have to go for several silly breathing tests that I had done years ago, thats if he doesn’t put it down to stress or baby pushing on diafram. Anyway it helps to smile and try to relax.
i have been havin this problem for about a waeek now and i am freaking out because i have been having pains in my chest as well but am wondering if thats becuase i have been forcing myself to yawn so much that i have pulled something in my chest maybe dont have any insurance so i am trying to wait to go to the doc
Yep. Had this off and on for about 20 years. It comes on for about a week then goes away again – It’s not asthma, it’s not anxiety (per-se), it’s not an allergy, it’s nothing to do with smoking (i get it equally during periods when I’ve been off cigs). It’s worrying but I don’t think it’s in any way serious. It might be in connection to stress – so don’t let it stress you out or you’re in a vicious circle! Chill – don’t worry, it will pass.
I have been experiencing this exact same thing since i went through a period of panic attacks about a year ago. at some points i thought i was going to have a heart attack and die, but had every test you could imagine concerning asthma, heart condition, lung health, oxygen intake etc. and it was all put down to emotional stress. i agree with most of the people who say relax and chill (although i know how hard that can be when you feel like you are being suffocated) it has always passed over time for me. i find when im overly tired, dehydrated or even hungry it is much worse. either way, it’s nothing to worry about.
I’m so glad to see that i’m not the only one this happens to. It sounds so strange to say, I can’t yawn! And it’s absolutely incessant… I can’t take a FULL, DEEP breath. And then it’s on my mind about how much it SUCKS, so I keep trying to yawn, and it won’t work. Then every now and then i am able to get a full breath, but it hurts like i have pneumonia.
Hello, Im leaning towards what someone said about the air, ive had no success yawning since i arrived in thailand. it started then and i know air quality is different in different places, ive smoked like a chimney for many years, dont think thats the issue, or stress or sthsma, i had horrible athsma when i was younger.
Im not very worried about it seeing as i can breathe well and all that good stuff.
Dont worry too much about it guys, it should pass in time
good luck all
j
ps. glad to hear im not the only person on the planet with this silly prob lol
Could be respiratory acidosis. Read Susan Brown’s book about acid-alkaline diet. Most MDs don’t understand pH in the human body all that well. Susan’s one of the brighter bulbs who does.
Good luck.
Thank god I am not alone. I had this 9 weeks ago after I came out of hospital when I gave birth. I had really bad anemia due to a blood loss complication and I put it down to this…but this past couple of days it has come back. I was admitted into hospital last week with chest pains, like someone said, thinking I was just going to drop dead of a heart attack. I had loads of tests including an ecg and chest xray, and they could not find anything wrong, but it’s so scary. I have never smoked and they said I was a picture of health on paper…but its freaking me out. last night I could not sleep as It felt like I couldnt breathe or catch my breath. I hope it passes
I’ve had this problem for about a year on and off. I thought it was from when I got bronchitis, but the bronchitis went away while the yawning issue stayed. I tried inhalers, but they haven’t helped.
One doctor said it could be allergies and told me to try claritin. I was taking claritin (antihithimine)every day for about 5 months and the issue went away. On advice of another doctor because of dry mouth and inflamation of the throat I stopped taking it about 2 weeks ago and it’s come back.
Now, I’ve been doing some research, and one thing that maybe causing this believe it or not is an inflamation in the chest/larynx area from a certain type of acid reflux. You may not feel like you have indigestion or anything related to reflux either. Some things you might notice are need to clear the throat, back drip, swelling in the throat.. any or all…
My Dr prescribed Nexium… let’s see what happens. I’ll follow up in a week.
Rick
Let me know. I’ve read a raft of things it “might” be….I think it’s a food allergy for me, and just haven’t gotten around to trying elimination.
Yeah, I’m experiencing this right now. Its happened on andoff for years and ivve gotten the “what the hell is wrong with you” looks. I really thought I was the only one this happened to. That almost makes me feel better. Almost.
I’ve worked at a feedmill for 3 years.About a year into my job these problems started. every 4 or 5 breaths i get a good one .What a relief! Yawn constantly feel tired alot Im only 35 shouldn’t feel this way. when im relaxed or when i first get out of bed my breaths are so deep they almost hurt, alot of times i cough there so deep.When im up and around i cannot get a deep breath .It really makes you apreciate your lungs.
Rick – let me know how you make out with the Nexium. You described my symptoms exactly. I have already been diagnosed with mild acid reflux. I often have the need to clear my throat and post-nasal drip. I am curious to see if the Nexium helped. Thanks…
I’m interesting in the Nexium thing too. I also have acid reflux issues, and have wondered about this myself.
all i can say is wow. this problem has plagued me on and off i can remember all the way back to being about 6 years old. it’s become really bad the past week and anytime i’ve every told anyone (especially a doctor) they act like it’s nuts or in my head. this is the first time i actually googled it, because i’m additionally feeling dizzy and lightheaded a bit, starting to think i’m not getting enough oxygen.
i do have a home peak flow meter and my levels are low, but not scary low. i also have a mild, mostly air-related asthma and definitely have a small hiatal hernia with pretty bad reflux.
keep the answers coming guys. glad to hear i’m not alone. (also feel free to write me direct @ crazygirlproductions@gmail.com)
It is great to hear that others are experiencing the same thing that I have dealt with most of my life. I am a 55 year-old man and my mother also has to deal with this. I am afraid that my 19 year-old daughter also has this “condition”. Doctors (if they even understand what I am trying to describe) seem unconcerned and tell me that it must be stress, but in my life, I don’t believe this to be the case. I am anxious to hear if anyone finds anything to help! Thanks for posting!
63 yr old female, happened to me 1st time about 15 yrs ago, did not last long, has happened very infrequently over the years, but now started in July, I have been given inhalers, none worked, had chest exray, ok, ct scan ok, pulmonary test ok, Pulmonary Dr. took me off a high blood pressure med called Lisinopril, said it had ace inhibitor in it and was working against an enzyme in my throat, said it will take six weeks to get out of my system, but its down to days now and its still there, now he is saying gerd, its very discouraging knowing so many others have the same problem and yet no one gets cured from it.
It is quite comforting to find that after all these years I am not alone with this.
Extremely frustrating & indeed embarassing in some social situations..it’s like the air is caught at the back of ur throat & then says ‘right thats ya lot’.
For now the ‘you are not alone’ thing seems to be the remedial treatment.
I started having this problem in Feb.(feels like I can’t get enough air, can’t yawn) I’ve had all kinds of tests. First I was told I am alittle anemic, that might cause shortness of breath,then was told didnt think i was anemic enough to cause it, I’ve had my lungs tested, echo cardigram, they say I have great lungs and am getting plenty of oxygen. echo showed leaky valve but they don’t think thats a problem. heart is strong. I’ve been to a chiropractor, helped temporaliy. I’ve been taking iron, vitiamen b6 b12, Finally was told Dont know whats causing it, made me feel like its in my head. One doctor said he thought it might be allergies, told me to take musinex, that didn’t help but I did schedule an appointment for an allergy skin test and turns out I’m allergic to just about everything. I’m now taking 3 shots a week (for the next 3 years) and I have seen a big improvement, I did have one episode but I found out a room i had been in for most of the weekend was moldy, which i tested positive to all molds. And my allergist said acid reflux can cause shortness of breath feeling, or like your lungs are being squeezed. Its funny that I couldnt get that information out of a regular doctor. I also had h-pylori a year ago, actually had it about 5 years just wasnt diagnosed with it until last year.(after all kinds of tests) which comes back to the acid reflux. My allergist gave me a prescription for protonix for that. And some where in all of this I had to wear a holster for a heart moniter test, shows I have extra beats, the cardilogist was going to put me on medication to regulate my heart beats but we decided to wait since I had just started the allergy shots, he agreed that allergies can cause this too. Sorry this is so long, but maybe this will help someone.
I’m 24 and I’ve been suffering really bad with this for about a year, i had been smoking for 9 years but stopped a month ago thinking it may be the cause but if anything I’m even worse now… I keep coughing up flem (which I’m sure is my lungs clearing the tar from smoking) im constantly trying to yawn lie very minute but can’t succeed in getting a satisfyin deep breathe, like others have, it feels like half of my lungs have been shut down and i get a really dry throat from repeadetly trying to yawn… All I want to do is intake a good amount of oxygen nut cant
Anyone got any ideas what this could be ?
I have this tightness in throat, shortness of breath almost every night once I lay down. I already take Nexium. I’m hearing about something called Vocal Chord dysfunction; also hyperventilation syndrome…not sure what my problem is. Have been to ER a few times-no help. Saw a cardiologist..all clear…flow meter shows normal breathing, oxygen levels are normal…sometimes I wake up not breathing…even had sleep study and of course, normal. Saw an ENT; he didn’t even examine me. Said if I have VCD, there’s no cure or treatment. Have severe exercise intolerance..throat gets really dry when this comes on. I suffer every nite and about once a month I will take a small xanax which seems to help. Have trouble swallowing when this happens too
had this for about 6months this is crazy nobody really knows we should have a million yawn march to the white house and demand some research be done into this, I’ve smoked for twenty years since I was young but I’ve had X rays and blood work done and my doctors looks at me and asks if I’m under alot of stress ahhhhh!!! I am now doctor thanks. My back feels tight when I take a deep breath because of all the extra work it has to do when I cannot yawn, who knows ? they dont it seems, feels like being a fish out of water and probably looks like one to.
