Breathing and Digestion

Man, I wish I could say the same for you... 🙂 I even did the whole "knock on wood" thing just to be safe, but my experience is looking a bit different. It’s been the exact same every single day, whether I’ve eaten or not. No changes at all. It’s actually been three months since I’ve done anything active, so yesterday I decided to head out for a fast run just to see what would happen. After a little while, I felt like I could take a full breath, but my entire body was aching. Then, once I calmed down and went for a mile walk? I still couldn't catch my breath properly.

I also noticed another symptom... I'm drinking nothing but water lately, absolutely nothing else. But when I go to the bathroom, my urine is incredibly, intensely yellow. Could that be jaundice? Slow digestion, too... and that's it.

If it’s looking yellow, then you’re probably short on fluids, at least if you ask me.
And listen, if you're actually struggling to breathe, you seriously need to get your heart checked out.
Shortness of breath can be the very first red flag that your heart is starting to fail or just isn't performing the way it should.
Also, tell me straight—are you taking any kind of stimulants or anything like that for training? Since you're an athlete and all.
Any other medications or even just random dietary supplements?

First off, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the advice... Seriously, whether you believe me or not, you guys have been my only real support system outside of my family and my girlfriend... My buddies? They’re mostly just making jokes out of the whole thing.
Anyway, I just got a referral for a cardiac stress test—you know, the treadmill kind. Now I just have to wait.
I'll let you all know how it goes and what the doctors find once everything is wrapped up... Thanks again, everyone...
🙏

Let me give you guys a quick update... I’m still waiting on another endoscopy... plus, I’ve noticed a new symptom.
So, it was my birthday recently, and I had a few drinks. I felt like I needed to throw up, so I tried to force it by putting my fingers down my throat. There was definitely something there, but I just couldn't get it out. It felt like it started coming up from my stomach, but then it just got stuck somewhere, and man, did it hurt. I’m starting to wonder if it might be a hernia, even though my doctor told me a CT scan wouldn't pick that up.

REBOOTING! 🙂 Hey everyone, just got back from my endoscopy... turns out my lower esophagus is pretty banged up from acid reflux, even though I haven't actually felt any heartburn. My lungs seem fine on paper, but when it came to the spirometry test... well, that’s where things get weird. My inhalation was only at 90%, but it really should have been closer to 115% since my actual lung capacity is sitting at 6.5 liters. And of course, my doctor just laughs it off and tells me it’s probably just anxiety and muscle spasms... hahahaha! Seriously? This has been going on for six months now. There hasn't been much change, except maybe my digestion is slightly better, but that's only because I've been sticking to this strict diet for two months straight. So, I'm looking for some advice here... SHOULD I go ahead and get my heart checked out next? Maybe my spine too??!?!?!
🙏

Sean Brown86 said:Of course, my doctor tells me it's just muscle spasms and anxiety... hahaha, and this has been going on for six months already!

The doctor might actually have a point there.

p.s. I've been dealing with the exact same thing for about four months now. We haven't even bothered with diagnostic tests because my doctor and I both agreed it's likely just tension-related. I've been trying to meditate for about 15 minutes a day to unwind, along with a simple yoga routine to loosen up my muscles—and I can definitely tell it's helping, even if I'm not fully back to 100% yet.

Honestly, I think we’re talking about pure, unadulterated stress here—and let’s be real, that takes a massive toll. But look, if getting a professional opinion is what’s going to help you finally get some peace of mind and move past this, then just go see a doctor. Seriously, don't let whatever anyone else says hold you back. At the end of the day, your health is really just about how you actually feel, right? You're only as healthy as you feel...

Stress can actually be treated, and quite successfully at that.

