Shortness of Breath

[peglem]

When my daughter was on the 5 day steroid she had periods of heavy breathing (like she was out of breath) and clammy sweats that would drench her t-shirt.

[P_Mom]

Allison...could be either...symptom or side-effect....but, my vote would be symptom. Anxiety is one of the most common symptoms of PANDAS......and, shortness of breath (and insomnia) is one of the most common symptoms of anxiety. Goggle "physical anxiety symptoms". She may deny anxiety because many kids don't know what it feels like(can't describe how they feel)..or what it is. They may have felt this way for as long as they can remember, so, they may think it is normal. You know? I didn't realize what I had been feeling most of my life was anxiety until I was in my late 20's !!!

 

CSP....it sounds to me like your friend may be suffering from an anxiety disorder...which could cause all the problems you mentioned. She sounds very much like my situation........panic disorder is different from anxiety disorder. Although, many people with anxiety disorder will have panic attacks...not all, but, many. Panic attack is the acute, dramatic onset of panic symptoms (people usually end up in the ER thinking they are about to die.....or are having a heart attack).......anxiety disorder has many common, though less severe symptoms...and it can become chronic...which then can manifest with chronic physical symptoms.

[CSP]

P.mom,

 

Yes, I do believe she is having some sort of panic, but she thought it was because of the medication. I know my friend and, P.mom, and she is prone to worring just about everything. I think you are right on this one. Do you take anything for it? My friend was told this could last a year, and she was to rest, rest, rest.

 

Allison I did not mean to bring this subject up thinking your dd had (Costo) I just thought it was intersting that they were on the same med. and my friend was sure the shortness of breath was from that.

[P_Mom]

Ah, yes, chronic worry.....typical anxiety sufferer. I have had anxiety as long as I can remember and also over worry. It was manageable and at a low level for all of my life until PANDAS hit (in my sons).....that bumped it up a bazillion notches...then family crisis....bumped up more to the point it manifest in many physical ways.....costo being one of them. It can resolve in weeks to months, or, can last years....some even have chronic cases. Mine started last November, so, I am over a year now. I really don't feel that it will go away if I don't get the anxiety to go away...no easy task when you have always had it, AND two PANDAS kids. I am working on the anxiety......seeing improvement....doc told me to take Motrin (Ibuprophen) for atleast a month and see how I am then....I mean steadily, every day...3 x day. Also, I was told to use a heating pad as often as I can, and rest. Just started these two things..( motrin and heating pad....the rest one is difficult) I'll let you know how it goes!

Oh, just FYI...mine started out not too bad, manageable, but, because I had no diagnosis, I did no treatment for a LONG time, did not rest, etc. It got really severe the last couple months...to the point some days I would just sit still and not move...if I moved my chest at all...it HURT! It is usually worse and/or confined to the left side...nice huh? No wonder people think it is cardiac related. Mine is on both sides (left is indeed worse), radiates under my arms and to my back, and extends the length of my whole sternum. Occasionally, I still get the sudden, out of nowhere, sharp, stabbing pains in my left chest......mostly, it is just a constant ache. It really does stink.....it leads to heightened anxiety in people with existing anxiety many, many times.