Deanna,
You might try to get a prescription for the protonix, its better than nexium and will help heal any damage. (elevate your bed a few inches too) My doctor said acid reflux can cause shortness of breath feeling, I also just had an ultra sound on my thyroid, I was told that can cause it too, that could be the cause of the tightness in your throat. Mine feels like something is stuck there constantly. the test came back with some kind of growth, had to have a more in depth test ran, still waiting on results. But I really noticed an improvement after starting the allergy shots. So its either the shots or the protonix thats helped. I don’t think I could have handled much more if it wouldnt have helped, It was that bad!
hiya ,, i can understand where peopla say that it is so good to hear that other paeople have the same problem .I ant yawn at the moment ,, and i just feel like im going crazy because it comes and goes ,, but at the same time i am also getting shooying pains in my heart and if i try to breath in or out while i am having these pains it hurts so so bad so a just have to hold my breath.but back to the yawning thing , i noticed that someone said that they had it after eating ?well that happens to me too , but its all duren the day itll last for like a week or two and then not come back for a couple of months , but i have had the heart ache for months now and they traced my heart and found nothing wrong ,, so i was worried aboyt going back to the doctors incase they thought i was crazy , but after reading the comments on this page i am going to make a appiontment first thing tommorow ,,, thanks ,, and any comments please wb andersonclaire@live.co.uk .. thanks x
Okay, I absolutely have to share this with all of you:
4 days ago I developed this condition. Couldn’t take a deep breath, couldn’t yawn. It’s been about the worst and most scary 4 days of my life. The feeling is just awful! Like I have a tight clamp around my chest. As a young child, I suffered a couple of mild asthma attacks, most probably more due to anxiety than anything else. However, I am now 44, and have not had an attack in over 35 years, and I have certainly never had anything this bad or this debilitating before.
About 4 hours ago, I remembered that I had a really good book on aromatherapy, so I dug it out and looked up what it had to say about asthma. I read the whole book, and determined that there are 4 essential oils that sound like they could help with this condition: Thyme, Clary Sage, Melissa, and Cypress oil. Unfortunately, as it’s Christmas day, there are no stores open right now for me to go out and buy these oils to try out. Then I remembered that I did have a large bottle of Lavender oil, and a small bottle of Rosemary oil in my bathroom. Whilst not specific to asthma attacks, these two oils are used to help treat respiratory dysfunctions, so I figured I’d give them a try. I mixed 5 drops of Lavender oil, and two drops of Rosemary oil with about 5ml (2 teaspoonfuls) of Jojoba carrier oil, and rubbed it into my chest, neck, and stomach. With two hours I could feel my breathing coming back, and I yawned fully!!! … 30 minutes ago, I gave myself another application, plus I put a few drops of Lavender oil onto a tissue to hold to my nose so I could breathe the fumes deep into my lungs, and damn! … My airways have TOTALLY opened up!.. I am now yawning fully and taking great big deep satisfying breathes at will.
I think I know why this might be working: I now remember that my grandmother used to put a few drops of pure Lavender oil onto her pillowcase each night to allow her to sleep better. This is due to the HUGE improvement it induced in deep breathing, etc. Also … VERY SIGNIFICANTLY … Lavender oil is often prescribed for reducing anxiety, and helping ones muscles to relax (it’s antispasmodic).
I would urge any of you who are having this yawning/deep breath problem to give this a try. It is not an exaggeration to say that as I write this, I am now breathing better than I usually do, even before I had this attack.
Please, please, if you try this out and it works for you, then come back to this site and post your results so both I, and others, can see if this really is a cure for this truly terrible affliction. I truly hope that it works for you like it has done for me. Best of luck.
PS: I should just add that my breathing had been so bad that on day two, I went to the A&E at my local hospital where they carried out a number of tests, including blood tests, and chest x-rays. They couldn’t find anything wrong apart from my having slightly over oxygenated blood, almost certainly due to my hyperventilating so much because of the feeling that I was struggling for air. I also had not mucus, wheezing, or any sign of an infection. I really would urge you to try the Lavender oil as mentioned about. Hey, if it works, not only will you feel immediately 100% better, but you’ll also know what to do if it ever comes back.
UPDATE:
Okay, it’s now been over 12 hours and I feel SO GOOD! I had one of the best nights sleep I’ve had in years. I slept like I was in a coma! … This in contrast to 4 nights of not being able to lay down and sleep at all, as I felt like I was going to expire due to the sentation of not getting enough air into my lungs. I am now convinced that this yawning/deep breathing problem really is just down to the chest muscles and airways simply going into chronic spasm (all tensed up in permanent contraction, etc). This would explain the feeling of restriction, and the difficult in both taking a deep breath and yawning.
Now, here’s the thing:
When this attack came on, two people asked me if I though it might be having some kind of anxiety attack. I told them, ABSOLUTELT NOT, because I didn’t feel as though I was/had been stressed at all when this all began. I had been feeling just fine, and it all seemed to come out of nowhere … BUT …. big, big, BUT …. now, after stumbling onto this apparent cure, I feel SO GOOD and SO RELAXED that by contrast I can easily see that I must in fact have been phenomenally stressed out without myself even being aware of it.
Incidentally, early this morning my mother came to visit me to see if I was feeling any better. I told her what I had done (read the two postings above), and how much better I was feeling. Now, she currently is suffering from a very nasty cold and is very blocked up – not at all what I had. Unable to breath or yawn, etc – Nevertheless, I put a few drops of Lavender oil onto a tissue and told her to hold it to her nose and breathe very deeply, taking in the fumes. I also got her to rub some of the oil mix I made on her upper chest and throat, and with less than two minutes she smiled at me and said … “WOW! … That is amazing. My airways have totally opened up” … so, there really must be something to this.
I looked in up in my aromatherapy book again. Here’s what it says:
“THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES:
Lavender oil is antispasmodic (this is why it will help to relax your locked up chest muscles and allow your airways to dilate, thus letting in more air). These properties also make Lavender oil efficacious in the treatment of spasmodic coughs. The excellent antiseptic properties of this oil are effective in helping to treat flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia. It’s also an anti-inflammatory (another way that it helps the airways to expand and dilate).
PSYCHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES:
Lavender oil has a calming effect on the mind and will help to reduce any anxiety that a person might be feeling, both conscious and sub-conscious (this makes it useful for people prone to panic attacks). It is an excellent treatment for people suffering form stress, tension, and insomnia”.
Good luck, people. I hope it helps. It sure has with me.
UPDATE TWO:
Hello again, people. I have some more VERY GOOD NEWS for you!
I can now confirm that my above postings where pretty much bang-on-the-mark. However, while the above Lavender oil treatment may work well, it is only addressing the symptom of this very nasty condition (can’t yawn or take a satisfying deep breath, etc) and not the underlying cause/condition itself.
Well, I have been doing some VERY EXTENSIVE research, and I have now discovered what caused me to have this horrible problem in the first place, and, there is a very good chance that it could well be the same cause for your suffering too, so pay attention!
The condition that called RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS, and very importantly, it is NOT life threatening. It is also totally reversible, and has no long-term damaging effects on your health – So RELAX and read on.
Here are the details:
Respiratory alkalosis results from increased alveolar respiration (hyperventilation) leading to decreased plasma carbon dioxide concentration. This leads to decreased hydrogen ion and freely ionised blood calcium concentrations.
A little technical perhaps, but stay with me. Here are the symptoms:
Symptoms of respiratory alkalosis are related to the decreased blood carbon dioxide levels, and include peripheral paraesthesiae. In addition, the alkalosis may disrupt calcium ion balance, and cause the symptoms of hypocalaemia (such as tetany and fainting) with no fall in total serum calcium levels.
Now, the really relevant one above is “TETANY”… and here’s why:
Tetany is a medical sign, the involuntary contraction of muscles [Read for this, “the INVOLUNTARY CONTRACTION OF YOUR CHEST MUSCLES, making it impossible for you to yawn and breath properly] caused by diseases and other conditions, such as Respiratory Alkalosis.
Simply put, your chest and lung muscles are in a state of paralysis!!! … Now, here are some of the common causes for this condition. See if you meet any of them?
The causes of the alveolar hyperventilation seen in respiratory alkalosis include:
Anxiety, hysteria and stress.
Moving into high altitude areas, when the low atmospheric pressure of oxygen stimulates increased ventilation.
Pyrexia in fever, which stimulates the respiratory centre in the brainstem.
Drugs, including doxapram and large doses of asprin, which also stimulate the respiratory centre.
CNS causes, including stroke, subarachnoid haemorrage, meningitis.
Pregnancy.
A hypoxic drive in lung disease, such as pneumonia.
Caffeine overdose and coffee abuse.
In addition, a respiratory alkalosis is often produced accidentally by doctors during mechanical ventilation of patients.
There you have it. Now, in my case, I was/have been binging on coffee for the last few weeks, and on the day that my attack started, I drank two espressos and two large regular coffees in the space of just a few hours. I guess they must have tipped me over the edge into a caffeine overdose. What’s more, because I thought I was having an asthma attack I actually continued to drink coffee, as I know that coffee consumption for true asthmatics can actually assist them with their breathing, etc. What a critical mistake!
Incidentally, if your fit the profile for one of the above causes and are also suffering form respiratory alkalosis, then you will now understand why the Lavender oil really can help you by relieving stress, anxiety, and relaxing your chest muscles due to it’s antispasmodic properties. However, what is most important is that you address the underlying trigger! In my case, I have stopped drinking any coffee, and I’m already feeling a lot better.
