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Air hunger and difficulty swallowing

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Posted 9/26/2017 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
The past couple days I have felt like I couldn't take a deep enough breath or get enough air sometimes. And yesterday, I took a bite of food and couldn't swallow it -- it took forever to get down my throat. That has happened before on occasion. Would these be likely lyme/babesia symptoms, or anxiety, or both? Having trouble with anxiety lately too, and these symptoms are making me panicky for the first time. Any tips?
Posted 9/26/2017 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi!

I have Lyme and babesia. My main worrisome symptoms are air hunger, anxiety/panic, brain fog/ dizziness. Living day to day is tough with going to work, coaching, and taking care of 2 small kids. Ugh
Posted 9/26/2017 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Yes. I am having trouble with swallowing. I also struggle with anxiety. I am sorry that you are experiencing this as well. It is scary.

I use a Lavender essential oil roll-on that I rub on my neck when this happens. I remind myself that I can breathe. Also, I have switched to soups and protein drinks.

After a normal Barium swallow, my gastro doc thinks that it is the Lyme. My llmd as well.

Are you currently treating? I had a bad reaction on abx so I am just using herbs right now as I try to knock down the toxin load. In the past three days I have been able to increase dosages and I have seen improvement in my ability to swallow solids.

Detoxing has helped me with the anxiety.
Posted 9/26/2017 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
Dahlias I had air hunger and also difficulty swallowing sometimes.

When I first went to my doctor (GP) I told him that my throat felt swollen or something weird. I said, it is not a regular sore throat. I had difficulty swallowing my own saliva. It felt like a lump in my throat.

Air hunger was scary..... We have stairs in our home and I would walk up the stairs and not be able to get a breath. I would take deep breaths and they were not satisfying at all.

All I can say is that with time and treatment they both went away. I can't even tell what "herb" took care of them. I was on so many for so long. It was probably the cumulative or synergy effect of all of them.

Just don't give up and keep on treating.
Posted 9/26/2017 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
I've had trouble getting a deep breath and trouble swallowing. Both scary. I had it a lot when I first got sick in 2009 and again when I got a 2nd wave of chronic symptoms in 2015. Don't have them much now but can't say why. I know any of my symptoms could return at any time.

I have confirmed Lyme and ehrlichia, many telltale signs of bart. Never been sure about babs. Not sure which causes those symptoms.
Posted 9/26/2017 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
My air hunger and anxiety attacks (kind of each playing off of and exacerbating the other) were greatly reduced when I treated for Babesia. Still hanging on a bit so I'm not done, and tested positive for Bart.

The worst attacks came about 4 months apart, and that cycle helped me pinpoint Babs. I'd have a bad night or two of air hunger, panic, numb head, more panic, crying, heart rate all over the place, more panic. I remember the first time I really felt air hunger. It was terrifying.

The difficulty swallowing I didn't notice until recently. It seems to pop up at the beginning of the month and subside, but not always.
Posted 9/27/2017 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I seem to have had my first panic attack. Thought it was a heart attack. This gets more and more fun each day.

I'm sorry that all of you have had those symptoms too, but glad to know it's not all in my head. PeteZa, your story gives hope, and Babs, I'm glad to hear that yours also improved with treatment for Babesia. Readingmom, I'm cheering for your improvement over the past few days. Yes, I'm treating with doxy and supplements.

Wishing for healing for all of you.
Posted 9/27/2017 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
I've had issues with both as well. The swallowing part was the scariest for me and really impacted my overall mental state. It got better with antibiotic treatment and then also with getting my candida issues under control. I still have issues with breathing. i'm off abx and am on herbs only. Diagnosed in June.
Posted 9/27/2017 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
I have had air hunger and swallowing issues. The swallowing issues are gone after 10-months of lyme and co treatment, but I still get the occasional air hunger. I found the swallowing issue made me really anxious too, and then that was a huge downward spiral of fear and feeling worse.

Buhner recommends Tree of Heaven for swallowing issues. I took it, but I didn't notice a difference that I would tie directly to that.

These are both really scary symptoms. With the swallowing I would tell myself that it's not real. And I did multiple breath tests when I had air hunger that showed my breathing was at full capacity. It's mind over matter...you just have to know that you're having the symptom, and it will subside, you will be OK - you can indeed swalloa. Easier said that done in the moment of course!
Posted 9/27/2017 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I did not read all comments; however swallowing issues are usually any one or all combined: thyroid, GERD/reflux, anziety.

Been there, fixed all that (several times).
Posted 9/27/2017 5:53 PM (GMT 0)

astroman said...
I did not read all comments; however swallowing issues are usually any one or all combined: thyroid, GERD/reflux, anziety.

Been there, fixed all that (several times).

Or the infections themselves -

The infections can affect the cranial nerves which results in throat issues. (I think it's cranial nerves IX and X)
Posted 9/28/2017 3:50 AM (GMT 0)

BostonMarigold said...
I have had air hunger and swallowing issues. The swallowing issues are gone after 10-months of lyme and co treatment, but I still get the occasional air hunger. I found the swallowing issue made me really anxious too, and then that was a huge downward spiral of fear and feeling worse.

Buhner recommends Tree of Heaven for swallowing issues. I took it, but I didn't notice a difference that I would tie directly to that.

These are both really scary symptoms. With the swallowing I would tell myself that it's not real. And I did multiple breath tests when I had air hunger that showed my breathing was at full capacity. It's mind over matter...you just have to know that you're having the symptom, and it will subside, you will be OK - you can indeed swalloa. Easier said that done in the moment of course!

BostonMarigold,

Thanks for sharing your experience with Tree of Heaven. I haven't tried a lot of Buhner's other recommended herbs outside of the basic protocols. It's nice to know your experience with that. Also, I like what you said about mind over matter. When I had the worst of the air hunger, I went to a pulmonologist and had the whole workup and was tested for asthma with a methacholine challenge test. The test was negative for asthma, my pulmonary function test and chest xray were all normal, even when my chest felt tight and rigid and I couldn't get a satisfying breath. Scary stuff indeed.
Posted 9/28/2017 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Mind of matter ... yes. I keep reminding myself that I can get enough air and that the food will go down eventually. Thank you.
Posted 9/29/2017 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I wonder, if people get facial palsy, gut palsy, why not getting some sort of throat palsy?

This swallowing problem is waay too common with lyme.

Air hunger: I agree with most: treat babesia, with neurotoxin binders. It's the most common culprit.

But even after babesia was gone, I got bits of air hunger with herxes. Binders almost always helped me then.

Excessive herxes do make me grasp for air.
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