Hi there,

Since December, I've had this constant urge to take a deep breath. A lot of the time when I try to take a deep breath, I can't quite get it unless I sort of manoeuvre my body a certain way. It's a strange sort of sensation/feeling in my sternum area. Perhaps a tightness of sorts. I feel like it went away for a couple of weeks in the earlier part of the year but now it's just neverending. Also, when I do manage to take a full, satisfying breath, it only relieves the urge for a few seconds. I've seen my doctor numerous times but it seems a bit of a mystery. For another issue, I had a normal ECG in 2020 and a blood test in 2021, the results of which were normal other than being vitamin D and folic acid deficient which I took supplements for. This year,. my doctor gave me a salbutamol inhaler to trial which didn't help at all. I had a normal chest x-ray. I also tried propanalol in case it was anxiety-related, but I tried that to no avail. I take an antacid (esomeprazole). My oxygen level is normal and held after doing a brisk walk back and forth down the doctor's corridor as a test. I was given a peak flow meter and my readings were great. I don't have asthma. I had COVID in May and had no respiratory symptoms. I can hold my breath for about two mintes. I'm a (just) 32 year old male non-smoker although I have passively smoked all my life courtesy of two heavy indoor smokers. My practice isn't yet offering spirometry so I can't do this yet and have to wait unfortunately. All signs point to my lungs being okay and the anxiety drug did nothing. Has anyone had a symptom like this? It's literally 24/7 and really making me miserable.

Thanks!