Please also remember, this is a “self perpetuating condition”. By becoming over anxious and worrying about it, you will make it continue! … so REALX and DESTRESS in anyway you can. Take a hot salt bath. Apply some (diluted) Lavender oil to your chest in a rub (see my above postings), and STOP drinking or eating any stimulants! This includes, tea, coffee, canned drinks (Coke is packed with caffeine) and chocolate.
You are going to be just fine.
Joel: I have been thinking that I have hyperventilation syndrome and your research pairs well with mine. All the docs I’ve seen, with the exception of one old wise “doc in the box”, have failed to understand or offer anything of real help. The old wise guy said, “could you be hyperventilating?” and of course I said, absolutely not!! He said try half a dose of the smallest zanax…I resisted for months, finally tried it. I now use as a last resort when nothing else will help. This is a crazy deal…
Wow. So many people describing my exact symptoms: an occasional pin-prick chest pain in the heart area and the frequent inability to breathe deeply enough or to yawn deeply enough.
My own chronology is thus: I experienced these symptoms off and on from around age 30 to age 43. Heart tests had been OK. Finally was diagnosed with acid reflux and started taking AcipHex for it (a proton-pump inhibitor). Symptoms virtually disappeared over the 4 years since then, until the last few weeks. The breathing problem has returned, and it’s scary; feels like I’m suffocating.
From what I’ve read above, I now surmise that my current round of trouble was somehow set in motion by a routine endoscopy checkup I had a month ago. I’ll talk with the gastro doctor about it — although it will be a couple of weeks before I can see him.
I’ll report what I learn for others.
Thank you all very much for sharing so much important information. It is an enormous comfort just to find others who have experienced the same thing. My thanks and very best wishes to you all.
The first time I felt this way was due to an allergy to penicillin. I was allergic when I was a kid, but at 21 when I needed to take it, I thought it would be alright. Well, it wasn’t. The reaction was as if I couldn’t take a good healthy deep breath. I explained it as the “click” that happens (and feels so good) when taking a deep breath or yawning. Well I quit taking my medicine, and it went away about a week later. Then I have been feeling like this for about a week again…3 years later. I have been traveling a lot, very stressed, about to start a new job, not getting a lot of sleep, taking a huge test next weekend, my birthday is coming up…you know the drill, and oh yah, I feel like I’m getting a cold. Also, I sat by a fire for about 3 hours last night inhaling smoke. So, I suppose if you add all of those body beatings up you’ll get the feeling as if you can’t breath. BUT…it does pass, and I’m not too worried about it. Most people don’t realize they are stressed, or getting a cold, or what they have been exposed to, so it is a little scary. Give it a week most of the time, and if it doesn’t pass, see your doctor. And most importantly, relax!!!
Hi Deanna
Yes, the doctors really don’t seem too clued up about this condition at all. As I said above, at one point I even went to my local hospital’s A&E, as I was having so much trouble breathing. They took some chest x-rays and blood samples, but they finally told me that they couldn’t find anything wrong. They did mention that my blood appeared to be over oxygenated, but they didn’t seem concerned at all about what was causing this, or feel that they owned me any kind of explanation about what I could do to correct it. In short, then sent me home still feeling like I was breathing through a straw, and it was left to me to research all the possible causes myself.
If you are hyperventilating on a regular basis, then this itself is likely to cause Respiratory Alkalosis and put your chest muscles into spasm, thus making it even trickier for you to breath deeply and yawn, etc. As I said before, the most important thing is that you find the trigger (what ever might be for you), and avoid it.
Incidentally, as well as the Lavender Oil, I’ve also discovered something else that seems quite helpful, which is to drink tea made from Mullein and Sage. When my breathing trouble first started, I thought it was probably an asthma attack (I suffered one once 35 years ago as a child), so I started looking for a holistic cure. I found a Website that said that the indigenous North American Indians has been treating and preventing asthma attacks successfully for centuries with a tea made form Mullein and Sage, so I ordered both the herbs online just before Christmas. They arrived on Dec 29th, and I’ve been drinking a cup of the tea every morning since then. My breathing does seem greatly improved, but of course I have also stopped drinking any regular tea, coffee, or anything that contains caffeine (since this cause my Alkalosis to start with) since about Dec 27th, so it could just be down to that.
Hi Steve
Yes, it sound like the endoscopy might well have triggered a bout of Respiratory Alkalosis. It’s easily done, as it’s a vicious cycle. You feel like you are not getting enough air, so you struggle to take deeper breaths, and in the process you over oxygenate your blood, triggering the Alkalosis. The chest muscles and airways then contract, thus adding to the feeling that you can’t breathe.
Maybe you should try rubbing the Lavender Oil on your chest (or some other antispasmodic) and see if it helps?
Incidentally, I will just add that if any of you are having this breathing problem, then be VERY VERY CAREFUL about reaching for any off-the-shelf cures for congestion like Sudafed. In my research, I discovered that MANY of the medicines available from your local pharmacy to help treat congestion actually contain sulphides and various pain-killing compounds that will actually make your condition much worse. For instance, if you read all of my above posts, then you’ll know that aspirin is well known for triggering asthma attacks in some people, and can also induce Respiratory Alkalosis in others. Chances are, unless you are coughing up lots of phlegm and mucus, then you are not congested anyway. Your breathing problem is not congestion, but rather the TETANY mentioned above (chest muscles in contraction).
I recently took lifting pills (witch i regret and well never do again) like pro-hormones to gain weight and it gave me a lot of estrogen in my body witch can triggered panic attacks. A 21 year old male. Took them for two weeks and got a few panic attacks one really bad one that i ended up going to the ER so i stopped. Took some estrogen blocker/ testosterone booster and helped my depression a lot and started to feel like my self again. This problem started after i stopped everything even the estrogen/test pills bc i want to clear my body up to normal and never touch this crap again. I was getting so scared that i almost went to the ER last night. It is freaking scary bc i wake up knowing that i have not been breathing, can’t yawn, feels like im not getting enough O2 in my lungs. Just by finding this site, i think my breathing got better because of the relieved stress. I was freaking my self out by thinking i had pneumonia, asthma, major stuff out there. Hopefully the test will be ok and i will try the lavender oil.Oh man am i relieved to have found this website. This has been happening to me for the past three to four days and started to get worse as i was more scarred and cautious about it. I have bunch of these chest x rays and lung tests in three days because im so freaking scared about this. Glad to know y now. Man it feels like death and glad to know i’m not alone because i was literally going crazy and started thinking i was going to die. Not a good feeling on easter sunday, my worst easter yet bc of this crap. lol.
I have used Lavendar Oil for 3 nights now. Mixed it with Sweet Almond Oil and put on my chest and on my husbands back. Put leftovers on my nightstand (am surrounded with it). Have slept very well. So has he. Havent woken up holding breath, gasping, etc, trouble yawning or getting deep breath. Am cautiously optimistic.
Also had massage with special technique on chest muscles. It’s called myofascial release. Am going to see a body work specialist who does “breath work”. Hopefully will get any hyperventilating under control. Thanks for the lavendar suggestion. I would not have tried it if you hadn’t shown such a good understanding of alkalosis. I’ve researched lavendar..they’re is science behind it.
yes this actually just happened to me lol. then i googled i cant yawn right now and i found this site lmfaooo
I’m 24 years old an an RN. I have had this problem for at least 15 years. I will feel like I can’t take a deep enough breath. If I yawn a certain way, I can sometimes breath deep enough where it is satisfactory. I have found leaning forward sometimes helps as well. I was diagnosed with excercise-induced asthma as a child, but I don’t think that is the problem. I have been tested for vocal cord dysfunction, but the ENT MD said I didn’t have it. I’ve also been told it may be anxiety, but I will experience this problem at all times of the day for no rhyme or reason when I am not feeling anxious. It sometimes gets really bad after I eat, so I am wondering if food allergies may play a roll. I do have post-nasal drip and was advised to try protonix or nexium, which I haven’t tried yet. I have tested my blood oxygen saturation while I am experiencing this problem, and it has always been good. I think it may be just a really uncomfortable sensation, as opposed to actually not getting enough air. Nonetheless, it is really uncomfortable and annoying.
I have the same symptoms and they seemed to start after starting nexium. Were you able to find out what it was that was causing the trouble.
Thanks
Mark
Hey guys, I’m happy I happened upon this site.
I have to tell you thta you must be ingesting aspartame of some sort.
Do you drink diet coks, crystal lite, or any low calorie foods?
I had this problem and it was so bad I was rushed to the ER, of course they could nto figure it out. I eventually did, and the moment I stopped ingesting aspartame the symptoms went.
It could also be related to MSG or one of the many additives out there.
Please check your cupboards.
It si a horrible feeling, I would have welcomed death rather than have to live like that.
Good luck
Thank you! that was it! I just realized I had gotten a pack of sugarfree gum and had been chewing it the past few days!
I, too, am an RN who has experienced these symptoms for the past 4 years. Have seen specialists with no answers. I have done extensive research and am convinced it is a form of vocal chord dysfunction, called mid inspiratory dysfunction. It can sometimes be triggered by irritants, post nasal drip, or acid reflux. The diagnostic test is the flow volume loop on a pulmonary function test. While the pulmonologist read my test as “NORMAL” the technician called to my attention that the flow volume loop was “flattened” and no one knew what this meant. I have since found through research that this is an indication of vocal chord dysfunction. Mine is worse when eating. I don’t have a solution, but have had some peace of mind since researching and feel that I do have the answer as to what is wrong. The National Jewish Cente has a website which mentions some of their treatments for this condition.