Based on what I’ve gathered here, the root issue seems to be centered in the stomach and small intestine. So, we’re right back to square one: diet, or rather, how you actually consume food. From everything you’ve shared, your food choices seem pretty solid, but you didn't mention your timing. I noticed this all seemed to kick off when you started eating late at night, so maybe that’s where the rabbit is hiding... The general rule is that after about 8:00 PM, your metabolism starts to slow down, meaning whatever you eat at that hour just sits there until morning, basically undergoing some pretty unpleasant changes. A good diet isn't just about picking the right stuff; it's about *how* you eat it (chewing is absolutely non-negotiable—your stomach doesn't have teeth to grind things down). What I mean is you need to prep the food with saliva first, which requires thorough chewing. Every type of food triggers specific enzymes, so by the time it hits the stomach, the body already knows exactly which juices to secrete. Fast and efficient. Two things tend to throw the stomach for a loop: not chewing enough and grazing too frequently (taking a bite now, then another thirty minutes later...). With the second one, the interesting part is that just as the stomach starts processing one thing, something else jumps in and disrupts the whole process. My advice would be to eat smaller amounts and leave a gap between meals (at least 4 hours, though 5 is the sweet spot). That should help you out
Dark urine usually means a detox is happening (provided you're staying hydrated, though let's be real, the "eight glasses a day" rule is total nonsense). This should come with increased thirst and a better mental state. If you aren't feeling that mental lift, then you might want to double-check if things are actually moving in a positive direction.
That sensation like you can't catch your breath could also be related to your spleen, especially if it happens after pushing yourself too hard during a run.

Stay safe and take care 👋

Honestly, I think the biggest culprit here is just pure, unadulterated stress—that constant, nagging mental loop where you’re constantly wondering what on earth is wrong with you and why. It’s exhausting. That tension ends up wreaking havoc on your gut (I can't even remember the specific name of the condition, but you know the one), and once your digestive system is acting up, everything else follows. For instance, shortness of breath can stem from a million different things, including those stubborn stomach bacteria issues where every time you get worked up or stressed out, your breathing just hitches. Then there's the nasal stuff—like if you have a deviated septum, and then the lining gets inflamed, suddenly you feel like you can't breathe through your nose at all even though it feels "empty," and we all know that mouth-breathing is definitely not the way to go. It’s a whole chain reaction. But look, if your resting heart rate stays steady—say, consistently under 100 beats per minute—your heart is most likely doing just fine. If you really want that extra peace of mind, sure, go get an echocardiogram at the local clinic, but usually, that's it. There isn't some grand mystery here. And just a side note—you aren't going to experience shortness of breath caused by your spleen unless there's actual pain involved. So, if it is the spleen, it’ll hurt when you take a breath. ☕

You’re definitely giving me something to chew on... but honestly? I don't spend my whole life obsessing over this. Especially not when I'm training. When I'm mid-workout, I don't have the mental bandwidth to wonder if my breathing is off—yet there I am, gasping for air anyway. The thing is, a lot of people I talk to just don't "get" it. They don't realize that this isn't something that comes and goes. It happens whether I'm sitting on the couch, out for a run, or just living my life. Even when I've had a few drinks (it was my birthday, after all), nothing changes. It's been six months of this. During intense runs where I should be focusing on deep belly breathing, my stomach just starts cramping up. One time during an exercise, my core seized up so hard I literally had to stop running. After a quick break, I tried to keep going, and while the belly stuff settled, I felt this sharp, stabbing sensation in my upper chest every time I inhaled. It wasn't agonizing, but it was definitely there. Look, I really do appreciate the psychological advice, but trust me, this isn't "all in my head." I'm not that kind of person. I don't carry around stress or hang-ups. I know exactly when this started and exactly where it hits. I even tried taking some Advil to see if it would help, but it made zero difference. I am telling you, it's not mental. It's tied to my running, my breathing technique, and my digestion. The weirdest part? Nothing actually hurts. But whether I'm resting or pushing myself, I just feel like something is fundamentally wrong. Every single second, for six months straight, regardless of what I'm doing.

I’m heading in for a full cardiac workup tomorrow to make sure everything is running smoothly. Honestly, I've been feeling some shortness of breath lately, and my heart starts racing even when I'm just doing something minor, like walking up a flight of stairs. Don't get me wrong—my fitness levels are fine—but that pounding sensation is hard to ignore. If the doctors give me the all-clear on my heart, then it's onto the colonoscopy. I have to admit, I'm pretty nervous about that 😕

Sean Brown86 said:If that’s not an issue, I might as well go in for a colonoscopy too... though the whole 😕
thing scares me...

I haven't been through it myself, but my uncle had one three times and claims it wasn't that bad.
Good luck with the cardiac tests. I know you just want some answers, but hoping everything is fine with your heart.

Sean Brown86 said:Heading in for a full cardiac workup tomorrow to see if everything is okay... my heart starts racing even with minimal effort because I can't catch my breath, even just walking up stairs... and don't get me wrong, my fitness isn't the issue here. If the doctors say my heart is fine, then I'll move on to the colonoscopy... though honestly, that 😕
scares me a bit.

