Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome: What Causes it?

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christinasgirl123

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You know my tremors and my twitches on cam , but I got a new video for U. As some know, I was diagnosed with chronic hyperventilation syndrome /spasmophilia which is most likely the reason for my BFS. Strange enough this seems to have been caused by an infection. Just today I learned that that "strange stuff my face does when i tap my cheek" is called chvostek sign , and that it is the classic sign for hypocalcemia from chronic hyperventilation. This must have developed with my BFS onset after a virus/stressful period, because right before my BFS onset I had a thyroid check up where they checked my serum ionized Calcium and the hypocalcemia would have shown up there. My blood calcium levels are OK, the whole time during my BFS, as well as all thyroid markers. Anxiety is a classic side effect of chronic hyperventilation. So if you are anxious and are twitching and have this sign as well with normal thyroid tests, then you most likely are hyperventilating without being aware of it. Which makes you twitch, tremor, stiff and have allover muscular pain.If you look closely, you can see that as soon as I tap my cheek with my finger VERY VERY SLIGHTLY, my mouth twitches to that side. It is stronger on my right side (left on vid) but very well visible on both sides . Sorry that I suck in making videos, and that I look a bit messy, but I guess you can all handle it ;)
 
I have to zoom that up? Other than that you have a lovely smile at the end of the video I see nothing that would get my attention ;) :D) :LOL: But I can not seem to zoom full screen in my browser at the moment.
 
You can see it better at the second half of the video. if you concentrate on the middle part of the upper lip (where that little dent is) , you can see the whole lip twitch to the side if I tap. Damned...maybe I should do another video, because this sign is really textbook classic strong developed in me
 
I made another vid hopefully better visible. If not, just search for chvostek sign on youtube ;) It is still being processed on youtube, so it wil take a while until U can see it
 
Nope, I see it now. You really have to make video fullscreen else it is seen hard. So now you don't have enough calcium in your system? Is this connected to your first diagnoses of not enough CO2 somehow? In me I suscpect too low CO2 also at least my test is below 20 (16+-2). I do not however have this smile of yours. I meant sign ;)))))
 
oops, I am low calcium (both total and ionized are slightly below the normal level) for years... and I am anxious for years... so maybe I have hyperventialtion too, because spasms are with me also for years, and when I was specifically nervous this summer, I have them ALOT.
 
Hmm Jerry, this is kind of hard to explain, let me try....my low CO2 in my blood enables the blood buffer system, so my blood gets too alcalic. A relatively high blood pH (alcalic) causes the Calcium to bind ta a certain blood protein (albumine). So I definately HAVE enough Calcium in my blood, as all normal blood tests show. Unfortunately it is stuck to my proteins and cannot be used by the muscles and nerves. This makes them hyperexciteable.
 
Huh I understand a little now. So test is normal for calcium and taking supplements doesn't help at all.As you have diagnoses, what did the doctors said to you? How can they help your system physically?BTW: Is there a test to measure alcality of the blood?
 
Jerry, answering your question: yes, there is a test for blood gases definitely, and for alkalinity-acidity too. I know that those tests are applied for dialysis patients who suffer from alkalosis or acidosis due to citrate anticoagulation :))) routine clinical practice seldom has patients with systemic acidosis or alkalosis (only in case of diabetes mostly, also in case of severe alcoholism), so they are not included in common panels.
 
Thank you. I guess there is 0% chance I can get them here in my country. I got suspicious with the CO2 breathing test Chrissi gave me link. I should be able to hold when normal exhale for 30+ seconds and after about 17, 20 max I start to "sufficate" for air.Chrissi, is the CO2 problem more pronounced at night?
 
Well Jerry, I have ti get rid of my hyperventilation. Which is ..well....hard to do.I can take as much Calcium as I want, it won't get to my muscles. I am thinking about trying some form of lactic acid substitution on myself which is an alternative med that helps to get rid of blood alkalosis.
 
Jerry, my doc did not really know this, but he said as many of his hyperventilation patiens wake up gasping for air at night and have a lot of symptoms in the morning, that it is at least also prominent during sleep.
 
Probably captain obvious here, but just something I learned last week: I was shoveling magnesium into my body by itself. This can cause low calcium. Apparently you are supposed to take 1 part Magnesium 2 parts calcium every time you take Magnesium. To be safe. You probably already knew that but just in case!
 
I do not take any mg/ca supplements at all because my blood levels are OK. And because it apparently never really helped anyone on this board , more than that, it often caused diarrhea. But I already know that my blood CO2 is incredibly low, so this is consistent with the chvostek sign
 
Chrissi, can you enlighten me this CO2 thing a little? I can not hold longer than about 17 seconds but we all when we breathe out after few seconds start to inhale again. My breathing per minutes is normal if I count. What is abnormal is the seconds I can HOLD breath. But even if my friend can hold exhale breath for 40 seconds, he still is not breathing more slowly, he is inhaling, exhaling, inhaling again. He is not waiting 40 seconds to inhale again so he does not have 2 breaths ber minute.Is this "exhaled state capability" something else than breathings per minute? We all seem to breathe at simmilar pace when we are rested, but some can hold longer. How does this fit into "too low CO2" theory? The ones that hold 40 seconds should make less breath per minute then.PS - I allways though that too less OXYGEN is bad, not CO2 ;)
 
Meaning you cannot hold more than 17 seconds means just, that your body cannot handle rising CO2 levels very good. This is very likely due to chronic hyperventilation or vice versae. Breathing patterns are very complicated and not only steered by the CO2 in you blood. Most people do not have 2 beaths per minute. Typical for hyperventilation is also a kind of breathing where your sholuders move up and down, hardly using the diapragm to breathe "in your belly".
 
Hey christinasgirl123,I have this sign too since the beginning of my bfs, i think mine is as prominent as yours. I was also at a special psychologist who is a biofeedback specialist. He told me that i only breathe a little to fast in a minute and that my sympathicus is activatet all the time ( He found that out with some special machines used in biofeedback). I also have to take a deep breath sometimes. Maybe you can give me some feedback..;)
 
Mike, this chvostek sign is typical for chronic hyperventilation, that is exactly breathing a bit too fast. Just this bit messes up your body chemistry. As it does for me. The key is to leanr to breathe slower, which is incredibly hard. I bet that about 99% of the people here have a constant sympathicus activation, because BFS means a stressed body.
 
Great video Chrissi i think you caught it just right. Oh and that smile/look on your face at the end was the cherry on the cake, Mesmerizing.
 

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