I typically have this problem when I am anxious or having a panic attack, I attempt to yawn, like my body starts to prompt the yawn, but then it just stops half way. I get very nervous when i can’t complete the yawn, but I find that as soon as the yawn starts, I start to think about ” is this one going to work? ” and as soon as this thought crosses my mind, it’s like I didn’t need to yawn in the first place.
Yawning is very psychological, if you are thinking about the yawn not happening, and not getting enough air in the yawn, you most likely won’t.. I had the problem a couple months ago, it went away completely because I forgot about it
Good luck, and above all, don’t worry 
At the beginning of the winter my son (7yrs old) was complaining about chest pains when playing indoor soccer/futsal (on Sundaymornings) – he was not able to breathe properly. I researched and talked to his doctor, and the conclusion was that is Sports Induced Asthma (air too cold and dry). Ok … then we tried to give him some medicine (he calls them “puffs”) 1/2 hr before the game – and he was better.
BUT now, about 6 weeks later, he started complaining that he is cannot yawn. I am really concerned now, maybe his condition is aggravating…
Anyone with kids in a similar situation?
I am 35 and I suffer from this too. I am a smoker but it happened before I started smoking. I had this when I was 15 and it caused panic attacks. I have had these episodes on and off for 20 freaking years. ugh.
To say they are uncomfortable is a complete understatement. I am living in a hell period now where I breathe abnormally, can’t yawn and can’t get that deep orgasmic breath.
I have had tests in the past, but nothing is ever wrong. I am sick of going to the doc’s and being told I am fine, but here are some antidepressants because you are having panic. I know what panic is and this ain’t it. This is just hell.
I am going to buy some lavendar oil first thing next week. I am praying for a miracle cure. Thanks for the info.
I started having the *not able to yawn thing * about a year ago .. I hate having the urge and nothing …grrrr but.. I have COPD .. maybe it’s connected .. but i have not smoked since i was told i had it 9 yrs ago
I have had this problem for nearly 6 months now.It started after I went a bit mad on the WII Fit, this might have been a coincidence..I woke up in the night and could not get a deep breath, It really was so scary, then I found out I couldent get enough breath to yawn..It lasted for about 8 days, When the night came I was so scared, I never got any sleep and ended up sitting up all night downstairs trying to watch telly or anything to take my mind of it, If you let it get on top of you it will drive you mad!!!! I went to the hospital and the doctors and got no satisfaction, the hospital asked me if I was stressed and I am not stressed at all, well apart from being stressed about not getting a decent breath…I then had a chest xray and blood tests and everything was ok..
Now I still get it on and off, I can’t believe what everyone on here has said, it is just the same as what I have and I feel so sorry for you all but it’s nice to know i’m not alone..
When you get that deep breath it is fantastic and just to be able to yawn is a pleasure….
If this ever leaves me for good (please God) I will never take breathing normally for granted again….
Going to buy some lavendar oil today…here’s hoping….
Good luck everyone..xx
My son is napping right now but as soon as he wakes up we are going to drive directly to the store and get some lavendar. I googled “I can’t yawn,” and found this. Listen everyone, I’m really thankful that you researched this and that I have learned from your stories. I’m SO thankful for this information. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
-Michele
ok, update on the breathing exercises. I am seeing a craniosacral therapist (a very mild form of massage therapy that focuses on cerebral spinal fluid movement from brain and spine). He has me doing 2 things which are helping the breathing/yawning thing. Several times a day (at each bathroom trip) I breath in abdominally-watching stomach rise. (as opposed to chest breathing). Once I get a full breath, I exhale through my mouth and pull my lower stomach in and then do a Keagal exercise at same time. I do it 5 times in a row. I’ve been challenged to “find the end of the exhale”. The other thing is that I’m supposed to be drinking more water. I’m really bad about that still.
I’m still using the Lavender at night, but I still wake up in the mornings with this chest tightness and feeling that I can’t get a full breath or yawn. I make myself calm down and take my 5 breathes. THIS WORKS.
My craniosacral therapist is also doing body work that involves my stomach and diaphragm. I’m overbreathing less. I agree that this is some type of vocal chord dysfunction or throat involvement. But knowing that the breathing exercises will pull me out of it (even in the middle of it) helps me get through what probably is a chronic condition.
Hi all, just thought I would report back about the lavendar oil..Maybe it’s a coincidence or maybe psychological but it really does seem to help..I put some on my pj’s and pillow every evening and so far my breathing has been really good and that’s lead to great nights sleep and more importantly no fear of getting that great deep breath (or exchanging air) as someone informed me it’s called and not having problems yawning, of course one thing does set off the other so if you don’t get a problem with the deep breath you don’t get the problem trying to yawn..
Thank you so much to everyone who recommended lavendar oil and I hope others get the same relief from it..fingers crossed this carries on..
Good luck all xx
i’ve been having this problem for the past week. i remember when it started, my friend and i were yawning at the same time, and i blamed her for interrupting my yawn. i spent the rest of the bus ride trying to get a good yawn…
i’ll go through all the usual yawning motions, and as my speech teacher calls it i can’t reach the “climax” of the yawn. there’ll be bouts where i attempt to yawn 15-30 times in close succession, and it the yawn just won’t be complete or satisfying. it’s so frusterating. just while i was writing this i tried to yawn 6 times. humph!
Apparently no one her wants to look into aspartame…oh well.
At least I’m better
Hi Ally,… I am looking into aspartame, I realise I eat an awfull lot of artificial sweetners and have researched this online to find how terrible the side effects are, breathing one of them..Thank you for pointing this out, from today I am going to make sure I no longer eat or drink anything containing aspartame….Pleased you are better..
OHelp!…lol
Seriously I’ve had this happen in agust of 08′ and it just recently Came back like 3 Days ago, out of Nowhere. It is the most horrible feelin i feel suffocated and trapped inside my own body, if you get what i’m sayin, Its a struggle to breathe, i get scared at times and other rimes i just say forget it whats the use of panicking about…iv’e smoke newports cigarettes for about 7 Yrs strong i’m 24 yrs old i’m to young to be feelin like this i called the ambulance last night and once they arrived i was fine. ~Go Figure~…the emt lady said it wasn’t a Heart attack so i could rule that out, so i said forget the hospital.. and just went to sllep do to a Xanax My mom already had, Be i’m Kinda scared and kinda not, because i believe in god…and know he will take this feelin away soon.
Help!…lol
Seriously I’ve had this happen in agust of 08′ and it just recently Came back like 3 Days ago, out of Nowhere. It is the most horrible feelin i feel suffocated and trapped inside my own body, if you get what i’m sayin, Its a struggle to breathe, i get scared at times and other rimes i just say forget it whats the use of panicking about.it..iv’e smoke newports cigarettes for about 7 Yrs strong i’m 24 yrs old i’m to young to be feelin like this i called the ambulance last night and once they arrived i was fine. ~Go Figure~…the emt lady said it wasn’t a Heart attack so i could rule that out, so i said forget the hospital.. and just went to sleep do to a Xanax My mom already had, i’m Kinda scared and kinda not, because i believe in god…and know he will take this feelin away soon.
OMG!!! Can I say how relieved I am that I am not the only person out here…I was put on prozac and then 6 weeks into taking I started feeling like I was not able to get enough air to satisfy my lungs so I would yawn and nothing, then I would try to take a deep breath and nothing…gone to the doctors and they just look at me like I am insane because it doesn’t bother me at night…Now reading the post about the coffee that seems to be when my starts…I am fine when I wake up and then I have my morning cup and all the sudden it starts…I had my oxygen saturation done and I was at 99% which they say is above average…they did a chest x-ray and my heart and lungs look good…still I have this…for about 2 weeks now..I just really want it to go away, but I figure if I can still jog than I must not be to bad…just nice to know that I am not alone. Thanks
I have had this for 1 1/2 years. I had all the tests…chest xray, PFT, threadmill stress test, echocardiogram..nothing found. Drs said it is anxiety…but no one has anxiety 24 hrs a day. Anyway this maybe coincidence but..I started eating peanuts lately and feel better. Looked into Omega 3 and fish oil…help with lots of issues….it has been 5 days and I feel better eveyday. I have also noticed it gets worse on a full stomach so I try to eat small meals. started a omega 3 supplememnt yeasturday so I am hoping to have found my magic cure.
I agree, it really is worse on a full stomach, I am trying everything that’s been suggested, cutting out coffee, lavender oil at night,cutting out aspartame and now taking omega 3, so far I do feel much better, am happy to go with all these things to breath normally again….
See the funny thing was this came on 6 weeks into taking prozac so they took me off that and it has gotten better and it doesn’t bother me at night so I think that is why my dr’s not taking it to seriously but still…if I don’t feel like I have to yawn, I feel like I have to take a deep breath. After I eat my stomach feels very bloated and it doesn’t have to be anything big, just start feeling bloated and feel like I am full…so I will try to eat smaller meals that what I do now…normally my meals consist of the weight watchers or lean pockets…It just makes me feel good that I am not alone and this very may well be anxiety or stress related just not sure.
I feel so much better. I really think I found my magic cure….Omega 3 and Fish Oil. If I eat small meals and take my supplememnts it really feels like I am cured. If I eat too much then I feel it again. When I walk on my tread mill I still feel slightly out of breathe but not like before. Maybe I should up the dose to 2000mg and see if that helps. I had already tried lavendar, allergy meds and over the counter acid reducer. They did not help me at all. Try eating peanuts for a few days and see if it helps you too. Good luck to you all.
