morningfox
22-12-2010, 01:35 AM
Hi there,
I hope you don't mind my huge amount of text, it's not an easy problem to sum up :(
I'm a 23 year old male from the South of England, I'd really like to get some help or suggestions with what might be wrong with me and how to heal it. I'm up late now as I am almost every night unable to sleep.
It's difficult to describe but I generally feel as if my stomach isn't where it should be, it feels as if it is right up in my chest, pushing my lungs and heart upwards. I had a spell about a year ago where my heart felt like it was beating extremely fast and I had what I suppose was a panic attack for about 5 days straight, I couldn't sleep and honestly thought I was going to die. After it calmed down a little bit my hands would always be cold and sweaty and I'd have anxiety all the time. Which is really unlike my character as before this I was a really confident bolschy chap.
I've felt like I can't take a full or satisfying breath for probably 4 years now, I never feel like I can relax as my breath doesn't seem to go all the way in. I feel as though Iv'e forgotten how to breathe properly from the diaphragm and it also might be something to do with my posture as once in a blue moon I'll be in a certain position and I'll feel my breathe going deeper than it ever does, only for one breath.
About a year ago I also started to get serious heart burn and acid reflux and everything I ate felt like it was getting stuck in my chest and not going all the way down.
The acid reflux has subsided since I've cut down my meal sizes and cut out all the spicey and fried food I used to eat, although after eating a big meal it still feels as if the food is in my pipes.
It's quite hard to write and describe it all well and sorry for the huge wall of text. I've never been much of the worrying type but for the last year or so I constanty feel as If I am about to die, I feel as if there is a balloon in my chest pushing on my heart and almost every night i find it difficult and quite scary once I go to sleep... the days are ok because I have external stimulus to take my mind off it but once I lie down in bed it's very hard to relax.
There is rarely any pain but when in a certain position and able to 'belly breathe' there is a sharp pain on the right upper side of my stomach. I remember this pain when trying to meditate and belly breathe years ago and part me thinks that subconsciously I have moved to chest breathing to avoid this pain. My breathing is really unrythmical and unrelaxing.
I also have a constant ache in my spine and below my right shoulder area that seems to go through to the front
I hope I don't sound like I am rambling too much I've never really had to sit down and write out exactly how I have been feeling, it's quite tricky!
I have the suspicion from my symptoms and what I've read that it could be a hiatus hernia, I've been to my GP who prescribed me antacids which gave me the worst stomach cramps I have ever experienced. It looks like the only answer through the NHS for hiatus hernia is surgery which I really don't fancy.
I don't have the greatest faith in doctors and hospitals if I'm honest and I really feel quite alone and helpless as I have given up smoking, drinking and eating crap (mostly) for a few months now and it doesn't seem to have made any difference
I have had all the blood pressure, blood tests, ultrasound and heart rate monitored and apparently everything is fine
Another thing worth mentioning is that about 4 years ago I developed a blocked nose which I thought was hayfever but ended up lasting through the winter and basically until now. I used to have literally a 100% blocked nose and sleeping at night back then was awful. Since then I have been using nasal sprays which help a lot although I use them more than I should, it literally helps my quality of life though! I'm booked in to have surgery on my nose next month finally so hopefully that will help.
The reason I mention that is that possibly the lack of proper breathing for so long made my diaphragm muscles weak which might be a causing factor?
Any help or suggestions very very welcome as I am really beginning to not enjoy my life experience and starting to get extremely frustrated.
Would like to make a journey to the Shen clinic in the new year too :)
If you read my huge babbling wall of text, thank you very much, any input or suggestions would be very much appreciated :)
Greg
I hope you don't mind my huge amount of text, it's not an easy problem to sum up :(
I'm a 23 year old male from the South of England, I'd really like to get some help or suggestions with what might be wrong with me and how to heal it. I'm up late now as I am almost every night unable to sleep.
It's difficult to describe but I generally feel as if my stomach isn't where it should be, it feels as if it is right up in my chest, pushing my lungs and heart upwards. I had a spell about a year ago where my heart felt like it was beating extremely fast and I had what I suppose was a panic attack for about 5 days straight, I couldn't sleep and honestly thought I was going to die. After it calmed down a little bit my hands would always be cold and sweaty and I'd have anxiety all the time. Which is really unlike my character as before this I was a really confident bolschy chap.
I've felt like I can't take a full or satisfying breath for probably 4 years now, I never feel like I can relax as my breath doesn't seem to go all the way in. I feel as though Iv'e forgotten how to breathe properly from the diaphragm and it also might be something to do with my posture as once in a blue moon I'll be in a certain position and I'll feel my breathe going deeper than it ever does, only for one breath.
About a year ago I also started to get serious heart burn and acid reflux and everything I ate felt like it was getting stuck in my chest and not going all the way down.
The acid reflux has subsided since I've cut down my meal sizes and cut out all the spicey and fried food I used to eat, although after eating a big meal it still feels as if the food is in my pipes.
It's quite hard to write and describe it all well and sorry for the huge wall of text. I've never been much of the worrying type but for the last year or so I constanty feel as If I am about to die, I feel as if there is a balloon in my chest pushing on my heart and almost every night i find it difficult and quite scary once I go to sleep... the days are ok because I have external stimulus to take my mind off it but once I lie down in bed it's very hard to relax.
There is rarely any pain but when in a certain position and able to 'belly breathe' there is a sharp pain on the right upper side of my stomach. I remember this pain when trying to meditate and belly breathe years ago and part me thinks that subconsciously I have moved to chest breathing to avoid this pain. My breathing is really unrythmical and unrelaxing.
I also have a constant ache in my spine and below my right shoulder area that seems to go through to the front
I hope I don't sound like I am rambling too much I've never really had to sit down and write out exactly how I have been feeling, it's quite tricky!
I have the suspicion from my symptoms and what I've read that it could be a hiatus hernia, I've been to my GP who prescribed me antacids which gave me the worst stomach cramps I have ever experienced. It looks like the only answer through the NHS for hiatus hernia is surgery which I really don't fancy.
I don't have the greatest faith in doctors and hospitals if I'm honest and I really feel quite alone and helpless as I have given up smoking, drinking and eating crap (mostly) for a few months now and it doesn't seem to have made any difference
I have had all the blood pressure, blood tests, ultrasound and heart rate monitored and apparently everything is fine
Another thing worth mentioning is that about 4 years ago I developed a blocked nose which I thought was hayfever but ended up lasting through the winter and basically until now. I used to have literally a 100% blocked nose and sleeping at night back then was awful. Since then I have been using nasal sprays which help a lot although I use them more than I should, it literally helps my quality of life though! I'm booked in to have surgery on my nose next month finally so hopefully that will help.
The reason I mention that is that possibly the lack of proper breathing for so long made my diaphragm muscles weak which might be a causing factor?
Any help or suggestions very very welcome as I am really beginning to not enjoy my life experience and starting to get extremely frustrated.
Would like to make a journey to the Shen clinic in the new year too :)
If you read my huge babbling wall of text, thank you very much, any input or suggestions would be very much appreciated :)
Greg