I'm thinking it might be an abdominal wall issue. When those muscles get strained or injured, they take forever to heal. If it's become chronic, it could stay stretched out for months. You really should have taken it easy on the physical activity early on (which I know is easier said than done 😁), rather than waiting this long.
The thing is, a gastroscopy wouldn't have caught that... not sure if a 😕
would show anything either. Doesn't feel like a heart problem to me... and I'd actually be down to get that colonoscopy done 🤣

Sean Brown86 said:...it's not like I'm constantly dwelling on it... especially now while I'm working out... when I'm mid-set I don't really have the headspace to worry about whether my breathing is struggling or not, but then again, I still end up gasping for air because of it...

You don't actually have to think about anything to be under stress. Stress, fundamentally speaking, comes down to the adrenaline being pumped out by your adrenal glands. That adrenaline constricts everything; your body stays in a constant state of high alert, and if that lingers, it just becomes your baseline. So, you don't necessarily need to be consciously stressed—thinking about stuff or feeling anxious—for it to become your default setting. Breathing is honestly one of those brilliant little ways to "detect" your stress levels. The more shallow your breaths get (and by that, I mean which part of your chest is doing the work), the higher the stress. Clavicular breathing—that upper chest stuff—is essentially "emergency" breathing, the kind that signals your body is in crisis mode. Ideally, you should be breathing from your diaphragm. There's already a vježba for that, so I won't bore you by repeating myself.

Stay safe and take care, 👋

Sean Brown86 said:I’m heading in tomorrow for a full cardiac workup just to see if everything is actually running smoothly... though honestly, whenever I push myself even a little, I feel like I can't catch my breath and my heart starts absolutely hammering in my chest... even just walking up a flight of stairs (and don't get me started on my fitness levels, let's just say it's not great)... if they tell me my heart is fine, then I guess I’ll have to face the colonoscopy next... though the thought of that 😕
scares the hell out of me.

Man, I am dealing with something pretty similar to you. For me, it’s all triggered by sports and pushing myself way too hard (at least, that's my best guess).

I’ve got either GERD or chronic gastritis—depending on whether you ask the guy at the private clinic or the doctor at the local Mayo Clinic hospital... long story short, it all boils down to stomach lining inflammation, a weakened sphincter muscle between my esophagus and stomach, and some esophageal damage from all that stomach acid traveling up.

It’s actually kind of wild that heartburn hasn't been your main issue yet, because for me, that was always the biggest headache. You mentioned you had a gastroscopy and they saw inflammation, which means it hasn't become erosive yet and your esophagus isn't damaged... so that's definitely a win. But it’s also a massive signal that you really should be getting regular checkups (just like I do), maybe once every six months or so... just so a doc can keep an eye on things and make sure nothing's getting worse.

As for the lung stuff and the breathing issues... I honestly can't help you much there since I haven't dealt with those specific symptoms. I really hope it’s nothing serious, and since you're still up and training, hopefully it’s just some weird muscle spasm or something.

If I were you, I'd start moving dinner to around 7:00 or maybe 8:00 PM at the latest... trust me, you'll thank yourself for the hassle when you hit your 40s or 50s.

Carl Campbell3 said:Clavicular breathing—breathing from the collarbone—is basically "final" breathing, the kind that signals rapid death. Breathing should really be coming from your belly. There's an exercise for that, so I won't repeat myself.

Is it possible that bad breathing during exertion increases abdominal pressure? Like, extra strain on the wall muscles causing these issues?

Jeremy Watson16 said:I've got GERD or chronic gastritis catarrhalis (one specialist gave me one diagnosis, a doctor at the local hospital gave me another)... long story short, it all comes down to stomach lining inflammation, a weakened sphincter muscle between the esophagus and stomach, and some esophageal damage from stomach acid reflux.

Surprised you haven't dealt with heartburn yet; that's been my biggest headache. You mentioned the endoscopy showed inflammation, which means it hasn't become erosive and your esophagus isn't damaged yet... that's good. But it's a sign you should (just like me) get regular endoscopies, maybe once every six months... just so the doctor can check things out.