Just started feeling this a couple days ago, and will use Omega 3 supplements first before I go to some of the other stuff suggested. I know how bad it feels after a meal compared to time in-between meals. You feel like you can do normal breathing, but when you try to take a deep breath, sigh, or yawn it’s like there is resistance to expansion of your chest. My doctor told me it was probably stress-related too, after having been hospitalized with heart palpitations, but I find it very unlikely because I haven’t been truly stressed out in months.
HI, well i have the same thing. It happens more often while im inside. My honest evaluation of it is from lack of circulatory ability. Your body needs more oxygen but your body knows it cant transport it so it doesn’t even bother. There is one thing that i know that works better than anything…walking. I go for hikes and stuff and walks outside and i feel so good. Now everyone doesn’t have much time nowadays and a walk may seem pointless but we were created to walk a lot so we should do it more often than we do. Circulation is the key.
Nathan’s comment rings true to me. I have been experiencing high blood pressure recently and a lot of fluid retention. I started b/p meds yesterday (includes a diurtic) and I was shocked at how much easier my breathing was when I layed down last night.
Everyone who is having or has had this inability to complete a yawn, would you be willing to say whether you are or were taking medication of any sort? Could this be a drug side effect?
I walk constantly, and it has no effect on these episodes. I also have textbook BP, with no issues. I take Lithium, but it’s not a side effect of the drug. However, I’ve noticed that the problem gets worse after eating certain foods, and if I’m dehydrated.
Could be anything, but I’m willing to bet food allergies, at least in my case.
Heh, interesting that this was the first thing that popped up when I searched in Google for “can’t yawn”. Everyone is having the same symptoms I am. This is happening to me right now for the first time. Freaked me out a good deal, especially since I’ve just been having other health problems lately.
Stress is the likely cause for me. Luckily, my symptoms don’t seem as bad as some of the other reports. I never feel like I’m suffocating, just like I can’t breathe the proper amount. Gives me some headaches, and that weird “air stuck in your throat” feeling too. Hopefully it goes away soon. I need some satisfaction breath!
I am still able to do most activities normally; I just did a set of situps and didn’t seem to be too bothered. Not a smoker, never had problems with athsma, though they have run in the family.
Hope this goes away sooner rather than later.
Hehe, it’s starting to go away, and I can’t stop yawning!
I had this problem last week and I have to say that exercise from walking to very aggressive tennis play does not make me worse either. In fact, when I’m very physically busy, I think I forget about it. When I sit down or lay down I start to notice it more and it is very disturbing. Had if for five days last week and it finally went away. I know this is not a ‘reported’ side-effect of any drug as far as I know but I’m just trying to reach for ideas. During the episodes, Dr. exam said I’m breathing fine and BP and heart rate fine too. I don’t feel like I’m under stress or having an anxiety attack…until after I start feeling like I’m not getting enough air and can’t yawn!
Well I was taking Prozac when mine started and I cut way way back on my caffeine intake and that really seems to have helped out a lot. For me it comes and goes but never stays that long…when it first started I had it for over a month and I was terrified…well until I found this website that is.
I recently took lifting pills (witch i regret and well never do again) like pro-hormones to gain weight and it gave me a lot of estrogen in my body witch can triggered panic attacks. A 21 year old male. Took them for two weeks and got a few panic attacks one really bad one that i ended up going to the ER so i stopped. Took some estrogen blocker/ testosterone booster and helped my depression a lot and started to feel like my self again. This problem started after i stopped everything even the estrogen/test pills bc i want to clear my body up to normal and never touch this crap again. I was getting so scared that i almost went to the ER last night. It is freaking scary bc i wake up knowing that i have not been breathing, can’t yawn, feels like im not getting enough O2 in my lungs. Just by finding this site, i think my breathing got better because of the relieved stress. I was freaking my self out by thinking i had pneumonia, asthma, major stuff out there. Hopefully the test will be ok and i will try the lavender oil.Oh man am i relieved to have found this website. This has been happening to me for the past three to four days and started to get worse as i was more scarred and cautious about it. I have bunch of these chest x rays and lung tests in three days because im so freaking scared about this. Glad to know y now. Man it feels like death and glad to know i’m not alone because i was literally going crazy and started thinking i was going to die. Not a good feeling on easter sunday, my worst easter yet bc of this crap. lol.
I mean this in the nicest way possible, but I’m so glad to have found other people out there with the same problem!!! I started getting the inability to get a deep breath / yawn sensation last June and at the time was incredibly scared. It is the most horrible, uncomfortable, frustrating feeling and something that is terribly frightening when you first get it. When it first happened, I was signed off work and given all the usual tests, several times e.g. oxgyen levels in the blood, lung function, chest xrays etc.. and even ended up at a heart specialist for tests there – all of which were completely fine. I basically done nothing for 2 months not knowing what was wrong with me, and terrified it was something very serious. Eventually after a while the feeling went away, though never completely, and I had a couple of days or so between then and now where it came back. Right now, its back with avengance and am really struggling with it. I’m waiting to go to a lung specialist to see what they have to say, but I’m not very optimistic about it. I don’t know what brought it on this time around, but once its there, I realise its very hard to get rid of. I’m very interested in the Respitory Alkalosis thing somebody posted, and particularly about the relation to caffeine. Around February, I gave up caffeine completely, and felt great. However, a couple of weeks ago, with the onslaught of alot of uni work, I fell off the wagon and began once again guzzling large amounts of coffee and redbull. The other week, before this breathing problem, I even collapsed in a club, and my doctor told me this was down to my excessive caffeine consumption/lack of sleep which was pushing my body far too hard. The fact that this breathing problem has returned right after this is interesting, and I’m definitely thinking it could be related.
Anyway, I’m blabbering on. But just want to thank everyone for the advice. Just remember that whilst this is a horrible feeling, the fact that the majority of us have been for so many vital tests and have all been told we’re healthy, should provide some comfort that this is not a life threatening problem!
- Matt
ok, just an update for some of you. I found out if your bodies calcium levels are really low, from poor diet, or etc. It can cause your body to cramp up and it can lead you to this condition. My doctor recommended that i take multi vitamins, one a day. I have been on them for four days and i’m 90 percent back to normal. So in my condition it was cramping up my chest area and that is why i couldn’t yawn and felt like i could not take deep breaths. It is all muscle related and diet intake and that is why all the lung testing comes back good because it has nothing to do with TB, asthma, etc. Hope this helps
Well I have started to track mine…If a doctor can’t fix me then I decided that I was going to track mine..because I can go weeks without having issues then all the sudden it is back. I have noticed that if I do drink too much coffee (caffeinated) that it affects it..so I cut back on caffeine and then I get better…if I get stressed it gets worse…so really if stress is a major cause of this issue then there is absolutely no hope for any of us….I just know when I start getting stress I take a step back and try to really get myself calm down. But I agree I think with so many of us with this issue we have to know that more of us are out there going to doctors for help and no one getting an answer.
I’ve found that stress is a big trigger of this for me; unfortunately, reducing the stress level does not mean the condition goes away with the stress…it’s like it sets up the condition, but it takes my body a couple of weeks to re-regulate itself. The current episode, I believe, was triggered by spending 2 hours in the dentists chair being fitted for crowns. I’m not sure if it’s a chemical reaction to the stress, but it definitely affects my musculature as well – I find that when it happens to me, the muscles of my back become extremely tight, cramped, and knotted up. So in addition to feeling like I can’t breathe, there’s the pleasure of back pain to go with it as well.
I do have some issues with acid indigestion, though I’ve not been diagnosed with acid reflux specifically. I exercise regularly (4-5 times per week), eat very well (pescaterian, lots of veggies and whole grains), and take a multivitamin. I vary my diet very little, so I don’t suspect a food allergy.
When the episodes come on, I try to stretch my back thoroughly several times a day, drink lots of water, use a hand-held massager on my shoulders, and remind myself that I’m not suffocating (like others here, have had an ER visit for “the breathing thing” when I was younger with similar results – no probs).
Well, well, well…I can almost bet that the lot of you will continue to have this problem as long as you don’t make changes in your dietary habits.
I would caution against taking any chemical drugs as this may not only acerbate the problem but cause other problems.
Our bodies were not made for drugs or artificial foods.
You need proper whole foods to sustain you- preferably organic.
Since I eliminated these artificial things out of my life the breathing problems ceased. I have not had another episode to date and am not in the least worried about it.
Incidentally, please save your doctor’s fees because they will run every test in the world and not come up with anything.
If you need a doctor- find a naturopathic one.
…and remember to check your pantry and discard all diet foods.
Wishing you good health
i hawe this problem since last week,it is freekin me out my stomack hurts,can anyone tell me wat 2 do,if ya can mail me 2 smukuliitis164@inbox.lv
I have had this problem twice, for a few weeks at a time, both times a year apart. Went through all kinds of testing, everything normal. Here are possible causes:
Anemia (either from low iron or low b12) can cause your body not to transport the oxygen in your body to your lungs properly….resulting in this frequent need to yawn but being unable to do so.
Also, sleep apnea can cause this problem also.
Also, in my case I was on progesterone and testosterone and both times when this problems occured it happened after I had been taking these hormones for a couple of months and when I stopped the hormones for a few weeks the problem went away…coincidence maybe, or maybe not. Testosterone CAN cause sleep apnea which can cause this breathing/yawning problem during the day.
