@Jamitchell 

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Jamitchell

Breathing difficulties

I’ve been diagnosed with MS in 2000. Since then I have had difficulty in breathing with the simplest tasks. I have done a lung capacity test and a stress test. My GP (not neurologist) has diagnosed me with COPD and prescribed two different inhalers. They don’t help me with breathing at all. I have been reading about others with MS having difficulty with breathing due to MS. I asked my GP if my breathing could be as a result of MS and he is adamant it is COPD. Does anyone else have this same issue? If so what do you do about it?
@Stumbler

@jamitchell , there is an MS symptom known as the "MS Hug", or Banding. This where the intercostal muscles, around your rib cage, go into spasm. This like having a very tight girdle, squeezing you and inhibiting your ability to fill your lungs when you breath. There's more details here :- https://www.mstrust.org.uk/a-z/ms-hug Hope this helps

@Cosine

Hi, See your neurologist. It is not as commonly known but yes they can be caused by MS. I emailed the MS Society helpline with the same problem and they said they are going to update their page next year about breathing issues and sent me two links in the mean time. https://www.mstrust.org.uk/a-z/breathing-problems https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms/Respiration-Breathing-Problems