I am taking deep breaths often and it gets worse after eating. Why?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Do you have any other symptoms like cough and colds, history of trauma, fever, body aches, diarrhea, or throat pain? When did you feel tightening or pressure in the chest area, any numbness or weakness in the left arm? Do you feel any burning sensation at the epigastric region (just below your sternum, part of the upper abdomen)? Will you do frequent throat clearing? You also mentioned it gets worse after eating, what food usually triggers it? Do you experience bloating or frequent flatulence? Does it get better when you burp or flatulate? Have you tried any medication? Do you smoke? Did this happen before? Perhaps the anxiety is due to the uncertainty or fear that it might be related to COVID? But based on what you have described so far, it is highly unlikely. I understand the ECQ does not really help and a lot of people are also having the same issue. When we confine ourselves within the premises of our home for this long it takes a lot of things from us. The quarantine has taken our slight sense of freedom, control, and changed it to what we know now as the new normal. But please understand that it might take sometime before the quarantine is lifted but know all of these things are only temporary. So far, your symptom is pointing to dyspepsia (umbrella for Gerd, hyperacidity, etc). But I need answers to some of the questions mentioned above in order to strengthen the diagnosis. Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Based on what you have disclosed, the symptoms are due to your anxiety attack but the diagnosis of dyspepsia is still apparent. It is alright to take a few deep breaths. Try to do that every morning for a full minute. The difficulty in breathing in surmise is probably brought about by the fact that you are more hyperaware of your symptoms. And this leads to a feeling or sensation of worsening of symptoms or something is wrong that results in the difficulty of breathing and then leads to other things. Hence, the feeling of anxiety. Let us treat medically, both the anxiety and dyspepsia and follow up after two weeks and do a symptom diary. When doing a symptom diary, take note of your symptoms to include duration, triggers, and action taken. Include your thoughts and feelings, what worries you, what did you feel, etc. Is your weight really just at 85 pounds? Or is it 194 pounds? I would also like to suggest the diagnostics: (when you have time, not urgent) 12L ECG (electrocardiography), CBC (complete blood count), TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), FT4, CXR-PA view (chest x-ray). Take Propranolol 10 mg, one tablet three times a day as needed for anxiety, Pantoprazole + Domperidone 40/30 mg, one capsule 30 minutes prior to breakfast for two weeks. Other remarks include to avoid skipping meals, avoid colored drinks such as coffee, tea, soda, juice. Take water only, avoid high carb intake, 1 cup of rice per meal should suffice. Lessen the intake of bread and biscuits, after your last meal, there should be a 2-hour interval before you lie down, increase water intake and high fiber diet, and avoid spicy meals. Thank you.