I do not believe this is a psychological disorder related to stress, etc. I am convinced this is a physiological disorder and with me very likely resulting from either the testosterone which caused sleep apnea which I have not gone to a sleep clinic to get tested for, or low iron and low B12, both of which I have.
Mindy
I am 40 years old , my life has been hell since ive been 30 , I have been going through this , cant yawn , cant get a deep breath thing for about 10 years now and I cant funtion at all . I dont work , dont go out no more , dont excercise cause im scared im gonna have a heart attack because of the breathing thing .. its very sad considering I cant do nothing with this problem .. its nothing short of sad… looking for a solution to make this madness go away …. my favorite line is … im dieing over here … now thats bad
Billy~
The best advice that I can give is that I have had this for about 6 months now. Been to doctors and they couldn’t figure anything out…so I decided to track this and see what do I do that causes me to feel this..one was stress I found that if I let my panic and anxiety take over I got it. Then 2nd I found that if I hate a rather large meal and was full that I would have the issue. So I cut back on my meals and eat small meals throughout the day and I try to not let my stress or panic or anxiety take over oh and most importantly I cut back on my caffeine intake. I actually found if I got out and exercised it made me feel better because I was able to overcome my anxiety of working out because I figured if I could work out then my breathing isn’t actually the issue. I am not going to say that with doing all this I don’t get it, but when I notice it coming I just calm down and take deep breaths as best as I can and start drinking some water and concentrate on something other than by breathing. I hope that some of this helps, but know that you are not alone.
Hi all,
Male 42 in the same boat here. Had this things since 2/8 but only recently have not been able to yawn…its frustrating, thats for sure…..the deep breath thing is th eone that makes me wish I was dead though. It gets better then you get optomisitc and then BAM, it comes right back….
I chiropractor can do wonders, thats when I started feeling improvement. I was also gobbling mass amounts of food, and coca cola right befre this happened….I suspect a severly acidic body.
I had an endoscopy and have a haital hernia and it indeed can cause this problem, so can the acid regurgitating back into the esophagus, it can be reversed but I am told it takes months, many months….thats why its worse after eating, theres no more room down there.
Eat many small meals, dont lay down after eating. Im not sur ethough if thats my only problem. Also, caffeine and PPI’s deplete the body of vitamins, and Im a very poor eater.
I take magnesium/Calcium, B-comples, B12, and now I read extra vitamin C can help you also.
I take digestive enzymes, probiotics and no caffeine, spicy food, or large meals.
I walk an hour daily, I lost 91 lbs, and I too have sleep apnea, allergies, and anxiety over this breathing issue, I had none the day before it started.
You need sunlight, rest and oh….candidasis can cause the stifled yawning also. Check into it, you can have it also.
Hypothyroid, even a mild case can impact breathing function so thats another thing.
This will pass, we will get through this.
Take care,
Geoffrey
I had this same problem for a very long time. I am doing much better now. Everyone will tell you it is stress related and for most of us, that is probably the case. It was so bad at times that I didn’t want to have to live with it anymore; however, there is hope! I was put on all kinds of med’s, but it wasn’t until I weaned myself off the anxiety med’s that I began to feel better. You must do so slowly, though. That, and I also began to exercise. Exercise will probably help you the most!
Yeah,i am suffering from this as well.I dunno if it’s stress or not,but i do believe that by thinking about it you are making everything worse(my case).It is like the 6th day it is going on and i only have a couple of so-so yawns and 1-2 pretty good ones per day but most of the time i am struggling.I don’t want to visit the doctor,but i will try not thinking about it and it will hopefully at least improve and one day it will pass i am sure of it!Just be strong guys,this is nothing compared to some severe and much more dangerous conditions that other people have.I am trying not to let it to have any impact on my life and it won’t have.Heads up,and only positive!
Well I have this as well, I had an episode about 4 months ago and I went to the doctor after 4 days of not being able to breath right so they did a breathing test on me and I couldn’t even do that because I couldn’t take a deep breath so they gave me a treatment for asthma and gave me a lot of asthma inhalers…I was good 2 days later so I stopped the meds. Then about a week ago it started up again so I started the meds back up and that didn’t work so I went to the ER and had a treatment and they sent me on my way, I was feeling better so went to work the next day and then ended up back in the doctors office 2 days later for another treatment and a shot that seemed to help; then went back to work and it started to get bad again….so the conclusion of my story is I think cigarette smoke has a lot to do with it because your lungs can’t heal…so if you do smoke or around it stay away! by the ways I work in a casino but in the restaurant area so that is why I’m around it all the time. I have to stay this time around it’s a lot hard to handle!
i have this problem , i just suddendly feel that the air isn’t going deep enough and i try to yawn but it doesn’t work right away i have to try several times until i feel relieved but it comes and goes , however for the last two days it’s been really annoying . I have never been diagnosed with asthma or any kind of allergy , am kind of hesitant to go to a doctor
p.s i am only 18 and am not over weight neither do i have any heart problems
any advice??!!!
Wow amazing how many of us have this problem i have been having this for some time now at times i feel like i am choking just cant catch that breath.When i do need to yawn and cant i try to look at a very bright light then i yawn i used to run for about an hour a day and after the first 20 minutes i seem to be ok but those first 20 wow just wanna die please one uninterupted sweet breath PLEASEEEEEE i am very glad you are here Joel i will go out and buy some oils tommorow and give them a try i am crossing my fingers for now,I live in cabo san lucas mexico and it is hot as hell although i have never been there and i thought that may be why i cant breath but i also lived in italy,toronto and losangeles as well as paris france and it was the same thing no breath i do smoke a little herb every day and if i could breath by quitting i would thing is i have been smoking for over 40 years so what is the probelm the air, the smoke, the polloution, the diet,anyhow agian good luck to us all and here is breathing with you god bless!!
Ive has this happen to me a couple of times in life.im only 16.it happened a couple of times through middle school.i wanna take a deep breathe when i yawn but cant.i try like 3 times throughout the day.i never thought twice about it when its happened before.today though when i got out the shower my chest felt tight.not like im about to die tight feeling.just tight like my chest feels like its not expanding all the way.it still feels that way right now too.i never wanted to overreact and cause a panic attack.recently i found out i was allergic to wasp when i got stung for the first time.i was allright at the beginning because i didnt know i would have a severe reaction till an hr or two later.i had no shortness of breathe at the beginnig.just scared from what they were telling me that i might not be able to breathe and i might swallow my tongue if it swells.none if this happened though because i stayed so calm i had to not try and think about it.went to the ER by then it was maybe 4hrs i was covered in hives.well i got the treatment for it when i got in.they prescribed me some medication to counteract the histamine still in my body.i had methlyprisolone(steroid) it was a 6 day pack.the amount of pills to take got lower through the week.the other two were hydroxyz pam and famotidine.i finished the steroids 4 days ago so i justed stopped taking the other pills/there is still some in there but idk if i take them till they run out.throughout the week i had some breathing problems due to axiety.it was hard to stay calm for me i had found out one of my friends died the day i got stung he was only 17.so it scared me to think that couldve happen to me if i stop breathing.im fine now though just the feeling like my chest whas pressure on it.could these recent events cause me to get ashma.i mean i dont think i get shortness of breathe until anxiety sets in because of that cant breathe feeling.well anyways thanks for listen ill be back to read the reply.
Tips:
Eat small meals,
Druink water
Vitamins: B-compex, magnesium, calcium, B-12
Omega-3 and flax seed.
Xanax helps take the edge off.
Exercise, prayer
I am so glad that I found this sight. told my family that my yawner was broke and they just laughed at me. I,m glad that i am not insane or alone.
I want to share my story with people in the hopes that it’ll help someone. The inability to take a deep breath or yawn came about for me after a week of extreme anxiety. I immediately went to the doctor and had an EKG, a PFT, a chest X-ray, numerous blood tests — all perfectly normal. They chalked it up to anxiety, but surely anxiety can’t last 24/7.
After a couple weeks, I also started feeling bloated and found my heart racing after eating a big meal. This only brought on even MORE anxiety about heart issues, even though every doctor I consulted told me that wasn’t the case.
That’s when I turned to more natural cures. I tried a multivitamin, fish oil, a magnesium supplement (though it’s rare, lack of magnesium can cause the inability to take a deep breath), and a “green drink.” Nothing really helped.
The only thing that made this problem go away was when I realized, finally, that I WASN’T BREATHING CORRECTLY.
Somehow I had gotten into the habit of trying to take deep breaths through my chest — I was continuously attempting to sigh heavily and get air in that way. This is not the correct way to breathe, and after days of doing this it can make you sore, bloated, and unable to yawn. I had to consciously breathe through my nose and out my mouth for an entire day, forcing myself NOT to sigh or lift my shoulders or puff out my chest, and eventually my breathing returned to normal. I can now yawn and get those deep sighs in when I need to. My body repaired itself.
The doctors keep telling us “it’s anxiety,” but that doesn’t make much sense when you hear it. Anxiety can actually make you forget how to breathe, and the breathing problem brings on MORE anxiety, and it’s a very viscious circle. I had no idea it was even possible to forget how to breathe, but apparently it is.
Avoid sighing for an entire day and see what happens. Remember, you don’t NEED to get air in that way, because if you did you’d be dead already. Hopefully this will work for someone else!
I’m back! Wow, I can’t believe it’s been over 8 months since I last posted. I’ve returned now because I wanted to give everybody an update and pass on what might hopefully be some usefully information.