As for your lungs and breathing issues... I wouldn't know how to help there since I haven't had those symptoms. Hope it's nothing serious. Since you're up and running and still training, it's probably just some cramping.

The biggest issue here is that none of the doctors have actually given a solid diagnosis. The symptoms are definitely there, but there's always some factor used to say "it's not that disease."
The inflammation isn't even really inflammation—it's more like excess acid, which isn't chronic, and an endoscopy isn't just some precaution. 🤷
The other thing is that this whole breathing situation is exactly what makes everything harder...

Man, I am seriously grateful to everyone who’s actually taking the time to read this and offer advice... but I feel like I'm missing the mark somehow. Like, you guys just aren't seeing the full picture. So, here’s the deal: my endoscopy showed some damage to my esophagus—grade one peptic changes. It says specifically that my corpus is inflamed. But then the internist at the same hospital tells me it’s basically nothing? He says the only symptom should be heartburn, which I don't have at all. And stress? Absolutely not. I can rule that out completely because these symptoms don't just strike randomly... they are there from the moment I wake up. Even when I'm on Normabell (I've been testing), it's the same thing. It's constant. My main symptoms are these: when I'm trying to go to the bathroom, nothing happens, even though I'm putting in the effort and there's clearly material there. Then there's the burping and vomiting sensation—it feels blocked, so out of six attempts, I only manage to burp once. I get this pressure in my chest when I breathe, air escaping during abdominal exercises or core stability work, and even during intense running. I mean, if I push myself at 80% capacity for 30 minutes, I can breathe, but what am I missing? Because when I do manage to take a breath, I get this pain around my solar plexus. Plus, if I press my abdomen just above my belly button, I feel this stinging sensation. It happens any time—morning, night, whether I'm full or starving. As for my heart, I have to wait until March 1st for those tests.
There's another weird thing, too. Even before all this started a year ago, I’d have mornings where I couldn't go to the bathroom after eating late at night. This whole situation has been dragging on for six months now. Also, my spirometry results showed I'm at 90% of 115%, which the doctor tried to brush off as "anxiety." Give me a break. I've done a spirometry test before; I know exactly how to do it, and I gave it my absolute best this time. There isn't a doctor in the world who can tell me this is "all in my head" or psychological. It simply isn't. I don't have any major stressors; in fact, life was perfect when this first hit. So... yeah. Regarding working out, I only train so I don't pack on the pounds and just lose my edge. I also remembered another symptom that really points to an issue: when I used to run in the cold, I could feel the cold air rushing through my throat, but now that sensation is gone. Even when I'm just resting, the air doesn't seem to flow the way it should. I'm wondering, could this be something with my gut? Could undigested food sitting in my system overnight be causing this breathing struggle? 🤷

With gastritis, you can pretty much deal with anything—it even makes breathing feel difficult because when you push yourself, the acid just surges up
. It hits your airways, and I guess people actually end up thinking they have asthma when it’s really just gastritis (at least, that's what my doctor told me)😁
As for that printing thing you mentioned... I'm not quite following, you don't really have any material to work with?🤷
Maybe you're just dealing with some constipation or slow digestion. You might want to try eating stuff that actually helps get things moving.

casualmoose4 said:Is it actually possible that because I wasn't breathing right during exertion, the pressure in my abdominal cavity spiked—basically just putting way too much strain on the muscle wall—and that's what triggered all this misery?

The absolute worst part about this whole mess is that none of the doctors have actually given me a straight diagnosis; the symptoms are clearly there, but there’s always some random factor they point to so they can claim "it's not that specific disease."
Apparently, the irritation isn't even actual inflammation—it's more like just an uptick in acid levels, which isn't considered chronic, and they're acting like the endoscopy was just some unnecessary precaution 🤷
And then there's the other issue, where that whole breathing situation is exactly what makes everything else so much harder...

Look, getting an endoscopy is a solid preemptive move for anyone dealing with stuff like mucosal irritation, acid issues, or reflux, especially since we all know those things love to hang around and plague you for the rest of your life even after treatment. Most people usually figure out something is wrong with their gut when they start dealing with heartburn or diarrhea and stuff... but there are non-erosive types of gastritis that don't trigger those obvious signs, so you're basically flying blind. That’s why I think it's way better to go in for a checkup every six months rather than waiting ten years until you're suddenly doubled over in pain. That's just my take on how to handle stomach issues if you're looking at the long haul.