Generally, my doc said it was just a side effect of pushing myself. Sometimes, I would overdo it and wind up exhausted on the couch for a few days to recover. But, other times, I'd just get the increase in SOB and slight pain along my spine and it would be gone the next day. Over time, as I got more active, the SOB and pain got less and less and sometimes didn't show up at all.

For the most part, I think it is just a sign that you're getting healthier and more active and your lungs are trying to keep up. It's like any time you might try to get into shape... you go jogging for the first time in ages and you'll probably be pretty winded and maybe sore the next day. That wouldn't bother you and this really shouldn't either.

The only time I might get concerned is if the pain seems vastly different than other times when you've increased your activity level. If it is much more severe or it doesn't go away after a day or two, those might be things to chat with your doc about. Maybe you just pushed it too hard and need to step up slower, but always good to get your questions answered.

Also, keep in mind that anxiety can make some of this worse. There are times when my emotional brain is freaking out but my logical brain *totally* knows what is going on. I wrenched my leg really bad once on a spinning chair and even though I TOTALLY knew why my leg hurt for the next few days, my emotional brain kept panicking about clotting. I knew I was going to be anxious--and I was--but I went about my life anyway.

Hang in there! It sounds like you've made SO much progress in the last seven months.

I've just started dealing with PE so I don't have much input yet... But in dealing with the pain... Doc says know your body and don't push it anymore than you have to, eventually the pain will subside.. No set time but, how about changing workout routine?

Thanks for the responses. I was able to rest over the long weekend and stay out of the humidity so that helped. Now we'll see how it goes with more rain in the forecast every day this week.

That's a question that plagues me, too. Why is it that some days I'm just short of breath and other days, the chest tightness comes? Am I doing too much? I try to walk around like a 95 year old. R E A L
S L O W L Y.

also can someone tell this newbie was an SOB is? My definition is a little different than what I think you' re talking about!

Shortness of breath.