My breathing and yawning problems started on 23rd December 2008. The first week was a living hell, and I genuinely thought I was going to die. After that, things got a lot better, but unfortunately it actually took about another 4-5 months for the condition to completely abate so that I could just go 24/7 with no breathing trouble at all and never even think about it.
This was followed but a least 3 months of completely “back to normal” living. Unfortunately, a few days ago the condition returned, mostly likely brought on by a combination of stress and a cough medicine that I started talking for a sore throat.
I should have re-read one of my old postings first and taken some of my own advice! Stay away from all those off-the-shelf meds, especially the ones that are aimed at dealing with congestion, as these contain antihistamines that are a real aggravator if you suffer from/or are vulnerable to this condition. The reason is that they will dry-out your mucous membranes, thus causing you even further breathing restrictions.
Now, here is the good news:
As soon as I’ve had my morning bath I’m off to the store to buy myself something that I only discovered towards the end on my last period of breathing troubles – Something that helped me immensely, and may have even been what finally cured me before. It’s a homeopathic medicine called “Gelsemium” and you want it in the “30c” dose. You can get it in most pharmacies and health food stores in the UK, and it costs about £5.00
It’s made by both Nelsons and Weleda, which are both major players in the high street homeopathic medicines market. I have tried them both, but I found that the Nelsons brand worked slightly better for me. This stuff gave me almost instant relief from my breathing problems from the moment I took it. A very noticeable improvement was observed within the just first 2-3 hours of my first does, and within a few days my breathing was almost completely back to normal. In fact, the first time I ever took it I actually stopped after only 5 days because I thought I was totally cured … but then the condition slowly began to return, so I started taking the Gelsemium again. This happened to me about 4 or 5 times, but finally after about 5 weeks of taking this stuff on-and-off, I stopped taking it again and the breathing troubles just never returned.
This thing is, with homeopathic medicine you are only supposed to take until the ailment disappears and then stop, which is why I keep quitting. Having said that, homeopathic medicine is, well, homeopathic, so it’s 100% safe, and you could in fact take if for years and years with no real risk to your health.
Here is the relevant bit about why I think this stuff worked for me and might work for some of you too. This is taken from the HOMŒOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA by William BOERICKE, M.D.
GELSEMIUM SEMPERVIRENS:
AKA: Yellow Jasmine or (GELSEMIUM)
Centres its action upon the nervous system, addressing various degrees of motor paralysis. Paralysis of various groups of muscles about the eyes, throat, chest, larynx, sphincter, extremities, etc. Post-diphtheritic paralysis. Respiratory: Slowness of breathing, with great prostration. Oppression about chest. Spasm of the glottis. Respiration quickened, spasmodic affections of lungs and diaphragm.
Hope this helps some of you. Good luck
Yep, been dealing with this little issue for like a week now, so I thought I’d throw in my two cents….
DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT! No one has posted about how a loved one has died because they couldn’t yawn or get a deep breath. So everyone should find some relief in knowing it’s just annoying, not life threatening in any way. So take a deep breath and relax….oh wait, bad joke for this audience.
This all started when I took a huge hit off my buddy’s pipe the other night. Started coughing, the works. Now I’ve been a pot smoker for like 5 years straight now and NEVER had a problem at all, been athletic, and completely healthy otherwise.
I remember this happening to the 8 year old version of myself and it really freaked me out. I was even more healthy then, and I was 8….definitely no stress! All tests from the docs proved I was just fine.
So after not smoking pot for the last day and a half, I was feeling a lot better, got cocky with myself and smoked three bowls tonight. Alright, you may call me an idiot for doing that, and I’ll agree. Now I’m back to square one. Feel like I can’t get a deep breath and can’t yawn for shit. But I have no irregular heart beat, and feel totally normal otherwise. I even ran 7 miles yesterday and kept track of my pulse, everything was normal, I just didn’t feel like I was getting a full breath. If I can run 7 miles while dealing with this problem, trust me, you’ll be fine!
It’s totally psychological, but feels 100% physical. When your body is feeling like it’s not getting full breaths, your brain then says “Okay, well let’s get a yawn in to fix this!” Then you get the urge to yawn and you can’t. It really is a viscous cycle that you just have to battle through until it passes. It takes a good attitude though. Even though you feel like you’re not getting enough breath, you really are and everything is fine. Just stay confident that it’ll work out and it will.
(YAWN-ish) Welp, I’m getting tired now cuz this nyquil just kicked in. Good luck to all who are yawnless, and may the dark cloud pass on by.
Take good care now, and know everything will be okay!
Brennan
Today I made a very interesting discovery … and I have to say that I think Ally might have been right all along! Chances are, most of us are suffering with this breathing problem due to aspartame!!! (AKA: NutraSweet)
At first, I dismissed Ally’s posts and thought that this just could NOT be what was causing the problem in my case, primarily as I don’t take any form of sugar in my drinks (just the occasion dollop of honey), and I also never buy or consume any type of soda drinks as I have never really liked them, etc. I also eat mostly fresh fruit and vegetables, and I don’t eat any sweats of candy.
However, after having gone for over 3 months with absolutely no breathing trouble, and then suddenly having this problem return with such a vengeance, I’ve been giving some serious consideration to what it is that I may have been doing differently over the past few days, and I’ve made what I think is a very relevant connection:
About 5 days ago I started to get a sore throat, so I went out and bought a big packet of LemSips. I also bought a box of honey & lemon throat lozenges. For the last few days I have been drinking these LemSips and sucking on the lozenges. Also, yesterday I bought a packet of sugar free chewing gum. Well, it turns out that every single one of these 3 products contains aspartame. I’ve been getting it in a triple dose!
Also (and I have literally only just put this together), but when I suffered my very first breathing attack back in Dec 2008, I had been suffering from a cold then too, and I now remember that I’d also spent a few days drinking hot LemSips and chewing on throat lozenges. I’m now 99% certain that it’s the aspartame additive in these products that has been triggering my breathing fits.
I’ve just been looking up the side effects of aspartame online, and what I’ve been reading is just unbelievable! It’s hard to believe that this chemical is even legal! The FDA actually took almost 20 years to approve it for use in food and drugs due to its know toxicities. The FDA also recognises over 92 known side effects caused by aspartame consumption, one of which is breathing difficulties!
The trouble is, this crap is in everything form soda drinks to prescribed as weell as off-the-shelf medicines. It’s even in certain ice creams, and heath food store vitamins! … plus of course most sugar free gums.
From now on I’m going to make sure that I don’t consume any of this vile substance, and hopefully this will put an end to my breathing/yawing problem once and for all. I’ll try and post back here in a week or two to let everybody know how I’m progressing.
Here’s a link if you want to know more:
http://www.mac-archive.com/ns/side.html
I’m having this right now and it totally sucks. I’m on the cross country team, and it’s gotten worse since the season has started. I don’t know if I buy the whole aspartame thing, but I have been drinking more low-cal gatorade than usual lately. Maybe I’m just freaking out and it is stress. I don’t know, but it is kind of screwing up my running, or at least making me feel like it’s screwing up my running. I’ve been trying to make myself yawn so much that my clavicles hurt. This is crap.
Okay, well, if you want further proof of how bad Aspartame is, consider this:
Aspartame was discovered by accident in 1965. Its original use was as an insecticide. Yes, seriously! But some boffin somehow worked out that it could also be used as a low-cal sweetener in foods, beverages, and medicines. Still don’t believe me? Then try this …
Take a few packets of NutraSweet and pour then into an Ant’s nest. Then watch them all die with in just few minutes! To back this up, Aspartame has long been banned in Europe in all baby food and children’s products, but it continues to be used in most other processed foods, and in the USA it can even been found in kids stuff as the FDA are the ones that approved it and continue to ignore the growing body of evidence that this stuff actually kills people and may trigger a whole number of cancers.
Aspartame is made of 3 components, 50% phenylalanine, 40% aspartic acid and 10% methanol (wood alcohol). In the body methanol breaks down into formaldehyde (embalming fluid) and formic acid.
Anyway you look at it, putting this crap into your body can do you NO GOOD AT all.
Here’s another like if you need some more convincing:
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/aspartame.htm
I don’t eat anything with aspartame in it just out of the ICK! factor-it’s just not good for you.
FOr the most part, my issue seems to be triggered by humidity levels, so I think it’s some weird asthma that doesn’t respond to what I’ve been given traditionally. Need to revisit the issue with the doctor.
I’ve had this problem intermittently all of my life as well and lately it had gotten worse. I read on another website that said it could be anxiety related. I don’t feel anxious but I thought it could be a chemical thing. So I tried to think of actions that would help me feel less anxious. I came up with exercise and laughing. Seriously, I tried laughing right away and it worked. It put me in better spirits and I think helped with the anxiety that I didn’t know I had. It’s easier for me to breath normally now. I still get the feeling sometimes but it’s much less. It sounds crazy but it can’t hurt to try. (I’m not a doctor, but I don’t think you’ll overdose on laughing.)
Hi there, I am glad to know I do not suffer alone.
