GKEENZ - Never in my sleep, usually during simple sitting or made worse by slight exertion. Slight exertion includes bending over & picking up laundry to take to the washer! I end up heaving & sometimes coughing like a vacuum ready to die!

I'd see your Dr. ASAP as this could be a nasal constriction, allergies, or something else. Hugs.

Thanks for the suggestion FIC. I have an appointment with my Rhummey on Wednesday I plan on bringing it up.

I do get the out of breath with exertion thing. I figure it's just being so out of shape. I have noticed that I am less in shape after getting the CFS/FM. I walk the dog and I have to stop and catch my breath as if I was just running instead of waking.

My breathing feels like when you get asthma. I have had a few asthma attacks when I get bronchitis but I don't suffer from it. It's not like asthma where you can't fill your lungs and wheeze. I can fill my lungs but it feels like I just can't get enough oxygen no matter what. If I try to relax and not struggle to breath my breathing slows to where Im not getting enough oxygen and I need to gasp for air again and then continue to breath hard. It's like my body is forgetting how to breathe.

Does this happen to anyone?

GKENNZ - I'm right there with you. I breathe like a 90 yr old or a porn star neither of which is my goal or preferred image! LOL

I WALK thru the house picking up odds & ends, tote them to the washer, and by that point, I must sit for 15-30 mins as I am sweating like a hog and heaving for air.

I too thought, Geez, I'm out of shape, but how is one supposed to "aerobisize" when you can't move or breathe? I mean I do stay active as possible with housework and chasing my grandson (2 yrs) and I should think altho that isn't a "workout" per se, it is still activity and count for something, YES?

I just found out CFS is what is affecting me. Or at least that is what the ER told me. I am scared. I all ready have a bad back with a pain pump in me to deal with it. Feals like I have to concentrate on my breathing now. Just feals like I am jumpy nervous. How am I going to deal with this. I didn't even want to go to the er today. Part me is hoping what ever this is would just do me in.

Honey, just calm down. It will pass. Try sipping something hot as it opens things up. Also, sometimes a lite breeze in my face helps.

Ali5tare certainly is knowledgeable about CFS. I have had a breathing problem for a long time. It comes and goes. It feels like the breath stops and can't go where it needs to go. And it could cause you to hyperventilate probably, but I work at controlling it and not getting to that point. I finally found that when I take a breath in and just hold it and allow it to slowly move - it starts helping me so that I will get at least one good breath. IT may be a few minutes before it feels so awful again like it isn't going far enough. I have discussed this with my GP and with an internal medicine doctor and they chalk it up to my sleep apnea and acid reflux. I asked to see a lung specialist because my mother had died with Acute Pulmonary Fibrosis, which accelerated. It was very hard to watch her those last few weeks struggling to feel like she was breathing. I was afraid that I might have that. It can run in families. The lung doctor did no tests, and didn't really do anything but talk to me, and he too chalked it up to sleep apnea and acid reflux. Of course all the doctors blame it alot on my obesity. I had similar breathing problems since I was a child and I never gained weight till I reached 33. Go figure! No help - doctors don't listen - and they do a lot of guessing.

Also, I have awakened from my sleep having these type breathing problems and feeling as though I have been in a severe struggle for a long time - exhausted.

HEY PEEPS - Licorice root is helpful for breathing, as is chicken broth, and if you like REAL BLACK LICORICE CANDY, it helps too. I try to do herbals as much as possible and have begun doing them like I would scripts....regularly. Also practice belly breathing.

I get scared the most when it's like an asthma attack from nowhere. I then have to force myself to stay calm and cough, choke, and try to breathe.

Hugs to all

I have the shortness of breath. Mine feels like not being able to take a deep enough breath to keep me from getting tired. It just feels like I am unable to deep breath. I do it daily when I am feeling run down. Nothing helps mine except laying down. I am so sick of laying down. "WAITING FOR" depending where you live try looking around for church funded clinics. I also have no insurance but really got lucky by finding a Methodist ministries clinic.