I am sitting at my computer trying to have a decent yawn. No luck. This happens every now and then -
has done so for years. I try to deal with this very calmly. I am a shallow breather and don’t have a very good peak flow – had asthma when young – ok now – control it. Sometimes fresh air breathing helps. Best idea is not to get too uptight about it. It is annoying but not life threatening. Keep smiling.
hi this sounds like what i have .i also suffer with bloating light headed, headaches, achy painfull legs and shooting pains in my chest does anyone else have this xx
My 16 yo daughter has this now. Got some Lavender oil today to try. She’s not the anxious type, but could still be anxiety. The reflux possibility is interesting because in the day or 2 before she couldn’t yawn (it’s been 4 days now), she was belching really bad. No upset stomach or other complaints like that, just lots of belches. Anyone else experience this? Now she has some chest soreness and tightness from trying to yawn, and lots of frustration at feeling that she can’t completely fill her lungs.
Had her to the pediatrician and she checked out fine (as I had expected) but they had no suggestions for the inability to complete the yawn. We’ll go through the list here one by one to see if the picture fits for any of them since there isn’t really a medical site that gives this problem any credibility. No, it’s not life threatening, but is sure is annoying! Once we’re through the lifestyle changes, like eliminating aspartame (a good idea even if it isn’t the cause) and stimulants, we’ll look at meds. The stimulants could be her problem too since she is on them for other medical conditions, and if she is a little dry, it could make things worse.
Thanks to all who have shared. It is just nice to know you are not alone.
OMG, It’s almost nice to hear I’m not alone with this issue. I’ve had this problem for a few years, but over the past 2 years or so it seems almost constant. It’s soo frustrating. I wonder how much of it is in my head. Every once in a while I realize I’ve been breathing normally then suddenly it’s back.
I also have been having issues that seem like sleep apnea, where I stop breathing at night. Anyone else have that as well?
I am SO thankful that I’m not the only one with this. I am glad I found this site and will put in my favorites! I too have gone to many doctors and all seems normal, but I still can’t get the last catch to my yawns! I was worried it was my heart or lung transfer, or it was psychological! it may be both. I am going to try some of the remedies above. THANK YOU to all who have helped! If I find something different I will definately write in.
Folks….Im not cured but I do find loadin u p on the B vitamins and Magnesium makes it more maneagable……trying not to think about it and getting proper rest helps alot. Laugh at it also…I mean it. Every time it happens, laugh at it. You are not a victim to it.
Peace
G
(something I also try, it goes againt thinking about it but helps alot. I dont even try to take a deep breath for at least 5 minutes in between each one)
this is totally normal! i don’t have allergies or smoke or anything and it happens to me all the time! i know exactly what you mean. you go to yawn but it stops, and you can’t finish the yawn but you feel like you can’t breathe either. it’s pretty strange but so common
sice 10 day i have same problem..i cant yawn,when start the yawn stopping and feeling i cant take air well and feeling bad myself..getting pain to my chin and headache..but no any problem when im sleping..i not using any aspartam just drinking 2 cup teain the morning.im taking pill since 2 year(jasmin)and magnesium diasporal granule because of my cist problem..when start this problem same days i lived problem on my right ear.it was getting pain and i was feeling blocked..when i try yawn i was feeling air going out from my air too..it was chirp like this pıt-pıt..i went to go doctor he said to me my eustachian tube blocked(middle ear tube) because of some allergia,fever,hight pressure etc..and he gave me anthistaminic tablet..now imtaking since 3 day and ill finish my alltablets..hopping it iwll help me..i asked also to doctor he said he dont think this problem getting yawn problems he suggest to me go to pskychiatrist but i believe this is coming from this blocked tube problem..im searchin on net because this problem really bad but im happy for that “im not alone whit this problem”after finish my tablets after open my eustachian tube if stop the yawn problem ill write here again..if anybody write to my mail yalbeni@hotmail.com good luck..jasmin
Have just got round to looking up my yawn problem after all these years and can’t believe I’m not the only one. It’s nice to know it’s most certainly not just me! I’ve been reading everyone’s advice and need to decide were to begin. It really gets me down sometimes as I get embarassed if people notice. I was at the gym today on the treadmill and had to come off as the need to keep yawning took over.
Thank heavens I came across other people who have experienced this irratation, although I wish you hadn’t.
However, I started experiencing this “can’t yawn” thing about three years ago at the age of 28. At first I thought it might be asthma but I had it checked out and am completely fine. When it comes on I feel like I can’t or take a deep breath although I am getting full oxygen, it feels like my diaphram won’t relax. I am convinced that it is stress related because I truly only experience it when I am stressed but sometimes recognizing what your stressed about can be tricky since there are so many things entering our brains on a daily basis. When I cut out television and excessive internet surfing (usually all negative influences) my breathing issues disappeared. It usually only comes on when I am up against stress or a challenge or am feeling overwhelmed. I just read an article on the internet that refers to this reaction in our bodies as “bracing”. It occurs when you unconciously restrict muscles (in this case diaphram) in order to brace yourself against external stressful factors. Good luck to everyone!
Hi..havn’t been on here for ages but would just like to let you know I have now been diagnosed with COPD..I have never really smoked so this was a huge shock..For over a year I was told by various doctors and the hospital that not being able to get a deep breath or being able to yawn was all in my head…After a year of getting this on and off I went to see another doctor and she sent me to have a lung funcion test and COPD showed up..As much as I don’t want to have this illness as it has no cure at least I now know what it is….
When you can’t get enough air into your lungs to get that deep breath or you can’t yawn you must take your mind of it straight away, the more you try the harder it is and your oxygen runs out, I would feel like I was trapped inside my own body and it was driving me mad..You must breath so that your tummy moves in and out and empty your lungs of air then you will be able to take that deep breath…
Good luck
thanks to everybody.. what i hear trying all for fix this problem..time to time stopm and im feeling this is finisht and after suddenly comeback this problem again..really bad..
omg i am so glad i found this site.. lately out of nowhere this problem suddenly occured. its really freaking me out. it went away and now its coming back and its so frustrating and whenever i try to explain to someone else how i am feeling, i feel ridiculous. its happening every few seconds or so and i have to seem to focus on one object that will get me to fully yawn. if not, i end up having to keep taking deep breaths but i feel like i’m not getting enough oxygen in to let out a full good yawn. it keeps happening and i’m scared its soemthing serious, but seeing that obviously the doctors give no diagnose for this, really worries and freaks me out… sigh
good news…!!!!!
hi dear all helpless friends…!i think i found the solution…!
as i told at my frist mail:i went to go doctor because of my ear problem..(same days my ear and yawn problem started)
dr.said its not coming from ears…
but i think its in related..!
i finished my medicine(CLARINASE REPETABS 20 TABLET-Trisiklik antihistaminik ) after 1 week i started slowly slowy yawn..and since 2 day im yawning normal..
my ear doctor told me that my Eustachi pipe stopped..(because of hight pressure,like fly and dive)
and he gave me CLARINASE and chewing gum..
since 2 day im yawn normal..i hope this problem stop forever..
my suggest control your ears too …!
worthy to test ????
if start again ill let you know..
good luck to everybody
I keep looking for something like a disease but I can’t find anything. It gets so bad that I stop what I’m doing, get dizzy and almost faint. Its like I just can’t yawn then I can’t get any air. This isn’t normal. So far it passes but I’m afraid one day I will pass out. Anyone making fun of it around me makes it worse. I need help on this bad. ppl tell me its all in my head but when I need air I know that it isn’t. I want someone so bad to tell me what it is so that I can fix this problem.
Callie~
I do not believe that this is all in your head. While I was going through this, I never got dizzy or felt like I was going to faint. The only thing with that, that I can say is that it is possible that you are letting anxiety and panic set in and that is where the dizziness is coming from. I do understand what you are saying about people around you making it worse…this is because they can not understand what it is that we are going through. If you have gone to the doctors and they can not find anything, then what I can do is suggest the things that I did. I completely cut out anything with Aspertame, I use splenda only, I notice that if I drink a diet coke which has Aspertame, the deep breath and not being able to yawn kicks up. As well as I do my best to not have a lot of stress, this keeps my anxiety low which stops the breathing issues from kicking up. I do not eat full meals, rather I break them up to smaller meals so that my stomach is not full. It has helped. I wish you luck, and as always everyone that has this issue is in my thoughts, it is not fun to go through.
Finally someone with some sense to liste. Callie thanks for mentioning aspartame.
I have been telling them for months, yet they keep going to the doctors as if they know anything.
Take your health in your own hands people.
Ever since I eliminated aspartame, I have never had another episode.
Just saying…
Hey guys, glad ive found this site as ive been having troubles for over a week now. I breathe fine in and out but i feel like i need to yawn all the time! but i cant, its like the end of my yawn stops and im not satisfied. I cant a take a deep breathe. but for some reason occasionally i can do it but it takes a long time if that makes sense.
It panics me a little bit but im just calming myself down. Im finding it really difficult.
Ive been taking more zinc tablets, do you think this could have anything to do with it? Please help. i havent been to the doctors yet as dont want to waste their time!
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I’ve been havin tha same problem 4 years now..I think it might have something 2 do with air flow through our ears.I could be wrong and I haven’t done any resaerch yet but I remember when I use 2 be able 2 yawn I could feel air go into m ears…sound dumb I know but its true
bryan…1
as i told of my mail before might from ear..my ostache pipe closed and same days started my yawn problem..i i was feeling dump-bump-cat-cut voices in my air when im trying yawn..then doctor said me ostache pipe clost..he gave me clerasine and gum..chewing gum and finisht my medicine..still i idnt go to control and yawn problem low now but not finisht totally ;-(
i belive not open yet my ostache pipe..im suggest to everybody go to ear doctor..and control ears..
im belive when open my pipe yawn problem will be finish..
good luck